SPECTOR® Club - Part 50

[GBassNorth]

Finally got a chance to setup and give it a cleaning and fresh strings, nice deep tones but you can tell its a spector, couple of not so great pics.

Vin - Nice! I've been looking for one of these for a long time after trying a used one at a local GC a year ago. I made the mistake then on not buying it on the spot, it was gone the next day. I've been searching for another ever since. If you get a chance to do a Spectorcore review I'd be very interested in hearing your thoughts. Of course pics and sound clips are always welcome as well.
Again, congrats on a great purchase!

 

[smadder]

I have a Forte 5er.... No neck dive, but my bass is super heavy. Almost 12lbs.

Watch the weight on these....

Yeah Brent, you have my old one. That thing killed me. Too much back surgery/metal in my spine to be able to realistically keep it, but the tone was unbelievable. After that, I tried a Forte 4 (new) and stuck a US 9v preamp in it and it sounded incredible, but it was again around 11-12ish pounds and the neck was way, way too thick. Even thicker than the 5 had been. Earlier Forte 4s aren't like this from everyone I've heard from. I just happened to get one with a thicker profile. I think Bunk took it from me and agreed with most of my take. I was heartbroken because the sound... the sound was just "it."

I'm happier with my USA'd Euro LXs. With all USA spec electronics, they get 95% of the USA tone but without the weight, and as Patrick has mentioned, the Euro necks are closer to the Kramer-era skinnier necks than other Spectors, so I love them. Best of both worlds for me. Although when I see Supes' NS-4, and Chris and Patrick's NS-2s in that black and blue gloss, I start weakening very suddenly .

 

[smadder]

My only guess would be that one thing Stuart has focused on in recent years is flexibility... meaning the NS-2 is the NS-2. And the application for it is well-known.

With the USA Bolt-ons and the Euro models I think he wanted to create a bass that gave the player more tonal options.

Darryl Anders was playing an Euro5LX with the TW's in it at NAMM this past January and he really liked the "Carlton Armstrong" setup... meaning he'd leave the bridge in humbucker mode and go single coil on the neck.

I agree that the overall tone of the TWs just isn't as appealing as the DC pups.

As far as the volume drop. I know you and I have discussed this before. And I get that you wouldn't want to have to adjust your amp or EQ settings between songs... but could.

However, if you are talking about switching coils during a song... I just can't figure out why anyone would want to?
If you're going to do a "Bass Solo"... that's what pedals are for. LOL. Dude. Totally kidding.

I agree with you. I wouldn't own a Spector with the TWs. It's just not my thing. But there are a lot of people who do like them.

Since getting the Blue Dream I'm really thinking I'm a dual J guy. Which makes sense why I like the TW's in single coil mode. LOL.

I agree with both of you: I can't stand the TWs. I love the DCs, the standard PJs, and even X series stuff into previously passive Jazzers and the like. But the TW is supposed to be a coil-tappable version of the CS humbucker, and I think that's part of the issue. I haven't met a whole lot of people who like both the DCs and the CSs, and most folks prefer the DCs. If they made a DC with tappable coils... that would be interesting to hear. But TWs are definitely not anything I'd use if given a choice. Again: just my opinion, but I've found it's one that a lot of guys feel similarly about.

 

[smadder]

Wow! Sounds like a blast Mike! Pun definitely intended! I'm glad that the matte Euro 4 LX P/J with the BQC is going to a good home. That top is a US-level quality top. Just beautiful. Congrats!

Brotherbassj and I got together and tested quite a bit of gear today. Though the Euro I played with the BQC did not have the X pup's in it, I would have to agree that it was way more usable tonally than the TP Euro I have. I also got to finally hear the Korean Spector 9v circuit. It had a good tone but I would like to compare it with passive pups. I liked the 18v with the DC's Jamie had also. I have had DC's in the past and I did prefer the P/J euro with the BQC. That's why I had to bring it home with me. lol Thank's Jamie for coming off of it . As far as the 9v goes, since I got the original Kramer circuit, the Kramer with the newer 9v gets neglected. The treble is a big factor between those two basses. We also got to try some amps, my Monique, which we all agreed was a great pre. The Thunderfunk, which I have never played one before. I am more of a tube guy for sure. The Mesa M6, awesome bottom end and really made me want one. Lastly was the Aguliar TH500. We didn't play that one long so I will let that speak for itself. So that is the take that I got today on my journey through bass gear.

 

[Clearwave]

I read where lots of people comment about thick necks on the Forte. I've only played a Forte once; my first impression was "wow, this neck is thick". Then my next thought was "this thing feels great in my hands". The craftsmanship is so good on Spectors, thick or thin doesn't register much to me.

 

[smadder]

I read where lots of people comment about thick necks on the Forte. I've only played a Forte once; my first impression was "wow, this neck is thick". Then my next thought was "this thing feels great in my hands". The craftsmanship is so good on Spectors, thick or thin doesn't register much to me.

I know what you mean. Unfortunately, I've got big palms and short fingers, so the C profile necks don't work for me. the D profile of the Euro LXs and the Ian Hill neck in particular are like gold for my left hand. It's like someone took a great, slim P-bass and combined it with a Stingray neck. That's the best analogy (mixed though it is) I can come up with. But I love them. All I need is one more US 9v preamp and I will been done! My Spector-based tone will be complete. I can't wait.

But when I had the Forte 4 I wished so badly that I had bigger, better hands and fingers so that I could have kept it. It was phenomenal. But I was very gun shy about shaving the neck (though Joe and others have done so successfully) so I decided that it would be better to get it into someone's hands who could play it/give it a good home.

What is cool to know is that if I'm ever fortunate enough to get my very own USA NS-2, I will be able to ask for a Kramer-era/Ian Hill neck profile and they'll do it for me.

 

[worshiprocker]

I will have heard a tw bass live, in a rock setting and I really liked it. I think I would opt for the cs pups over the tws but they sound great, just different than the DCs and PJs. I still prefer PJs, but if I needed a more versatile bass I would buy a euro tw or USA bo tw without hesitation...

 

[smadder]

I will have heard a tw bass live, in a rock setting and I really liked it. I think I would opt for the cs pups over the tws but they sound great, just different than the DCs and PJs. I still prefer PJs, but if I needed a more versatile bass I would buy a euro tw or USA bo tw without hesitation...

Just to add to that Donny, that's one thing I think most people overlook about EMGs. They hear a bass has them and they dismiss it as being too dry and modern. There are so many different types and designs that EMG produces (not to mention their preamps and active circuits) that there is a ton of different options to explore just like any other large scale pickup manufacturer. There is literally almost one model of EMG for almost any situation or need. You just have to decide which is best for you.

And again, you are one of the few people I know who dig the TWs. It's such a great concept, I just wish they had tried it with a DC as the base rather than a CS. Again, JMO.

 

[JPSBassist]

Actually thats Cliff..."Well you know..."

Darn! That's right. Norm was the heavyset dude.

All I want to know is... do I ever get any hot chicks with all my brain power? I don't know. I never watched the show.

LOL.

 

[iceboxbass]

Another action shot no cuties this time. My weaksauce attempt at bass face!

Ah ha! A Country bass player! Sweet! A rarity in this club it seems.

I think Mike is saying that, however the Mesa is a different animal from the Thunderfunk. The Thunderfunk is unforgiving and very clean, the Mesa has huge gonads and a big low end. A traditional tone guy would love the Mesa. A player that like clean modern articulate tone.....and plays with great form.....would love the tone shaping abilities of the Thunderfunk. Both the Thunderfunk and Mesa kill the aggie....my two cents.....


The Mesa m6 is rock all the way! Big huge low end. The Thunderfunk almost gets there but is more a tone shapers and purist amp. Lee turned me onto the m6 so I feel the need to give him some public credit for knowing me and my tone tastes! Thanks Lee.....

Also that new Monique all tube preamp was to DIE for.....

Well Jeff?

All that was missing was an Ampeg there!

I've played the M6 (unfortunately not with a Spector) and it does in fact have some earth shaking low end and heft. For rock work I'll still take my Ampeg SVT-VR and Berg610, I just havent found anything better.
On the other hand, for jazz work I'll take my Thunderfunk and Berg HT322, still the best Jazz combo I've run across and it just sings with my new NS-2J SE.
I've gone the Aggie (DB750 and GS412) route in the past and it's a formidable rig to say the least but not as ballsy as my SVT or as defined and shapable as my Thunderfunk.

Now to rip the nontrim tonepump out of my Euro 4LX and replace it with something more to my liking. I actually like the sound from my Rex5 BT equipped bass and am completely beside myself with the sounds I'm getting from my USA NS-2J SE. Leaning more and more to an OPB-2 for the LX or possibly the USA 9volt preamp. Once I get that all sorted out it's back to the Spectorcore (non amberburst) search.
That will complete my spector arsenal and I shouldn't need anymore of Stewart's toys (yeah right - famous last words).

+1! On the Ampeg svt! AND the OBP 2!

 

[smperry]

Closed and continued here: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/spector-club-part-51-a-941061/