Spector Legend 4 Standard Bass Review

Cost: $549.99 new or less from Reverb

This stunning bass was very gratefully lent this for review by Jennifer and Corey from Korg and Spector!

Overview and Final Score: 7.9

The pricier and prettier big brother of the Performer 4, the Spector Legend 4 did not disappoint. The guitar features an ash body, which makes it heavier than the Performer 4, with a beautiful flamed maple cap on top. The neck is a 5 piece mix of maple and Padauk woods and is covered by a 24 fret Amara wood fretboard. With the same familiar PJ pickup setup as the Performer 4, the tonal options are once again limitless, with a 2 band EQ alongside two dedicated volume controls.

Sound: 9

The pickups on this beauty are loud even though I can’t find much to prove they are different than the ones on the Performer 4, perhaps better wiring and pots plays some role? The ash body may also play a role as ash has been known to add more warmth and full bodied tone to guitars. The neck pickup is much less muddy, allowing for thick bass tones, especially when played finger-style without losing clarity and note definition. Unfortunately, it seems the tone control knob on the bass sent to me was not properly installed as it had some resistance to turning and was seemingly inverted when rolled on or off.

That small error aside, the bass and volume controls allowed for great combinations of the neck and bridge pickups. I much preferred the neck tones to the bridge tones and this bass makes an excellent J-bass alternative based on sound alone. When both pickups are on at full volume together you better look out because this thing will rip through the mix in a studio or live setting.

Playability: 8

This had one of the best bass necks I’ve ever played but the playability loses a few points because the action came really high out of the box. The neck is thin, long, and all 24 frets are very easy to access. The high-mass bridge and upgraded chrome tuners helped keep tuning stability great, though not too dissimilar from the Performer 4 which had lesser hardware. The high action was a bit of a minor annoyance, especially as price creeps up and it really only concerned me because this bass also had the tone knob issue, so is this a one-issue or are construction issues something to look out for?

Finish & Construction: 7

Right off the bat the finish is phenomenal on this guitar, it is high quality, seems built to last, and looks great. The blue stain catches eyes and makes me want to pick it up and play. While a lot of the construction and build quality is great here, there are those two things that have really bugged me. First off, the tone knob is not properly installed, something both me and my roommate noticed. It is inverted, meaning it turns the opposite way than the others, and it has some serious turn resistance when you get to the 6 o’clock position. Lastly, the action was really high out the box. These aren’t major issues, but something you generally want to avoid by buying a more expensive model like the Legend 4 compared to the Performer 4.

Value: 7.5

The Legend 4 Standard is really a fine product, mixing great tones with stunning looks that make up for the few construction errors I’ve noticed. I can’t say it’s the best value out there, as the Performer 4 got a fairly similar score with great playability and a lower price tag. The same deal kind of applies here, if you want familiar PJ tones, great playability, and a unique aesthetic than this is a great bass for gigging bassists on a budget who don’t just want another Fender or Squier. The finish and huge output are highlights for sure, but this bass could use a quick once over by you or a trusted tech.