I think Spectors are great, although it's a little bizzarre that they only make one shape/style.
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How Do You View The Spector Name??
- Thread starter Nightsblood
- Start date
That's pretty much how I view them. The USA neck throughs are as good as anything in their price range. The CR's are better than a lot of stuff in their price range, and a good vale. The bottom line ones are very decent for the price, comparable to other decent low priced basses.
Spector to me....first that that comes to mind is top notch customer service. Email PJ with any question, he will be right back at ya. Don't go blowing up his inbox just because I said that 
The US models are as good as any bass made, bar none. The Czech models are 99.5% of the US models, only difference being that you will not get a pretty as a top. But, tone, feel, etc. should be VERY close to the US counterparts.
Spectors are very mid-range agressive. You either love it, or hate it for the most part. I have always loved everything about Spectors with exception of the nasal, honking (to my ears) EMG's. Never met and EMG that I liked.
Korean models.........depends on what era of Spector we are talking here. The current ones? Meh. Good for their price point, but not worthy of the highly regarded Spector name, IMO. Apparently Stuart and PJ felt differently, and I hope that their imports are serving them well. When I was a younger cuss, I always dreamed of getting a Spector. Kinda stings that I did all that dreaming, and kids nowadays can get a Semi-Spector for $200 on ebay all day long.
The Kramer era Korean NS-2a's kick some serious booty. I'd have NO problem with using one of these as my one and only, doing upwards of 100 shows a year.
My number one currently is a pearl white (I had it refinned) Spector from the Kramer era. It is either an ultra-rare 2a with the crown inlays, or a US NS-2 put together from Kramer leftovers as a bastard child. It has black hardware ala-2a, but has the inlays, and was originally routed (under the factory finish) for the larger US bridge. I don't personally care who made it! The pups have been swapped out for Bartolinis, which is a better tone to my ears.
In summary, Spector kicks booty.
The US models are as good as any bass made, bar none. The Czech models are 99.5% of the US models, only difference being that you will not get a pretty as a top. But, tone, feel, etc. should be VERY close to the US counterparts.
Spectors are very mid-range agressive. You either love it, or hate it for the most part. I have always loved everything about Spectors with exception of the nasal, honking (to my ears) EMG's. Never met and EMG that I liked.
Korean models.........depends on what era of Spector we are talking here. The current ones? Meh. Good for their price point, but not worthy of the highly regarded Spector name, IMO. Apparently Stuart and PJ felt differently, and I hope that their imports are serving them well. When I was a younger cuss, I always dreamed of getting a Spector. Kinda stings that I did all that dreaming, and kids nowadays can get a Semi-Spector for $200 on ebay all day long.
The Kramer era Korean NS-2a's kick some serious booty. I'd have NO problem with using one of these as my one and only, doing upwards of 100 shows a year.
My number one currently is a pearl white (I had it refinned) Spector from the Kramer era. It is either an ultra-rare 2a with the crown inlays, or a US NS-2 put together from Kramer leftovers as a bastard child. It has black hardware ala-2a, but has the inlays, and was originally routed (under the factory finish) for the larger US bridge. I don't personally care who made it! The pups have been swapped out for Bartolinis, which is a better tone to my ears.
In summary, Spector kicks booty.
LOLThat slayed me. I can't stop laughing.
I have always looked at them a very nice instruments but they do nothing for me. My daughter really liked them for a while but I could never get myself to like them. They just had no "mojo" for me.
They always felt like they were put together really well. Fit & finish was always good on them. I never played a U.S. made Spector but the Korean and European ones I played felt solid and played nice. They just had no Mojo.
LOL! I always hated seeing that toolbag show up when searching ebay. Great post
Wow, are you kidding? Man, I have always thought Spector had more "curb appeal" than anything else on the market. Truely a timeless design (1978, IIRC).
- Jun 19, 2004
- 4,782
- 83
- 42
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist, Schroeder Cabinets
Stu is a very nice guy with good attention to detail and he loves what he does. He has a solid reputation for putting out consistently good instruments and I think very highly of his company. I'm not a huge fan of his instruments (used to own an NS-5 and an NS-5CRFM - great sound, but waaaay too heavy for me), but the name is a good one.
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
How do I view the Spector name? I think "sleeper" might describe it best. I own a cheaper Korean made 5'er that I modded. It now has a volume knob for each pup & a master tone knob. The 4th knob at the bottom is the "suck knob" and is always turned all the way down( a dummy knob). I put active EMGs in it. With the original passive EMG pups it sounded ok, but the controls lacked graduation. It was either on or off without much in between. Now, even with flats & massive bottom end added it retains a certain mid range punch kinda like a P bass. I didn't really appreciate it much until I heard it recorded. NOW I get it! It cuts through the mix like crazy. I'm gonna use it in the studio tomorrow & we'll see if this sleeper wakes anybody up.
I'm a double bass player so I've never actually had an electric, but I have always drooled over the look of a Spector and have always wanted one. There is a Czech model sitting in a shop around the corner from my house, apparently been in there for about 7 years, priced at just over $2000 Australian. But it's never sold in all that time, do you think if I offered $1000 they'd sell it to me? It's all I can offer, I'm afraid to ask, surely they would negotiate, but half price? If they won't go near $1000 I'll be devestated and wish I never asked.
I`ve mixed feelings about Spector.
On one side, I consider Stuart Spector as one of the "master pioneers" of electric bass building / design, along with Ken Smith, Michael Tobias, Carl Thompson, Roger Sadowsky and some others.
His basses were almost a standard during the 80`s for many rock bands, and no many brands/models have reached that status. His designs were also innovative and his basses are really beautiful.
However, some of his MIK newer lines don`t add much to his reputation. Cheap and affordable basses for someone who wants to play the "name" instead of a good bass. I`m not bashing those models, but IMHO they`re not good basses for the money. I prefer some other brands that produce basses overseas (MTD, Lakland, Sadowsky, Ken Smith) and offer good instruments.
Another thing I don`t like, is the fact that their US model are overpriced. They`re not a lot better than their Euro counterparts and fancy woods don`t justify such a price increase, IMHO.
On one side, I consider Stuart Spector as one of the "master pioneers" of electric bass building / design, along with Ken Smith, Michael Tobias, Carl Thompson, Roger Sadowsky and some others.
His basses were almost a standard during the 80`s for many rock bands, and no many brands/models have reached that status. His designs were also innovative and his basses are really beautiful.
However, some of his MIK newer lines don`t add much to his reputation. Cheap and affordable basses for someone who wants to play the "name" instead of a good bass. I`m not bashing those models, but IMHO they`re not good basses for the money. I prefer some other brands that produce basses overseas (MTD, Lakland, Sadowsky, Ken Smith) and offer good instruments.
Another thing I don`t like, is the fact that their US model are overpriced. They`re not a lot better than their Euro counterparts and fancy woods don`t justify such a price increase, IMHO.
That strategy worked for me. I bought a NOS 2002 Spector Q4 Pro in August 2005. By October, I was already considering a Euro 5 LX. Then one was ordered factory customized through Bass Central and by June 2006 "my" bass was delivered. The more I play it, the more I love it.
I think, Exotic wood, Neck through and EMGs.
I also think, "wow......how can a bass company actually make money with 1 body design?"
I also think, "wow......how can a bass company actually make money with 1 body design?"
I bought an NS-JH6-EX (pic in avatar). I find to be one of the more playable 6ers I've tried. The lows are a bit "aggressive" for my taste, but the upper strings have a clarity that's tough to match. The drummer loves it.
+1. Of the two groups in the first post, I'd put Spector in the middle. That said, I'd never take any Spector over any Dingwall.
Spectors are great, but you have to remember they do make models for different price ranges. They are very high grade, absolutely unique and beautiful basses.
I'm old skool when it comes to Spectors, in the 80's there was only one model, the all maple NS2. So growing up seeing, hearing, and playing those, I tend to be biased that, that style of Spector is what a 'real' Spector is. I don't care much for the sound or feel of the korean models or anything with EMG-HZ's.
Nowadays Spector can build in the botique range, you can easily option out a US made one well over 4-5k with exotic woods and finishes.
I'm old skool when it comes to Spectors, in the 80's there was only one model, the all maple NS2. So growing up seeing, hearing, and playing those, I tend to be biased that, that style of Spector is what a 'real' Spector is. I don't care much for the sound or feel of the korean models or anything with EMG-HZ's.
Nowadays Spector can build in the botique range, you can easily option out a US made one well over 4-5k with exotic woods and finishes.
I love the look but the few I've played were way heavy (which is funny as my current Precision weighs a ton). The few Warwick Streamers I played had the same comfy body and weighed less, so I switched.
