SPECTOR® Club - Part 50

[mntngrown]

Hi, I was fortunate enough to buy Steve's, (Smadder's), Euro 435LX. A string broke on him before shipping and he did not have a 5 string set, so sent it EADG for shipping purposes.
I got it, and it is awesome looking and feels great, but despite having several 5 and six string sets laying around, none of them fit in the nut slots for BEAD . Can anyone tell me the maximum gauges that will fit in the nut without any file work.
Thanks. And yes he is a great guy to deal with!

[TK4261]

Originally Posted by Fat240

Some quick pic's of the Rebop, The stain is transparent looks solid on the pics but you can see the grain. Has a matte clear on it.

Looks really good, looking forward to seeing it all set up.

[chrisloe]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Here's a question that pops into my head from time-to-time.
Some of Spector's endorsing artists choose to play Legends or Performers.
Some of these people are big names, or are touring all over the world (Red Jane, the dude from Staind, etc).
What would drive an artist to use an "inferior" instrument when they have options like the Euro or USAs available to them?

Part of the magic of talkbass...."The dude from Staind", Johnny April, is on here and pops into the club once in a while, I think his username is staindbass, but I'm not sure. Maybe he can answer for himself.

I will say it was funny you mentioned this, I just saw Staind on the "AUD" channel tonight. Maybe it's a cost thing, maybe it's what they used before and got used to thing maybe they just don't want to bring that expensive of an instrument on the road, but I can tell you that Johnny doesn't need to change a thing. Killer tone and sound.

[Fat240]

Your right about that Chris, he's getting great tone from that setup.

[JPSBassist]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

Here's a question that pops into my head from time-to-time.
Some of Spector's endorsing artists choose to play Legends or Performers.
Some of these people are big names, or are touring all over the world (Red Jane, the dude from Staind, etc).
What would drive an artist to use an "inferior" instrument when they have options like the Euro or USAs available to them?

This is a good question... it's been a while... since anyone asked it. LOL. "It's been a while" A Staind reference.

OK. In all seriousness.

There are several ways of looking at this.

First, I know a bunch of those artists who are touring with Legends and ReBops who have USA models at home for Studio work. Many simply feel their USA Spectors are to beautiful, too unique, to put through the rough and tumble world of touring.

Then there's cost. Guys like Chris Kael of Five Finger Death Punch... they play aggressively. They have aggressive fans... and when you can get the tone out of a Rex-Pro or Legend that you need... why not take three or four of those on the road and not worry about if they get messed up.

Dirty Ray of Bret Michaels Band once raised his bass in salutation at the end of a song not realizing there were steel industrial ceiling fans above him and he decapitated his Rex at the 3rd fret. What was so killer about this, besides the horrible noise it made, was that PJ Rubal was in the audience watching.

Then you have guys like Johnny April who actually prefer bolt-on neck basses with passive pickups. Not everyone is into active pups. And not everyone wants a bass with sustain that last days.

So I know for a fact that Johnny once bought an NS-5XL and after a week sent it back and turned around and bought several more Legends. He said it made more sense to have 4 or 5 spare Legends than one NS-5XL. He didn't like the change in the neck, the weight, etc... he prefers the Legend.

Cost savings, tone and features (bolt-on necks, passive pups, or in the case of Jane Bass, all passive, no circuit even which is what she prefers), the fact that Legends are easy to replace and are more cost logical if you need to replace them.

This is why Spector makes the lines they do.

The Performer is sincerely meant to be a really nicely made entry-level (beginner-student) bass. It's not designed or built to be a pro bass. Not to say you can't use one for gigs, etc...

But they're all passive and they're designed with the beginner and/or the bassist on a tight budget.

The Legends and Pro-Series are true, industry tested and proven, professional musician level instruments which simply offer an entry into that sort of quality and playability at a really reasonable price.

The Europe Series is nothing more than a production-level version of the Woodstock stuff. Made with slightly cheaper materials (but still better than many bass makers use), and put together (by hand) assembly line style... they are amazing basses for the price and are designed to be the more affordable stand-in for the USA models.

I've been to Billy Sherwood's house and studio here in LA and he has a couple of Brooklyn Era NS-2s, including the ONLY 8-string Stuart has ever made... that thing is awesome. And he tours exclusively with Euro models.

Mike Rodden from Hinder has a BEAUTIFUL Water Cured Redwood NS-5XL... but you'll never see it on tour. He takes Euro5LX models out.

So many of Spector's Artists actually have USA models but don't tour with them.

It's a great question... What I'd say, and I say this because I believe it (I've got my Korean-Made NS-2A fretless in my lap as I write this), is that a Spector is a Spector. And they are all designed and approved by Stuart to meet the highest standards. So don't think of the Professional Series as lesser basses and the Euro and USA... just think of them as a different option which allows for great tone at a better price and the guilt-free feeling that if you destroy one while you're on tour... or the airline looses it, etc... you are not loosing a work of art (which is what you'd be loosing if you toured with USA models).

If I was a touring bassist... I'd play Euros or Legends on the road for sure.

[superdick2112]

Originally Posted by GBassNorth

Well, I couldn't fight it any longer, it's a NBD! ... I've been looking a long time for just the right Spector.... Here she is, #10 out of 14 made...

Congrats! What a beautiful top on that baby. I've always wanted to hear what dual Jazz pups on a Spector would sound like...

Enjoy!

[superdick2112]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

I have thought about getting a legend x myself. Endorsing artists still pay for basses, and yes cost of replacement definitly weighs in on the decision. The legends are still a $700 bass. I have played one and I was impressed

The USA Spectors are indeed the cream of the crop, but the lower-priced models are still serious basses, & are definitely Spectors, through & through.
My USA NS-4 is an absolute monster - the best bass I've ever owned or played - but IMHO, my CRFM & Euro are certainly in the same league, and every Spector I've ever tried - regardless of price - was a stage-worthy bass.

I would rock a Legend on stage - I'd rock it hard and proud.

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

Hi, I was fortunate enough to buy Steve's, (Smadder's), Euro 435LX. A string broke on him before shipping and he did not have a 5 string set, so sent it EADG for shipping purposes.
I got it, and it is awesome looking and feels great, but despite having several 5 and six string sets laying around, none of them fit in the nut slots for BEAD . Can anyone tell me the maximum gauges that will fit in the nut without any file work.
Thanks. And yes he is a great guy to deal with!

Even the 35" 4 strings come from Spector set up for EADG... at east on my basses, the biggest string I have been able to fit is a 115. I think Circle K makes a 117 and that might fit, but I have a 120 that doesn't quite fit. Hope that helps

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by chrisloe

Part of the magic of talkbass...."The dude from Staind", Johnny April, is on here and pops into the club once in a while, I think his username is staindbass, but I'm not sure. Maybe he can answer for himself.

I will say it was funny you mentioned this, I just saw Staind on the "AUD" channel tonight. Maybe it's a cost thing, maybe it's what they used before and got used to thing maybe they just don't want to bring that expensive of an instrument on the road, but I can tell you that Johnny doesn't need to change a thing. Killer tone and sound.

yup, I've seen them live and man his bass slays. I'll be staying in the sub $1000 range for basses. And personally If I can't tour with it, I'm not buying it.

On that note, seeing that the US bolt ons are now available in a PJ setup.... that could be a very affordable US bass with the growl we all love.

[Jaymi]

WHERE IS THE SPECTOR PIMP"??????

[smadder]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

yup, I've seen them live and man his bass slays. I'll be staying in the sub $1000 range for basses. And personally If I can't tour with it, I'm not buying it.

On that note, seeing that the US bolt ons are now available in a PJ setup.... that could be a very affordable US bass with the growl we all love.

My solution has been euro basses upgraded aftermarket to match their full USA electronics counterparts. Thusly, my faux NS 5 euro LX and my faux NS2. I get 95ish% of a Woodstock model at half the price or less. if you have a used euro your saving even more. It's a wonderful compromise and I'm not sure why more people don't do that.

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by smadder

My solution has been euro basses upgraded aftermarket to match their full USA electronics counterparts. Thusly, my faux NS 5 euro LX and my faux NS2. I get 95ish% of a Woodstock model at half the price or less. if you have a used euro your saving even more. It's a wonderful compromise and I'm not sure why more people don't do that.

ya I'm with you on that one brotha! A used EuroLX is a great value... a new EuroLX is a great value. i do want to get another EuroLX one day, but I LOVE my CRFMs.. I need an SSD Era one tho...

[mntngrown]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

Even the 35" 4 strings come from Spector set up for EADG... at east on my basses, the biggest string I have been able to fit is a 115. I think Circle K makes a 117 and that might fit, but I have a 120 that doesn't quite fit. Hope that helps

Thanks, but I am still confused. In this video, for another 35" scale 4 string, is the artist just saying you can down tune standard gauge EADG strings to BEAD because the bass is 35" scale? or is her bass from the factory a standard BEAD strung instrument.
http://www.spectorbass.com/europe/ne...uro4lx_tw.html

[fundamentalb]

Originally Posted by ebradfordrich

It's funny you mention that, Sam. I was thinking the same exact thing after taking a closer look at the tuners on the Euro tonight. If the store is going to sell bridges and preamps, it would make sense that they'd also carry the matching tuning machines. I have been emailing back/forth with the guys in Germany at Schaller to see if I can get some more clarity on this. (Maybe it would help to put a note over to someone in the Czech shop to see if they can shed some light on this.)

Interestingly, I took a closer look at my Forte's machines tonight as well and they also have the downward screws, though they are unmarked so I'm not sure who actually makes them.

My tuners are unmarked as well but they are schallers, or at least that was what I was told by the store I ordered them through, the replacements I got were also unmarked but matched the originals. Also to note at that point the HZ pickups were also unmarked, which imho isn't a bad thing... logo's are useful identifiers but annoyingly unsightly most of the time.

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

Thanks, but I am still confused. In this video, for another 35" scale 4 string, is the artist just saying you can down tune standard gauge EADG strings to BEAD because the bass is 35" scale? or is her bass from the factory a standard BEAD strung instrument.
http://www.spectorbass.com/europe/ne...uro4lx_tw.html

There is an option when ordering that bass from Spector to have the nut and bridge filed to string the bass BEAD. Nicki's bass is strung BEAD in that video. She had it setup that way from Spector (additional cost).

You can take your bass to a tech and have it setup properly for less than $50

[mntngrown]

3:47 into the video Guess its a EADG 35" bass? with a down tune potential

[Clearwave]

Originally Posted by LimaGuy

Actually the link you posted is exactly what PJ mentioned to me when I inquired about this a few months back. The M4 2000 does have the screw to the bottom but you notice the tuner itself is a different shape.

It seems the Czech Shop uses some type of OEM combo version of the M4 2000 with the tuner of the M4.

At that point even PJ was stumped on this. I am going to mention this again to him. It would great if the Spector Store can carry these since this does seem to be a common issue that has been coming up.

I Noticed that too, Maybe they used the guitar version photo by mistake.

[Fat240]

Circle K's have the taper, I can get a 150 and larger in my Wimbish with no problem. I setup my 4's for drop A with these strings. 118's and 120's need no nut filing.

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by mntngrown

3:47 into the video Guess its a EADG 35" bass? with a down tune potential

Exactly... from the factory standard it comes strung up EADG, just the same as any other bass. Since it is a 35" scale it will handle down tuning better because of the extra length and tension on the strings.

Longer scale = higher tension = lower notes will not be as "floppy" when tuned below "E"

Let me ask you a question. How are you going to use the bass? What tuning?

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by Fat240

Circle K's have the taper, I can get a 150 and larger in my Wimbish with no problem. I setup my 4's for drop A with these strings. 118's and 120's need no nut filing.

o ya? I always forget about the tapered strings. You go drop A with 120? that is amazing... I go drop C# with 115s and still want more tension.