SPECTOR® Club - Part 53 (A tribute to our Spector Brother and Friend Chris Loe)

[brotherbassj]

Originally Posted by lippylou

just an off subject question, what are your opinions on D'Addario XL's? I normally play Ernieball Stainless Steel Super Slinks. They have them at a music store right outside my base in Korea and Im curious of their feel and sound. Thanks guys, hope everyone is doing well!

I have used daddarios XLs for many years. I have found them to be even and last a long time, and I'm big and sweat.....lol. Ci get them in a two pack regularly for about $26 . They feel good and sound good and have been my go to string. That being said, I'm a string tramp.....I can use whatever! I like dunlops, ghs, and DRs too! Lol

[Christian Waiau]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

ya I was using 115s but I'm really digging the 120s, tension and round bottom end is great... the sustain isn't as great as the lighter gauges IMHO.

I think this will be the year for me to order a Red EuroLX 435... I need to try out the scale and see if it helps me.

I think a lot might have to do with the fact I never found a good string at .120

I did like .115 for a bit.


Went to .135 for a low A in my last band and now I'm at a G# with .135 which is what that last recording was with.

[delucajohn2000]

Originally Posted by lippylou

just an off subject question, what are your opinions on D'Addario XL's? I normally play Ernieball Stainless Steel Super Slinks. They have them at a music store right outside my base in Korea and Im curious of their feel and sound. Thanks guys, hope everyone is doing well!

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

I think they're "ok". the E string tends to go dead on me fast with XL's.

I like the pro-steels better. basically the xl with a stainless outer winding. they last longer and break in smoother (gradual decay from zingy new to broken in) whereas the xl's seem to go dull all of a sudden. YMMV

Just to add to this a bit. I tried a set of the the D'Addario EXP's on my NS-4 and love them. I am a fan of higher tension strings and these definitely fall in that category but they also give off a nice tone as well. Another option for people that like D'Addario and they are supposed to last a bit longer as well.

Originally Posted by diechris

I think a lot might have to do with the fact I never found a good string at .120

I did like .115 for a bit.


Went to .135 for a low A in my last band and now I'm at a G# with .135 which is what that last recording was with.

There must be something wrong with me. I had to use a .158 to go down to G# but that might be due to the fact that it's on a Rebop which is a bolt-on. I do notice my bolt-on Spectors aren't as forgiving with the lower tunings as my neck-thru's but I am far from an expert

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by delucajohn2000

There must be something wrong with me. I had to use a .158 to go down to G# but that might be due to the fact that it's on a Rebop which is a bolt-on. I do notice my bolt-on Spectors aren't as forgiving with the lower tunings as my neck-thru's but I am far from an expert

Nah. Rebops have GREAT tension! I doubt it's because it was a bolt-on

[iceboxbass]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

I'm not worried about the cost - I'm worried about that fact I am a butcher when it comes to doing things like that LOL.

So just shielding the removable cover would be enough? It seems like there is already some kind of shielding on the Euro cavity cover. I was under the impression most people would do the whole cavity and under the pickups. I know my hand is not neat enough for that kind of work, and I don't solder.

Hey Bunk...here's an article that I ran across today about static in your bass guitar.

http://www.bestbassgear.com/ebass/ge...ign=2013-01-16

http://www.bestbassgear.com/ebass/ge...ign=2013-01-16

I hope one of these will help you.

[iceboxbass]

Originally Posted by JeffplaysBass

I think your band should open for them Mike!!!

Haha! My CCM band is on a hiatus currently...and I don't think my church Praise band would be accepted well. lol

[iceboxbass]

Originally Posted by superdick2112

Merlin is cool, but as far as that tale goes, The Lady of the Lake rocks..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-KyQ0EMJ3M

YES she does and she should rock a Spector Bass!

[iceboxbass]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

congrats on the album bunkaroo!

I have returned to Spector ownership with the acquisition of a mighty circuit board!

Hey, how about that 9V circuit! Was that a back ordered?

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

Hey, how about that 9V circuit! Was that a back ordered?

Mike is right.. that says HAZ on the pot, that is no Mighty Mite preamp my friend

[madbassplaya]

Originally Posted by worshiprocker

Mike is right.. that says HAZ on the pot, that is no Mighty Mite preamp my friend

I took it as a mighty (kick@$$) preamp. Lol

I want a USA Bolt on...

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

I took it as a mighty (kick@$$) preamp. Lol

I want a USA Bolt on...

touche' my friend... I do too.. the new NS-2-BO

[Fat240]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

Hey, how about that 9V circuit! Was that a back ordered?

I believe that's a 80's era 9v circuit.

[husky123]

Originally Posted by Fat240

I believe that's a 80's era 9v circuit.

Sure looks like it to me. Ears are the best judge though.

[Worldeeeter]

Originally Posted by Fat240

I believe that's a 80's era 9v circuit.

That thing looks like a circuit board out of a 1950's transistor radio!
I definitely see more art than science there; such a great sound comes out of that archaic thing.
As we all know, they're hard to get in any quantity, mainly cuz old circuit board components become more and more difficult to get as time goes on.
Part of me thinks there is a way to modernize that thing with existing components, a printed circuit board the size of two postage stamps, and the pots (kind of like EMG's new OBPs).
It'd probably be a lot cheaper, too, as rare relics wouldn't have to be unearthed to build the darn things.
That's the work part of me; the play part of me loves the sound the "Spector US 9V circuit" produces.
JPS - If Stuart ever wants to upgrade that thing, I can put you in touch with several board shops in NY/NJ that can help out.

[Fat240]

Originally Posted by husky123

Sure looks like it to me. Ears are the best judge though.

Yes, and I'm at work till 11:30 tonight. I was hoping that the snow would arrive sooner so I could have stayed home and enjoyed that sound.

[Clearwave]

Here is the HAZ thats in my NS2a prototype. I looks like someone wrote 6/5/86 on it. the front volume pot looks different.

[j.kernodle]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

Hey, how about that 9V circuit! Was that a back ordered?

that my friends is the preamp to my new to me 1985 Brooklyn NS2. so yep it's a real deal. more pics to come. just want to get it outdoors for the full glamour treatment. in the meantime here's a little somethin'

[Clearwave]

Thats what I think the tonepump is. Its much cheaper/easier/modern/smarter way to make a groovy sounding pre.

It's a bummer we cant buy A haz anymore. I imagine they'll become available for us someday. There is no doubt in my mind they are WAY overpriced for what they are ....but that didn't stop me from trying to buy one.

I'm looking forward to being able to compare a HAZ, tonepump, and OBP 2.

Originally Posted by Worldeeeter

That thing looks like a circuit board out of a 1950's transistor radio!
I definitely see more art than science there; such a great sound comes out of that archaic thing.
As we all know, they're hard to get in any quantity, mainly cuz old circuit board components become more and more difficult to get as time goes on.
Part of me thinks there is a way to modernize that thing with existing components, a printed circuit board the size of two postage stamps, and the pots (kind of like EMG's new OBPs).
It'd probably be a lot cheaper, too, as rare relics wouldn't have to be unearthed to build the darn things.
That's the work part of me; the play part of me loves the sound the "Spector US 9V circuit" produces.
JPS - If Stuart ever wants to upgrade that thing, I can put you in touch with several board shops in NY/NJ that can help out.

[Fat240]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

that my friends is the preamp to my new to me 1985 Brooklyn NS2. so yep it's a real deal. more pics to come. just want to get it outdoors for the full glamour treatment. in the meantime here's a little somethin'

very nice!! I believe that's a keeper.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by iceboxbass

Hey Bunk...here's an article that I ran across today about static in your bass guitar.

http://www.bestbassgear.com/ebass/ge...ign=2013-01-16

http://www.bestbassgear.com/ebass/ge...ign=2013-01-16

I hope one of these will help you.

Interesting stuff. The Spectors don't have metal knobs, and I don't hear a pop when I touch pickups. Have to look into this further.

So I think I've been able to narrow this down some more.

Since my piece of crap iRig adapter (no offense to those who like it) is so noisy, I could not tell if the basses were still picking up the buzz or not when completely isolated from anything plugged into the wall. So I ran down to the Apple store and picked up the Apogee Jam interface for the iPad. Now this is a quality adapter. Very quiet.

So I plugged in my 6LX which had been the noisiest directly into the the Jam into the iPad, and no noise. I held the bass right where the noise was worst and it wasn't there. So then I started introducing more back into the chain. I ran through my pedal board with the EBS MultiComp, B3K, Corona Chorus and VT Bass directly out into the Jam. Still quiet. I mean the overdrive causes noise but it's the kind you expect from OD.

Then I plugged the pedal board back into the input of my RBI and ran the RBI output into the Jam. And there's the noise. The thing is, the same thing happens with my Sansamp RPM but I guess I shouldn't be surprised since they're both made the same way. But I was also hearing it through my Eden amp head, so I wasn't sure it could be the Sansamp stuff. Perhaps it's the fact all this stuff is racked together?

I still don't really understand why where and how I position my bass in the room would be affected by being plugged into a noisy preamp. Same bass and cables plugged into iPad - quiet. So why does plugging into the preamp make a difference? The preamp itself is not generating noise when I am not plugged into it - only the when I'm plugged in and the volume is up on the bass.

I am going to experiment with using both the XLR and 1/4" out from the RBI and taking it out of the rack to see if that makes a difference. Sorry for the novel - just hoping this can help someone else someday since Spectors are involved.