SPECTOR® Club - Part 51

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

I don't know if PJ told you... but because I am predominantly a pick player as well, I actually prefer the Pau Ferro.

The Black Pearl will be the only BEM bass I own. It is brighter with less mids and I think the warmer tone of the Pau Ferro appeals more to me.

Actually, it's sort of apples to oranges, but the solid Honduran Rosewood neck on my ARC6 is the best sounding guitar neck I've ever played. So this almost leaves me to ask what a solid Pau Ferro neck would sound like (on like a USA Bolt-On). Perhaps it would sound horrible... or amazing. Don't know.

But I totally think you're right... I think it's a mistake to get a bass for aesthetic reasons only. And as beautiful as the Pearl is, I reach for the Dream now... all the time. And still, my NS-4 is a very comfortable, great sounding option.

I do like Pau Ferro, a lot. It's actually a bit harder than rosewood. While rosewood and pau ferro have been my favorites (especially solo), the maple just seems to work in a mix for me.

Roger Sadowsky references Stuart in his description of fingerboard woods:

MAPLE: Tightest and brightest. Best for slap. Can produce more string and fret noise than others. Requires a finish to keep from turning dirty and grey.

EBONY: Not as bright as maple. Most immediate attack and punch of all our fingerboard woods. Note is more fundamental with less overtones. Best for fretless. Pure black ebony from Madagascar is limited. African ebony has some grey mottling but is still very beautiful.

MORADO (also known as Caviuna, Bolivian Rosewood or Pau Ferro): Morado is not a true rosewood, but I have been a fan of this wood for fingerboards for 30 years. Also used a lot by Stu Spector. Grain is very tight and smooth. More warmth than maple or ebony, but tighter than East Indian Rosewood. Excellent wear resistance, even on a fretless. For fretless, produces a somewhat more acoustic/upright tone than ebony.

MADAGASCAR ROSEWOOD: A less expensive alternative to Brazilian Rosewood. Many boards have the spider-web like grain of Brazilian. Rich reddish brown colors. Can be more open grained that some others. Tone is in the same ballpark as Morado and Brazilian. New supplies are limited.

AMAZON ROSEWOOD (Dalbergia Spruciana): A new alternative to Brazilian Rosewood. A true cousin to Dalbergia Nigra, Amazon Rosewood is more similar to Brazilian than any other wood.

BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD (Dalbergia Nigra): For me, the King of tonewoods for fingerboards and acoustic guitar sides and backs. Beautiful browns and blacks. Wood has very high oil content. Banned from export out of Brazil in log form since 1969. Currently protected by the CITES treaty which prevents shipment between countries without intensive permits. Same treaty that protects tortoise shell and ivory. We can only ship instruments with Brazilian Rosewood to a US address. No longer recommended to musicians who travel internationally.

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

Yeah he talked me out of ebony for the 6'er too - good call.

Since I already have an NS-5XL with pau ferro, I'm going to go ahead with the BEM on the 5XL build. I want something different. I've liked a lot of your Black Pearl clips so I'm feeling good about the choice. Worst case scenario - I order an NS-2 down the road LOL. Since the ebony on the Webster is probably brighter than my average Euro, the BEM might actually fit more with my current band.

It's really too bad my current NS-5XL only has routing for three pots or I would try and get the 9v in there.

I really dislike ebony, generally. Keep in mind, birdseye is not as tight grained as rock maple and can be "squirely" at times.

[JPSBassist]

[tomydacat]

I TOO love Pau Ferro fingerboards Love the look period... WOOO

[chrisloe]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

Nice!

Can we nominate ourselves?

Absolutely!

[TK4261]

What kind of Rosewood do they use on the Euro fretboards?

On the Spector site it just says,

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

[JPSBassist]

Originally Posted by TK4261

What kind of Rosewood do they use on the Euro fretboards?

On the Spector site it just says,

FINGERBOARD: Rosewood

East Indian Rosewood.

[TK4261]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

East Indian Rosewood.

Thanks JPS!

[worshiprocker]

we just ordered an arc6 pro for my guitarist!! I can't wait for him to get it

[tomydacat]

Donny AWESOMEE what color???? hmmm

[worshiprocker]

Amberburst. We are all pretty excited

[anton72]

Men, is it possible to earn living playing\composing music in USA? (not taking into account "Justin Bieber cases" etc) Just curious what you feel there because I hate my job, it's not related to music - I work for FMCG. Really frustrated because I started working in this business to earn my first bass (Ibanez that time) to afford doing what I was supposed to do, i.e. music, and then I was sort of hooked on by "stability" of this incom. Many years'have passed and I'm still there...I look around and find my former band mates hate their music business 'cause they are also doing not what they really want but what is expected...writing songs for cheesy pop-bands and voiceless but nice-looking girl-singers promoted by their fathers and lovers. Sh.t...What do you think?

[anton72]

P.S. I went in for muisic when I was 7, I started play flute.

[cjmodulus]

Originally Posted by anton72

Men, is it possible to earn living playing\composing music in USA? (not taking into account "Justin Bieber cases" etc) Just curious what you feel there because I hate my job, it's not related to music - I work for FMCG. Really frustrated because I started working in this business to earn my first bass (Ibanez that time) to afford doing what I was supposed to do, i.e. music, and then I was sort of hooked on by "stability" of this incom. Many years'have passed and I'm still there...I look around and find my former band mates hate their music business 'cause they are also doing not what they really want but what is expected...writing songs for cheesy pop-bands and voiceless but nice-looking girl-singers promoted by their fathers and lovers. Sh.t...What do you think?

I think it has to do partly with what style of music you're looking to get into. I know a lot of people who make a living as full time jazz musicians- they say it's a busy life, but they love it.
If you're looking to play urban or contemporary rock, R&B, country, etc. there are several scenes (nashville being a good example) where it can be done. There are a lot of pop/contemporary acts that I could see myself having fun playing for, not just the talentless singers of which you speak (although there are plenty of those around too...)

Obviously someone like Jaymi would be better fit to comment on this sort of thing than I- but I'm looking at making a living this way too, so I figured I'd chime in. Actually, I just finished most of my college apps- I'm really hoping to go to the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music next year!

I know what you mean though- the thought of going into music full time and not having the economic stability of a 'normal' job is scary- It's something that I'm constantly worried about, but i figure if I don't give it a shot I'm gonna regret it, and while discipline ways ounces, regret weighs tons. Of course our respective situations are vastly different, but hey, a different point of view never hurt, right?

[brotherbassj]

Originally Posted by anton72

Men, is it possible to earn living playing\composing music in USA? (not taking into account "Justin Bieber cases" etc) Just curious what you feel there because I hate my job, it's not related to music - I work for FMCG. Really frustrated because I started working in this business to earn my first bass (Ibanez that time) to afford doing what I was supposed to do, i.e. music, and then I was sort of hooked on by "stability" of this incom. Many years'have passed and I'm still there...I look around and find my former band mates hate their music business 'cause they are also doing not what they really want but what is expected...writing songs for cheesy pop-bands and voiceless but nice-looking girl-singers promoted by their fathers and lovers. Sh.t...What do you think?

I don't want to be a negative voice here...so let me say that is it possible. I think you have to be single with few bills and responsibilities and super flexible with how you can live and creative with living on low amounts of funds at times. Or have a wife that doesn't mind you being absent a lot and trusts you and makes great money....that works too. I know several musicians that are trying and their wives are footing all the bills....and yeah that's rare. I have been so close twice....once in college, where I made great money.....and once recently, but my family responsibilities took over.

I am sure it is possible, it just never panned out for me, sometimes I think it has to do with timing and being in the right place at the right time! Anything is possible! Follow your dreams until you fall out of love with them of find a different dream to chase....but never stop dreaming! And remember, you have to experience failures to appreciate success! Have faith and get a lot of advice and demographics before you upturn a stable life.....but hold on to your dreams until you can't my friend!

[worshiprocker]

It's all about who you know. As a writer you need to be able to sell your songs or collect royalties from your song being played on tv/movies.

Being in an original band would be the hardest way to do it. But bring a hired gun would work. Again you either need to know the right people or get lucky.

I use to make most of my living as a hired guitarist and band leader, my original band as yet to make me any money, I subsidize with IT contract work.

So earningva steady income could be hard to come by, doable but not easy.

[brotherbassj]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

It's all about who you know. As a writer you need to be able to sell your songs or collect royalties from your song being played on tv/movies.

Being in an original band would be the hardest way to do it. But bring a hired gun would work. Again you either need to know the right people or get lucky.

I use to make most of my living as a hired guitarist and band leader, my original band as yet to make me any money, I subsidize with IT contract work.

So earningva steady income could be hard to come by, doable but not easy.

This too....sound advice

[anton72]

Originally Posted by brotherbassj

And remember, you have to experience failures to appreciate success!

Very wise, bro...have to put it in my life-vocabulary). Thanks!

[anton72]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

It's all about who you know. .

Yeah you're right Donny, but here you have to know such a bastards...

[anton72]

Yes I have to be single in this case...but it's too late!!! Well, my wife now is super-tolerant to my bassism-Spectorism, but I suppose it's just for a moment when everyithing is ok financially..

Originally Posted by brotherbassj

I don't want to be a negative voice here...so let me say that is it possible. I think you have to be single with few bills and responsibilities and super flexible with how you can live and creative with living on low amounts of funds at times. Or have a wife that doesn't mind you being absent a lot and trusts you and makes great money....that works too. I know several musicians that are trying and their wives are footing all the bills....and yeah that's rare. I have been so close twice....once in college, where I made great money.....and once recently, but my family responsibilities took over.

I am sure it is possible, it just never panned out for me, sometimes I think it has to do with timing and being in the right place at the right time! Anything is possible! Follow your dreams until you fall out of love with them of find a different dream to chase....but never stop dreaming! And remember, you have to experience failures to appreciate success! Have faith and get a lot of advice and demographics before you upturn a stable life.....but hold on to your dreams until you can't my friend!

[tomydacat]

I have a friend in Nashville and he has recently tried doing some things a little different. He teaches guitar so he makes a living doing that but is looking into doing studio work and he tells me a lot of the studio people have to tour with someone first before they get their stripes in doing studio work. NOt sure if it is just with the guy he is trying to do studio work with or not though. He knows people there that play all day downtown and make a pretty good living just playing gigs at the bars but it is LOTS of time playing to make it,.