New Spector Euro line - The Euro CST Series

[Eldon Tyrell]

Just now, bagsieblue said:

 

The eBay seller isnt the guy who bough from Andy Baxter -I did.

It is solid maple indeed.

I bought it but we had a lot of back and forth on the preamp and pots which weren't working as they should.

I pointed him in the direction of Michalik (Mr Tonepump) so get the correct parts identified.

Thanks for the clarification. Interesting. He did not mention any of that when I reached out to him (ebay seller) and I even mentioned to him that he must have bought it just before I was about to buy it.

[Sean]

2 hours ago, bagsieblue said:

 

The eBay seller isnt the guy who bough from Andy Baxter -I did.

It is solid maple indeed.

I bought it but we had a lot of back and forth on the preamp and pots which weren't working as they should.

I pointed him in the direction of Michalik (Mr Tonepump) so get the correct parts identified.

 

So, just to clarify, you pointed Andy in the direction of Mikalik? Was it all resolved by Andy and working in the end? 

 

Did you then sell it to the current seller?

 

 

[bagsieblue]

17 hours ago, Sean said:

 

So, just to clarify, you pointed Andy in the direction of Mikalik? Was it all resolved by Andy and working in the end? 

 

Did you then sell it to the current seller?

 

 

All yes to the first line.

 

Unsure on who the seller is, could be or could have been sold on.

 

[woolf]

I popped an LHZ in my ‘99/‘00 CRFM and it sounds fabulous. To my ears it behaves identical to my NS2 with HAZ.

 

 

 

[Sean]

1 hour ago, woolf said:

I popped an LHZ in my ‘99/‘00 CRFM and it sounds fabulous. To my ears it behaves identical to my NS2 with HAZ.

 

 

 

Did it all go to plan? Do you have any "handy hints" for the installation? I've downloaded the check list.

[woolf]

38 minutes ago, Sean said:

Did it all go to plan? Do you have any "handy hints" for the installation? I've downloaded the check list.

It was fairly straightforward, the instructions are great. The only thing I hadn’t done before was work with the dupont connectors, I had to buy a little kit off Amazon so I could fit connectors to some of the existing wiring - it was all easy enough. Good luck!

[Sean]

3 hours ago, bagsieblue said:

All yes to the first line.

 

Unsure on who the seller is, could be or could have been sold on.

 

So, do we know if it's a new Mikalik preamp in there or was it just a repair? Any ideas?

[Sean]

31 minutes ago, woolf said:

It was fairly straightforward, the instructions are great. The only thing I hadn’t done before was work with the dupont connectors, I had to buy a little kit off Amazon so I could fit connectors to some of the existing wiring - it was all easy enough. Good luck!

 

That sounds pretty easy. Thanks.

 

I haven't ordered it yet as I'm unsure what exactly is in this one until it arrives (it's not been despatched yet).

 

If it's a new Mikalik Tonepump, I'll order the pedal, use Gary's advice on settings and  I can use it with both Spectors and my other basses, if it's the old Tonepump, I'll swap it out for an LHZ-03. 

Edited February 2 by Sean

[bagsieblue]

2 hours ago, Sean said:

So, do we know if it's a new Mikalik preamp in there or was it just a repair? Any ideas?

It was an issue with wiring and (correct value) pots.

 

Nothing changed on the preamp in the discussions around my ownership time - Still looks like an non adjustable trim Tonepump in the photos too.

[Misdee]

The new updated  Euro Doug Wimbish bass unveiled at NAMM looks pretty tasty. Custom '80's reissue EMG pickups with unique placement, Legacy preamp same as the CST, skinny neck ect. 

Edited February 3 by Misdee

[Sean]

Well, it arrived just now. I've not seen a bass packed like that before. The Parcelforce chap wasn't happy about it.

 

It has picked up a laquer chip on the top edge at the 6th fret since it was at Andy's but it's a fill and polish job for a day when I'm in the mood.

 

It probably deserves a NBD thread. We've well and truly hijacked this one 1

 

[Sean]

I'm 100% happy and sure the chip isn't related to the packaging. It was bubble wrapped inside the case.

[Sean]

On 02/02/2025 at 09:33, woolf said:

I popped an LHZ in my ‘99/‘00 CRFM and it sounds fabulous. To my ears it behaves identical to my NS2 with HAZ.

 

 

 

Well, I've put the HAZ-03 in my '03 Euro 4 today but before I restrung it I got called away to other duties...😉

 

Installation was easy for those comfortable with soldering and reading wiring diagrams. It's not a job for beginners.

 

I've ordered new (gold) pickup screws as the existing ones are minging.

The high frets have some areas of corrosion so need a full polish. So does the brass nut. I've cleaned the fretboard and given it some Crimson Guitars Fretboard Restorative (you really ought to buy some).

 

I've recorded some standard bass lines with it (as it arrived, with the old Tone Pump) and will record the same lines with the same strings once it's all back in one piece.

 

It's a peach but it's needed some therapy to get it to be the Spector it can be.

Edited Thursday at 20:44 by Sean

[pierreganseman]

On 04/02/2025 at 19:04, Sean said:

Well, it arrived just now. I've not seen a bass packed like that before. The Parcelforce chap wasn't happy about it.

 

It has picked up a laquer chip on the top edge at the 6th fret since it was at Andy's but it's a fill and polish job for a day when I'm in the mood.

 

It probably deserves a NBD thread. We've well and truly hijacked this one 1

 

some people are mental shipping basses like that.... once a client returned a bass (which is his own right of course) and just gave the bagged bass to UPS without the outside packaging he received it with lol 

 

laziness to the next level 

[Rayman]

What do the experts ( @cetera ) think of the Ethos series? Made by Cort in Korea…. they look really nice, but are they “Proper” Spectors? I’m considering one…..

[pierreganseman]

2 hours ago, Rayman said:

What do the experts ( @cetera ) think of the Ethos series? Made by Cort in Korea…. they look really nice, but are they “Proper” Spectors? I’m considering one…..

 

I had one in stock - they are mad mad mad value for money to me. Not sure they're "proper" Spector , still amazing basses

[cetera]

I have an Interstellar Ethos 4. Great bass, lovely neck and a proper Spector.

I swapped out the Aguilar preamp and pickups for EMG though...

[Basstech21]

Guys! 

 

Please be aware:  I bought a Spector Euro CST 5  and there is a problem with the G string. It is very weak in terms of volume and I understand that it is a known problem with some types of pickup/preamp config. The CST has an on board Darkglass preamp and it's great on four of the five strings (!).   Ive tried everything including pickup height etc but nothing resolves it. 

 

To be honest Im pissed off with the guitar already after paying £2600 for it and I'm going to return it to the good guys at BassDirect to see what can be done. Im minded to P/Ex it for ANYTHING  else right now!!  

 

CAVEAT EMPTOR !!! 

JB. 

[geofio]

I own a 4 string version zero issues, first time I have heard of this, the output on the 4 string is even ,if anything it is one of the loudest outputs I have heard on any bass.  does this apply to both pickups ?  The P and the Jazz or is it a specific pickup ? could be a faulty pickup. I love the sound of mine as I said very even sound on every string,with amazing tone in particular the reverse P set.  Hope you get it sorted. great basses and very well put together.  I am sure Mark will sort you out.

[cetera]

7 hours ago, Basstech21 said:

Please be aware:  I bought a Spector Euro CST 5  and there is a problem with the G string. It is very weak in terms of volume and I understand that it is a known problem with some types of pickup/preamp config. The CST has an on board Darkglass preamp and it's great on four of the five strings (!).   Ive tried everything including pickup height etc but nothing resolves it. 

Not that well known. Never heard of it, particularly on a 5 string. Sounds like it could be a pickup issue, nothing to do with the bass itself. As Geofio said, Mark should sort it no worries...

[GrahamLeeds]

13 hours ago, Rayman said:

What do the experts ( @cetera ) think of the Ethos series? Made by Cort in Korea…. they look really nice, but are they “Proper” Spectors? I’m considering one…..

Far from an expert but I've had a NS Ethos 5 for a month or so and I love it.

Great quality and a real joy to play.

The Aguilar pick ups can give a nice clean sound which is exactly what I needed from it.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 04/02/2025 at 18:04, Sean said:

Well, it arrived just now. I've not seen a bass packed like that before. The Parcelforce chap wasn't happy about it.

 

It has picked up a laquer chip on the top edge at the 6th fret since it was at Andy's but it's a fill and polish job for a day when I'm in the mood.

 

It probably deserves a NBD thread. We've well and truly hijacked this one 1

 

That's terrible. Assuming the case was included in the sale that's equivalent of no packaging whatsoever. I'd raise a complaint with ebay.