SPECTOR® Club - Part 36

[bunkaroo]

I have my Rebop 5 tuned down a whole step and ordered a custom set of D'Addarrio nickels from Bassstringsonline.com. I am using a .145 as my B string, a .110 as my E string, .85 as my A string, .60 as my D string, and a .50 as my G string. Anything less than the .145 and the B string would get a bit too floppy for my taste and also realize you will need to file down the nut a bit to accommodate the larger string.

Did you have to file out the bridge to fit the .145?

 

[grendle]

They make this stuff.....no joke...Big Bends Nut Sauce....also on brass a little graphite powder from a hardware store can fix that problem.

+1 color the slots in with a pencil even easier n less messy.

 

[delucajohn2000]

if you want to go heavier than 130 there's a chance you'll have to file out the bridge to accommodate the thick winding of the string at the ball end.

D'Addario makes a 145 B but you for sure would have to make room for that winding to get into the bridge.

The D'Addario nickel .145 is tapered luckily so you don't need to worry about filing down the bridge to fit the string. The odd thing is though, the steel .145 is not tapered which I really found odd so I got lucky that I wanted to use nickel strings to tune down.

That's cool. How do you like the Hipshot B style bridge in comparison to a solid brass Spector bridge? Pros/cons?

I have to say, I really like it. When I first looked at it, I wasn't happy that it was on the bass since I was a fan of the Hipshot A style bridge but after messing around with it, my opinion has changed. There are only 3 slots to put the string in at the bridge but then you move them over to the side where they need to be and they lock into place so it makes changing the strings much easier since they don't keep popping out of the bridge.

 

[thisSNsucks]

+1 color the slots in with a pencil even easier n less messy.

I actually tried the pencil trick (not the one the Joker does in the Dark Knight lol) and it helped a little but I noticed a lot of it wore off after adjusting it only a few times.

I'm going to try the real deal graphite powder and see. Worst case I'll just have to manually downtune once or twice a set.

 

[bunkaroo]

The D'Addario nickel .145 is tapered luckily so you don't need to worry about filing down the bridge to fit the string. The odd thing is though, the steel .145 is not tapered which I really found odd so I got lucky that I wanted to use nickel strings to tune down.

Oh good call - I forgot they had the tapered ones for the nickels. I was looking for a tapered ProSteel for my Euro 435 I have setup BEAD but as you said they don't have the tapered .145 so I wound up sticking with the Spector strings on that bass.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

You know, I've noticed on my Spectors with the brass nuts that once I tune they go a little sharp on their own. Two different basses (CRFM and a Euro) and two different types of strings (Hi Beams and Sadowsky Blacks). Is that due to friction on the brass bridges? Anyone else experience this?

Hmm. Can't say I ever noticed that with my Warwick SS1 (which had a brass nut.

 

[5string_phunk]

I can fix that...you just need to come over again!!

I know! Hopefully my schedule will get a little less crazy and we can meet one Sat. afternoon soon!

 

[Jaymi]

looking forward to it

 

[ynot12]

I just got an e-mail from Jammit, the people that make the Jammit app and only have 5 words to say: Eddie Jackson isolated bass tracks!

They said coming in July, they are going to release Queensryche's Empire CD for the Jammit app which is the coolest thing ever. If anyone hasn't used this program, you should check it out since they use the actual multi-track masters from the studio so you can hear the actual bass track the way it was played. I bought the whole Vulgar Display of Power CD from Pantera for it and could not be happier. It seems pricy but when you see that you are getting the actual master, it really makes it worth it since you can drop the original bass part out and record yourself playing along with the song.

I am really excited that they are going to release Empire but really hope they do Mindcrime as well since that one is my favorite.

In the voice of Jeff Spicoli "Awesome. Totally. Awesome!!!" This is by far the greatest news I've had all week. If only it were Mindcrime. But still, time to get our Spector groove on!

 

[Zitch]

So im thinking of selling my warwick to possibly buy a darkglass bk3 microtubes and a switching pedal for my mesa mpulse(original footswitch didnt come with) anyone here using the bk3 with their spectors and what do you think?

 

[iceboxbass]

Everyone notice I changed my avatar.....until I get a Spector.....lol

Pretty nice rig!

Agreed! I have the OBP-3 matched with EMG Jazz pups in the NS-5H2 fretless I ordered. It can't get here soon enough!

I am a big fan of the Aguilar OBP's! They are my go to on board pre! ...I still have yet to try a HAZ tho!

Ever since I ordered my Forte 5 with the OBP-3, I'm loving it! I asked PJ about putting it into my new Coda 5 Deluxe but he says I'd lose the passive/active switch. Which I don't know why since the bass/treble stack anyways. But he's the man in the know and I trust his knowledge any day!

 

[iceboxbass]

The D'Addario nickel .145 is tapered luckily so you don't need to worry about filing down the bridge to fit the string. The odd thing is though, the steel .145 is not tapered which I really found odd so I got lucky that I wanted to use nickel strings to tune down.



I have to say, I really like it. When I first looked at it, I wasn't happy that it was on the bass since I was a fan of the Hipshot A style bridge but after messing around with it, my opinion has changed. There are only 3 slots to put the string in at the bridge but then you move them over to the side where they need to be and they lock into place so it makes changing the strings much easier since they don't keep popping out of the bridge.

That's a really cool adjustment to have on a bridge.

 

[5string_phunk]

Pretty nice rig!

Ever since I ordered my Forte 5 with the OBP-3, I'm loving it! I asked PJ about putting it into my new Coda 5 Deluxe but he says I'd lose the passive/active switch. Which I don't know why since the bass/treble stack anyways. But he's the man in the know and I trust his knowledge any day!

that's strange...I had a Fender Jazz with passive pickups and an obp-3. It had one less knob, but still had a/p, mid freq p/p, and stacked bass/treble.

I think it must be a Spector policy type thing...maybe there is not enough room in the cavity? I don't use the active/passive that much (pretty much never use it), but it's nice for those instances where the battery is fading.

...or if you are doing some old school R&B stuff. Gotta love the 70's J and P bass sounds!

 

[Jaymi]

yeah, the passive sounds is a must when called for!

 

[Basstovsky]

Here is a link to all of the bass tracks they offer:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

They have demo videos of the software for each track but here is one showing Pantera's Walk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJdFgBtCGCQ&feature=player_embedded

Gotta be the best thing I've seen in a while, you just download the software to your computer and then pay to download individual songs?
Think I have to get this...

 

[brotherbassj]

Pretty nice rig!

Ever since I ordered my Forte 5 with the OBP-3, I'm loving it! I asked PJ about putting it into my new Coda 5 Deluxe but he says I'd lose the passive/active switch. Which I don't know why since the bass/treble stack anyways. But he's the man in the know and I trust his knowledge any day!

That's my big stage rig....lol

 

[dukeisdog]

I'll be interested to hear your results. I'm assuming this means you'll be tuning AEADG, yes?

I was dropping A here and there on my Euro 5LX with Lo-Rider Nickels on there (45-130) and I thought the tension was pretty good. if you want to go heavier than 130 there's a chance you'll have to file out the bridge to accommodate the thick winding of the string at the ball end.

I tried the DR DDT strings on another 35" scale bass and I did not like them at all. Very dull sounding.

D'Addario makes a 145 B but you for sure would have to make room for that winding to get into the bridge.

The tuning is actually AEADF#, I can't wait to hear how my setup bass with no buzz will sound through my Mesa cabs! I think I'd prefer a 145B to a 130, but this Spector is my only 5er and I've really only thrown D'addario Pro Steels on it since I got it, not sure if I should just stick with those or switch it up.

 

[Jaymi]

lots of ways to pump the spector...I have a trace stack and a bunch of other smaller amps based on the room size

 

[iceboxbass]

that's strange...I had a Fender Jazz with passive pickups and an obp-3. It had one less knob, but still had a/p, mid freq p/p, and stacked bass/treble.

I think it must be a Spector policy type thing...maybe there is not enough room in the cavity? I don't use the active/passive that much (pretty much never use it), but it's nice for those instances where the battery is fading.

...or if you are doing some old school R&B stuff. Gotta love the 70's J and P bass sounds!

R&B is EXACTLY what I'm looking at. some ole MoTown.

That's my big stage rig....lol

Very nice! On my iPhone it's tough to tell but is that 2x410's & 115? Or 2x810's & 115?

 

[iceboxbass]

Oh I see it now...215 & 410.