SPECTOR® Club - Part 21

[Versatek6]

My setup goes:

Bass --> Volume pedal -->Tuner --> XXL Distortion --> Voodo Tremolo --> MXR Envelope Filter --> Boss Flanger -->MXR Carbon Copy Delay --> MXR M80 Bass DI --> Amp.

I know it is personal preference, but I'm curious about why you decided to place your volume pedal at the front of the chain.

I run Bass -> Digitech Bass Synth -> Bass Driver -> Bass Multi Chorus -> Morley Volume+ -> Amp.

Mine is at the end because I want the effects to get a strong signal. When I had more pedals in a configuration similar to yours, I had the volume between the flanger and delay so I could fade out the volume leaving a trailing echo...

 

[Tracebassplayer]

Hey Fellow Lowenders, Im a Spector Artist and l am looking to see how i can join the Spector Bass Club.

Peace and Respect
Aalics

Post pics of your SPECTOR ® bass and ill give you your club membership number

 

[stjohn1299]

I've been contemplating on buying an Orange 12" combo amp for traveling and practice once in a while. Anyone use their combos?

I'm really stuck on liking Ampeg's though.

I've played their 12" combo amp. Honestly, I really wasn't a fan. That said, I haven't found any bass combo amp in the smaller scale (1 12" speaker or smaller) that I have liked. I use my old Fender BXR as a keyboard amp, and just use my old gig setup as a practice setup (Genz Shuttle 9 with Avatar 212--turned down!).

 

[delucajohn2000]

All this talk about Orange amps is really giving me GAS. Boy would I love to own one of these but man, I thought Ampeg was expensive.

 

[stjohn1299]

I used to use a few effects....I've tried several chorus pedals and never found one that didn't put a mid-hump in the bass signal. I used to use a mxr phaser here and there for that Nugent-Stranglehold bass tone. I've tried the mxr octave, but I didn't like the way it tracked. I used to use a BBE Compressor that I did like, but once I went with a tube amp, didn't feel the need to use compression any more-the amp did it naturally. I don't even use a tuner pedal anymore since my amp doesn't have a dedicated tuner out. The only thing I'm using now that breaks up the bass-cord-amp approach is an aby box so I can split my bass signal to each channel of my amp. Through alot of experimentation, I just didn't like what pedals took away from my bass signal enough to justify using them.

 

[AdamR]

All this talk about Orange amps is really giving me GAS. Boy would I love to own one of these but man, I thought Ampeg was expensive.

I saw the band Taddy Porter over the summer, Bass player had a Gibson EB-O through that rig, great player, great tone. But man $$$

 

[Trailight]

I know it is personal preference, but I'm curious about why you decided to place your volume pedal at the front of the chain.

I run Bass -> Digitech Bass Synth -> Bass Driver -> Bass Multi Chorus -> Morley Volume+ -> Amp.

Mine is at the end because I want the effects to get a strong signal. When I had more pedals in a configuration similar to yours, I had the volume between the flanger and delay so I could fade out the volume leaving a trailing echo...

I don't have a good reason for it, I haven't tried to set it up anywhere else in the chain, I haven't had a ton of experience with this so I will try your configuration and see how I like it. Thanks for the tip. I am getting a nice delay echo effect with the setup I have now, but maybe having it between the Flanger and the Delay would be better...? I'll try that

 

[bassmanc]

Stuart contracts the high gloss finishes for USA SPECTORs to a company that specializes in spray-on baked finishes. The solid colors are also done by the same company. It's just a few miles down the road from SPECTOR in Woodstock.

It used to be that he didn't like doing solid finishes when he did them in-house because you have to clean the spray gun out and it took a lot of extra time.

In addition the NY Workshop is not horribly big. So he's never really had the space to build a proper finishing booth.

White was always a nightmare color because if there was any residual color from another finish in the gun or the nozzle it would ruin the finish. And gloss solid colors show every flaw. So dust, a small hair, anything.

The reason you don't see a lot of the solid color basses for the NS-Body USA or Euro Basses is because part of their appeal through the last two decades has been the beautiful exotic woods used in the construction.

When placing solid AAAA Quilt Maple wings on a bass, why would you want to cover them up?

The last variable is not a lot of people order solid-color USA or Euro models. Remember that until last year with the creation of the USA Stocking Dealers (who have to keep at least 3 USA Series basses or guitars in stock at all times), each USA Series bass or guitar was made to order. Someone one chose the finish and ordered it the way they wanted.

Gloss white (ala the Sting Bass) is the most common solid special order color. Ironically solid black is very rare. I have the only solid black NS-2 made in several years.

So it's just a matter of what someone wants. Regardless, the NS-2 will have AAAA Quilt Maple wings... so I think a lot of people who order one think "why cover something like that up?"

None of the USA models I order (I order one a year) will have solid finishes. Only the black one I have which was a special order that someone then decided not get at the last minute... mine will always be stained or natural finished wood.

I don't know...I've seen some not so quilted NS-2s.So a solid color would be perfect for those basses!Remember the quilt has nothing to do with tone!

 

[chrisloe]

Okay, quick question: just had lunch with a friend of mine here in Fargo, he has a early 90's NS-2A he bought in 95, and has played 3-4 weekends a month ever since. Josh has always played a lot.

Sound familiar? "I have tried different basses but nothing sounds or plays like my Spector"

So his bass has the original Haz copy with the original Spector pickups. He has worn out the pots in the preamp, the local repair man says he can't find new pots, he says they are some weird value that he can't find a replacement for.

Anyone know about this? Can he replace the pots? Where could he find them? Or does he have to replace the who preamp? Anyone have a Haz copy for sale?

You can pm me with answers or post here for the good of all

Thanks Chris

 

[rockstarbassist]

Hey how many of you use pedals and if you do, what pedals do you use? If not, why don't you use them?

My live setup is this:
NS-5 -> XDS-Plus Wireless -> Korg Pitchblack -> Xotic Bass BB Preamp pedal -> Boss ODB-3 (yes, I can work it and get compliments on it every time we play thank you! ) -> Guttermouth-modded Boss BF-2B.
1 OD, 1 distortion, 1 modulation, works great. I usually like having a volume pedal but I just run a PT-1 board and I'd need the PT-2 (WAY too big) for a VP and w/ this band I wouldn't have much use for it anyway.

Altho I always run my VP first, just a habit. I just make sure and get the one w/ the "active" pots on it and I haven't had any signal loss issues.

 

[LimaGuy]

Hey how many of you use pedals and if you do, what pedals do you use? If not, why don't you use them?

I was always a "no pedal" guy.

But yesterday, I just received a Hartke VXL Tone-Shaper/DI.

Getting use to it. I will post some comparison clips soon.

 

[LimaGuy]

Okay, quick question: just had lunch with a friend of mine here in Fargo, he has a early 90's NS-2A he bought in 95, and has played 3-4 weekends a month ever since. Josh has always played a lot.

Sound familiar? "I have tried different basses but nothing sounds or plays like my Spector"

So his bass has the original Haz copy with the original Spector pickups. He has worn out the pots in the preamp, the local repair man says he can't find new pots, he says they are some weird value that he can't find a replacement for.

Anyone know about this? Can he replace the pots? Where could he find them? Or does he have to replace the who preamp? Anyone have a Haz copy for sale?

You can pm me with answers or post here for the good of all

Thanks Chris

Chris,
You sure its an early 90's?
It may be a Samick verison then?

Just confirm because the pots may be different in the the Samick vs, the original NS-2As.

The board itself will be a different configuration since the knob placements are different. (The Samick has 2 knobs that are parallel with the bridge)

If you didnt see the bass, a few ways to find out which version he has is to ask;

If there is a ser# on the the back of the headstock, its a Samick.

If it doesnt have Schaller tuners its probably a Samick

If the bridge doesnt say Spector on it, its probably a Samick.

If he has a non-Samick NS-2A then I think the Mighty Might Haz clone would work.

 

[JPSBassist]

Porn for the day...

Fits into the new FaceBook header image area. Pretty cool.

Link Removed

 

[delucajohn2000]

I just wanted to pass along a message I received from AJ from Dickhead Designs. I just ordered a custom nut from him to put on my Rebop5 that will fit the monstrous .145 B string I plan on using since I want to keep it tuned at least a whole step down.

He said to let everyone in the Spector club that we helped provide 2 basses and 1 guitar to kids that will now have the opportunity to learn and enjoy music. This is a really great thing that AJ does and I feel really good to be a part of that so I wanted to pass along the thanks that AJ mentioned.

For anyone that isn't aware, all of the money he gets from creating these custom nuts is given to help support music for kids since most of the schools have cut funding due to cutbacks. I hope it is ok that I posted this but if people have a problem with it, let me know and I can take it down. I just wanted to pass along the thanks that AJ mentioned.

 

[loend68]

Okay, quick question: just had lunch with a friend of mine here in Fargo, he has a early 90's NS-2A he bought in 95, and has played 3-4 weekends a month ever since. Josh has always played a lot.

Sound familiar? "I have tried different basses but nothing sounds or plays like my Spector"

So his bass has the original Haz copy with the original Spector pickups. He has worn out the pots in the preamp, the local repair man says he can't find new pots, he says they are some weird value that he can't find a replacement for.

Anyone know about this? Can he replace the pots? Where could he find them? Or does he have to replace the who preamp? Anyone have a Haz copy for sale?

You can pm me with answers or post here for the good of all

Thanks Chris

My tech replaced 2 pots on a Haz Copy I bought and it worked out fine. Not sure where he found them though....

I think you can buy pots for the Haz Lab on the Spector site. They might work...

 

[rockstarbassist]

I just wanted to pass along a message I received from AJ from Dickhead Designs. I just ordered a custom nut from him to put on my Rebop5 that will fit the monstrous .145 B string I plan on using since I want to keep it tuned at least a whole step down.

He said to let everyone in the Spector club that we helped provide 2 basses and 1 guitar to kids that will now have the opportunity to learn and enjoy music. This is a really great thing that AJ does and I feel really good to be a part of that so I wanted to pass along the thanks that AJ mentioned.

For anyone that isn't aware, all of the money he gets from creating these custom nuts is given to help support music for kids since most of the schools have cut funding due to cutbacks. I hope it is ok that I posted this but if people have a problem with it, let me know and I can take it down. I just wanted to pass along the thanks that AJ mentioned.

lulz, .156 here...

but that's cool about the custom nuts. i probably will need to get the one on Brownie replaced sometime soon, as well as the truss rod and the bridge. she's seen a lotta miles.

 

[delucajohn2000]

lulz, .156 here...

but that's cool about the custom nuts. i probably will need to get the one on Brownie replaced sometime soon, as well as the truss rod and the bridge. she's seen a lotta miles.

I figured I would start with a .145 and see how I do with that The cool thing about ordering this is you tell him what size strings you are going to use and he will match the slots to the size. He also sent me 2 of them which I thought was really cool and wasn't expecting him to do that. One has a higher height and one has a lower one so I can use whichever I like better.

 

[rockstarbassist]

I figured I would start with a .145 and see how I do with that The cool thing about ordering this is you tell him what size strings you are going to use and he will match the slots to the size. He also sent me 2 of them which I thought was really cool and wasn't expecting him to do that. One has a higher height and one has a lower one so I can use whichever I like better.

If my tech wasn't lights out freaking beyond awesome, I'd have been pretty worried as my low B and E are .156 and .124 respectively, and he was going from a standard nut that hasn't been adjusted but he nailed it and it's been working great since late fall 2010 so far! Now that I'm set on these gauges having one (or two) built to order is definitely something I'll do in the future.

 

[bassgiant15]

Hey how many of you use pedals and if you do, what pedals do you use? If not, why don't you use them?

I use them! Love pedals!!!!

Spector Bass > Line 6 X2 Wireless > Pitchblack tuner > Line 6 M9 (with expression pedal) > Boss DD20 Delay > Dunlop Crybaby Bass Wah > MXR M-80 > ISP Decimator > Amp

 

[H.Kristal]

Hello

After a long time reading the Spector's Club Threads, finally I can post in it

Today I have my first Spector, and as a big fan of Eddie Jackson of Queensryche, it's a little dream come true.

I can't afford an USA model, but I find an Euro SSD NS-2 (maybe 1994, no S/N), with EMG P/J configuration that can fit my needs.

Unfortunately I have traded with my loved Fender Aerodyne Export, but rules in my family are: 1 bass enter --> 1 bass must exit

Post some picture of it:

The bass is in discrete cosmetic conditions (2 small dents and some scratches), but I'm not a feticist so this is not a problem.

Tomorrow will test with my band, can't wait.

Cheers from Italy
Paolo