SPECTOR® Club - Part 48

[brotherbassj]

Originally Posted by smadder

So I took my matte black "faux forte" maple topped Euro LX5 and put in DCs and finally, a USA 18v circuit with a kill switch instead of a dummy fourth pot or empty hole. The kill switch is wired to the jack, so it has no play in the tone of the preamp whatsoever. The unit only fits in the cavity one way and it ends up from the player's side as having the kill switch in the lower right, the stacked bass and treble at the very bottom, the volume on the very top, and the balance to the far left. Not completely unconventional, but not typical and certainly not on this model or any standard Spector. It's easy to use, the kill switch can come in handy and the fit in the rear cavity is just right with a bit of foam under one of the batteries. The cavity had been shielded by Spector via paint and it was so well done that there was no need for copper taping or any additional shielding fixes. It's a testament to the detail and thoroughness of the Czech shop.

The tone is absolutely amazing. Flat, it is HUGE. The Spector growl is there, but instead of getting growlier with volume and band gains, it just gets louder and bassier or brighter depending on how you use the eq. So it behaves a bit differently sonically and in terms of how the controls color the tone. It's also important to note that the EMG DC humbuckers are running at a full 18v as they were designed to optimally do and that they themselves have internal preamps that add greatly to the tone of a Spector. It does sound very, very much like a USA NS-5, but it is missing the cut and depth of a fuller heavier maple body (not necessarily in weight, but in tone). However, the tone is so amazing, so rich and thick and cutting and warm and growly that when you add in the light weight, the thinner neck profile, and really, truly, the significantly lower cost.... it's the fastest way to an NS-5 that I could find and it worked out so very, very well. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to basically own an NS-5 and be able to have this sound at hand. It's really how amazing the full Spector sonic experience is and I'm so glad I can finally share in what so many of you are able to experience regularly. These custom preamp circuits in combination with the EMGs (and of course - the wood) is truly a unique sound and a true revelation for me in bass tone. I just get it now even more than I got it the first time almost a year ago. And as soon as the 9v comes and goes in a very special bass.... I'm gonna be on top of the world with my tone and will have almost completely realized a dream. That's pretty cool. Not a particularly deep dream, but a musical one nonetheless. Gotta throw a tons of thanks to Jaymi for the assistance as well.

Here are some pics. Let me know what you think.

No matter what, it is good as proven by my newest addition via YOU! Thanks! It's been a sincere pleasure talking to you about this for a long while now and you helping me actualize the tone in my head and MAKING if effing happen for me Steve! My gratitude is beyond words so I won't even try to express it. A simple thank you is not enough, but thank you, sincerely, from this guys heart!

[Mr.Bassie720]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

no not all mxr.... just one the mxr octave deluxe and the dunlop power block. I'm sticking with the Hartke for a while. it is built well and sounds great. compessor, octave, and preamp... simple and sweet. Possibly a flanger in the future. but i'm keeping it simple.

I'm glad the JAR is staying in the family. Euro from MA? the one from Jeff that was Lee's?

LOL! Yes. Well it is from Jeff, but I'm not sure that it was Lee's This is very similar. I bet Sam knows or maybe it was Lees and Jeff added the 9V. I think the rest of Talkbass must think were nuts Let em, I love it here.

[LimaGuy]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

I'm glad the JAR is staying in the family. Euro from MA? the one from Jeff that was Lee's?

Originally Posted by Mr.Bassie720

LOL! Yes. Well it is from Jeff, but I'm not sure that it was Lee's This is very similar. I bet Sam knows or maybe it was Lees and Jeff added the 9V. I think the rest of Talkbass must think were nuts Let em, I love it here.

As also a former owner of that JAR, I am glad its staying in the family.

The Euro from Jeff wasn't the one from Lee. But if I remember correctly this one was once played at Soldier Field.

[Basstovsky]

Originally Posted by superdick2112

Moog MF-103 Phaser - the baddest phaser ever built, for bass or guitar.... And more knobs than you can shake a stick at.

http://www.moogmusic.com/products/mo...2-stage-phaser

Yeah those are super awesome but far outside my budget. I have a guitarist friend who has one pedalboard (out of 3 total) with all Moog stuff, at least 6 Moog pedals. I can only imagine how much that board alone costs! it does, however, sound incredible.

[RichardCranium]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

The 10-band EQ and the Bass + DI are two amazing critters.

Honestly with those two you can really get some additional tone clarity out of your basses.

I've been able to get more articulation of both the Pearl and my NS-4 with it.

So I'm pretty jazzed about these two pedals alone. I mean if you want just bass tone and you're not looking for any sort of tone modification, these two pedals are great. I think I'm probably going to make these two "always on".

And can anyone PM me and recommend a good pedal board that travels well? I'll have to lug this around when I film videos for Spector.

Interesting about the M80. I briefly had one earlier this year I grew tired of my Sansamp BDDI and swapped it out for the MXR but to my ear I wasn't getting a full tone with it. I got a better overall tone with an ART Tube MP which I just swapped for a Countryman DI for pedalboard revision #5!

[Clearwave]

Originally Posted by smadder

So I took my matte black "faux forte" maple topped Euro LX5 and put in DCs and finally, a USA 18v circuit with a kill switch instead of a dummy fourth pot or empty hole. The kill switch is wired to the jack, so it has no play in the tone of the preamp whatsoever. The unit only fits in the cavity one way and it ends up from the player's side as having the kill switch in the lower right, the stacked bass and treble at the very bottom, the volume on the very top, and the balance to the far left. Not completely unconventional, but not typical and certainly not on this model or any standard Spector. It's easy to use, the kill switch can come in handy and the fit in the rear cavity is just right with a bit of foam under one of the batteries. The cavity had been shielded by Spector via paint and it was so well done that there was no need for copper taping or any additional shielding fixes. It's a testament to the detail and thoroughness of the Czech shop.

The tone is absolutely amazing. Flat, it is HUGE. The Spector growl is there, but instead of getting growlier with volume and band gains, it just gets louder and bassier or brighter depending on how you use the eq. So it behaves a bit differently sonically and in terms of how the controls color the tone. It's also important to note that the EMG DC humbuckers are running at a full 18v as they were designed to optimally do and that they themselves have internal preamps that add greatly to the tone of a Spector. It does sound very, very much like a USA NS-5, but it is missing the cut and depth of a fuller heavier maple body (not necessarily in weight, but in tone). However, the tone is so amazing, so rich and thick and cutting and warm and growly that when you add in the light weight, the thinner neck profile, and really, truly, the significantly lower cost.... it's the fastest way to an NS-5 that I could find and it worked out so very, very well. I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to basically own an NS-5 and be able to have this sound at hand. It's really how amazing the full Spector sonic experience is and I'm so glad I can finally share in what so many of you are able to experience regularly. These custom preamp circuits in combination with the EMGs (and of course - the wood) is truly a unique sound and a true revelation for me in bass tone. I just get it now even more than I got it the first time almost a year ago. And as soon as the 9v comes and goes in a very special bass.... I'm gonna be on top of the world with my tone and will have almost completely realized a dream. That's pretty cool. Not a particularly deep dream, but a musical one nonetheless. Gotta throw a tons of thanks to Jaymi for the assistance as well.

Here are some pics. Let me know what you think.

Cool! I think thats a great looking Spector! I wonder why Spector made the 18v to use 3 holes. Thats a bit inconvenient. They have some weird inconsistencies regarding their circuits. You dealt with it great, can't even tell.

[Clearwave]

Here's a question for you pedal guys. Does anyone have an idea which pedal to use to get the sound in the Audioslave song "Cochise"? I like that sound.

[Clearwave]

Originally Posted by Alex1984

Anyone know anyway I can get my hands on something similar to a 9v HAZ without going broke?

That is what the tonepump was designed and built to be. I have a bass with the tonepump and a similar bass with a 9v HAZ. The tonepump is worth the money. IF you buy a used one, only get the trim pot one.

Some guys here like the Aguilar ob stuff. I haven't tried that.

[Clearwave]

What would I like better, a tonepump or a Aguilar ob 2?

[JeffplaysBass]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

Really you say...Hmmmm, do you ship?

Yes I will ship Thunderfunk!!....hehe

[JeffplaysBass]

Originally Posted by brotherbassj

I assure you that the Thunderfunk 550b is a great amp! I would not mind having that Berg 425 either, it's the only cab I haven't tried of theirs yet!

Think of the NV610....Take a pinch of punch out and add a pinch of thunder...

[Worldeeeter]

Originally Posted by Clearwave

Cool! I think thats a great looking Spector! I wonder why Spector made the 18v to use 3 holes. Thats a bit inconvenient. They have some weird inconsistencies regarding their circuits. You dealt with it great, can't even tell.

My guess is that if Stuart designs a circuit, it is likely being done for a particular model that is new to the market, not as a retrofit.
If folks want to swap out circuits, sometimes a little creativity is required to "fill all the holes". I love the idea of a kill switch, an LED, or a dummy switch/knob. No one has a clue what those knobs are for most of the time (unless they're in this thread!).
Phil Lesh played the most ridiculous bass ever from Alembic in the early days; it had about 30 knobs, switches, and buttons on it. IIRC, they all did something, though.

[JeffplaysBass]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

I think we should rename this thread series the Spector Swap Meet the way you guys are passing these basses around!

I'm never letting go of my babies!



I have the older brother (not bigger, older) of the Thunderfunk, it is the only SS amp I ever really enjoyed! AMP BH-420.

Swapping is awesome!!!...why should one dominate a particular Spector?....We LOVE to share!!!

[JeffplaysBass]

Originally Posted by Fat240

The red one is nice, I made a offer on the Carmel one earlier. Waiting for a reply. Were you able to get them to come off the price any? 2700 is a bit steep for the brown.

I think he said he would go $2400.

[anton72]

Originally Posted by Clearwave

Here's a question for you pedal guys. Does anyone have an idea which pedal to use to get the sound in the Audioslave song "Cochise"? I like that sound.

Oh, I absolutely in love with Audioslave. To get that sound you should first get Jazz bass))) Tim plays J-basses on all albums. Pedal-wise I think you'd get that roaring low sound easily with Darkglass B3K, it has GRUNT switch which gives you something very close. Listening to Cochise track I hear two bass signals recorded in parallel - clear and distorted. Chris W. from Muse also does it this way.

[bcpatti3]

SPECTOR REFRETT - I have a CZECH Solid Spector 5 string that I paid $1200 used back in 1997. I just had it refretted, as in still in shop yet to pick up. I had a high-end Luthier (created the Dana Scoop guitar for Alvarez guitars) do the refrett. He just told me the cost is $850!!!! I am blown away. Is this normal for these basses?

[Fat240]

Originally Posted by JeffplaysBass

I think he said he would go $2400.

He came back to me with 2600 the best he could do. But,...... I have another deal in the works for a Hungarian Sheep dog.

[anton72]

Originally Posted by bcpatti3

SPECTOR REFRETT - I have a CZECH Solid Spector 5 string that I paid $1200 used back in 1997. I just had it refretted, as in still in shop yet to pick up. I had a high-end Luthier (created the Dana Scoop guitar for Alvarez guitars) do the refrett. He just told me the cost is $850!!!! I am blown away. Is this normal for these basses?

that's ridiculous. You can get another bass like this for this money)

[bcpatti3]

thats what I thought. When I first asked him for an estimate over the phone. He used terminology I cant remember. But it was something like "If your fretboard is this way it will cost around $300 but if it is built this way it will be closer to $500". Then when I brought it in he said "OH THIS IS TEXTBOOK, this will be nice and easy" and then told me it was going to be $552. I was annoyed but I knew he was a well respected Luthier so I dealt with it. When he came back at $850 I was floored.

[bcpatti3]

The frets were an upgrade. I selected the same frets used in Warwick basses but that was only a cost of $60