SPECTOR® Club - Part 36

[delucajohn2000]

Being 42 and coming up in the 70's and 80's....that Spector tone is the perfect "tone in my head" bass tone. Cant wait to gig it.

Yup. There are a bunch of us that are around the same age as you so that is the tone we all know and love. Have you played along to Operation Mindcrime yet by Queensryche? That is one of the goto albums for a good amount of us to play along with since that is pure Spector tone right there.

 

[superdick2112]

That white one is use too beautiful. Bet she sounds amazing too.

Thanks Ivan! You're right - the white one does sound amazing.
The blue one is really something - it's with out a doubt the best sounding bass I've ever played.

 

[loend68]

What's a reverse taper? Not heard of before.


Wow! That's a beautiful Gary Tallent "Shorty"! That maple is just popping, pow!!! That price seems a bit high for used...

I'm not much of an electronics guy, but here is an article that explains it. There's a chart part way down. They call it a reverse audio taper or reverse log taper. I only found out about it trying to match the one that was damaged with my Tonepump.

http://www.geofex.com/Article_Folders/potsecrets/potscret.htm

 

[Buskman]

Yup. There are a bunch of us that are around the same age as you so that is the tone we all know and love. Have you played along to Operation Mindcrime yet by Queensryche? That is one of the goto albums for a good amount of us to play along with since that is pure Spector tone right there.

+1... I definitely fall into that category/age group ( LOL). Eddie Jackson's tone definitely tops the list, as well as Mike Starr's work on the first two Alice In Chains albums. That tone definitely defines that musical era IMHO.

 

[smadder]

KEWL, what a great group this is.... and trust me.... I get it now. I put some new strings on that baby last night and was thumping through my 810 rig. Sounded amazing. Being 42 and coming up in the 70's and 80's....that Spector tone is the perfect "tone in my head" bass tone. Cant wait to gig it.

Yeah, I had the same revelation. I'm 39 and started playing when I was 14 in the headbanger's ball days, and was fascinated with Spectors. And like you, I just recently finally "got it" after years of trying (quite literally) just about everything else. It's an awesome feeling, isn't it? Plus this club is a great resource as well, as I'm sure you'll come to discover. Again, welcome and congrats on the bass.

 

[Buskman]

.

 

[Buskman]

That wonderful NS-2 tone can also be heard all over 'the black album' (Metallica) & 'Images & Words' (Dream Theatre).

 

[armybass]

Congratulations Armybass! Once you throw some regular or x series EMG pj pickups in there to replace the stock Spectors (and you are really gonna want to do this ASAP) you will be blown away by how great the bass sounds. You got a great instrument at a great price/overall deal. Welcome to the family! I went through an extensive NS-2A restoration recently, so if there's anything I can do to help (finding inexpensive parts, upgrading/modding, etc.) please let me know. I'd be happy to help out!

Please feel free to direct me to a good source for said EMG's. What about the preamp? I think something got goofed when that bass pot was replaced....the trebble pot acts like more of a master vol with a center detent (I know makes absolutely no sense) and I am wondering if I should replace the preamp too or atleast have the wiring checked?

 

[peledog]

Please feel free to direct me to a good source for said EMG's. What about the preamp? I think something got goofed when that bass pot was replaced....the trebble pot acts like more of a master vol with a center detent (I know makes absolutely no sense) and I am wondering if I should replace the preamp too or atleast have the wiring checked?

You can try getting a set of P/J EMG HZs - you might be able to find a set on ebay for about $100

You can try getting active EMGs - but not sure about the pots in the preamp.

The preamp is the Korean Haz copy, which is what I had in mine. The wiring always seems to be backwards - P pickup and J pickup pots reversed - this is a first I've heard of the treble pot acting as a volume pot.

It should be V, V, T, B

 

[Gabriel51]

For those not on Facebook or Twitter and may not be aware.
Spector is being considered for a Chase grant.

They need to make 250 votes by June 30th.

I hear they will be using the grant to increase production on USA models.

Visit:
Link Removed

*Step 1 Click the Mission: Small Business Link Below
*Step 2 Click the LOG IN & SUPPORT Button on the bottom right.
*Step 3 In the business name field type in Spector Bass and
click the Search Button.
*Step 4 Click the Vote Button.

I voted!

 

[smadder]

Please feel free to direct me to a good source for said EMG's. What about the preamp? I think something got goofed when that bass pot was replaced....the trebble pot acts like more of a master vol with a center detent (I know makes absolutely no sense) and I am wondering if I should replace the preamp too or atleast have the wiring checked?

Best Bass Gear is the best place to get a hold of a set of EMGs. I'll send you a PM.

 

[Gabriel51]

Best Bass Gear is the best place to get a hold of a set of EMGs. I'll send you a PM.

Will this BQC pre work with EMG 40HZ?

 

[cjmodulus]

Will this BQC pre work with EMG 40HZ?

From everything I've read, EMG products are made to work well with each other, so I can't foresee any problems. Someone more experienced with pres can confirm or deny this though

 

[smadder]

Will this BQC pre work with EMG 40HZ?

Yep! You can read up on the specifics of wiring everything at the EMG site. They're also really great on the phone support-wise if you want to get down to specifics with a tech.

 

[sumgruuvz]

+1... I definitely fall into that category/age group ( LOL). Eddie Jackson's tone definitely tops the list, as well as Mike Starr's work on the first two Alice In Chains albums. That tone definitely defines that musical era IMHO.

+1 total awesomeness bass tones there.

 

[armybass]

You can try getting a set of P/J EMG HZs - you might be able to find a set on ebay for about $100

You can try getting active EMGs - but not sure about the pots in the preamp.

The preamp is the Korean Haz copy, which is what I had in mine. The wiring always seems to be backwards - P pickup and J pickup pots reversed - this is a first I've heard of the treble pot acting as a volume pot.

It should be V, V, T, B

Thanks...I am thinking someone may have goofed up the wiring somehow. Are the B and T pots supposed to be center detent? If so maybe I got a bad pot or it is wired incorrectly. I would love to get it back to it's original specs if at all possible.

 

[delucajohn2000]

Will this BQC pre work with EMG 40HZ?

Yup. Like Smadder said, the EMG site gives the wiring diagrams and since I put a BQC in my Euro 5LX, I have the instructions as well which show how to wire it up for EMG HZ's. The wiring is a bit different for the HZ's but you can definitely use them together.

Another nod for Best Bassgear as well. I ordered my BQC from there as well as my EMG DC's and they shipped the same day I ordered them and arrived really fast.

 

[Gabriel51]

I like the tone pump but I have to have a blend control and may just add a 250K pot to the stock set-up. (replace one of the volume pots).

 

[iceboxbass]

Okay, pics as promised (poor quality)

Beautiful fiver! Congratulations!

 

[iceboxbass]

I haven't posted in any of 'Da Club' threads in a very (very) long time, so I figured I'm overdue.

Here's a photo of my '86 NS-2, originally built for & owned by Kenny Aaronson (and seen in Billy Idol's 'Mony Mony' video):

Man that is gorgeous! Love blue! Excellent condition too.