SPECTOR® Club - Part 25

[Dave W]

Yea no doubt about the drilling part... I just installed a OBP3 and needed to make 3 holes larger to fit the pots Im using. Talk about stress headache! And Im a tool guy I use'em all the time, but drilling out the holes in my Euro to make them larger made me sweat a little for sure. Not recommended for someone who doesnt have (a.) fresh sharp drill bits (b) some experience using a drill to confidently drill holes. If drilling out holes make sure to drill from the top side down, not from the cavity side to the top. And I most definately NEVER recommend drilling a new hole entirely. Thats just crazy kookoo talk right there!

If that's the route I choose to go, I'm not worried about reaming the holes out. I'm an experienced woodworker and was a finish carpenter for a while.

 

[5string_phunk]

Greetings fellow Spector Fanatics! I own a white NS-2A and am about to order either a Forte4 or US Bolt on and want to be a part of the club. Who do I need to get a hold of to get an official membership into the family?

 

[stjohn1299]

I don't recall seeing it on here, but just an FYI to everyone....Euro's now come with a double action truss rod rather than the single. This is a fairly recent change, but PJ felt pretty confident that my 5LX had a DA truss, and it was a December build. If it's been discussed already, my apologies....

 

[worshiprocker]

I went and took a look at the bass, then took it home! With the exception of a dent on the back and a tiny bit a wear on the upper where your arm would sit this thing is almost like new. It's a matte finish, the frets are in great shape. The actual pieces of wood used for the wings aren't as pretty as others that I've seen, but I think it's a little more utilitarian. All business.

It's got the SN inside the control cavity and what looks to be the EMG pre. It's a small (1 1/4" x 1 1/4") PCB, and I think it's got V/B/T/B controls. An older version of the BTS? I'm curious if it has new pickups in it, they have no wear at all. The logos are completely in tact. Time to start reading up on EMG vs. Tone Pump vs. Hazlab. I would certainly consider swapping it out if it gives me hat I want. The in-your-face Spector tone similar to Mike Starr/Rex/Queensryche. I assume they all have/had NS-2's with Hazlabs?

It came with a Spector case that is in very good shape as well, the previous owner spray painted their band name on it. GC attempted to tell me that it didn't come with a case, but the tag hanging on the bass specifically said otherwise. They also let me use the 12% coupon, so couple that with no tax in DE...and I got it for a little over $600.

Duke is right. Rex puts a Tone Pump in all his basses

Nice!!! Thats a great score

Great that they let you use the 12% off coupon they usually dont do that on used models. But you deserved it after paying all the NJ Turnpike tolls.

Your bass is probably very similar to the one that Mr.Bassie720 owns. His is refinished but the original finish was a oil matte finish with basic maple wings.

You will get a decent growl just from the EMG Pre, but the Tonepump or Haz ofcourse will give you some more grit and growl. Also dont forget about the Mightymite MM114 Haz copy which you can get for around $60.

I love my mm114, but I definitely prefer the Tone Pump

Greetings fellow Spector Fanatics! I own a white NS-2A and am about to order either a Forte4 or US Bolt on and want to be a part of the club. Who do I need to get a hold of to get an official membership into the family?

Send TraceBassPlayer a message, he will get you a number.

 

[dukeisdog]

I found a somewhat useable dirty tone with my non trim tone pump, but can it hurt my speakers? I'm not playing at very high volume, I just don't wanna damage anything.

 

[delucajohn2000]

Duke is right. Rex puts a Tone Pump in all his basses

That is true for his recent Spectors but he previously used the 18V USA circuit in his NS-4's, NS-5's, and his Rex bass. I think when the RX-T came out, that is when he switched over to the tonepump but he doesn't use that bass currently due to it being heavier and he hasn't been in the greatest health.

 

[5string_phunk]

Thanks worshiprocker!

 

[worshiprocker]

That is true for his recent Spectors but he previously used the 18V USA circuit in his NS-4's, NS-5's, and his Rex bass. I think when the RX-T came out, that is when he switched over to the tonepump but he doesn't use that bass currently due to it being heavier and he hasn't been in the greatest health.

I remember JPS stating that he replaces all of pres with the TP. I know the site says its the 18v on his REX but I am pretty sure the TP switch was for his NS basses....

I could be mistaken....

It's not the first time I've heard this. And really, Rex Brown and Ray Scheuring of Bret Michaels have done the same swap... Ray's basses all have the TP with EMG HZ passive pups.

Rex does active EMGs with the TP in his basses and both Ray and Rex like the TP at 100% output. They like LOUD, deep, bombastic bass sound.

 

[Christian Waiau]

That is true for his recent Spectors but he previously used the 18V USA circuit in his NS-4's, NS-5's, and his Rex bass. I think when the RX-T came out, that is when he switched over to the tonepump but he doesn't use that bass currently due to it being heavier and he hasn't been in the greatest health.

he(Rex) looks a lot better this year then last year. hoping for the best!

I was a bit skeptical on the 18v USA and getting that growl of a 9v but after playing the green NS you bought from NAMM... no question about the 18v being awesome

 

[delucajohn2000]

Frankly I don't see why ANYONE is allures by rounds.
They're clanky, rougher on your frets, FB and your fingers. Too bright...might as well play a six guitard! But then...I see mostly former guitards use rounds on basses. And you have to replace them more often! I want my basses to sound like a bass! But to each their own...

That's kind of an odd statement. People play the strings they prefer and shouldn't have to feel faulted for it because of someone's opinion. You say that mostly former guitards use rounds? I have never played a guitar in my life and started on bass but the only time i used flats was when i had a fretless. I actually ripped them right off though since I really didn't like the sound and they were impossible to slap on. That bass had an ebony fingerboard though so it was much stringer than something like rosewood.

Different types of strings work for different types of music and the type of music I play, the players mostly use rounds. You want your bass to sound like a bass? My basses definitely sound like the basses I am playing along with in the music I listen to so I think I am doing something right. Well, mostly because i am not as good as most of these people but that comes down to technique.

 

[delucajohn2000]

I remember JPS stating that he replaces all of pres with the TP. I know the site says its the 18v on his REX but I am pretty sure the TP switch was for his NS basses....

I could be mistaken....

No, it's true but that is only within the last 2 years I believe. Everything before that was always the 18V USA

he(Rex) looks a lot better this year then last year. hoping for the best!

I was a bit skeptical on the 18v USA and getting that growl of a 9v but after playing the green NS you bought from NAMM... no question about the 18v being awesome

Good, I am glad he is looking better. He really looked bad in 2009 but that was right when he was getting over the pancreatits and had the surgery.

<sigh> you had to say that about the green bass didn't you? I am counting down the days and the money will be here in less than a week. I can just picture myself like Limaguy the day it arrives and chasing the UPS truck, LOL.

 

[worshiprocker]

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This bass looks awesome!!! anyone who went to NAMM play it?

 

[dukeisdog]

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This bass looks awesome!!! anyone who went to NAMM play it?

This is the new Rex, right? I definitely prefer the old body shape.

I bet it sounds awesome though.

 

[delucajohn2000]

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This bass looks awesome!!! anyone who went to NAMM play it?

Yeah, that was the one that was at NAMM 2011 which is his RX-T. I think Rockstarbassist bought it and had him sign it if am not mistaken. You can hear PJ in this clip telling him that the guy that bought it asked if he could sign it.

SPECTOR Signature Artist Rex Brown - YouTube

Funny thing is, I never thought of asking how it sounded but I believe he sold it.

Diechris, you were at NAMM 2011, did you get a chance to play this beauty?

 

[JPSBassist]

I posted a few pages back but never got a response.

I ordered a new tone pump with trimpot but it only comes with 2 pots. I'm not sure if I'll do the installation myself (I might), but what other pots will I need to make this go smoothly? This is my first time replacing a preamp and I appreciate all of the help!

Thanks guys

The newer TP comes with the two tone pots attached. So you'll need two 25K volume pots.

If you have any problems with the installation or if you have other questions, just PM me or Sam (Lima) and we can help you get through it.

I'm having surgery on my knee this morning at around 10. So I'll be out most of the day. But I plan on laying around by the computer and working on websites this weekend.

 

[grendle]

If that's the route I choose to go, I'm not worried about reaming the holes out. I'm an experienced woodworker and was a finish carpenter for a while.

Don't shy away from the pump because it's not the flag ship preamp though. Lots of pro's are replacing the haz with the tonepump.

 

[KingRazor]

Not sure, maybe the bolt ons. Never found them uncomfortable though. I don't spend a lot of time usually above the 12 th fret though unless I'm doing solo stuff.

I'm sure it is comfortable, it's just too thick to me. I'm used to a neck that's about 4mm thinner than that.

I don't spend a lot of time above the 12th fret but I do climb up near 12 in about half the songs I play.

The wider the neck is, the thinner it has to be in order for it to be comfortable for me to play. A P bass is generally either 1 5/8" or 1 11/16" wide, so its "chunky" neck is comfortable due to the narrower nut. I assume the same would be true on a Spector 4-string.

On a 1 3/4" or 45mm nut width, any thicker than 22mm at the 12th fret means the neck is going to be on the thick side for me.

 

[worshiprocker]

Don't shy away from the pump because it's not the flag ship preamp though. Lots of pro's are replacing the haz with the tonepump.

This ^ although I've never played an actual HAZ I can't imagine it being 3 or 4 times better... The Tone Pump is a great Preamp

 

[dukeisdog]

The newer TP comes with the two tone pots attached. So you'll need two 25K volume pots.

If you have any problems with the installation or if you have other questions, just PM me or Sam (Lima) and we can help you get through it.

I'm having surgery on my knee this morning at around 10. So I'll be out most of the day. But I plan on laying around by the computer and working on websites this weekend.

Sam sent me a PM that will be tons of help when I get the preamp. It appears like I won't need any new pots as I can just use the ones that came with my old tone pump. I appreciate the help, though. Thank you.

 

[dukeisdog]

I'm sure it is comfortable, it's just too thick to me. I'm used to a neck that's about 4mm thinner than that.

I don't spend a lot of time above the 12th fret but I do climb up near 12 in about half the songs I play.

The wider the neck is, the thinner it has to be in order for it to be comfortable for me to play. A P bass is generally either 1 5/8" or 1 11/16" wide, so its "chunky" neck is comfortable due to the narrower nut. I assume the same would be true on a Spector 4-string.

On a 1 3/4" or 45mm nut width, any thicker than 22mm at the 12th fret means the neck is going to be on the thick side for me.

FWIW: I came from an Ibanez SRX 500, it had a very thin neck, and I'm now playing my Euro 5LX. It was a very easy transition, and my hands really don't mind the thick neck. This is coming from someone who loved the small Ibby neck.