How does Spector date code basses? Want to know how old mine is.

[mikeddd]

I have a Spector Legend 4 Custom (Bubinga). It's got a 4-digit code on the back of the HS. Code starts with "9". Does that mean it's a 2009? I don't think mine is that new...but it looks too new to be a 1999 model. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Mike D

 

[mikeddd]

Bumpin' all the way from the 4th page.

 

[mobis.fr]

you can write spector an email.
they reply really fast.

my euros don't have a year in their number. but maybe its different with the legends.

 

[mikeddd]

Is Spector known for being "secretive" about their serial numbers? Strange...I guess I'll email them.

 

[Ian Perge]

I'm not sure if Spector has different "series" of numbers based on USA-built vs Euro-built vs Korea/China/Indonesia-built, if they simply run consecutively, or some combination of the two. Actually, I realizing seeing some "behind-the-headstock" shots that they have some type of differing system for USA Basses, having seen SNs for "rare-ish" basses such as NS-2Js (USA Bolt-Ons with Ash bodies and 2 EMG Jazz pickups - basically USA-made [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] reissues but with the standard Spector bridge and Crown Inlays) but I believe that for the Mass Produced Euro & Far East Neck-Thru & Bolt-Ons they're straight by build date and are therefore hard to track a D/O/B based on them.

I highly doubt there's any type of "secrecy" going on - simply between the early days (late '70s/early '80s) when they weren't production line basses, to when Kramer bought the line they may have instituted their own numbering system (including their own USA and Import lines), when Stuart restarting building under the "SSD" name in the early '90s it was again a low-number shop (approx 12 per month) until they started making the Czech Republic-built NS4/5-CRs and Korean-built lower-budget basses in the mid-90's, and the regaining the "Spector" name as a Trademark which significantly increased their desire and output as well as being able to rename the SSD-era basses back to their "proper" Spector names... I simply think there's been a great deal of change over Stuart's and the company's career, far too much to come up with a more "logical" serial numbering system. I also echo mobis.fr in dropping PJ an e-mail: he typically gets back to you within a day or so, and can be extremely helpful in tracking down information or answering questions.

 

[mikeddd]

Thanks very much for the extremely informative reply, Ian Perge. I've read about Spector's history (mostly on their website) and know that they've been through lots of changes over the years. Your explanation as to why their numbering system(s) can be a little tough to figure out makes sense. Mine was definitely made in Korea; says so right on the back of the HS. So it's a lower-end Spector...but it plays and sounds great. I've no real "burning need" to know it's build date...it's just one of those things that I like to know for my own satisfaction. I'll shoot PJ an email. Thanks again.

Mike

 

[KramerBassFan]

I'm not sure if Spector has different "series" of numbers based on USA-built vs Euro-built vs Korea/China/Indonesia-built, if they simply run consecutively, or some combination of the two. Actually, I realizing seeing some "behind-the-headstock" shots that they have some type of differing system for USA Basses, having seen SNs for "rare-ish" basses such as NS-2Js (USA Bolt-Ons with Ash bodies and 2 EMG Jazz pickups - basically USA-made [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] reissues but with the standard Spector bridge and Crown Inlays) but I believe that for the Mass Produced Euro & Far East Neck-Thru & Bolt-Ons they're straight by build date and are therefore hard to track a D/O/B based on them.

I highly doubt there's any type of "secrecy" going on - simply between the early days (late '70s/early '80s) when they weren't production line basses, to when Kramer bought the line they may have instituted their own numbering system (including their own USA and Import lines), when Stuart restarting building under the "SSD" name in the early '90s it was again a low-number shop (approx 12 per month) until they started making the Czech Republic-built NS4/5-CRs and Korean-built lower-budget basses in the mid-90's, and the regaining the "Spector" name as a Trademark which significantly increased their desire and output as well as being able to rename the SSD-era basses back to their "proper" Spector names... I simply think there's been a great deal of change over Stuart's and the company's career, far too much to come up with a more "logical" serial numbering system. I also echo mobis.fr in dropping PJ an e-mail: he typically gets back to you within a day or so, and can be extremely helpful in tracking down information or answering questions.

Kramer may have used their own system, and if they did, it is most likely lost now. All Kramer guitars records were lost when the company went bottom up in 1990. So Stuart Spector may have reclaimed the Kramer/Spector information at this time.... I do not know. This did however allow SS to buy the SPECTOR name from the then defunct Kramer, which was tight on cash and bankrupt.

The import basses were stamped with production numbers, not so much Serial numbers. Thats all i have to add.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Thanks very much for the extremely informative reply, Ian Perge. I've read about Spector's history (mostly on their website) and know that they've been through lots of changes over the years. Your explanation as to why their numbering system(s) can be a little tough to figure out makes sense. Mine was definitely made in Korea; says so right on the back of the HS. So it's a lower-end Spector...but it plays and sounds great. I've no real "burning need" to know it's build date...it's just one of those things that I like to know for my own satisfaction. I'll shoot PJ an email. Thanks again.

Mike

PJ, will let you know or find out - did the same for me - answered all my questions.

 

[mikeddd]

Nothing back from PJ yet. What's the diff b/t a production number and a serial number? Does a prod# just refer to what "batch" a particular bass is from, vs. a serial# which IDs a particular instrument? (guessing) Thanks guys.

 

[KramerBassFan]

Nothing back from PJ yet. What's the diff b/t a production number and a serial number? Does a prod# just refer to what "batch" a particular bass is from, vs. a serial# which IDs a particular instrument? (guessing) Thanks guys.

I dont know how it is for Spector, but on asian built basses, they will often be stamped with a Production number. Alot of them will be the day, month, year, and the number instrument that is for the year. So two totally different branded basses built in the same factory could have consecutive "production numbers".

Imagine it this way.

Production number: 06030202220.

06 for year, 03 for month, 02 for day, and then out of a total of 10,000 basses built by this factory per year, the hypothetical bass will be #022220. Lets pretend that this bass is Branded... SX.

Now, another bass, same factory, same day, has production number 06030202221. This bass is branded.. Dallas.

Production numbers.

Other brands, such as Gibson, had Serial numbers, which are trackable.

Some companies will only built a set number per year - Wal comes to mind. They have SERIAL NUMBERs. That make sense?

 

[villegastx]

I need help to identify this bass.
Finish was stripped off.