SPECTOR® Club - Part 51

[JPSBassist]

Originally Posted by Splods

Aaaaaand I am still waiting on my club number *sigh

I am thinking of making a Spector inspired bass, 35 inch scale single cutaway. Would be pretty nice.

Stephen Sukop, a friend of mine and a super talented luthier in Colorado makes a curved body single cutaway. He makes really nice hand-made basses... he sells direct and has adopted the Mike Tobias build model... just him in his workshop at his house making 5-10 instruments a month.

I like what Stephen does because he does it with integrity and he's a super nice guy. If you ever get to meet him, he's very easy to talk to and like Stuart, he's all about tone and comfort.

He was nervous meeting me for the first time because his basses all feature curved bodies like the NS. More gentle a curve and by no means a "copy"... I looked at what he was building and saw it as a nod or compliment to Stuart and Ned, which is exactly how Stephen meant it. I think after all the stuff between Spector and Warwick he wasn't sure how it'd be taken. And a couple of minutes of taking to one another and we were on the way to becoming friends. He and his wife are great people.

He builds a beautiful Fodera-Inspired single cutaway with the larger upper horn and a curved body.

It's like if a Fodera and Spector NS had a baby.

They're pricy... but the build quality is meticulous and Stephen is sincerely a very good guy. You should check it out.

It sounds like (sort of) the same thing.

And according to PJ, the original discussions with Rex Brown and Stuart about the RX-T was going to have it with a curved body. So a mix between an NS and Tele.

I think that would be cool.

[Splods]

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

[JPSBassist]

Originally Posted by Splods

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

I honestly can't answer that because I don't play 5-string.

John Deluca and several others like Bunkaroo are 5-string players and I know both of these gentlemen have played/owned both Euro and USA 5'ers. John has had both USA Bolt-On and Neck-Thru 5'ers.

PJ Rubal has become much more of a 5-string player over the years and in talking to him he often talks about how the 35" scale models have more articulate B-strings.

Darryl Anders (Tower of Power) has said the same and he's the guy that pushed Stuart to do a 35" scale Coda.

I'd ask John and Andrew what they think about the difference between USA and Euro 5-string models.

[JPSBassist]

The new Spector Bass website will go live on January 1st.

A completely new site from the ground up, it also features completely new photos.

The attached images are header graphics. Each main model page will have a graphic of the basses in its group or series.

Then individual pages will have nice detailed photos of that model.

So here are the header graphics for the USA Series Model Lines... and there's one Euro that snuck in here... in the Special Edition Models... the new Euro4LX-Limited Edition. It qualifies as the first Euro Special Edition Model due to the special serial number sequence this model is getting.

There will be some familiar basses in here. A couple of the members of this club have basses in these photos.

USA Neck-Thru Models


USA Bolt-On Models


Forte Models


Coda Models


Special Edition Models

[Christian Waiau]

Originally Posted by Splods

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

IMO how the bass is set up has a lot to do with this.... I really hate trying basses out at music store because of this..

I've played some ernieball musicman 5s that had a nice B(34" scale too if I recall?) and I've also played some at sounded dead and lifeless..

[Baird6869]

Originally Posted by diechris

I've played some ernieball musicman 5s that had a nice B(34" scale too if I recall?) and I've also played some at sounded dead and lifeless..

And I was amazed that a Fodera 33" 5er could sound and play incredibly.

I am starting to warm up to 34" 5ers but 35's have been my favourite for more than 2 decades....

[delucajohn2000]

Originally Posted by Splods

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

Which Euro did you try? Was it a Rebop (bolt-on) or a beck-thru? My first Spector ever was a Euro 5LX neck-thru and that had a thunderous B string so like DieChris mentioned, it could been due to the setup. Also, the strings could have been dead as well so I wouldn't go on just that. I have never played an Indonesian Spector so I can't answer for those but never thought the B string was disappointing in the Euro's and I have tried many different brands.

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

I honestly can't answer that because I don't play 5-string.

John Deluca and several others like Bunkaroo are 5-string players and I know both of these gentlemen have played/owned both Euro and USA 5'ers. John has had both USA Bolt-On and Neck-Thru 5'ers.

PJ Rubal has become much more of a 5-string player over the years and in talking to him he often talks about how the 35" scale models have more articulate B-strings.

Darryl Anders (Tower of Power) has said the same and he's the guy that pushed Stuart to do a 35" scale Coda.

I'd ask John and Andrew what they think about the difference between USA and Euro 5-string models.

The difference mostly with the Euro's and the USA models is definitely build quality but that should be obvious I don't think the B strings are inferior on the Euro's compared to the USA models though since they are killer on both to be honest.

The big thing I notice with the USA models is comfort. My NS-5 XL has a massive neck on it but it is the most comfortable neck I have ever played. It just fits perfectly in my hand and it just so comfortable to play that I don't even notice it. I do have larger hands than the normal person but others have tried that bass out and said the exact same thing.

I also have an NS-4 and the neck on that bass is pretty huge and I love it. It really helps for when I switch between a 4 and a 5 string since I don't really notice too much of a difference going from one to the other. I have another bass here that has a 1.5" nut and going from that to a 5 string is really a huge difference. Plus, something like that is just too narrow for my hands so I don't plan on getting any basses with a 1.5" nut in the future but that is just me

Edit: Just to add to this, I don't want you to think that the Euro's are not comfortable because that is definitely not the case. Just comparing the two, you will see the difference when comparing them.

[Splods]

I love Euro's. I'm not rich, and the European Rebop at the music store will be mine soon. I just know it.

[Profania_bass]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

I think your top is better than my Forte 5!!! Nice top... Here is mine for comparison.

Still, that is a fantastic looking top! You should be proud!

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by Splods

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

That's too bad. I bought a Spector CRFM (pre-Euro) and I didn't care for the B string either. I honestly think this had more to do with the strings than anything. I ended up selling it because me and EMG didn't get along well. I also think I am used to the attack of a bolt on and it just wasn't giving me what I was used to.

I've played a friends Legend (Korean) as well as several other Legends (Korean and Indonesian) in music stores and their B string actually kills.

I had a USA Coda 5 that is a bolt on J style bass Spector makes (34 inch scale) and the B string was out of this world. Top 3 that I've owned so far.

Originally Posted by diechris

IMO how the bass is set up has a lot to do with this.... I really hate trying basses out at music store because of this..

I've played some ernieball musicman 5s that had a nice B(34" scale too if I recall?) and I've also played some at sounded dead and lifeless..

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Baird6869

And I was amazed that a Fodera 33" 5er could sound and play incredibly.

I am starting to warm up to 34" 5ers but 35's have been my favourite for more than 2 decades....

Scale length isn't everything, but it is something.

I prefer a 35 inch scale but I have found good B's on 34's and have heard about good B's on 33 and 32's. But those builds are always top notch boutiques.

Originally Posted by delucajohn2000

Which Euro did you try? Was it a Rebop (bolt-on) or a beck-thru? My first Spector ever was a Euro 5LX neck-thru and that had a thunderous B string so like DieChris mentioned, it could been due to the setup. Also, the strings could have been dead as well so I wouldn't go on just that. I have never played an Indonesian Spector so I can't answer for those but never thought the B string was disappointing in the Euro's and I have tried many different brands.



The difference mostly with the Euro's and the USA models is definitely build quality but that should be obvious I don't think the B strings are inferior on the Euro's compared to the USA models though since they are killer on both to be honest.

The big thing I notice with the USA models is comfort. My NS-5 XL has a massive neck on it but it is the most comfortable neck I have ever played. It just fits perfectly in my hand and it just so comfortable to play that I don't even notice it. I do have larger hands than the normal person but others have tried that bass out and said the exact same thing.

I also have an NS-4 and the neck on that bass is pretty huge and I love it. It really helps for when I switch between a 4 and a 5 string since I don't really notice too much of a difference going from one to the other. I have another bass here that has a 1.5" nut and going from that to a 5 string is really a huge difference. Plus, something like that is just too narrow for my hands so I don't plan on getting any basses with a 1.5" nut in the future but that is just me

Edit: Just to add to this, I don't want you to think that the Euro's are not comfortable because that is definitely not the case. Just comparing the two, you will see the difference when comparing them.

So, what you're saying is that Spectors have awesome B strings, John?

[GBassNorth]

Originally Posted by Splods

Sounds exactly like the drawing I was doing.

I have tried several Spector 5 strings, and I have found the B strings to be quite dissapointing, although I was playing a European and Indonesian Spectors.

Are the American 5 strings nice?

Actually the B string on my Rex5 Pro bass is quite nice, no complaints here. It plays every bit as good as my Alembic 5 string and my Pedulla 5 string and feels/sounds as good as any Lakland 5 string I've played. It's much better than my Fender Jazz 5 or my Stingray SR5. The Rex5 Pro is a neck thru 35" so maybe that helps.

[iceboxbass]

This weekend I've been playing my Coda 5XL thru my Ampeg B-15T and what an amazing sounding bass! I've got to get some sound clips made and posted soon.

[GBassNorth]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

This weekend I've been playing my Coda 5XL thru my Ampeg B-15T and what an amazing sounding bass! I've got to get some sound clips made and posted soon.

Ice - Love the looks of your Coda and can't wait to hear some sound clips! I bought a USA NS-2J special edition a few weeks ago and have been completely floored on how great it sounds and feels. I think your Coda has the aggie jazz pickups and OBP-2 preamp IIRC. I suspect it sounds thunderous and I'd love to hear what difference it makes vs the EMG jazz pickups and OBP-3 preamp I have in my NS-2J.
I'm finding (much to my pleasure) the EMG package combined with the all walnut body gives an ultra agressive Jazz snarl and growl. It actually puts my Warwick Thumb 5 in the back seat from a grit/growl/snarl standpoint. This Spector can play smooth as well but only if you play lightly, dig in and it jumps from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde!

[ebradfordrich]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

Forte Models

Epic! I really wish that I knew what to do with a 6 string because this one (^^^) is stunning.

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

This weekend I've been playing my Coda 5XL thru my Ampeg B-15T and what an amazing sounding bass! I've got to get some sound clips made and posted soon.

Originally Posted by GBassNorth

Ice - Love the looks of your Coda and can't wait to hear some sound clips! I bought a USA NS-2J special edition a few weeks ago and have been completely floored on how great it sounds and feels. I think your Coda has the aggie jazz pickups and OBP-2 preamp IIRC. I suspect it sounds thunderous and I'd love to hear what difference it makes vs the EMG jazz pickups and OBP-3 preamp I have in my NS-2J.
I'm finding (much to my pleasure) the EMG package combined with the all walnut body gives an ultra agressive Jazz snarl and growl. It actually puts my Warwick Thumb 5 in the back seat from a grit/growl/snarl standpoint. This Spector can play smooth as well but only if you play lightly, dig in and it jumps from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde!

Good to see some people jumping on the J train! It's lonely here among the pj users!

[Profania_bass]

Originally Posted by JPSBassist

I'd totally get a Rex if they were a bit more pointy



Like this!

[chrisloe]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I had a USA Coda 5 that is a bolt on J style bass Spector makes (34 inch scale) and the B string was out of this world. Top 3 that I've owned so far.

I remember how excited you were and how much you dug it. I just got a Coda Deluxe and I honestly can't put it down. Just wondering Mad, what made you get rid of the Coda and what replaced it? Good to have you back here by the way man! Maybe my "favorite non current Spector owning club member award"

[cjmodulus]

Originally Posted by GBassNorth

Actually the B string on my Rex5 Pro bass is quite nice, no complaints here. It plays every bit as good as my Alembic 5 string and my Pedulla 5 string and feels/sounds as good as any Lakland 5 string I've played. It's much better than my Fender Jazz 5 or my Stingray SR5. The Rex5 Pro is a neck thru 35" so maybe that helps.

My legend 5 and 6 classics both have really nice B strings. The clearest B I've heard was on my former modulus, but the legends sound good enough to me so that I don't really miss it all that much

[Profania_bass]

Both my Spector's B strings (Rebop and Euro) are much better than the Warwick's.. It's a German made one too!

[worshiprocker]

I have only played a rex5 pro and MK 5 pro (the korean one) I was very impressed with both B strings, especially the MK. I almost walked away with that bass lol