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1981 Spector NS2a questions???

Nicolay3535

Nicolay3535

Sep 16, 2010
564
45
45
South Florida
#1
So i found one of these on my local craigs list, and wanted to know if anyone has some info on it. It's white and the original electronics were replaced with bartolini's, both pups and pre. Is this an american made instrument or was Spector already making them over seas in the 80's??? Also can anyone give me ideas of what one should pay for one of these NS2a in good shape?????? Thanks to anyone with any input.
 
#3
Need several pics and the NS2A ,1985 and later NS2A models were made in Korea during the Kramer era. You can get some info at http://vintagekramer.com/spector.htm
Korean models - NS-2A -Same as NS(carved top) with dot inlays, rosewood fretboard, active Spector P and J pickups, treble and bass controls, one volume and one tone, neck-thru.

Neptune, NJ models - NS-2 - 4 string, arched body, neck-through construction, pau ferro fretboard, gold hardware, Spector bass bridge, 2 octave neck, oval/notched MOP inlays, EMG P & J pickups w/active electronics, jumbo size frets, maple body with quilted top option.
 
#5
Sniper said:
Need several pics and the NS2A ,1985 and later NS2A models were made in Korea during the Kramer era. You can get some info at http://vintagekramer.com/spector.htm
Korean models - NS-2A -Same as NS(carved top) with dot inlays, rosewood fretboard, active Spector P and J pickups, treble and bass controls, one volume and one tone, neck-thru.

Neptune, NJ models - NS-2 - 4 string, arched body, neck-through construction, pau ferro fretboard, gold hardware, Spector bass bridge, 2 octave neck, oval/notched MOP inlays, EMG P & J pickups w/active electronics, jumbo size frets, maple body with quilted top option.
Click to expand...


I'll try to get pics up soon. it has a gold bridge, 4 knobs and one is stacked, the tuners are gold too. the bass is white and the seller said it's from 1980 not 81, my mistake on the OP.
 
#7
It doesn't look like a NS2a, it doesn't have the original tuners as you can see in the pic, all the gold hardware is an add on. If it's an NS2a those must be stickers for the block inlays. $700 is too much if it's an NS2a also, ask him if the serial # is on the control cavity cover? Maybe a heavily modified NS2a, but I wouldn't pay over 4 or 5 hundred for it.
 
#9
SpectorDetector said:
It doesn't look like a NS2a, it doesn't have the original tuners as you can see in the pic, all the gold hardware is an add on. If it's an NS2a those must be stickers for the block inlays. $700 is too much if it's an NS2a also, ask him if the serial # is on the control cavity cover? Maybe a heavily modified NS2a, but I wouldn't pay over 4 or 5 hundred for it.
Click to expand...

He said the PUPs and Preamp was changed out to Bartolinis when it should have P/J's with the either SSD or Spector printed on them.
According to Spector "Through the Years" page, the NS2A was only made in Korea under Kramer. Prior to that in the NS2 designation - there was only NS2 and NS2JA but the JA was a bolt-on.
"NS-2JA™

* A bolt-on NS-Bass™ Design
* Featuring the SPECTOR® DEEP POCKET NECK DESIGN™
* J/J pickup design.
* Early models Dot Neck inlays, a few late models with Spector® MOP Neck Inlays.
* Badass™ Bridge
* Dunlop® Strap Locks"
Per Spector....
Later models of the JA had the MOP BLOCK INLAYS.

I would call Mr. Rubel at SSD and ask
 
#12
Nicolay3535 said:
So i found one of these on my local craigs list, and wanted to know if anyone has some info on it. It's white and the original electronics were replaced with bartolini's, both pups and pre. Is this an american made instrument or was Spector already making them over seas in the 80's??? Also can anyone give me ideas of what one should pay for one of these NS2a in good shape?????? Thanks to anyone with any input.
Click to expand...

As far as I know the NS2A's were made in Korea and this would have been in the Kramer era from 1985-1990. I have heard that Kramer did make a few NS2A's for artists that did have gold hardware. The NS2A's used a different bridge than the USA models and all the ones I have seen have been black. It is possible that the owner may have had the bridge re-plated. Are the fingerboard inlays dots? If they are what size? Please post a picture if you can.
 
#14
BBass06 said:
As far as I know the NS2A's were made in Korea and this would have been in the Kramer era from 1985-1990. I have heard that Kramer did make a few NS2A's for artists that did have gold hardware. The NS2A's used a different bridge than the USA models and all the ones I have seen have been black. It is possible that the owner may have had the bridge re-plated. Are the fingerboard inlays dots? If they are what size? Please post a picture if you can.
Click to expand...

If you read my post it says it has blocks, but they could be stickers. Also as I mentioned all the hardware is gold and you can see the screw holes from using different tuners.
 
#19
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Looks like a Korean NS-2A with replaced tuning gears and bridge. You can still see the old holes on the back of the headstock.

Inlays look weird. Not the usual crowns. Maybe some of the stick on blocks that I've seen on eBay.

Personally, I think $700 is a lot for that bass.
 

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