FS: Spector NS2 (1989, Kramer-Era)

fretless_guy · #1 07-12-2010, 08:16 AM

I'm selling my recently acquired Spector NS2. This bass was made in 1989 during the time when Kramer was making Spector basses in Neptune, NJ. It has a gloss black finish that is in very good shape considering it's age. I took the bass apart when I got it to clean off all of the dirt and grime that it had acquired over the years (it was VERY dirty). I'll have it all back together in a few days and will post some nice pics.

This is a great opportunity to buy a US made Spector at a fraction of the cost of a new one. These basses have all of the features that the new NS2's have:

Classic NS Curved Body
Solid Brass Spector Bridge
Active EMG PJ Pickups
Haz-Labs Preamp
Three Piece Maple neck
Solid Maple Body Wings
Brass Nut

I have heard that these older basses have a slimmer (front to back) neck than the new ones. I've never played a new one, so I can't be sure of that.

I do not have a case to go with the bass. I have shipped many basses over the years and have never had an issue with damage. However, if you want a case, I can get one, but the cost of the case will be added to the price. The bass will come with a new set of Schaller strap locks (the originals will also be provided) and a new set of strings.

I am asking $1650 US ($1700 CAD) + 1/2 of the shipping charges. A money order would be preferred, but I can do Paypal if necessary.

I'm hoping for a quick sale. I don't want it laying around the house once it's all back together for fear of changing my mind and wanting to keep it. However, other commitments dictate that it needs to go.

I'm not looking for trades, but if you have something you think I might be interested in send me a PM. The worst I can do is say no. However, I need to get at least $1000 in cash so judge the value of your trades accordingly. Ideally I wouldn't mind getting another Spector (NS2A, ReBop or Euro, no Legends please) or a fretless Warwick Streamer LX RockBass.

ampeglb100 · #2 07-12-2010, 11:21 AM

PM sent.

Andy

fretless_guy · #3 07-12-2010, 11:58 AM

PM's replied. I'll get some progress pics (no pickups or electronics) later tonight.

fretless_guy · #4 07-12-2010, 10:11 PM

Here are some pics. There are three cracks in the finish that I should point out. The first (and most noticeable) is around the edge of the headstock. It looks like the maple may have shrunk a little over the years and caused a crack in the clear coat. I tapped around the edge before I put the tuners back on and didn't hear any odd vibrations like something was delaminated. It looks more noticeable now because the white cream polish that I used to clean the bass filled in the crack. I'll find a way to get it out when I'm finished putting everything back together. The second is on the back of the headstock on the screw on the G-string tuner. The third is on the G-string side of the neck bu the nut. All appear to be in the finish, no deeper.

Thunder_Fingers · #5 07-21-2010, 06:17 PM

GAAAS! Have a bump on me, One day I'll own one of these.. I need to!

ampeglb100 · #6 07-23-2010, 10:08 AM

Too bad you totally took this bass apart, and it would be nice to see what it looks like put back together...

Andy

fretless_guy · #7 07-23-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampeglb100

Too bad you totally took this bass apart, and it would be nice to see what it looks like put back together...

Andy

I took the bass apart to give it a good cleaning. Like I mentioned in the OP, the bass was VERY dirty when I got it. I found it easier to have it all apart when cleaning all of the nooks and crannies. I should have it all back together by the end of the weekend. I'll post a few more pics when it's all back together.

fretless_guy · #8 07-28-2010, 08:01 AM

It's almost finished. I just needed to pick up some smaller diameter heat shrink before I could connect the pickups to the preamp. Everything else has been cleaned, polished and reinstalled. It's wearing a new set of D'Addario ProSteels.

Soverntear · #9 07-28-2010, 08:11 AM

wow great job on cleaning her up. looks amazing now that shes back together

fretless_guy · #10 07-28-2010, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soverntear

wow great job on cleaning her up. looks amazing now that shes back together

Thanks. I wish I had taken some good before pics. Any time you have to scrub the side of a pickup with a soft bristled brass brush to get the grime off you know it's been played

fretless_guy · #11 07-28-2010, 07:30 PM

There was a question about the preamp that I'm not sure how to answer. I didn't know that HAZ had slightly different versions for these basses. Here is a pic of the one that's in this bass.

If anyone has some information on the different models of HAZ preamps, maybe they could put something in here to help educate potential buyers.
Someone was also wondering what it weighed. The trusty bathroom scale says 10.0 lbs.

louiedi · #12 07-29-2010, 05:11 AM

Looks like the correct Hazlab preamp to me. I sold a USA 1989 NS-2 recently and this is exactly what my preamp looked like. Hazlab has been making the same preamp for Spector forever if you know what I mean. I have a new USA NS-2 and it is the same preamp. Only difference between now and then is the volume and pickup pots are now round and not cubes.

cetera · #13 07-29-2010, 05:24 AM

PM'd!

Vakmere · #14 07-29-2010, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fretless_guy

There was a question about the preamp that I'm not sure how to answer. I didn't know that HAZ had slightly different versions for these basses. Here is a pic of the one that's in this bass.
If anyone has some information on the different models of HAZ preamps, maybe they could put something in here to help educate potential buyers.
Someone was also wondering what it weighed. The trusty bathroom scale says 10.0 lbs.

Here's the Haz I put in my Euro last month. These are used in some USA models also. Yours will fit perfectly, mine I had to slightly widen the stacked pot hole and use a dummy pot for the left over hole. Prices are way different to. Good pre's in any bass. The tone pump was not my favorite sound.

fretless_guy · #15 07-29-2010, 10:41 AM

All finished! The electronics work great. It sounds just like it should and the pots are smooth without any scratchy noises. To be honest, the action is a little higher than I would like, but I play with a pretty light touch and usually keep it pretty low. I really don't think anyone would have any problems with it as is. If you wanted it a little lower, I think you might be able to get away with just leveling a few frets. I had to raise it up to get rid of some fret buzz at a few frets.

I was able to get a lot of the polishing cream out of the finish crack around the headstock, but because it's a white cream on a black bass you can definitely still see it. It shows up in the pics as a white line around the edge of the headstock.

When I plugged it in to try it out my wife actually commented "that one sounds really good. You aren't selling that one are you?" That sure didn't help ease the pain

MrLenny1 · #16 07-31-2010, 05:22 PM

Sorry to hear about your Helms SC 5. What a shame. Sounds loke an amateur.
A friend of mine had a Fodera built and they screwed up the head configuration
after waiting 2 years and multiple consultations. They offered to cut it off and put on a new one. Unacceptable! He settled on an adjusted price.
I had a Stambaugh 5 built and had no issues

fretless_guy · #17 07-31-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrLenny1

Sorry to hear about your Helms SC 5. What a shame. Sounds loke an amateur.
A friend of mine had a Fodera built and they screwed up the head configuration
after waiting 2 years and multiple consultations. They offered to cut it off and put on a new one. Unacceptable! He settled on an adjusted price.
I had a Stambaugh 5 built and had no issues

Thanks. That one seems to be a closed case. I can't contact him and his site has been suspended so I don't think we'll be discussing any kind of compensation for the mistakes he made. The real down side of that whole story is that now I'm pretty much stuck with it. I would much rather be selling it and keeping this Spector. However, after posting about all of the problems it has, I wouldn't be able to get anything close to what it would be worth had it been built properly. I'm glad to hear that your custom bass experience was much more positive than mine.

dose · #18 08-10-2010, 06:32 PM

Wishing the wife would let me spend the cash bump

Thunder_Fingers · #19 08-19-2010, 02:33 PM

I still want this.. If I get the job I'm trying out tomorrow and it still is here in one months time, I'll buy it.

fretless_guy · #20 08-20-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder_Fingers

I still want this.. If I get the job I'm trying out tomorrow and it still is here in one months time, I'll buy it.

Well, I hope you get the job, but I also hope that this bass isn't still in my home in a month.