SPECTOR® Club - Part 32

[Mrfstop]

WoW, Loving that Orange one!! Amazing bass!!

Bassmanc for the win! That's quite a stable you've got there.

 

[spector_boogie]

Sorry for the obvious noob question, but I was just curious how you guys feel about the whole US Kramer era vs. other eras.

Seems like the US Kramer models are just as highly regarded as anything else Spector has ever put out.

Are they lacking at all in any dept?

IIRC, the early Kramer-era instruments are basically Brooklyn parts and the like just at the Neptune plant. I think Stuart was kept on as supervisor for a year or something like that also.

 

[loend68]

My understanding is that the Kramer NS-2's were still made by hand in a separate shop by only a few guys, within the Kramer plant. And I believe Stuart supervised, at least at the beginning....

 

[iceboxbass]

Fellow Spector fanatics, I just made the single most significant & longest waited-for bass purchase of my entire bass playing life. Ordered just minutes ago, it should be here in a few days. Real pix to follow, but here are some teaser pix from Bass Central's website...

Congratulations!!! That's a gorgeous NS-2/4 !!! Love that shade of blue!!! I spent several time drooling over that particular one! made in 07' it says?

 

[spector_boogie]

Congratulations!!! That's a gorgeous NS-4!!! Love that shade of blue!!! I spent several time drooling over that particular one! made in 07' it says?

 

[iceboxbass]

Unfortunately no.
I purchased a white Spector Euro from Beaver Felton at Bass Central 5 years ago, and it's been the best bass I've ever owned - and I've owned a lot of them over the past 30 years. My plum Spector Euro was purchased off of Craigslist last week (priced too low to pass up), but I've been dreaming of & saving up for a real-deal USA Spector ever since I bought my white Euro, and Beaver cut me one hell of a deal on this new Royal Blue NS4. Can't wait - so excited!

AND you might as well put your Euro on the classified for sale now because it'll never be played again! Just ask the new owner of my Forte 4...no comparison IMHO!

 

[iceboxbass]

you know it's a good thing of the support we all have here. imagine if you went and did that and f'ed it up because you thought it would work. everyone saves money on here with being knowledgable and honest. das wat im talkin bout!

+1 bro!!!!

OMG!!!! YOU JUST GOT SOMETHING VERY VERY SPECIAL.

I've played this bass. First. It's beautiful and has a really nice, thinner than normal neck... more like a Kramer than a current Woodstock neck. But still thicker than a Kramer.

HERE YOU GO!!! The serial number on this bass is WRONG.

It says "NS-2" And this is clearly an NS-4. Stuart has only done this two or three times in the history of the company.

I posted about this bass back last October, urging anyone who wants a unique Spector to grab it.

You are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE this bass.

Here are some photos I took of it.

My former Forte 4 number #36 is a duplicated number also. I forgot to mention that to Eric. Sorry E!

 

[iceboxbass]

My first Spector showed up today.
The brown truck dropped this in beautiful condition at my door.
She made the trip from Michigan to New Yawk unscathed. Pheeew!
Killer bass!
Tons of eyeball and curb appeal of course.
The Aggie J pups and pre are hot and punchy with many tones.
The neck is much chunkier than my other basses and board is wider as well.
So it will take a bit of time to adjust when going back and forth between the brands in my collection for sure.
But I loved the bass during the initial plug and play.

2011 Spector U.S. - NS-4 H2 JJ was spec'd by PJ Rubal of Spector specifically for the Bass Player Live 2011 show

Beautiful and congrats!!!!

 

[delucajohn2000]

Sorry for the obvious noob question, but I was just curious how you guys feel about the whole US Kramer era vs. other eras.

Seems like the US Kramer models are just as highly regarded as anything else Spector has ever put out.

Are they lacking at all in any dept?

I wouldn't say the Kramer NS-2's are lacking but there are some differences. I don't believe all of the different types of woods Spector uses now were available back when they were with Kramer but I could be wrong. I don't think I have ever seen a buckeye burl Kramer NS-2 but they might exist, you never know. The Kramer's used Mother of Pearl inlays whereas the new ones have Abalone but you can still order MOP if you want them. There are other minor differences too like the Kramer's used Schaller tuners but the new Woodstock ones use Gotoh so it's mostly little things like that.

From what I hear, the Kramer's had a smaller neck profile so most tend to prefer that type of neck over the newer ones which tend to be thicker. Also, the tone from the Kramer's is what drew a bunch of us to Spector. Eddie Jackson from Queensryche and Mike Starr from Alice in Chains both used Kramer NS-2's and when you listen to their recordings, there is no denying that Spector sound.

 

[Mrfstop]

Beautiful and congrats!!!!

Hey thanks!
I spent an hour with it today cranked up and Mannnn O mannnn this thing kicks major A _ _ !!!!

The notes just sing off of it.
The Aggie pups and pre are stellar!!
Love the bass! TONS of tonal options!

Been 2 days since this arrived and I already want another one on BC.
Time will tell
hahaha!!

 

[iceboxbass]

Anyone know where I can get an after market hard shell case to fit my NS4CR? I should be getting my refinished bass back tomorrow!!! :stoked:

I bought my TDK HSC from MF $58.00

 

[loend68]

I wouldn't say the Kramer NS-2's are lacking but there are some differences. I don't believe all of the different types of woods Spector uses now were available back when they were with Kramer but I could be wrong. I don't think I have ever seen a buckeye burl Kramer NS-2 but they might exist, you never know. The Kramer's used Mother of Pearl inlays whereas the new ones have Abalone but you can still order MOP if you want them. There are other minor differences too like the Kramer's used Schaller tuners but the new Woodstock ones use Gotoh so it's mostly little things like that.

From what I hear, the Kramer's had a smaller neck profile so most tend to prefer that type of neck over the newer ones which tend to be thicker. Also, the tone from the Kramer's is what drew a bunch of us to Spector. Eddie Jackson from Queensryche and Mike Starr from Alice in Chains both used Kramer NS-2's and when you listen to their recordings, there is no denying that Spector sound.

Yeah, there were only maple with different levels of figuring available. The necks were the same as my '97 NS-2 and I think they started getting thicker in the 2000's.
Pretty minor differences once you get past the neck profile, I think....

Edit: I don't think they had graphite reinforcing in necks back then.

 

[iceboxbass]

And that kiddies, is how Coda's are made

LMBO!!!

 

[thisSNsucks]

My understanding is that the Kramer NS-2's were still made by hand in a separate shop by only a few guys, within the Kramer plant. And I believe Stuart supervised, at least at the beginning....

I wouldn't say the Kramer NS-2's are lacking but there are some differences. I don't believe all of the different types of woods Spector uses now were available back when they were with Kramer but I could be wrong. I don't think I have ever seen a buckeye burl Kramer NS-2 but they might exist, you never know. The Kramer's used Mother of Pearl inlays whereas the new ones have Abalone but you can still order MOP if you want them. There are other minor differences too like the Kramer's used Schaller tuners but the new Woodstock ones use Gotoh so it's mostly little things like that.

From what I hear, the Kramer's had a smaller neck profile so most tend to prefer that type of neck over the newer ones which tend to be thicker. Also, the tone from the Kramer's is what drew a bunch of us to Spector. Eddie Jackson from Queensryche and Mike Starr from Alice in Chains both used Kramer NS-2's and when you listen to their recordings, there is no denying that Spector sound.

Cool, thanks guys!

 

[delucajohn2000]

The Eagle has landed! I just received a text from Sam and his Kramer NS-2 has arrived. He said it's amazing but, as luck would have it, has a doctor's appointment so he has to leave. I am sure he will update all of us tonight with plenty of pictures and sound clips though.

 

[5string_phunk]

Hey thanks!
I spent an hour with it today cranked up and Mannnn O mannnn this thing kicks major A _ _ !!!!

The notes just sing off of it.
The Aggie pups and pre are stellar!!
Love the bass! TONS of tonal options!

Been 2 days since this arrived and I already want another one on BC.
Time will tell
hahaha!!

congrats! That is a beaut!!

I think Spector's should come with a warning!
*caution-the instrument you are holding is fantastic in everyway and once you own one, you are VERY addicted!!

 

[bassmanc]

Wait, you have 4 of those crazy NS-5XLs with one inlay and unusual electronics? Are the electronics the same as the older US bolt ons?

No, wait, I see it, one of them has gone through 3 different finishes, unless the natural finish was not, uh, finished.

3 the natural one is now blue!

 

[Mrfstop]

Hey thanks,
I agree they should.
I have an eye on this other one at BC that is similar just with the EMG 35 CS-TW Pickups and OBP-3 Preamp..... in a dark brown LE model BO.
Would make a nice pair!
Just need to think of what I could let go of to get it?

congrats! That is a beaut!!

I think Spector's should come with a warning!
*caution-the instrument you are holding is fantastic in everyway and once you own one, you are VERY addicted!!

 

[Worldeeeter]

well some good news guys. the warwick is bye bye and i should be getting my spector on its way hehehehe >

Congrats, man!
Warwick and Spector seem to be neck-in-neck as the "players' favorites" on TB...you just tipped the scale a hair in our favor!

 

[superdick2112]

AND you might as well put your Euro on the classified for sale now because it'll never be played again! Just ask the new owner of my Forte 4...no comparison IMHO!

I don't know.... I took the new (used) plum Euro to practice last night, and it was absolutely KILLING! It has the older style preamp, and I think I prefer it over my white Euro with its TonePump - it has a little less bottom end than whitey, but the highs, mids & articulation are a bit better.

I can't wait for the USA NS4, but even if it turns out to be the "Holy Grail" of my collection, the white Euro will always be my back-up bass, and the used plum Euro might just become my new "Redneck Bar Bass".