SPECTOR® Club - Part 45

[Jaymi]

ok, boys and girls....Yesterday's practice has me a little p*ssed. Most of the night when playing 4/40 and drop D songs (Kramer/old 9 volt) it seemed like my E string had too much grind for the amp (no matter how I adjusted the gain). Then we play half step songs which is with the Euro (new 9 volt) the E sounded pisser....Could be my imagination....I can get the $1800 head I'm looking at or....Well when the new Woodstock comes this week it will go to practice and I will see how this sounds....IF I like the Woodstock that much better and DON'T get the amp......here they are (Kramers on the block???)....Lets raise some hell!!!

OR.....

I MIGHT have something for you in the trade dept for blue if it is leaving!!!

 

[husky123]

You'll like my trade better Jeff. It's cash so you can go out and buy whatever your little heart desires.

 

[thisSNsucks]

I sent you a PM Jeff. I got GAS and cash! lol

 

[e.rich]

You'll like my trade better Jeff. It's cash so you can go out and buy whatever your little heart desires.

Okay, I just read that a bit too fast and I thought that you were offering to trade your /better half/ Sorry, caffeine hasn't quite kicked in yet.

"Need bass, have wife". Haha.

 

[madbassplaya]

Thinking about picking a set of these up for the Coda:

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Couple of questions:

What are the gauges? I see .45-.130 but I am wondering what the E A and D strings are as different manufacturers vary.

Does anyone use these? How do they feel (course, smooth)? How do they sound?

Also, do you guys use stock string sets or do you look for "balanced" feeling sets?

 

[delucajohn2000]

I got a rock!

All these offers coming in for Jeff's stuff but too bad that is all I have

 

[iceboxbass]

So everyone knows what the Spector club Member price is for my Forte 5...$1900.00 shipped within the lower 48 US states. Thank you!

 

[superdick2112]

I got a rock!

All these offers coming in for Jeff's stuff but too bad that is all I have

lol - you & me too!

But on the bright side, in addition to our bag 'o rocks, you & I have some really cool NS-5 & NS-4 Spectors, and that ain't bad....

 

[iceboxbass]

ok, boys and girls....Yesterday's practice has me a little p*ssed. Most of the night when playing 4/40 and drop D songs (Kramer/old 9 volt) it seemed like my E string had too much grind for the amp (no matter how I adjusted the gain). Then we play half step songs which is with the Euro (new 9 volt) the E sounded pisser....Could be my imagination....I can get the $1800 head I'm looking at or....Well when the new Woodstock comes this week it will go to practice and I will see how this sounds....IF I like the Woodstock that much better and DON'T get the amp......here they are (Kramers on the block???)....Lets raise some hell!!!

OR.....

I would believe its more in the amp head Jeff. Keep the Kramers!

 

[delucajohn2000]

Thinking about picking a set of these up for the Coda:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Couple of questions:

What are the gauges? I see .45-.130 but I am wondering what the E A and D strings are as different manufacturers vary.

Does anyone use these? How do they feel (course, smooth)? How do they sound?

Also, do you guys use stock string sets or do you look for "balanced" feeling sets?

I use the Spector nickel ones on my NS-5 and love them. Yes, they are a .45-.130 and have a bit of a higher tension which I like so I need to order a few more sets since they now sell them on Bass Strings Online.

I did try the Spector steel strings and did not like them at all though so it depends on which ones you are thinking about. I have never tried balanced sets but I really want to check out the Circle K ones since everyone raves about them. The problem is, the set I want is like $45 so I am having a tough time spending that much on strings I am not sure about.

 

[superdick2112]

ok, boys and girls....Yesterday's practice has me a little p*ssed. Most of the night when playing 4/40 and drop D songs (Kramer/old 9 volt) it seemed like my E string had too much grind for the amp (no matter how I adjusted the gain). Then we play half step songs which is with the Euro (new 9 volt) the E sounded pisser....Could be my imagination....I can get the $1800 head I'm looking at or....Well when the new Woodstock comes this week it will go to practice and I will see how this sounds....IF I like the Woodstock that much better and DON'T get the amp......here they are (Kramers on the block???)....Lets raise some hell!!!

Jeff, don't sell your basses - I really think you would regret it. I'm betting a few set-up tweaks would get the E-string issues resolved, and while you can always save for a new amp down the road, once those fantastic Kramer-era beauties are gone, they would most likely be gone forever...

 

[delucajohn2000]

lol - you & me too!

But on the bright side, in addition to our bag 'o rocks, you & I have some really cool NS-5 & NS-4 Spectors, and that ain't bad....

You know what dude? You have a point there and thanks for making me feel much better Sometimes I get totally bummed when I don't have cash to lay out for something that is possibly going to be sold but maybe I should sit back and enjoy the ones I have.

I will say this though. I am still down about missing out on that Kramer NS-5 that was on Ebay. That is the one bass I really want and the price it went for was just insanely low so that was a rough one.

 

[iceboxbass]

Can someone chime in on how far their EMG PJ pickups should measure from the Spector body? Or from the strings? Is it personal preference?

It's more of a personal preference...depending on how heavy finger you are depends how low you'll want to set your pups, but the suggestion is start at 1 credit card thickness as a reference point. I have mine set at 2 credit card thickness from the strings. When I had the ReBop 5 I could t get away with it that close because it was so loud.

 

[iceboxbass]

Jeff, don't sell your basses - I really think you would regret it. I'm betting a few set-up tweaks would get the E-string issues resolved, and while you can always save for a new amp down the road, once those fantastic Kramer-era beauties are gone, they would most likely be gone forever...

This true Jeff and your Kramers are marvelous!!!

 

[loend68]

It's more of a personal preference...depending on how heavy finger you are depends how low you'll want to set your pups, but the suggestion is start at 1 credit card thickness as a reference point. I have mine set at 2 credit card thickness from the strings. When I had the ReBop 5 I could t get away with it that close because it was so loud.

You must have a super light touch. I'm around 1/8" off of my pickups...

 

[iceboxbass]

You know what dude? You have a point there and thanks for making me feel much better Sometimes I get totally bummed when I don't have cash to lay out for something that is possibly going to be sold but maybe I should sit back and enjoy the ones I have.

I will say this though. I am still down about missing out on that Kramer NS-5 that was on Ebay. That is the one bass I really want and the price it went for was just insanely low so that was a rough one.

You do have some very special and gorgeous basses you two. It's really easy to get caught up in the SAS Stampeed! Lol Draw a visual picture of that! Haha!

 

[bassmanc]

 

[iceboxbass]

You must have a super light touch. I'm around 1/8" off of my pickups...

Most of the time I do...when I get caught up in the excitement of a song, I tend to dig the strings a little harder and the string will slap against the pups will warn me. I've learned to compensate more volume for the lighter touch. Most of the music that I play, on Sunday, is in the worship mood so a light touch is helpful.

 

[chrisloe]

ok, boys and girls....Yesterday's practice has me a little p*ssed. Most of the night when playing 4/40 and drop D songs (Kramer/old 9 volt) it seemed like my E string had too much grind for the amp (no matter how I adjusted the gain). Then we play half step songs which is with the Euro (new 9 volt) the E sounded pisser....Could be my imagination....I can get the $1800 head I'm looking at or....Well when the new Woodstock comes this week it will go to practice and I will see how this sounds....IF I like the Woodstock that much better and DON'T get the amp......here they are (Kramers on the block???)....Lets raise some hell!!!

OR.....

Jeff, the first problem is they spelled "Ampeg" wrong on the front of that amp. Hehe.

Second of all, that blue is just ridiculously awesome, you can't get rid of that

I agree with Lee, mess with the pick ups, adjusting them can make a big difference. Those Kramers are just too awesome to give up on so easily, but yeah, the Woodstock coming this week should be killer....

Hmmm, Kramer or Woodstock....Can't it be both?

 

[GBassNorth]

Most of the time I do...when I get caught up in the excitement of a song, I tend to dig the strings a little harder and the string will slap against the pups will warn me. I've learned to compensate more volume for the lighter touch. Most of the music that I play, on Sunday, is in the worship mood so a light touch is helpful.

Ice - thanks for the kind words on the Burl bass a couple of pages back. That's also a great price on the Forte 5, I'm sure you'll have no problems selling it.
As for pup height - I run my Euro 4 at a little over a credit card thickness from the pups and my Rex5 at about 1/8" gap. I dig in harder on the Rex and play it more agressive than the Euro which is mostly used for smooth jazz and mellow stuff. It is worth experimenting with pup height, it makes a huge difference in sound on my Spectors and with the right strings (using Elixer nanos on the Euro) you can really change the personality of these basses.
In general, crank em down and turn up the volume, less grit and grind unless you really dig in. Crank em up close to the strings and use less volume and a gentle touch for very detailed harmonics and chords or a little harder for all out grind. BTW - I'm really loving the Elixer nanos on the Euro 4, they're slick (almost slippery) and really allow a lot of left hand freedom and speed (and as bad as I play that's a good thing).