SPECTOR® Club - Part 26

[CarlosRoberto5]

2 words: OH........MY..........GOODNESS.

Changing everything I thought I knew about bass guitar.

That's beautiful, man!
Is there any way we could get close-up pictures of the stripes along the neck-though portion? I've never seen anything like that before!

 

[Trailight]

It's one of those nights...The cool breeze, the quiet...contemplation.

I've been playing with this idea for a while and tonight, as the atmosphere and the ambiance were right, I recorded it.

Invalid Link Removed

Everything was recorded with the Spector Forte. On this track, I use ALL of my pedals so the list is: (in no particular order or reason)
Volume Pedal---XXL distortion---Tremolo---Bass Octave---M80-Bass DI---Flanger---Envelope Filter---Carbon Copy Delay---Boss Ge7 EQ.

....If I only had a Whammy pedal

This is 6 layers (4 of which are split channels to Left and Right)
Minimal Compression, no EQ....I'm too tired
It's 3:50am and I've been at it for almost 5 hours now.
I named the track after my Wife

It sounds OK on my headphones, I hope it sounds OK to everyone else.

**drops a Ninja smoke bomb and disappears**

 

[JeffplaysBass]

Yes. It's unfortunate, but at the NAMM Show Andy tried to "sway" several Spector artists over to Warwick, which is not cool because he did it by taking underhanded digs at Spector's product quality. Which is silly and VERY unprofessional. And the artists in question were offended enough to come over and say something about it. Which is how I know it happened.

I confronted him, saying it was uncalled for especially considering I had defended him in his move to WW, and he accused me of all sorts of untrue stuff, he gave me the middle finger (verbally) and was generally disrespectful and rude.

So he took his videos down, unfriended me on FB and honestly I'm glad. The guy showed his true colors and I'm horribly disappointed for I thought he was a friend. I was wrong about him.

The new version of Spector Central will have none of his videos and I'm deleting his My Spector Story. It would seem he's the sort of guy that whatever he's doing at the time... whatever equipment he's using... he harks it as "The best in the world" and thus he's got no credibility with me since I've heard him say the same thing over and over across several manufacturers now.

I'd rather not have him associated with SpectorCentral. There are plenty of people out there that say what they mean and mean what they say. I have no desire to promote a spiteful person with a bad attitude. Not being disrespectful. Just calling it like I see it.

You'll never hear me mention that guy again. Happy trails to him.

Wish I was there...I have been known to knock people out for less....this guy is a jerk!!!!!

 

[iceboxbass]

Yes. It's unfortunate, but at the NAMM Show Andy tried to "sway" several Spector artists over to Warwick, which is not cool because he did it by taking underhanded digs at Spector's product quality. Which is silly and VERY unprofessional. And the artists in question were offended enough to come over and say something about it. Which is how I know it happened.

I confronted him, saying it was uncalled for especially considering I had defended him in his move to WW, and he accused me of all sorts of untrue stuff, he gave me the middle finger (verbally) and was generally disrespectful and rude.

So he took his videos down, unfriended me on FB and honestly I'm glad. The guy showed his true colors and I'm horribly disappointed for I thought he was a friend. I was wrong about him.

The new version of Spector Central will have none of his videos and I'm deleting his My Spector Story. It would seem he's the sort of guy that whatever he's doing at the time... whatever equipment he's using... he harks it as "The best in the world" and thus he's got no credibility with me since I've heard him say the same thing over and over across several manufacturers now.

I'd rather not have him associated with SpectorCentral. There are plenty of people out there that say what they mean and mean what they say. I have no desire to promote a spiteful person with a bad attitude. Not being disrespectful. Just calling it like I see it.

You'll never hear me mention that guy again. Happy trails to him.

That's just sad JPS...you were a close friend to Andy and stood up for him & WW when there were some serious bashing/hate going on here back a couple of months ago. Too bad that he took that kind of unneeded stand. He's one heck of a bass player and artist! Sorry JPS that you had to be faced with that. What a downer that had to be.

Wow!
That's very unfortunate!
Sorry to bring it up again, but I DO remember when I had made a dig at him in a previous Spector Club thread and you defended him.
It's very upsetting to hear that he disrespected you like that; I knew his allegiance to ..well, everything he endorses.. seemed kinda fake. I think you're right; everything he owns, he claims is "the best out there" , which was very obvious in all of the other videos he had on his 1 of 3 youtube channels.
To be honest, it seems like he didn't feel entirely comfortable about switching over to Warwick and probably wanted to drag a few other Spector artists with him to make him feel better about himself. That could just be me reading into it too far, but it's still a very sleazy thing of him to attempt to dirty the Spector brand with accusations of poor quality control.
I'm trying not to be overly negative here, but there's just no excuse for disrespecting someone you had called a friend just a little while ago.
I think you're better off without him, Patrick.
You don't deserve all that mess!

+1!

Actually... I think you hit the nail on the head.

+1!

That is a very sad story.
I just unfriended him on facebook. I about had enough of his constant spamming anyway.

What is comical, how could any honest pro bass player ever say anything negative about Spector product quality.

I'll be doing the same on FB too.

Andy Irvine. What a tool. He'll probably be with Shecter or ESP next year.

WW will or Andy, get tired of Andy and see him for what he is really...besides a great artist. Unfortunate.

To be fair, people should play whatever bass feels and sounds the best to them. I think most people here would agree that no one has a problem with someone who plays Warwicks. The player is responsible for the actions of people in the company, they (you) just want a good bass. What we do have an issue with is the extremely poor and unprofessional attitude of Andy Irvine in transitioning to another company them then saying negative things and trying to draw away artists from his previous company. I really don't think anyone here has a problem with people who play Warwicks. Play whatever bass makes you happy!

+1! I agree 100%!!!

 

[JeffplaysBass]

I get what you are saying..... We are a tight knit group here and many of us talk outside of TB. That is why we support our brotha and our brand... no worries tho.. its just another day. Let all keep rockin!!!!!

+1.....Amen brother!!!

 

[husky123]

It's one of those nights...The cool breeze, the quiet...contemplation.

I've been playing with this idea for a while and tonight, as the atmosphere and the ambiance were right, I recorded it.

Invalid Link Removed

Everything was recorded with the Spector Forte. On this track, I use ALL of my pedals so the list is: (in no particular order or reason)
Volume Pedal---XXL distortion---Tremolo---Bass Octave---M80-Bass DI---Flanger---Envelope Filter---Carbon Copy Delay---Boss Ge7 EQ.

....If I only had a Whammy pedal

This is 6 layers (4 of which are split channels to Left and Right)
Minimal Compression, no EQ....I'm too tired
It's 3:50am and I've been at it for almost 5 hours now.
I named the track after my Wife

It sounds OK on my headphones, I hope it sounds OK to everyone else.

**drops a Ninja smoke bomb and disappears**

Very cool vibe! Great job.

 

[iceboxbass]

I like the Blue one out of the three the most.

+1! I love me some blue!!! Love the quilting on that one! My next Spector but will need to be blue! I really like the mock up that Lima's daughter did on the Forte in blue stain! That is gorgeous!!! I'm thinking maybe I'll look for someone that can restain one of my Forte's in blue.

Matte or gloss finish? What do you all say??? Let me hear from ya!

 

[iceboxbass]

I play WWs and no one here ever belittles me or judges me for it. I have to wrestle with my own moral compass for choosing to play them. I always have maintained that, for me, one is not better than the other. Different yes. Better no. What a lame move by Mr. Ervine. Very classless and crass. On a more happy note. New bass day for Joe. Traded with our own WorshipRocker for the NS-2JA-R that once belonged to our very own Limaguy. See a pattern there? We keeps it in the familia Beautiful bass. I will post a review and some mods in the next couple of weeks. But let me say here in public what a pleasure it was to deal with someone as nice and up front as Donny(WorshipRocker).

+1! Cool about the NS-2JA-R!

Congrats!

I did my first rehearsal using my Forte - and it was a surprisingly warm tone - when I am practicing at home, I use the Zoom multieffect amp sim - and it's got so much growl and bite - then at rehearsal it sounds full and fat - my amp settings were flat. When it counted though, it punched through -everyone was commenting on the sound. I'm totally happy.

Awesome!!! +1 for Forte 4!!!

Just wanted to add something about this.
JPS responded to a post about Andy taking down instructional videos when he was playing Spectors in them. (Which is actually sad since I found them very informative)

JPS is not looking to start a problem, but like all of us we will defend ourselves and our family when attacked. Having someone bad mouth you, your wife or child will get you in fight mode. Spector is his family just like it is for the majority of us in this forum.

I have seen Andy over spam multiple bass pages on Facebook with W stuff.
Right before NAMM, I read many posts from Andy saying something along these lines; “Players of other bass companies should come check out the new W product line.”
He was a bit overdoing it, which he probably did at NAMM also.

When you have battled a life threatening illness in your life, (like JPS, Chrisloe, Myself and others) crap and attitudes in general are not important. All you are really looking for is; peace, harmony and happiness in your life. It’s not about being Mr. Big Shot Endorsee, its about enjoying every day you are alive.

That being said, if you haven’t watched Patrick’s My Spector Story, take a moment to watch it now. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

His story was a major part of me getting my life back on track after my illness. I have heard from others that my own My Spector stories have inspired them. This is what makes people like us happy. This is what Spector does for people.

And on that note, I would really like to see a lot more My Spector Stories coming from players in this forum. Remember you don’t have to have an illness to post a story, just share how much you love your Spectors Hint Hint…..
Remember, when the new SpectorCentral launches soon, The My Spector Stories from Myself, Stjohn1299, Worshiprocker, diechris and Iceboxbass will be right along side the My Spector Story of Doug Wimbish. It doesn’t get any cooler then that.
You know you want yours there too.

+1! Well said LimaGuy! Kudos! Happiness & stress relief is what I'm after and most everyone here is seeking.

My Spector story will "hopefully" starts this Monday when it gets delivered. My other bass is older than my kids so if it's anything close to my trusty 81 L-1000 it will be the first of many Spectors for the next 30 years. Trying to wait patiently, but it's not one of my strengths.

Try waiting 4-6 months! Not once but twice in a year! ARGH!!!

I made a sound comparison recording of my Forte with the Haz 9V circuit vs. my Euro 4LX with a Tonepump.

Both basses were recorded with DR Hi Beams.

You will hear that the Tonepump matches up very closely to the the Haz.

I think the Tonepump has slightly less mid range punch and seems to be a bit more "dirty" sounding

Both basses are at about 60-70% bass, 20-30% Treble. (I tried to match them up as close as possible) The Tonepump trim is at about 30-40%

No mix down EQ, just some standard compression on mixdown from Pro Tools.

P.S.
Before you listen, Yes its that same darn riff I always play but I honestly feel this gives a good representation of the tone of the bass.

Forte with Haz
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Euro 4LX with Tonepump
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I like the 9V Haz Forte 4 sound best because of the mids coming thru clearer and I like the sound of the growl better on it vs. the TP. And I'm trying to be impartial to the bass...really I am!

 

[Clearwave]

I made a sound comparison recording of my Forte with the Haz 9V circuit vs. my Euro 4LX with a Tonepump.

Both basses were recorded with DR Hi Beams.

You will hear that the Tonepump matches up very closely to the the Haz.

I think the Tonepump has slightly less mid range punch and seems to be a bit more "dirty" sounding

Both basses are at about 60-70% bass, 20-30% Treble. (I tried to match them up as close as possible) The Tonepump trim is at about 30-40%

No mix down EQ, just some standard compression on mixdown from Pro Tools.

P.S.
Before you listen, Yes its that same darn riff I always play but I honestly feel this gives a good representation of the tone of the bass.

Forte with Haz
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Euro 4LX with Tonepump
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks for posting. It's amazing how close they are, especially when you consider one is a USA the other is a EURO. In comparing my ns2a's, The USA haz pre is more "musical" sounding. I'm impressed by how good the tonepump is in comparison, considering it is $250 less expensive.

Does it seem like the frequency on the high eq pot is different between the two? On my basses the HAZ sounds like its at 4k and the tonepump is at 2k.....something like that.

 

[Mr.Bassie720]

I made a sound comparison recording of my Forte with the Haz 9V circuit vs. my Euro 4LX with a Tonepump.

Both basses were recorded with DR Hi Beams.

You will hear that the Tonepump matches up very closely to the the Haz.

I think the Tonepump has slightly less mid range punch and seems to be a bit more "dirty" sounding

Both basses are at about 60-70% bass, 20-30% Treble. (I tried to match them up as close as possible) The Tonepump trim is at about 30-40%

No mix down EQ, just some standard compression on mixdown from Pro Tools.

P.S.
Before you listen, Yes its that same darn riff I always play but I honestly feel this gives a good representation of the tone of the bass.

Forte with Haz
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Euro 4LX with Tonepump
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

This is just fantastic. Thanks for doing this Sam. I had long suspected this to be the case. JPS said in one of the first Spector central videos the the TP was created to emulate the sound of the HAZ. It nails it. The differences are slight and you really have to be focusing to pick them out. There is just no way you would be able to hear a difference in a band setting with your SVT cranked. I am embarking on a Spector project and I was going to use the HAZ. Mostly for historical accuracy. I will now forgo historical accuracy and save $250.00. The project is the beautiful NS-2JA-R that I got in trade with Worshiprocker. That will be the first order of business. I dont have too much love for the EMG BT circuit. My CRFM had one and I took it out in favor of the TP. My first TP had no output trim and it was just a vulgar display of power that would overdrive everything and anything. With todays version of the TP. Having that output control is excellent. In doing the research on this, players that I respect are telling me to go with the Pump. I'm gonna listen.

 

[iceboxbass]

It's one of those nights...The cool breeze, the quiet...contemplation.

I've been playing with this idea for a while and tonight, as the atmosphere and the ambiance were right, I recorded it.

Invalid Link Removed

Everything was recorded with the Spector Forte. On this track, I use ALL of my pedals so the list is: (in no particular order or reason)
Volume Pedal---XXL distortion---Tremolo---Bass Octave---M80-Bass DI---Flanger---Envelope Filter---Carbon Copy Delay---Boss Ge7 EQ.

....If I only had a Whammy pedal

This is 6 layers (4 of which are split channels to Left and Right)
Minimal Compression, no EQ....I'm too tired
It's 3:50am and I've been at it for almost 5 hours now.
I named the track after my Wife

It sounds OK on my headphones, I hope it sounds OK to everyone else.

**drops a Ninja smoke bomb and disappears**

Very very nice job on this melodic piece Seventh! All that was missing to make this totally peaceful is some thunder & soft rain. I love how the different sound/tones/effects all put together is so relaxing! Thank you brother for sharing this beautiful arrangement! Kudos! Which strings are you using?

 

[stjohn1299]

It's one of those nights...The cool breeze, the quiet...contemplation.

I've been playing with this idea for a while and tonight, as the atmosphere and the ambiance were right, I recorded it.

Invalid Link Removed

Everything was recorded with the Spector Forte. On this track, I use ALL of my pedals so the list is: (in no particular order or reason)
Volume Pedal---XXL distortion---Tremolo---Bass Octave---M80-Bass DI---Flanger---Envelope Filter---Carbon Copy Delay---Boss Ge7 EQ.

....If I only had a Whammy pedal

This is 6 layers (4 of which are split channels to Left and Right)
Minimal Compression, no EQ....I'm too tired
It's 3:50am and I've been at it for almost 5 hours now.
I named the track after my Wife

It sounds OK on my headphones, I hope it sounds OK to everyone else.

**drops a Ninja smoke bomb and disappears**

Nice Playing!

 

[grendle]

In the process involved in laying down black muslin on the floor in my studio, I have to set everything in the room right next to it.

I wrap the entire room in black. Walls, floor, etc... so I can control the light. Random light sources on an item with a reflective surface is the cause of artifacts in images that prevent you from seeing wood grain. You see a reflection of my shoes or shirt instead of grain. So you've got to shoot these photos in a huge black box.

And from time-to-time I walk into the room where some 25 USA Spector basses sit and I'm just dumbfounded. LOL. So like the total guitar geek I am... I shoot random stupid photos.

Here are a few from my "prep" for the NAMM Basses.

Note the case with fork-lift shaped punctures in the front. The Sherwood Green Coda is indeed a bass blessed with luck. A careless fork driver drove his forks clear through the case and missed that bass by inches.

My little family of USA Spectors... my 1996 B.O.B. - The Black Pearl - NS-4 Water Cured Redwood.

There's a Spector breeding ground over there!

 

[bunkaroo]

Forte with Haz
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


Euro 4LX with Tonepump
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks so much for this. I've really been wrestling with what my best option is to get the "vintage" Spector P/J sound. I had initially told myself I wouldn't buy any more Euro's since I'd rather put that money towards a US made bass. However, after hearing your clips, I think I am going to go for a Euro 435 P/J and tune it BEAD. They are so close I can now comfortably "settle" for another Euro.

I still haven't ruled out modding one of my existing Euro's to use the soapbar P and J pickups but I'm not sure how hard that will be from a re-wiring perspective.

At some point I will try to get an NS-5XL or NS-6XL especially if the right deal comes along.

 

[CarlosRoberto5]

+1! I love me some blue!!! Love the quilting on that one! My next Spector but will need to be blue! I really like the mock up that Lima's daughter did on the Forte in blue stain! That is gorgeous!!! I'm thinking maybe I'll look for someone that can restain one of my Forte's in blue.

Matte or gloss finish? What do you all say??? Let me hear from ya!

It's hard to say since you haven't seen the 5 yet, but if it were me, I'd gloss & restain that one. The 4 would look like your aggressive work horse and the 5 would be the elegant bass you take to your 'fancy' gigs. Just my opinion, for what its worth.

 

[grendle]

I made a sound comparison recording of my Forte with the Haz 9V circuit vs. my Euro 4LX with a Tonepump.

Both basses were recorded with DR Hi Beams.

You will hear that the Tonepump matches up very closely to the the Haz.

I think the Tonepump has slightly less mid range punch and seems to be a bit more "dirty" sounding

Both basses are at about 60-70% bass, 20-30% Treble. (I tried to match them up as close as possible) The Tonepump trim is at about 30-40%

No mix down EQ, just some standard compression on mixdown from Pro Tools.

P.S.
Before you listen, Yes its that same darn riff I always play but I honestly feel this gives a good representation of the tone of the bass.

Forte with Haz
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Euro 4LX with Tonepump
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks for posting those! And yes please do keep playing that riff for comparisons! It's sooooo much easier to hear differences when you can compair apples to apples. Gotta do one with the pump @ 18v so we can compair with the haz, & std. Pump ( same riff / settings as the others if I can make a request) please

 

[dukeisdog]

+1! I love me some blue!!! Love the quilting on that one! My next Spector but will need to be blue! I really like the mock up that Lima's daughter did on the Forte in blue stain! That is gorgeous!!! I'm thinking maybe I'll look for someone that can restain one of my Forte's in blue.

Matte or gloss finish? What do you all say??? Let me hear from ya!

Here's my Euro 5LX with a Blue Gloss Stain, looks killer in person!

 

[grendle]

Thanks so much for this. I've really been wrestling with what my best option is to get the "vintage" Spector P/J sound. I had initially told myself I wouldn't buy any more Euro's since I'd rather put that money towards a US made bass. However, after hearing your clips, I think I am going to go for a Euro 435 P/J and tune it BEAD. They are so close I can now comfortably "settle" for another Euro.

I still haven't ruled out modding one of my existing Euro's to use the soapbar P and J pickups but I'm not sure how hard that will be from a re-wiring perspective.

At some point I will try to get an NS-5XL or NS-6XL especially if the right deal comes along.

Pretty easy solder job actually.

 

[loend68]

Anyone looking for an NS-2A for a good price (no affiliation)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[loend68]

This is just fantastic. Thanks for doing this Sam. I had long suspected this to be the case. JPS said in one of the first Spector central videos the the TP was created to emulate the sound of the HAZ. It nails it. The differences are slight and you really have to be focusing to pick them out. There is just no way you would be able to hear a difference in a band setting with your SVT cranked. I am embarking on a Spector project and I was going to use the HAZ. Mostly for historical accuracy. I will now forgo historical accuracy and save $250.00. The project is the beautiful NS-2JA-R that I got in trade with Worshiprocker. That will be the first order of business. I dont have too much love for the EMG BT circuit. My CRFM had one and I took it out in favor of the TP. My first TP had no output trim and it was just a vulgar display of power that would overdrive everything and anything. With todays version of the TP. Having that output control is excellent. In doing the research on this, players that I respect are telling me to go with the Pump. I'm gonna listen.

Same here. Not a big fan of the EMG BT circuit that was in my CRFM so I put the Haz copy in it and it really woke it up!