Spector Advice

[Paulhauser]

  On 26/03/2025 at 13:43, Eldon Tyrell said:

Sorry, Paul, could not resist 😉

 

 

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Well played @Eldon Tyrell, fair enough and rightly deserved 🙂😉

 

[Sean]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187080491926?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=VLVxzDI0Swq&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=6MnoMIQiQQC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

Now I need advice, if you'd be so kind folks...

 

Simple Q. It's this going to be about £3250 landed?

Edited March 29 by Sean
Desperation

[W1_Pro]

If memory serves, into the UK you'll pay purchase price+ carrriage+ VAT +4% duty. Happy to be corrected if anyone knows better!

 

[Sean]

That's pretty much what I used.

[Eldon Tyrell]

This one looks nice too. Unfortunately, the neck profile probably won't work for me (too chunky) 😔

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/187088472745?itmmeta=01JQJ0013SX5Y4V1GDAFZVYVBX&hash=item2b8f578aa9:g:gI0AAeSwVPdn5e5S

[Eldon Tyrell]

Why is Japan always getting these cool special runs? Look at this beauty. That's how the CST is supposed to look like (just compare that with the amateurish bursts and washed out burls that we get to buy here, see page 3 in this thread for some examples in case you missed them):

 

 

 

[Sean]

I had a black cherry 5 that I bought from a Basschatter in about '08. This one looks nicer.

 

 

[Sean]

  On 30/03/2025 at 09:10, Eldon Tyrell said:

Why is Japan always getting these cool special runs? Look at this beauty. That's how the CST is supposed to look like (just compare that with the amateurish bursts and washed out burls that we get to buy here, see page 3 in this thread for some examples in case you missed them):

 

 

 

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Gorgeous. Maple. That one fits the brief of the CST.

[Eldon Tyrell]

I once also owned this beauty. Again, Japan only run (signature bass for Layer, bassist in the Japanses band RAS (Raise a Suilen)). Only sold it because of the chunky neck.

 

 

[Paulhauser]

  On 30/03/2025 at 09:10, Eldon Tyrell said:

Why is Japan always getting these cool special runs?

 

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Do you remember CDs? The japaneese editions mostly had a bonus song or two, only available on that release.  I see a pattern here 😄

 

[Sean]

  On 30/03/2025 at 09:18, Eldon Tyrell said:

I once also owned this beauty. Again, Japan only run (signature bass for Layer, bassist in the Japanses band RAS (Raise a Suilen)). Only sold it because of the chunky neck.

 

 

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Who did you sell it to? 

I reckon there’s probably a dangerous fault with it and we should do a product recall...

[Eldon Tyrell]

  On 30/03/2025 at 15:32, Sean said:

 

Who did you sell it to? 

I reckon there’s probably a dangerous fault with it and we should do a product recall...

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Yes, it has a serious fault- it can cause people who play it to spontaneously combust. Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported. 😉 

[Eldon Tyrell]

Back to the topic of this thread - Spector advice, combined with our chat about cool Spector basses sold only in Japan. 

Avoid the resellers on Ebay or Reverb. Go to digimart.net. Search there for the bass you are interested in and then go directly to the store that is selling it. Much cheaper than going via the resellers. I got my Ras Layer via Ishibashi and it went all smoothly. 

Other good shops/chains: Ikebe and Kurosawa. There will be many more but these are the ones I have interacted with. 

[Paulhauser]

Another vote for Ikebe Gakki, I have bought basses from this japanese shop (or rather, a chain of stores I believe), they have a wonderful overseas customer service manager, Mr. Noriaki Sato who went above and beyond to get what I wanted.  They do carry new and used Spectors. 

Edited March 30 by Paulhauser
typo fixed

[Eldon Tyrell]

  On 30/03/2025 at 18:37, Paulhauser said:

Another vote from for Ikebe Gakki, I have bought basses form this japanese shop (or rather chain of stores I believe), they have a wonderful overseas customer service manager, Mr. Noriaki Sato who went above and beyond to get what I wanted.  They do carry new and used Spectors. 

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I just checked my emails and yes, I also dealt with him. Super helpful guy!

[Sean]

There's a lot of Spector activity going on behind the curtain right now (not necessarily my curtain or the one in Warwickshire). All will be revealed soon, I'm sure.

 

Anyway, I think I need to press the emergency Spector button > @cetera to get some advice.

 

I saw this https://rurumusic.ocnk.net/product/1435

 

Read the description. 3kg? It's got paulownia backs on the wings,  roasted maple neck and board. 4A maple on the front of the wings. 

 

Are we thinking that a strap is going to stop this neck-diving?  Surely this is engineered to hit the deck?

 

Is roasted maple that much lighter than "raw" maple that it balances with Empresswood (Paulownlia)?

 

I had a custom G&L L2500 with lots of Empresswood in the body once. Very light, a bit divey.

[Sean]

Xxx

Edited Wednesday at 18:58 by Sean
error

[cetera]

  On 02/04/2025 at 18:04, Sean said:

There's a lot of Spector activity going on behind the curtain right now (not necessarily my curtain or the one in Warwickshire). All will be revealed soon, I'm sure.

 

Anyway, I think I need to press the emergency Spector button > @cetera to get some advice.

 

I saw this https://rurumusic.ocnk.net/product/1435

 

Read the description. 3kg? It's got paulownia backs on the wings,  roasted maple neck and board. 4A maple on the front of the wings. 

 

Are we thinking that a strap is going to stop this neck-diving?  Surely this is engineered to hit the deck?

 

Is roasted maple that much lighter than "raw" maple that it balances with Empresswood (Paulownlia)?

 

I had a custom G&L L2500 with lots of Empresswood in the body once. Very light, a bit divey.

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I reckon that will have some serious neck dive...

[warwickhunt]

Does anyone know for sure of the situation with Trump tariffs and Euro/USA Spector prices?  

 

Its a US company operating in the European Union; USA bass prices are going to be impacted but the Euro situation is an odd one... or is it?  Does it mean that Spector Euro basses will be 25% more expensive to buy in the USA?

[cetera]

  On 03/04/2025 at 08:02, warwickhunt said:

Its a US company operating in the European Union; USA bass prices are going to be impacted but the Euro situation is an odd one... or is it?  Does it mean that Spector Euro basses will be 25% more expensive to buy in the USA?

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Yes, I imagine it won't affect UK prices of Euros, but that Euros will be 25% more expensive in the US. Noone can afford the US custom shop ones anyway so no biggie over here...

[matbard]

  On 03/04/2025 at 08:02, warwickhunt said:

Does anyone know for sure of the situation with Trump tariffs and Euro/USA Spector prices?  

 

Its a US company operating in the European Union; USA bass prices are going to be impacted but the Euro situation is an odd one... or is it?  Does it mean that Spector Euro basses will be 25% more expensive to buy in the USA?

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They will impact only imported goods in USA, not here until they apply tariffs in retaliation.

[three]

To address the OP directly, I've owned four Spectors, all US models, and still own two, both Spector Shortys.  For context, I haven't owned a Czech or any other model.

 

Both of the long-scale basses (NS4 and 5), now sold, had deep profile necks that were frankly too large for me to play comfortably.  The basses were built and finished to a superb standard - truly on a par with or superior to anything else that I've played (including Wals etc.).  Solidity and stability are assured with the US models in my experience.  The gloss sprays were also world-class - the ultra amber 4 was an instrument of rare beauty, and the water cured redwood 5 was uniquely lovely.  Electronics (HAZ and EMG) were very hot, though not to my personal taste.  The basses were sold as they were heavy, the balance and ergonomics didn't really work for me, the tonal range didn't really fit my needs/tastes, and the neck profile was a little too much (though as others have indicated, there are options within the US and other ranges).  That said, I miss both in terms of sheer build quality and good looks.

 

The two Spectors that I've retained are Shortys and are my main basses - they're both different takes - one with EMG humbuckers and an Aguilar OP3, the other with Aguilar P and J pickups and an OP2.  The build quality is exactly the same as the long-scales - superb - the three-piece necks are wonderful.  Both necks are fairly slender and beautifully carved: one has the DW 1.5 nut and the other, a standard 1.64.  Body carving, tops and finishes are exquisite - perfect really, though both bodies have satin/matte finishes and I tend to prefer gloss.  A little strangely, the DW necked bass is significantly lighter than the other.

 

I can't comment on the Czech instruments other than to say that some of them look staggering.  If cost isn't an option, I'd go for the US versions, but be prepared for a reasonably heavy instrument with a deep/thick neck (unless you're able to specify otherwise).  US Spectors remain my go to for pretty much everything.