I finally did it! I have wanted a USA Spector for over a decade but price and availability in Australia kept me dreaming. I have owned 4 Spectors over the years and still have 3 and really love the brand and the basses. I am all for bass brands with tiered levels of basses and I have worked my way from owning a Korean Legend first and then enjoying two Euros but always lusting after a Woodstock bass.
Backstory: In the past few years my Spector love really cemented itself and I have been really loving my Euro 4 and NS Dimension that wanting a US bass, specifically a NS5 has become very real.
Getting a new US bass is just been beyond my ability to swing and the used market is hugely limited in Australia. So when I saw this 2010 NS5-XL come up it in my price range my ear pricked up. If I am completely honest though looks wise this bass is definitely not my thing. Whilst I love buckeye burl I love the dark, swampy style and this very yellowed look is definitely not my thing. So initially I was not interested but after selling some gear and having a bit of cash I kept coming back to it.
I love a good project! I have had some mad ones over the years…e.g learning to build guitars to build myself a Wal like bass (before it became a thing that everyone was doing) and more recently getting either the first or second prototype LHZ preamp ever and buying a brand new Euro and modding it on the first day of owning it! But taking a very good US Spector and fully refinishing it is bold even for me.
The bass: It’s a 2010 NS5-Xl with buckeye burl top and what I am pretty sure is a Walnut back. Gold hardware and Pauferro board. It has an Aguiliar OB3 preamp which I was really bummed about because one of the huge draws of a US bass is the real HAZ..more on this later. Looks in excellent condition for a 15 Year old bass which is great.
Pros:
Great condition
All the US touches like abalone, volute, carve, premium woods
EMG’s
Stuart Era bass. I love the new basses and still hope to own one but having a Stuart era bass is a thing for me. I have always been a huge fan of the brand and the story.
Cons:
Light and yellowish colouring to the buckeye is not to my taste
Gold hardware is tarnished and not my favourite
Not HAZ preamp
Backstory: In the past few years my Spector love really cemented itself and I have been really loving my Euro 4 and NS Dimension that wanting a US bass, specifically a NS5 has become very real.
Getting a new US bass is just been beyond my ability to swing and the used market is hugely limited in Australia. So when I saw this 2010 NS5-XL come up it in my price range my ear pricked up. If I am completely honest though looks wise this bass is definitely not my thing. Whilst I love buckeye burl I love the dark, swampy style and this very yellowed look is definitely not my thing. So initially I was not interested but after selling some gear and having a bit of cash I kept coming back to it.
I love a good project! I have had some mad ones over the years…e.g learning to build guitars to build myself a Wal like bass (before it became a thing that everyone was doing) and more recently getting either the first or second prototype LHZ preamp ever and buying a brand new Euro and modding it on the first day of owning it! But taking a very good US Spector and fully refinishing it is bold even for me.
The bass: It’s a 2010 NS5-Xl with buckeye burl top and what I am pretty sure is a Walnut back. Gold hardware and Pauferro board. It has an Aguiliar OB3 preamp which I was really bummed about because one of the huge draws of a US bass is the real HAZ..more on this later. Looks in excellent condition for a 15 Year old bass which is great.
Pros:
Great condition
All the US touches like abalone, volute, carve, premium woods
EMG’s
Stuart Era bass. I love the new basses and still hope to own one but having a Stuart era bass is a thing for me. I have always been a huge fan of the brand and the story.
Cons:
Light and yellowish colouring to the buckeye is not to my taste
Gold hardware is tarnished and not my favourite
Not HAZ preamp
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