The Return of the Spector ToneDump... sort of

Well, as I've stated in numerous posts in numerous threads (such as this one) for about two years now, my original intention when purchasing my Spector ReBops (which eventually grew to include a DLX 4 EX Zebrawood & DLX 5 FM Flame Maple fretted and HG Thor-ed fretless) was a complete pickup and electronic swap. I was looking for something that I felt would suit the "Spector meets Jazz Bass" nature of the ReBop line, which I feel comes from both the bolt-on nature as well as the difference in woods that brought some of the attack and punch of a good J-bass while still holding onto the best of the classic "Spector Sound".

For a while I looked at Active EMGs such as the TW single/dual coil model as well as the 35/40J Jazz pup in their soapbar shell, but came to the conclusion that the Active EMG sound was part of the Neck-Through tone that I didn't want to move toward, along with the experience of owning for a short time a pre-DLX ReBop 4-string that had been ToneDumped with 35CSs and a BTS System that didn't do anything for me tonally.

After hearing a great deal about them I finally gave Carey Nordstrand a call, and he spent a solid 30 minutes on the phone discussing what I was ultimately looking in terms of the tone at the end, the basses and their properties, possible preamps that were on my list, etc... I couldn't have asked for more personalized helpfulness if I tried, and in subsequent phone conversations with him and Stew we came to the decision that Big Singles would be the best choice to accentuate the "Jazz Bass" aspects of the basses, my desire for solid midrange (both in general as well as the frequencies I believe helps a fretless "cut through" a mix best) and my general "Set It And Forget It (tm)" usage of onboard EQ which led me away from Big Splits or Dual Coils.

...and then 2 years passed. Firstly it took a while to purchased the preamps I had chosen, Aguilar OBP-3SK/PPs (keep in mind that every purchased was x3 in number and cost, as I had decided to do them all at once simply for the sake of getting it done - call it the "Anal-Retentive Bassist" in me ). After those were in hand... it seemed that every time I was close to the cost of the pickups and installation, one of my "dream basses" would *POP* up on the used market for a killer deal. Although this added 12 to 18 months, I can't be all that picky as I can't imagine not having those the two basses, my Mike Lull Modern 4 & 5. If the pickup project was for my "SpectorJazzes", these gave me the pure "SuperJazz" tone that Lull, Sadowsky and others at that level are known for. Even recently this past Spring I discussed "The Project" with my Better Half and got the okay to finally "start to finish" it... and that weekend came upon one of my true "dream basses", one which I never thought I'd come across due to sheer scarcity and cost (a Taylor AB-2 ABG) that was at an amazing price due to the economy. I couldn't very well turn away from that, but made the deal with TBH that this was "THE" bass purchase for 2009. As so I resigned to having the "The Project" put away for another 6 to 12 months. But I recently managed to sell off some gear that I wasn't using, but moreso hadn't thought I'd be able to sell. And in a moment of clarity I realized that it had now made the purchase of the pickups and installation possible, as opposed to picking up an oh-so-cool Epiphone Special Run Thunderbird in Silverburst with Chrome Hardware and Pickup covers.

So finally, after a few PMs traded back-and forth between myself and Anthony "Nino" Valenti regarding a few sets of custom underwound Big Singles that he had ordered with great success that gives the pickups a touch more aggressiveness and a bit less "thickness", one set that is actually in one of his "Main Players" and one last call to Nordstrand and a conversation with Mike at Nordstrand about the possibility and positives/negatives of having that done, I FINALLY placed the order for 1 set of Big Singles in EMG-35 shells and 2 sets in EMG-40 shells, all underwound 5% through Brian @ BestBassGear.com... yet another great guy who took a significant portion of his workday to blab about the whole rambling story above while letting me know exactly what measurements he and Nordstrand would need for proper string-spacing and fitting.

Hopefully in about 4-6 weeks, the usual wait for custom orders, I'll have the pickups in hand and ready to head out to the local tech for installation... although if there's a TB member in the Akron/Cleveland, OH area good with a soldering iron, Aguilar OBP-3 experience, and willing to help out a financially tight fellow member I'll certainly spring for the Pizza 'n Beer. Regardless of how it goes down, I'll post updates in this thread as when I first announced "The Project" just about 2 years ago I got several posts and PMs from members very interested in the outcome of this fairly unconventional union of Spector, bolt-on neck joint, Aguilar OBP-3, and Nordstrand Big Singles - I've relatively sure that this is the first setup of these particular components and apart from the mad_hungarian's absolutely killer Euro-LX5/Aguilar OBP-3/Bassline Passive Phase II NYC Soapbar ToneDumped setup I'm fairly certainly that EMGs are the vast majority of upgrades to Spectors in both pickups as well as preamps, and that no one's put Big Singles into a Spector before... but after 2 years of conversations with Carey, Stew and Mike from Nordstrand as well as discussing it with pros like Nino, I'm pretty d*mn sure this is the tone I've been hearing in my head for a long time.

Updates as they come...

I received an e-mail from Bryan @ BestBassGear.com that the custom-wound Nordstrand Big Singles have arrived at his shop, and they should be shipped to me as soon as the remaining half of the price (for a custom order such as this, 1/2 down at ordering & 1/2 upon the shop's receipt of the item... and BBG.com was cool enough to check with me before charging the second half to make sure they're charging the correct card/there's enough money in the account, etc...)

So, kudos to Nordstrand to getting the custom-sized (EMG) and wound (5% underwound) to me even faster than their "Fast Estimate", to BBG.com for being absolutely helpful with this custom order and e-mailing me to make sure I don't overdraft my bank account ( ) and hopefully within the next few weeks this 21-month period of "It's going to happen... no, it's delayed for at least 6 months" x 4 regarding my "Nordstrand ToneDump" will *finally* be ordered, stocked, in-hand, installed & finished!

Just giving interested parties an update on my "Spector/Nordstrand Big Singles/Aguilar OBP-3SK-PPs" Electronics Project. I received the 3 sets of Nordstrands (1 set in EMG-35 4-string shells, 2 in EMG-40 5-string shells, all with a 5% underwind for a touch more aggressive midrange and touch less "fullness" in the pickups) a few weeks ago and they simply look so very cool - just visually I much prefer visible pole-pieces to "Blank Plastic" covers like most EMGs or Bassline Soapbars.

However, Problem #1 was a combination of them arriving close to the Better Half's birthday as well as a crapload of CDs & DVDs being released in October, so my "play" money went to those and her b-day gifts. The original cost for the pickups was also more than I expected due to the Special Order fee due to the EMG housings and Underwinding. On Nordstrand's part, they cut the fee in 1/2 due to the "bulk purchase" nature of my order, so I can hardly blame them - I asked for the unusual/non-standard, and that typically will cost you. Problem #2 is that the installation is going to be somewhat more than my initial estimates based on a test fitting of the Pickups and Aguilar Pots. The OBP-3s Stacked & Push-Pull pot shafts are just a touch wider than the Spector's original pot's shaft, so they need to be routed out a touch. And since I'm doing all three at once, all the knobs alone will cost almost $100 USA. I'm going to pull out the TonePumps and HZ pups to sell pre-wired, so hopefully that will make up the difference cost-wise. But I hope to have them done within the month, and samples for all not at all long after.*

Can I ask a general poll on something? Which knobs do you think would look better on a Spector, the "Metal Beveled" or the "Metal Dome"? I know they use the "Metal Beveled" or ones close on the USA Bolt-On, but part of me prefers the smaller, rounder "Dome" knobs to go with the smaller, rounder Spector body. Plus my Lulls have the "Metal Beveled", so a difference would be nice IMO. Kwesi brought up the idea of going with John East's in-house knobs, but unfortunately the difference between dollars and Pounds Sterling would raise the cost on the knobs alone by 54%, which is needed in other areas. Any outside opinion would help, so feel free to post ideas. I like the idea of wood, but I've yet to find "Stacked" or "Push-Pull" Wooden Knobs and they would likely be high in price as well. If anyone has a source for cheaper yet quality knobs, please shout out! (I'm right pissed that Q-Parts, who I've used on the Spectors pre-swapout, doesn't offer any type of Stacked Knobs or "bottom" so I can continue to use my Very Cool Abalone, Black Pearl, and White Pearl knobs )

Thanks,
~I

*Unless some kind soul in the greater Akron/Cleveland area who has knowledge/experience in wiring Aguilar preamps and would be willing to help a fellow TB member in return for Pizza 'n Beer or the food and Beverage of their choice is available - please PM!