SPECTOR® Club - Part 26

[dukeisdog]

Where was it selling? How much?

It was on the TB classifieds. It was an NS4CRFM, it was a nice blue/black fade, had some dings, and needed a knob, but it looked like a really nice bass. I think the seller was asking $500 but don't quote me on that.

 

[bassmanc]

BEFORE

I'm no Patrick Stern but you get the idea!

 

[iceboxbass]

bro, believe me, CK's are as close to magic metal as you can get haha
i had a set of DR DDT's on Brownie before getting my bass set up with these strings, and my .158 has easily lower and lighter tension than the E string does of the DDT set.
it makes all the difference in the world. it really wouldn't take you more than a full rehearsal or two to get used to it.

I just might try a set of CK's! Do you use rounds or flats?

 

[Jaymi]

BEFORE

I'm no Patrick Stern but you get the idea!

those are STELLAR!!!

 

[madbassplaya]

I just might try a set of CK's! Do you use rounds or flats?

Unless something has changed, Circle K only makes round wounds.

 

[5string_phunk]

BEFORE

I'm no Patrick Stern but you get the idea!

Those are beautiful! Based on the p/up config and special inlay, I am assuming these are US made?

How do you like the Jazz/Dual coil setup? ...or is that a MM style pickup? What pre do you have in them?

 

[grendle]

Liking the tone of those labella 's Lima posted.

 

[Shmandy]

Well dang...
Not even a chuckle from Icebox about my circle k vs. 7-11 string joke

It gave me a good chuckle last night, Trace. You're a clever one!

 

[Jasonger]

Carlton- Just curious as to the why for the refins? I really love the matte finish but the gloss does make those colors pop

 

[bassmanc]

Those are beautiful! Based on the p/up config and special inlay, I am assuming these are US made?

How do you like the Jazz/Dual coil setup? ...or is that a MM style pickup? What pre do you have in them?

It's actually a regular humbucker not a MM with a 9volt pre amp.Patrick Stern can explain better than I can why the 9 volt works better with this config...I dig it.If I want a different tone I can swap out the back pu.Yes they are USA made.

 

[iceboxbass]

Not much into this band but... Blessed be thy soundman who turneth up the Spector!

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Amen!!! Nice Euro-4 natural! Really nice growl!

 

[bassmanc]

Carlton- Just curious as to the why for the refins? I really love the matte finish but the gloss does make those colors pop

Well it was a fluke!I sent the blue in to get some work done, and it came back glossed!Oops!So I was like they ALL must be gloss now!I really like the way it sounds!....The looks don't hurt either!Two down,one to go!

 

[iceboxbass]

Has a few cosmetic issues, but already talked to Pat Wilkens at PJ @ Spector's recommendation and get it refin'ed. It's going to be matte blue stain...should look great.

Congratulations on the Euro! Matte blue should look amazing!Can't wait to see it refinished!

 

[JPSBassist]

BEFORE

I'm no Patrick Stern but you get the idea!

You're trying to make me all blush and stuff. And dude. These photos are great.
Really it's not how you shoot the photos... it's the fact you've got three awesome custom USA Spector NS-5XLs to shoot.

 

[iceboxbass]

Well dang...
Not even a chuckle from Icebox about my circle k vs. 7-11 string joke

Ah...I read it but I guess I didn't get the punch line ???

 

[PhatBasstard]

I thought the NSCR's were a type of euro.

Euro has been used as a model designation in 2 of the 4 Czech series of neck-thru basses (NSCR, NSCRFM, Euro, Euro LX).
"Euro" has just become kind of generic for them all when "Czech" would really be more correct.

Well dang...
Not even a chuckle from Icebox about my circle k vs. 7-11 string joke

I was going to give you a "Boo, hiss", but........

I asked this previously but I think it got lost in the wash.

With the discussion of the 40P5 pickups being the way to get the "classic" split P sounds from an NS-2 on a 5-string, is the placement of the neck pickup on a 35" scale Spector in the same relative "sweet spot" as the split P pickups would be on a 34" scale Spector?

Not sure of the distance placement question, but FYI:
One of the cool things about the EMG soapbar P's is that they place the coils in reverse P fashion just like Spector does with the actual P pup.

Hey everyone I have a question, can any of you identify the exact year and model of my Spector? And I anyone is interested in buying it its in almost perfect condition and sounds great, I'll give more info on it of you are interested.

View attachment 251373

I'll have more pics by later

Probably a pre 1999 Czech.
A serial would a long way to your answer.

You mock me, Sir..........

 

[JPSBassist]

It's actually a regular humbucker not a MM with a 9volt pre amp.Patrick Stern can explain better than I can why the 9 volt works better with this config...I dig it.If I want a different tone I can swap out the back pu.Yes they are USA made.

The humbucker and J combo that Carlton came up with is a sick combo. The 9v is growlier than the 18v, which has more headroom and thus less distortion of the signal as the OpAmps in the circuit oversat during attack.
He's added a punchier pup at the neck to balance out the deep bottom-heavy sound of the DC humbucker...
Carlton's NS-5XL models are the best sounding modern NS-5 models I've ever heard. And half the show his amp was acting up and so he plugged into the house monitors directly... and that bass still sounded sick. Once his replacement amp was online... I mean it's a wicked combo. For sure.
Think about the punch that Graham Maby's Kramer NS-5 has in the "I'm The Man" Joe Jackson video... add some depth and a little warmth but don't take away the punch.
That's what Carlton has... three of them.

 

[iceboxbass]

Trace, I am not sure everyone knows CircleK is a 7-11 type store. In the NYC area we dont have them, I only know them from seeing them when I traveled to south Texas, I did laugh when I read it last night

OMG! I remember the CircleK stores from out west...but didn't put it together. We have 1 7-11 store upnorth here, 30 miles south. Lol

 

[iceboxbass]

Finally!!!!

Before...

Wow! That's gorgeous! I like it better than the natural Spalted Maple.

 

[iceboxbass]

I asked this previously but I think it got lost in the wash.

With the discussion of the 40P5 pickups being the way to get the "classic" split P sounds from an NS-2 on a 5-string, is the placement of the neck pickup on a 35" scale Spector in the same relative "sweet spot" as the split P pickups would be on a 34" scale Spector?

I'm debating on whether I should try retrofitting one of my Euro's with the soapbar pickups or go for a Euro 435 set up for BEAD.

For that matter, is the placement of the pickups on a 435 different than on a 4LX?

I'd be pretty certain that it'd be in the sweet spot. Try em out! Cheaper than buying another bass for sure.