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SPECTOR® Club - Part 37

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True, I don't post frequently. well... about 3-5 times per club part. Usually to help someone out. Sometimes it seem like my posts get buried. Trying to find my way up the Spector Club ladder. lol And yes! Im excited! Ive been excited since Patrick made that mock up awhile back. Ive even been planning a BO USA like it. But this, is right up my ally!

Back to the pickup. The MM Bongo, ones with multiple PUs not just the single H, have both their neck and bridge PU closer to the bridge (compared to other MM models). Out of the "sweet spot." I played one a few times and its still has that MM feel and sound. Rebop with a Alder back with maple top, compared to a Bongo with a basswood body, I'm sure the Rebop have more natural warmth, and sweeter highs even if the PUs were in the same spot. All good things IMO.

Here's a picture of my action for reference:
Here's a pic I posted quite back. It shows what I believe is perfect action. Maybe try to take a pic like that to show us? Ruler is hard to see but it says just a hair over 1/16 close to 3/32
setup.jpg
 
I like it too, and as some of y'all have said - the pickup is not in the Stingray single humbucker position.

I think it will sound good (hard to imagine any Spector sounding otherwise) but I am skeptical as to how much of the Stingray tone it will emulate due to the pickup being so tight against the bridge. It's like when people buy Laklands expecting to be able to get a Stingray tone by soloing the bridge humbucker, but it doesn't sound like a stingray because the pickup is too close to the bridge to cop that tone.

The electronics, and even the pickup (I've heard the EMG Hz MM before and it's a nice sounding pickup) combined with the TP will sound good, but I don't think it will get the Stingray tone simply because the pickup just is not in the sweet spot at all.

The sweet spot is exactly what the name implies: it's where the harmonic content of the stings and the reproduction of those tones by the pickup are maximized in their response, largely determined by the pickup position. I think that this Rebop MM will sound good, but its going to be heavy on the high-end and the high mids and not as much content in the low mids and low end. The tone that is so well-enabled on on Stingrays (or even the Modulus Funk Unlimited/Flea Bass, or other MM style basses) is primarily due to the traditional location of the single pickup. Without the one on the Rebop being in the sweet spot, I am skeptical about how much low end is going to naturally come from it's location. For those of you with Spectors that have humbuckers, solo the bridge pickup and you'll be able to tell immediately that you don't get the Stingray tone - not even an approximation. Granted that with this Rebop, these are different pickups, different electronics, different woods, etc., and no, I don't think Spector is trying to make it's own Stingray, but I also don't think it's going to get as close to the tone that a Stingray-placed pickup bass will produce. I do think that it will sound nice and tight and very cutting, and on a fretless, it will sound absolutely insane. But I don't think it will be close to a Stingray tone because the pickup simply isn't in the right place in between the bridge and nut.

But I think it will provide a very immediate attack and will be punchy and cutting as all hell, but the low end won't be there in the way it is on a traditionally placed Stingray pickup location without some heavy eq'ing. But I'm excited for them to come out like everyone else and I will very much look forward to getting to try one out. We may very well be able to dial in enough eq to compensate for the location of the pickup, but it's definitely not going to be as close to a Ray tone as people are hoping.

Again, please don't kill me - it's just my opinion, and an opinion on a bass that hasn't been released yet to boot (but hopefully they'll have one at NAMM this month to try out and we'll hear more from people who get to try it out if Spector is there) but the secret to Stingray tone starts with that pickup being in just the right location, and it's very obvious that the Rebop isn't putting their pickup there. You can't get around physics, you know?

But the possibilities are endless for this bass in terms of modding to get closer to achieving that MM tone. Putting in an active EMG (especially their Alnico version of it rather than ceramic), or even venturing out to genuine Stingray pickup remakes like Nordstrand, Seymour Duncan or even Bartolini, combined with some of the purposefully-designed MM preamps by folks like Nordstrand (who just came out with a pre-amp that exactly models pre Ernie Ball Stingray pre-amps) stand to get it a lot closer.

I have been fantasizing ever since I got into Spectors about owning a MM Spector (a custom USA in particular) so I'm stoked than there will be one that won't require a second mortgage. I just wish they had placed the pickup closer to the Stingray position.

But like some of you said, it is a Spector - not a Stingray. So it's going to have it's own thing no matter what, and I don't doubt that it will be a righteous addition to the Spector tone line up and I too can't wait to be able to try one out and see what can be done with it.

And they certainly picked one hell of a gorgeous sample model to put out there for initial promotional materials. That is a stunning bass, and that almost "vintage-tint" neck color offsets the black inlays amazingly. And the satin quilt on the body is to die for. It reminds me of John's satin green NS5, which is one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen.

So again, please don't kill me - it's just my opinion, and like the rest of you, we're sharing opinions on something none of us have tried so who knows how close to an MM tone it will get? But I do wish they had moved it forward - even just a 1/3 of an inch would make a huge difference.
 
smadder said:
I like it too, and as some of y'all have said - the pickup is not in the Stingray single humbucker position.

I think it will sound good (hard to imagine any Spector sounding otherwise) but I am skeptical as to how much of the Stingray tone it will emulate due to the pickup being so tight against the bridge. It's like when people buy Laklands expecting to be able to get a Stingray tone by soloing the bridge humbucker, but it doesn't sound like a stingray because the pickup is too close to the bridge to cop that tone.

The electronics, and even the pickup (I've heard the EMG Hz MM before and it's a nice sounding pickup) combined with the TP will sound good, but I don't think it will get the Stingray tone simply because the pickup just is not in the sweet spot at all.

The sweet spot is exactly what the name implies: it's where the harmonic content of the stings and the reproduction of those tones by the pickup are maximized in their response, largely determined by the pickup position. I think that this Rebop MM will sound good, but its going to be heavy on the high-end and the high mids and not as much content in the low mids and low end. The tone that is so well-enabled on on Stingrays (or even the Modulus Funk Unlimited/Flea Bass, or other MM style basses) is primarily due to the traditional location of the single pickup. Without the one on the Rebop being in the sweet spot, I am skeptical about how much low end is going to naturally come from it's location. For those of you with Spectors that have humbuckers, solo the bridge pickup and you'll be able to tell immediately that you don't get the Stingray tone - not even an approximation. Granted that with this Rebop, these are different pickups, different electronics, different woods, etc., and no, I don't think Spector is trying to make it's own Stingray, but I also don't think it's going to get as close to the tone that a Stingray-placed pickup bass will produce. I do think that it will sound nice and tight and very cutting, and on a fretless, it will sound absolutely insane. But I don't think it will be close to a Stingray tone because the pickup simply isn't in the right place in between the bridge and nut.

But I think it will provide a very immediate attack and will be punchy and cutting as all hell, but the low end won't be there in the way it is on a traditionally placed Stingray pickup location without some heavy eq'ing. But I'm excited for them to come out like everyone else and I will very much look forward to getting to try one out. We may very well be able to dial in enough eq to compensate for the location of the pickup, but it's definitely not going to be as close to a Ray tone as people are hoping.

Again, please don't kill me - it's just my opinion, and an opinion on a bass that hasn't been released yet to boot (but hopefully they'll have one at NAMM this month to try out and we'll hear more from people who get to try it out if Spector is there) but the secret to Stingray tone starts with that pickup being in just the right location, and it's very obvious that the Rebop isn't putting their pickup there. You can't get around physics, you know?

But the possibilities are endless for this bass in terms of modding to get closer to achieving that MM tone. Putting in an active EMG (especially their Alnico version of it rather than ceramic), or even venturing out to genuine Stingray pickup remakes like Nordstrand, Seymour Duncan or even Bartolini, combined with some of the purposefully-designed MM preamps by folks like Nordstrand (who just came out with a pre-amp that exactly models pre Ernie Ball Stingray pre-amps) stand to get it a lot closer.

I have been fantasizing ever since I got into Spectors about owning a MM Spector (a custom USA in particular) so I'm stoked than there will be one that won't require a second mortgage. I just wish they had placed the pickup closer to the Stingray position.

But like some of you said, it is a Spector - not a Stingray. So it's going to have it's own thing no matter what, and I don't doubt that it will be a righteous addition to the Spector tone line up and I too can't wait to be able to try one out and see what can be done with it.

And they certainly picked one hell of a gorgeous sample model to put out there for initial promotional materials. That is a stunning bass, and that almost "vintage-tint" neck color offsets the black inlays amazingly. And the satin quilt on the body is to die for. It reminds me of John's satin green NS5, which is one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen.

So again, please don't kill me - it's just my opinion, and like the rest of you, we're sharing opinions on something none of us have tried so who knows how close to an MM tone it will get? But I do wish they had moved it forward - even just a 1/3 of an inch would make a huge difference.

Having owned several types of stingrays I agree with Steve. I do think it will have a brutal biting tone for a pick player and will be slap happy!
 
I like it too, and as some of y'all have said - the pickup is not in the Stingray single humbucker position.

I think it will sound good (hard to imagine any Spector sounding otherwise) but I am skeptical as to how much of the Stingray tone it will emulate due to the pickup being so tight against the bridge. It's like when people buy Laklands expecting to be able to get a Stingray tone by soloing the bridge humbucker, but it doesn't sound like a stingray because the pickup is too close to the bridge to cop that tone.

I rather love the sound of my MM Spector. It looks like my pickup might even be a little farther back than the one on the ReBop. It definitely does not lack low end. It sure kills my buddy's Stringray 5..makes him sick :)

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Note..first clip was done with the stock EMG, second clip was after I put in the Bartolini pickup.
 
I rather love the sound of my MM Spector. It looks like my pickup might even be a little farther back than the one on the ReBop. It definitely does not lack low end. It sure kills my buddy's Stringray 5..makes him sick :)

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Link Removed

Note..first clip was done with the stock EMG, second clip was after I put in the Bartolini pickup.

nice. i like the 1st clip. it's got a nastier bite to it. the 2nd one sounds scooped. both nice sounds :)
 
Some thoughts and info on the new ReBop MM pickup bass.
I don’t think it was mission of Spector to make this bass sound like a Stingray.
The mission was to offer a MM Pickup option at the 10 year anniversary of the ReBop model. At the 2 year anniversary of the ReBop they added crown inlays and at the 5 year anniversary they added a Figured Maple Top.

Just a few thoughts on the placement of the MM pickup on the new ReBop.
Check the photos posted below and consider the following.

The size of the Spector NS style body is much different then the Stingray body and or J style body.
Look at Pic 2 compared to Pic 8 and look how much more extra space is on the stingray with 2 MM pups vs. a NS body with 2 MM pups.

Looking at these photos and the relationship of pickup placement to the bridge and placement in the body. I think the placement of the MM pickup in the Rebop is where is should be in relation to it’s design. You can’t compare the sweet spot on a Stingray to the sweet spot on a NS style body. It’s not going to be in the same place.

If you look at the Spectorcore photo, check the placement of that single pickup, is that the sweet spot?

Compare-1.gif
 
Wow today is actually the first time I got to plug my NS-2a with the Haz copy pre into an amp since I got the pre installed (been ampless for awhile but a gear swap and a sale at GC took care of that) and I'm more than pleased with the tone. Classic Spector goodness. Haven't had an active bass in a while so I'm adjusting to the difference in the sound but it's sweet.

Only thing is the tone is a little "pingy" for lack of a better term I'm thinking it might be the strings, a new set of stainless Rotosounds. Maybe some nickel strings might tame it a bit.

The old girl's got plenty of life left can't wait to try it out in a band setting this weekend!
 
nice. i like the 1st clip. it's got a nastier bite to it. the 2nd one sounds scooped. both nice sounds :)

Wish I could remember the EQ settings I used with the EMG for that clip. I know I turned the mids down on that Bart clip. I know in the clips they sound different, but with the bass actually in hand, they both sound quite similar. Main difference is the Bart does a little better with effects.
 
Having done a ton of research and a couple years of "test mule" work on a custom P/MM bass I designed I found that the 2 band 4 string Stingray pickup should be about 1.5 pickup widths from the G string saddle. The 3 band 5 string Stingray pickup should be closer to 2 pickup widths from the G string saddle. All that changes when you alter the preamp and pickup brand. I went with a modifed John East Stingray preamp and a vintage tone Bart Stingray pickup and had to move the pickup to about 2.5 widths away from the bridge to achieve the same Stingray tone on a 5 string custom build (see the final build pic below). So the pickup placement has a significant impact as does the preamp and actual pickup.
The only way to tell if the Spector MM is capable of pulling off a Stingray tone is to try it. The pickup they've installed looks to be about .75 pickup widths from the G string saddle so one would assume it would be a very grindy mid range heavy tone but all the Spectors I've tried (which isn't as many as most on this thread have tried) can be dialed in for a very bass heavy sound even on the bridge pickup which may compensate enough to help this Spector cop a Stingray tone.
As a huge Stingray fan, I can't wait to hear one. And even if it doesn't sound just like a Stingray that's not all bad either, because I doubt it sounds like many other Spectors, which means - yeah, another reason to buy another Spector!
158.jpg
 
RichardCranium said:
Wow today is actually the first time I got to plug my NS-2a with the Haz copy pre into an amp since I got the pre installed (been ampless for awhile but a gear swap and a sale at GC took care of that) and I'm more than pleased with the tone. Classic Spector goodness. Haven't had an active bass in a while so I'm adjusting to the difference in the sound but it's sweet.

Only thing is the tone is a little "pingy" for lack of a better term I'm thinking it might be the strings, a new set of stainless Rotosounds. Maybe some nickel strings might tame it a bit.

The old girl's got plenty of life left can't wait to try it out in a band setting this weekend!

Yep I hear you. I actually love the ping and I'm sure it is because of those rotosounds you have it strung with. Most SS strings will have that ballpeen hammer effect. I believe some nice smooth nickels will get rid of that for you. The Haz copy is a pretty bright pre though IMO so backing off the treble a tad will help too.
 
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