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

[j.kernodle]

Originally Posted by 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.

I was thinking about the US9V/HAZ thing on my way to work this morning. How the backorder situation is nowhere near being fixed, orders are getting cancelled and even Stuart himself, based on reports from limaguy or jps (can't remember which) was worried about not being able to put them in his basses for NAMM. I've gotta think that somewhere someone is thinking of a backup plan for that circuitboard. The tonepump while groovy, is different, and the korean haz while almost identical looking didn't give the same sound. Who knows what the solution is? limaguys 18V trimpot tonepump was the closest approximation I heard.

[THE DANiMAL]

I've been out for a while with work being crazy and the little guy being a nut with teething, but I'm back with my Euro. No new additions yet.

I saw everything about Chris on facebook, I didn't really talk to him at all, but from what I read on here, he seemed like a great guy, my thoughts and prayers are with his family.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

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.

Yeah your bass should be dead silent, EMG's use the jack for the ground so any ground to the bridge will create noise. The shielding on the cover is for external / RF noise. Actually running foil in the control cavity and under the pickups can increase noise. These aren't Fenders, Stu knew what he was doing .

Sounds like you have a noisy outlet, a noisy power supply, or something noisy in the gain structure of the sans amp stuff. Racks have been known to get hum generated from all of the pieces being chasis grounded together as well. There are isolation mounts available for them that prevent this as well by isolating the rack from gear from the metal rails.

[grendle]

Hell, I'd be willing to assemble US9v circuits if it would help. Been in electronics for almost 20 yrs, and owned my own company as well. If it will help.

[Fat240]

Originally Posted by bunkaroo

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.

I've had to bypass my DI on the Sansamp in certian bars that had power issues. I had the most noise from the XLR.

[awilkie84]

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.

That's a funny way to spell Aguilar.

Originally Posted by grendle

Hell, I'd be willing to assemble US9v circuits if it would help. Been in electronics for almost 20 yrs, and owned my own company as well. If it will help.

Make one that fits a ReBop and an NS-2000!!!! WAAAANT!

[grendle]

Originally Posted by awilkie84

That's a funny way to spell Aguilar.



Make one that fits a ReBop and an NS-2000!!!! WAAAANT!

no reason they shouldnt fit. I put a MM114 ( 9v clone) in both my rebop and ns-2000.

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by grendle

no reason they shouldnt fit. I put a MM114 ( 9v clone) in both my rebop and ns-2000.

Well then, WANT.
Where do you get said MM114?

[grendle]

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.

almost all of those components are still available, there are a few specialty ones though which could possibly be subbed ( used in the US 9V and hard to find) but might not sound the same.

[grendle]

Dont know if their still available, I got mine online. It's basically a copy of the korean 9V i believe. decent pre. Honestly I would go with a tone pump though. easy install and they sound good, The mm114, korean 9V, and US 9V do sound a little different though, a little more natural in the highs.

[grendle]

to fit the rebop / ns 2000, there was a little point on the board that had to be clipped off ( no traces) and the holes had to be opened up ( same as when installing a US 9V) other than that it was simple. took about 30-40 min total install.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by grendle

There are isolation mounts available for them that prevent this as well by isolating the rack from gear from the metal rails.

Originally Posted by Fat240

I've had to bypass my DI on the Sansamp in certian bars that had power issues. I had the most noise from the XLR.

These are the two most likely culprits I think, as both have changed in the past few months.

One, when I first got the RBI I just had it sitting out on my desk by itself, and two, I was just using a 1/4" cable to connect it to my Mackie mixer.

A few months ago I redid my home studio setup and racked everything together. I also used the XLR's on the RBI and RPM to send the modeled sound to my Mackie. I did that so I could send the 1/4" to my rack tuner and have the tuner stay in the chain. I think I was still getting noise from the 1/4" too but for all I know that's because the XLR is plugged in elsewhere.

I guess I should use my patchbay as a way to send from the tuner out to any of my preamps - I hate having more cables in the chain but we'll see. I'll also look into those isolation mounts. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by THE DANiMAL

Very nice!

[bunkaroo]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

I was thinking about the US9V/HAZ thing on my way to work this morning. How the backorder situation is nowhere near being fixed, orders are getting cancelled and even Stuart himself, based on reports from limaguy or jps (can't remember which) was worried about not being able to put them in his basses for NAMM. I've gotta think that somewhere someone is thinking of a backup plan for that circuitboard. The tonepump while groovy, is different, and the korean haz while almost identical looking didn't give the same sound. Who knows what the solution is? limaguys 18V trimpot tonepump was the closest approximation I heard.

This is making me somewhat nervous that there won't be a 9v available for my build. I know it's a long way out but I really hope I can get what they're used to using.

Hopefully they're just taking them off the individual sale market to help build up the inventory. What if some maniac millionaire wanted 20 Spectors this year all with 9v's? Chaos!

[Basstovsky]

Man, I dunno if everyone strings up their bass with floss, or I string mine with telephone cables or what! All the string talk people are tuning low with just 105s, that's what I use for standard E tuning!

I use a BEAD set, 65-125, for C standard tuning, DR sunbeams and the tension is nice, not super tight as one might think, might be due to the round core DRs being a bit more flexible?

[Worldeeeter]

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

I was thinking about the US9V/HAZ thing on my way to work this morning. How the backorder situation is nowhere near being fixed, orders are getting cancelled and even Stuart himself, based on reports from limaguy or jps (can't remember which) was worried about not being able to put them in his basses for NAMM. I've gotta think that somewhere someone is thinking of a backup plan for that circuitboard. The tonepump while groovy, is different, and the korean haz while almost identical looking didn't give the same sound. Who knows what the solution is? limaguys 18V trimpot tonepump was the closest approximation I heard.

It's the components. Components that aren't made anymore. Rare transistors and other components that are being custom-made for Spector, as they're not production parts anymore. So, it's like buying antiques. That US 9V preamp is severely overpriced for the marketplace, but it mostly because Stuart likely pays Haz Labs one arm and one leg for the acquisition and assembly of the components, boards, etc.

[Worldeeeter]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

Man, I dunno if everyone strings up their bass with floss, or I string mine with telephone cables or what! All the string talk people are tuning low with just 105s, that's what I use for standard E tuning!

I use a BEAD set, 65-125, for C standard tuning, DR sunbeams and the tension is nice, not super tight as one might think, might be due to the round core DRs being a bit more flexible?

I'm with ya, man. I use the heavier sets that LaBella makes. For me, it's a metal thing. I need the beefier setup!

[worshiprocker]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

Man, I dunno if everyone strings up their bass with floss, or I string mine with telephone cables or what! All the string talk people are tuning low with just 105s, that's what I use for standard E tuning!

I use a BEAD set, 65-125, for C standard tuning, DR sunbeams and the tension is nice, not super tight as one might think, might be due to the round core DRs being a bit more flexible?

Originally Posted by Worldeeeter

I'm with ya, man. I use the heavier sets that LaBella makes. For me, it's a metal thing. I need the beefier setup!

I'm with both of you, I'm using 60-120 fro drop C# I love the big steel!

[awilkie84]

Originally Posted by Basstovsky

Man, I dunno if everyone strings up their bass with floss, or I string mine with telephone cables or what! All the string talk people are tuning low with just 105s, that's what I use for standard E tuning!

I use a BEAD set, 65-125, for C standard tuning, DR sunbeams and the tension is nice, not super tight as one might think, might be due to the round core DRs being a bit more flexible?

45-125, here. Anything else has too little resistance for my heavy handedness.

[Christian Waiau]

On the .105 thing. If you have a 34" neck I wouldn't recommend it.

I play metal mostly.. But I hate using such huge strings.

I do however think its a personal preference in the trade off between tone and tension.

I hated the tone of a low C with .130 and .125s... Something about the right amount of string slack gives a nicer tone IMO


My finger attack and positioning help too.

My dad plays bass too... He's on the opposite end..he has high action.. Huge strings and plays like he wants to smash the pickups deeper in the body lol