For years, I gravitated towards smaller body basses, a preference born out of concerns about weight, but equally influenced by playability and aesthetics. Then I discovered Spector Bass Guitars, and I can credit Billy Apple for sparking that interest. The Spector design immediately appealed to my eye, and while not the absolute smallest bass body available, the contoured body of a Spector offers a distinct advantage. This ergonomic design reminded me of “W” basses, but my past experiences with customer service left me wanting more reliability and responsiveness – something I’ve found lacking with “W”.
The neck profile on Spectors is another highlight for me. While I generally adapt well to different neck profiles, the exception was my experience with Wals basses – ultimately leading me to part ways with them. However, playing my Spector 4-string feels incredibly natural. There’s no sense of adjustment needed; it’s just intuitive. Surprisingly, the neck on my Spector LX5 5-string is the only 5-string neck I’ve genuinely enjoyed playing. Balance is also a non-issue, although most of my practice time is spent seated.
Navigating the electronics layout on Spectors is straightforward, and dialing in a great tone is remarkably easy. The tonal range is truly impressive. Whether you’re seeking boosted mids for punchy rock tones or deep, resonant lows, you won’t find yourself endlessly tweaking knobs to find your sweet spot. The usable tones are readily accessible and inspiring.
When considering value for money, Spector basses truly shine. My Korean-made NS 4 exemplifies exceptional build quality. It plays as smoothly and responsively as some of the high-end basses I’ve owned, and it certainly doesn’t feel like a budget-friendly instrument, despite its accessible price point around £400. I’d wager that most players would be hard-pressed to distinguish it from a Euro or US-made Spector in a blind test. It even holds its own remarkably well against my Euro5, despite a significant £1500 price difference. For those with deeper experience with the Spector brand, I’d be genuinely interested to understand the compelling reasons to invest in a US model over the equally impressive Euro or Korean counterparts. Across the entire Spector range, the quality and value are consistently superb.
Historically, I’ve struggled to connect with Fender basses. I’ve never found a Fender that resonated with me as “the one,” nor have I fully grasped why the brand commands such market dominance. Furthermore, I’ve often questioned why players seem content with the standard electronics packages offered by Fender. No one has ever provided a definitive justification for choosing a US-made Fender over a MIM (Made in Mexico), MIJ (Made in Japan), or MIK (Made in Korea) model. Cosmetically, they appear similar, the feel is comparable, and the playability is often indistinguishable. In fact, during one shop visit, I A/B tested a US Jazz Bass against a MIJ Squier and actually preferred the feel and tone of the more affordable Squier.
While I acknowledge that instrument preference is subjective (“horses for courses,” as the saying goes), I have yet to encounter a Fender bass that truly lives up to its legendary reputation or surpasses the Spector basses I’ve had the pleasure of playing.
Ultimately, personal preference dictates instrument choice, but when it comes to how I’d spend my own money, Spector basses consistently offer an unparalleled combination of playability, tone, and value that is hard to ignore.
