Hi there, meet the Harley Quinn of the killer basses… Ibanez TMB 100 played on a Fender Rumble 100 amplifier: sexy but deadly banging. Special thanks to EarthQuaker Devices, and to the Bass Buzz team of course, for teaching me ultimate bass playing skills.
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Yeah, those Talman Ibanez basses look cool.
What Earthquaker Labs pedal are you using? I have a Plumes overdrive and like it alot.
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The G&L Asat, Antique white with wood binding. Very basic looking guitar;Fender Tele body and the natural wood binding (in my opinion) just makes the guitar look great!
But damn is she expensive or what? $2,000. Maybe if I sold the Rick…
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I posted a pic of a Spector Euro 4LT in purple fade before and I’m still really gassing for it but now the shop has gone and got one in red fade as well and I think I like it even more. I’m coming to the end of the course and trying to think of reasons why I shouldn’t reward myself with one of these. They are way above my pay grade and skill level but the one thing that is frustrating me about my Jazz is that I really like melodic playing in the higher octave scales and only having a 20 fret neck that joins the body at the fifteenth isn’t ideal. I reckon the 24 fret neck on the Spector would make it sooooo much easier but I realize I’m just trying to make up reasons to justify buying it. The question now though is purple or red!!!
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I like the purple one myself, @chris6 . . . 
Cheers
Joe
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Red. Definitely.
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lol . . . now we need a tie-breaking vote, @Mike_NL . . . 
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That is a luxury problem 
If you can’t make up your mind, you are not ready yet for this bass!
Practice you must, young padawan, and be ready you will!
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Do they make a 5 string in those colours Chris @chris6,
If so problem solved buy one of each, you earned it 
Cheers Brian
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Very well… Then I shall summon @howard to cast the deciding ballot! The fact that he is a huge fan of red basses is, of course, purely coincidental 
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Ahh but my current dream bass is amethyst purple and despite my fondness for red basses, my actual favorite colors are amethyst and midnight blue.
So I’m going with the purple one
But just barely. That red is gorgeous too and I would be perfectly happy with it.
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when I played guitar, my first was a Tele, I have alwaysloved Tele’s.
I love that bass, and G&L (guitars by Leo) are supposed to be the best quality and design instruments of the 3 Leo Fender companies.
I have not had a chance to play one yet (stupid Covid), but I have been thinking of getting a P bass, and if I can find a G&L for a good price, al the better.
That said, there is a gorgeous Navy Blue one on sale on Offer Up near me for $900, and I think a white one is (or was) for about $1200.
If I sell my 04 Stingray for the $1200 or $1300 I am gonna list it for, I might be looking towards one of those, I do love the Tele
Or this beautiful P bass (for $1000)
But look at the bridges on these basses, they are really nice.
I would be happy with either or both of those 
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Have you played it, or only looked at it? I was really suprised when I got a spector L4. I didn’t really like it, despite the awesome bridge and nut designs.
The neck felt odd, not really thin, not really thick, not really flat, not really round, just odd.
The whole bass felt a little too Plastic for my liking as well.
Of course, that is MY experience, with ONE SPECTOR MODEL bass.
I know they make really high quality, top line basses, and spawned Warwick (not too familiar with their history, but I think Warwick was Spector’s Squire line, until they started making better basses IMO. like I said, not too familiar with the history, but from what I have been told, it was something like that in a very general sense of it). So, I would not write off a bass because it said Spector on it, but me personally, I would not buy one without playing it extensively first.
And maybe you have had a chance to play it at the store, IDK, but if you have not, I would highly suggest you do, before ofdering it online.
Things like P-bass and J-bass from fender or squire, or Schecter or LTD, etc…
Or Ibanez SR line, or Yamaha TRBX or BB lines, sure, those you can order online and know what you are getting, and even if you have not played the SR500, you will know what to expect if you have an SR250
The Spector really surprised me, and if I ordered it online, it would have gone back pretty quickly.
So, at least if you have to order it online to even get a chance to play it, make sure they have a good return policy (no re-stocking fee) and if possible, make sure there is a local store you can return it to, instead of having to foot the bill to ship it back.
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Spector seems really similar to Warwick to me in that regard. They are high quality, well made basses but are definitely their own unique style and may not be for everyone.
Which is also what makes them special and cool.
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Yes, but for me it is wall art, they are awesome to look at. Just found a picture of the Spector I had. I love the look, sort of. the left ear is a little funky, and it is a little long and slender in comparison to other shapes, but it still looks pretty cool. all but the boring slice of bread head stock.
However, I played a Warwick Rockbass Double Buck Corvette, and I liked the neck on it. it was a 5pc construction nd really felt nice, close to the Ibanez in-terms of thickness, but a little wider at the nut.
Next to a german made Corvette with the jazz pick ups I guess, like the Robert Trujillio pick ups, I liked the RockBass neck better.
I have played other RockBass and have various results. the rockbass streamer felt alot like the Spector L4, and I did not care for it at all.
The RockBass Corvette (double buck) I actually liked alot. It was going for $330 at a pawn shop. The amp they had sucked, and I think it had the crap Warwick stock strings (and the bass was a few years old, so the strings were bad) so I offered the guy $250 based on not being able to test hear it on a good amp, and it definite needing strings and a set up, but he said he could not sell it for a dollar lower then the listed price when the boss is not in the store, and he does not work on Sundays.
Monday they were closed
Tuesday, I thought I may go back with my small Hartke practice amp and give it another shot, but I was still not gonna pay over $300.
I never made it back to the shop, and I was turned off a little by the guy that was in charge of the store that sunday. He was a major dick, and after playing with the bass on the broken amp, trying to fix the amp and see if I could get it to sound better, the guy asked “what do you think”
I told him it was pretty cool, but I can’t tell how it sounds, and it will need a set up and strings.
I asked if we can try another amp, even if it is a guitar amp (since he said that was the only bass amp they had)
the guy said “No, you have had enough time playing with it, do you want it or not”
Wow, I was blown away. For that fact alone, I didn’t want to give them any business, and I had been in there one other time, and I had dealt with the owner, and I recall him having similar attitude with others in the store (he was fine with me, but was being dickish to others)
So, I didn’t really actively make a decision not to buy it from them because of that, but I kind of slacked off on going back because of it
It finally sold about 6 weeks later.
I will say, I regret not getting it.
the body was solid, the neck was nice, the tuners were Warwick tuners, as was the bridge. Replacing the pick up and possibly the pre-amp, and its pretty close to a MIG Warwick that (if I got it for $300) could have cost $500 - $600 after said upgrades.
Oh well, there are alot of MIG corvettes that pop up and go for $1000 or less, usually between $600 and $900. only many of them are 5 string or fretless, and I want a 4 string fretted. also, I want the bubinga or whatever natural wood finish is offered, I don’t want a painted one, unless for some reason I find a really cool paint job (that custom shop can do) for an affordable price (yeah right, keep on dreaming). I just don’t want a black one, I kind of hate the gloss black finish on the Warwick’s.
Or if I could find a trade for a MM stingray or Ray34 upgraded, that would be cool too.
One of the few basses that I would actually pursue right now.
-A P-bass (fender or squire, or Schecter or LTD, or Edwards, or HomeGrown, or G&L, or Harley Benton, or even maybe Glarry) is one bass that is on my list
-Warwick or Rockbass Corvette
-G&L ASAT (telecaster bass)
These are about the only ones that I would consider purchasing or trading for at present time.
It is funny around here in So Cal, for some reason people tend to think the RockBass is the higher quality Warwick (obviously those that don’t know much, and probably got one to learn and are selling it and think they are worth MIG prices) because they are often priced higher then MIG Warwicks, or higher then what you might get new from GC or another dealer if on sale or you can get a discount somehow.
Oh, yeah, the other bass that I would take right now. So if you all were looking for something for my birthday that just passed, this is the one I want.
I would feel bad for one of you to buy it for me and foot the bill, I think it best if everybody on the sight pitches in, then its only a few hundred per person. 
Awe bummer, its not on sale anymore, it was 15% off
Its OK, you all can submit an offer for 15% off, I am sure they will take it.
REad the story behind this bass, it is a great story.
I will just give you the short synopsis
DIme had Washburn (he played DEAN guitars) make these Basses.
Washburn made 6 of them and DIME bought 3 of them, and gave them to friends.
He either kept one, or gave it to REX Brown (just guessing)
One went to Marilyn Manson’s bass player
one went to BeefCake of GWAR
Beefcake recorded with it, and toured with it, then auctioned it off at some benefit.
This is at ESSEX REcording studio in the UK.
Check out their shop, they have all sorts of cool signed and used artist models and customs that were made for the artist and sold for charity, or cuz they switched makers or whatever. most of the instruments have a unique story, some better then others.
I particularly love this story.
and I am a little biased since Dime was and is my favorite guitar player, he is dead, and now even his brother (drum legend) Vinnie Paul Abbot is now dead too.
This is just such a cool base.
I do have a DEAN MetalMan (this shape) bass. I paid $80 for it, and only bought it to hang on the wall.
Then I realized it was the only passive bass I have, so I have been playing it a little lately.
I am really starting to LOVE the tone of this bass. I am glad I got it, expecially for $80.
Now Offer up has another listed, but it is a double HH, and mine is a single H.
It is still passive, and it is going for $300.
Funny thing is that mine was listed for $300, about last April, and I watched it stay at $300 for about 2 months, and then dropped to $250 for a mnth, then went to $200 for a week, then $175 for a week, then $150 for a few days, then $135.
At that point, I messaged the guy and said “Stop, you are gonna give me a heart attack. I don’t need anymore basses right now, but if you keep going lower, I am gonna have to buy it.”
So
He messaged me back and said “you can have it for $100”. I PM back “$80”
and he said OK.
SO
if this one stays around and goes down to $100, or even $125, I am probably gonna snag it.
It is a fun bass, and I definatly want to pimp one out.
Hey wait,
This one I have is the perfect one to paint like Brian’s and make a bass buzz bass.
What do you think,
Bass Buzz this out?
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Hi Buddy, thanks for your thoughts. honest answer, no. I haven’t played those particular basses. Spectors in the UK are quite rare, you can’t walk into many guitar stores and find them hanging on display unfortunately. The ones I’m looking at are at a very small specialist bass shop who are currently closed due to Covid so it would be an online purchase only. Because of UK distance selling laws they have to accept a return but its a good shout to check on re-stocking fees. I know basses are very personal and they should ideally be tried out but I’m a firm believer that you can get used to any bass. I think a lot of the time people pick up a bass and play it in a shop for five minutes and decide they don’t like it because its different to the bass they are used to. No offence to you of course, you know what you like but I think persevering with a bass over time can reap rewards. I own over twenty guitars and acoustics of all shapes, makes and sizes. My main go-to is a Stratocaster but I can play any of the others. The only guitar I could never really get on with was a Les Paul. The neck was fine but the lack of contouring and heaviness of the body just made it feel too uncomfortable for me to even want to persevere - So yeah, if that’s how a Spector felt to you I can understand your thinking. Flip side though, millions of people love Les Paul’s. Funny old world 
Just as a side note though, Warwick were never owned by Spector or Spector’s ‘Budget’ Line. Rockbass are Warwick’s budget line and the Korean made Spector’s are their budget line. Warwick have always been a completely independent company. The original Spector ‘NS’ design was designed by Ned Steinberg. Stuart Spector started using it and eventually trademarked it. An upcoming luthier, Hans Peter Wilfer at Warwick started using a clearly NS-influenced shape. Spector sued him for using Ned Steinberg’s shape. Warwick was forced to pay royalties for each bass and buy the license. Later, Kramer bought Spector. Warwick made the deal with Spector, and not Kramer, so they stopped paying and Kramer accepted that.
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Agreed, I never played a Les Paul and liked it.
I don’t know about learning to like any bass. I did take the spector home and give it a chance, but sold it cuz I just was not gonna ever play it. I have other basses, so why keep one I know I am not gonna play.
Same with my Stingray 4HH. I love stingrays and others, but I don’t like the HH, it just doesn’t play or sound the same, so I don’t play it and am selling it.
I get the having to order because nobody ever has what you want in stock, and I had to do that with my Ray4HH. had they had one in the store, I probably would have opted to not get it. But I got it and since I had it, I tried to like it. I tried til it was past the return date, but ultimately, I could not get in love with the thing, and I never play it, so like I said, its for sale.
And yeah, things are very personal, and obviously, many people play spector, and they are a highly successful instrument maker, so yeah, they won’t be bad, I was just letting you, and anybody else know, that it felt like nothing else I have ever played. And for me personally, it was not a fit.
Hopefully for you it will be a fit.
if it is anything like a Les Paul, both you and I agree, not a fit, so ??? take that with a grain of salt…
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ok that is fugly
I love it
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