I got five 9v connectors for $2.00 shipped on eBay. I like the 18v Tonepump tone better than all the others I've heard.
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I got five 9v connectors for $2.00 shipped on eBay. I like the 18v Tonepump tone better than all the others I've heard.
bassgiant15
Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
- Dec 19, 2005
- 2,074
- 1,459
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
Thanks for all the comments on the TP vs the HAZ everyone! They are both great preamps no doubt either way. I guess I'm just really torn at the moment. I have my Euro with the TP ran at 18 volts and I have my Ns2A with HAZ it. I like the way they both sound but for some reason I feel like the sound of the Euro with TP sounds better to my ears. The ns2a sounds good but has older strings on it. I guess to me it has s cleaner sound where the TP has a grittier sound. PJ confirmed that it is the US 9 volt circuit in my ns2a. That being said, I know the different woods sound different. So this is where I am torn... if I buy a HAZ for my CR4FM, will it sound different or better in my cr4fm? Or do I just get another TP and run it at 18 volts like my Euro? What is boggling is that I love my fav records (pantera/AIC/queensryche/skrape) that feature NS-2s/HAZ preamps, but I guess I can't hear that tone with my ns2a with HAZ preamp. It could be that I just need to use my ns2a more and work on getting a better tone with it...idk. Part of me wants to just go ahead and buy the HAZ just so I'll have it and just hear it for myself in my cr4fm, but then the whole $350 holds me back a bit. Hope all this makes sense. I gotta be at work so and my thoughts are kinda jumbled. Feedback is always welcome from my Spector peeps! I'll try to respond as I can today from work.
This is what I bought from "Antique Electronic Supply" in Feb. 2012;
Total: 1.80
Item Description Qty. Total
S-H155 Battery Clip - 9 Volt, package of 3, 3 packages
Shipping $3.95. But I received enough to upgrade 3 basses to 18V. Not a bad price.
Im really late on this but I bought the below NSCRFM a couple of months ago. Ive been trying to dig through these threads and see alot about the tonepump verses the haz, but what about the tone pump vs the BTS circuit? At least on mine (and the 5 string I had before) the BTS seemes a little dark at times. And not that it matters to most since its covered up but both of mine was just a tangled mess of wires in the cavity, (im an electronics tech and it drives me crazy!) And seem to want to break over time. Im thinking about trading my BTS for a tonepump, is it worth it?
Thanks!
I'll mod my tonepump for 18v and take it from there. If I like it, it stays - if not, then there is a Haz in my near future...
Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
Im really late on this but I bought the below NSCRFM a couple of months ago. Ive been trying to dig through these threads and see alot about the tonepump verses the haz, but what about the tone pump vs the BTS circuit? At least on mine (and the 5 string I had before) the BTS seemes a little dark at times. And not that it matters to most since its covered up but both of mine was just a tangled mess of wires in the cavity, (im an electronics tech and it drives me crazy!) And seem to want to break over time. Im thinking about trading my BTS for a tonepump, is it worth it?
The BT circuit is good if you like that kind of smooth almost sterilized sound. The Tone Pump is a definite plus and will make the bass come more alive...I would do it!
bassgiant15 said:
Instead of spending the 350 up front, why not pull the Haz from your NS-2A and put it in your CR4FM? That way you could hear what it sounds like and if you like it, then put it back and order the HAZ if you dig it. A bit of a pain, but way cheeper than ordering a Haz you might not dig as much. Just a thought.
Im really late on this but I bought the below NSCRFM a couple of months ago. Ive been trying to dig through these threads and see alot about the tonepump verses the haz, but what about the tone pump vs the BTS circuit? At least on mine (and the 5 string I had before) the BTS seemes a little dark at times. And not that it matters to most since its covered up but both of mine was just a tangled mess of wires in the cavity, (im an electronics tech and it drives me crazy!) And seem to want to break over time. Im thinking about trading my BTS for a tonepump, is it worth it?
Nice bass!
I think I'm one of a few here who prefers the EMG BTS over the tonepump. YMMV. I'll be keeping the EMG BTS in my CRFM, & modding the TonePump in my Euro LX for 18 volt operation.
A new TonePump if relatively affordable, and if you bought one for your bass, you could repair the EMG and swap back later if you didn't like the TonePump. I think there are folks here who would buy either pre if you wanted to sell it.
Man brother, I can hear your quandary...IMO, I would approach this economically first. Buy the TP for $99.00, mod it to 18V, if you don't like the sound you can easily sell the TP on TB. OR buy a Kramer NS-2...that's clearly the way to duplicate the sound from your favorite songs, right? Sounds like you're long over due for the bass of your dreams...buy it!
So basically boys...If you plan on keeping the bass forever get the Haz, but if you have even a little doubt that you might sell it get the Tone cause you will not get compensated price wise....trust me I sold my Ian Hill with Haz and probably got an extra $50 cause the Haz...
The Black Ian Hill I had I changed the Tone-Pump to Haz...with the Tone -Pump sound was like a 7.5 (1-10) and after changing it to the Haz it was like a 8 (1-10)...slight difference but not a WORLD of difference.
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Kramer era Spector Ns2 that was broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly! "
I stopped in to a small guitar shop the other day to see what they had. I wasn't expecting much and I wasn't disappointed. They had several Fenders on the wall and that was it for bass. I looked at their selection of electronics which was actually impressive for such a small shop. I saw they carried EMG products and asked what they had for bass. They had the usual P, J, and DC series, but what caught my eye was the preamp. They had a BTC control and a BQC system. After some wheeling and dealing I walked out the door with a brand new BQC for $100. Seems that it was a special order that someone never showed up for and they were almost as happy to get rid of it as I was to take it.
As soon as I got home I slapped it in the Rebop, but I had to wire it with two vol since the active balance pot that comes with it is for active p'ups only. You can wire passives but you need a different balance control. I ran it for 18V and wow, what a difference. I don't know if the BQC is better suited to the HZ p'ups, but it sounds a whole lot better than the TonePump and HZs. I can't wait to get a set of DC40's installed.
The HZs thru the TP were very harsh with waaaay too much gain. I was getting a lot of undesirable distortion at less than half vol, so I don't know if maybe my TP is fried or what. I had to have the vol just barely cracked open to get a clean signal. Of course the bass pot was broken, so that may have had something to do with the output issue. I couldn't find a 10K pot anywhere to fix it and I didn't feel like waiting for one to come mail order.
With the BQC at 18V I have lots of headroom and a nice strong clean signal going to my amp. I'm loving the hell out of this bass now.
Pics will be up later this weekend, probably Monday. The wife and I are dumping the kids at the in-laws and are taking off for our 5th anniversary.
As soon as I got home I slapped it in the Rebop, but I had to wire it with two vol since the active balance pot that comes with it is for active p'ups only. You can wire passives but you need a different balance control. I ran it for 18V and wow, what a difference. I don't know if the BQC is better suited to the HZ p'ups, but it sounds a whole lot better than the TonePump and HZs. I can't wait to get a set of DC40's installed.
The HZs thru the TP were very harsh with waaaay too much gain. I was getting a lot of undesirable distortion at less than half vol, so I don't know if maybe my TP is fried or what. I had to have the vol just barely cracked open to get a clean signal. Of course the bass pot was broken, so that may have had something to do with the output issue. I couldn't find a 10K pot anywhere to fix it and I didn't feel like waiting for one to come mail order.
With the BQC at 18V I have lots of headroom and a nice strong clean signal going to my amp. I'm loving the hell out of this bass now.
Pics will be up later this weekend, probably Monday. The wife and I are dumping the kids at the in-laws and are taking off for our 5th anniversary.
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Kramer era Spector Ns2 that was broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly! "
LOL
BTW before anyone asks thats not a turd up in the corner of the pic, thats my dogs chew toy.
BTW before anyone asks thats not a turd up in the corner of the pic, thats my dogs chew toy.
I wasn't going to say anything, but I thought it was a 1/2-eaten chicken drumstick that you had laid on the carpet just long enough to snap a few pics.
Very nice explanation, thank you!
Question - is the newer, trim-pot 'pump boost only, or can you cut as well? I often like to roll back the high end, especially with EMGs.
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