SPECTOR® Club - Part 56

[austentaciousC]

Very nice looking bass, Not sure on the rareity of the Buckeye, but I have gone between the EMG BQC, BT, B64, and Spector 18v. I prefer the Spector 18v, BQC, BT, B64. The Spector 18v in my basses seems to give a more organic analog type bite. All the EMGs are much cleaner and the main difference between the EMG's are how they handle the top end. With the B64 and BT being very bright and harder to tame. The BQC is very nice and easy to dial in any tone, with the mid control a plus, but it lacks the grit that I can get from the Spector 18v. Which I need for my tone. If I was doing more versatile music I would go with the BQC, though an Aggie would get preference over the EMG.

I know what you mean about the crisp grit the Spector pre has. I love the sound of it, but the forte sounds COMPLETELY different, very bassy and huge in the low mids to the point where i dial it out. I love that sound too...im just wondering why its that different, seeing as how the spector pre is 18v and the EMG pre is 9v, the EMG is massive by comparison. Im wondering how the NS5 would fair with an EMG pre, or if i can add a mid boost....maybe go to an OBP3 pre?

 

[j.kernodle]

don't forget that the emg BT pre has some dip switches to adjust the center frequency if the treble control. you may be able to get it to sound a little more "normal" by bring that center frequency down a bit.

 

[eukatheude]

I like this idea!!!

If you try doing something with it let me know via PM, i'm curious about how it turns out. If not i'll post results when i do it, though it will be some time.

 

[tomydacat]

Speaking of NS 2 tone. This is a very ROUGH edit (non mastered) of one of the tunes we did a few weekends ago. Still some work for the producer to do on it.

On this particular track it's my buckeye NS 2 (walnut back, ebony board) aka,. Big Earl, going into an ADL tube DI to the board. No amp sim, nothing.

Put some headphones on, crank it and give it a whirl.

https://soundcloud.com/husky123/the-end-rough-2013-02-24

WELL DONE LEE great bass lines and catchy tune for sure

 

[Basstovsky]

don't forget that the emg BT pre has some dip switches to adjust the center frequency if the treble control. you may be able to get it to sound a little more "normal" by bring that center frequency down a bit.

That's what I had to do with the BT in my NS20005, I had to set it to the lowest frequency setting to bring it from harsh to smooth.

 

[Bredian]

Q5 (Korean Legend predecessor), I think my mistake today was using the "active" input on the amp (paired GK MB115s) during a quick 35 minute outdoor gig w/o PA support (except vocals) as I had a hard time with volume until I cranked up the bridge tone control.

Thoughts. I know, passive pups with active pre. What do you do/suggest. Does your amp have an "active" input or switch?

Learning this bass on the fly (extra string) have played one indoor gig, one indoor all day sound check and this.

 

[iceboxbass]

Who has a p/j or j/j Spector with Maple or Ebony Board?

My Coda 5XL is JJ with Maple board.

 

[iceboxbass]

Speaking of NS 2 tone. This is a very ROUGH edit (non mastered) of one of the tunes we did a few weekends ago. Still some work for the producer to do on it.

On this particular track it's my buckeye NS 2 (walnut back, ebony board) aka,. Big Earl, going into an ADL tube DI to the board. No amp sim, nothing.

Put some headphones on, crank it and give it a whirl.

https://soundcloud.com/husky123/the-end-rough-2013-02-24

YES! Awesome job Lee! Love it! Looking forward to your Album release! "BigEarl" sounds awesome!

 

[delucajohn2000]

It's St. Patty's day, you guys gonna show the green spectors?

There ya go

 

[iceboxbass]

Conversion won't happen until he plays an NS-2 live or at rehersal. The NS-2 sounds good when solo'ed at sane volume levels in a home setting, but it sound positively God-Like when played in a band setting through big rigs.
All it took to make a convert out of me was 2 rehersals with the NS-2.

You know there's a lot to that. I totally agree with you. When I play my Coda 5XL Jazz bass in a big auditorium, thru the big sound board and huge bass cab, for Sunday morning service, it really is a different animal. It has no problem cutting thru the singers, 2 electric acoustic guitars, keyboard, congas, drum set and total there's 11 people singing in our band. The drummer is the only one not singing. There's 12+ total on stage, depending on the season etc... I seem to be really digging the JJ sound more and more with my Coda. Hmmm...

 

[iceboxbass]

Thank you very much! Love Lessard's style.

Yeah, I've always thought that's where the NS 2 magic was....mids and treble bite.

A HUGE +1 Lee! You nail Lessard's sound! The Dave Mathew's Band is one of my all time Favs. And totally agree the NS's nail the mids and lows, if not dominate!

 

[iceboxbass]

because what I don't like on any of my NS-2s is if the treble knob is boosted. Too zingy, almost irritating. I usually just keep in in central (zero) position and add some lows.

The "Center position" for the treble pot is where I keep it for almost all of the Spector basses I've had, except for my Coda 5XL, which recently I have been turning it up to 75%. There, the Coda gets really ANGRY. Lol Love the Aguilar OBP 2...wish it was the OBP 3 but the OBP 2 does very well.

 

[sumgruuvz]

So I had visit from John today and we both have some Surprise New Bass Day info.

It comes with a bit of a story.
Some of you may have seen on the Spector Facebook page.

PJ recently posted a Spalted Maple NS-2 #630. Those who are insane like me and follow the numbers, may have thought why is #630 being posted when they are up to over #800 in the NS-2/NS-4 series?

It is a 2008 model that was recently found in the back room of the Woodstock shop and PJ just so happened to mention to me that this mystery found the bass had a signed date of 10/15/08. My daughters birthday is October 15th.

So I told PJ I may be interested in the bass but I would have to sell my Forte to raise funds towards it.

The bass came with one more really big surprise, It was originally owned by Rex Brown as a sample for him to try out the Tone of the Spalted/Walnut tone.

So as of today deluccajohn2000 is the owner of Forte #35 and I a the owner of NS-2 #630, once owned by Rex Brown and it was singed on my daughters birthday.

A special thank you to PJ for setting up dealer to offer it to me at an affordable Sample/Demo price.

I had to take off the bridge to see it for myself.

P.S, because of this sudden sale that I forced John into His 2002 Euro4 and 2002 NS-JH5 will be listed for sale this week. PM me if interested.
They are both at my house now and I am giving them a set up.

thats so frikkin killer. congrats to you both!!

 

[dukeisdog]

There ya go

I know it'll probably never happen but toss me first in line for this green ns5xl if you EVER decide to sell.

 

[connected2aj]

I had a drop tuner on my NS-4 and I took the thing off. I just could not keep that thing in tune no matter what I tried. I watched the video on the Hipshot site and still couldn't get it but I am sure it was user error.

Hey John, I've been using Hipshots on all my basses for years now. Spectors are tricky because of the brass nut, but I use Vaseline in the slot to lube it up. You can also use graphite. I had a problem when I first got mine years ago & that's what the guys over at Hipshot told me.

I also just wanted to share that I'm really loving my Forte X with the 35 PJ setup & OBP-2 at 9v. Had a gig last night & it sounded ridiculous! MASSIVE!!! I was running it through an Octavius Squeezer, Tech 21 Landmark 300, & Hartke HyDrive 410. If the neck wasn't so big, I think it would become my number 1 for now. On Friday, it split duty with my trusty blue '86, but I'm just loving the way the Forte sounds.

 

[KidChar15]

Been wanting one for 20 years, and got this Euro last Friday.

 

[delucajohn2000]

I know it'll probably never happen but toss me first in line for this green ns5xl if you EVER decide to sell.

You would be number 6 I believe when I first got it, the line started forming even before it was delivered to my house, lol.

Hey John, I've been using Hipshots on all my basses for years now. Spectors are tricky because of the brass nut, but I use Vaseline in the slot to lube it up. You can also use graphite. I had a problem when I first got mine years ago & that's what the guys over at Hipshot told me.

I also just wanted to share that I'm really loving my Forte X with the 35 PJ setup & OBP-2 at 9v. Had a gig last night & it sounded ridiculous! MASSIVE!!! I was running it through an Octavius Squeezer, Tech 21 Landmark 300, & Hartke HyDrive 410. If the neck wasn't so big, I think it would become my number 1 for now. On Friday, it split duty with my trusty blue '86, but I'm just loving the way the Forte sounds.

Oh very cool. Thanks AJ, I will give that a shot.

 

[husky123]

A HUGE +1 Lee! You nail Lessard's sound! The Dave Mathew's Band is one of my all time Favs. And totally agree the NS's nail the mids and lows, if not dominate!

Thanks iceman!

 

[cjmodulus]

Been wanting one for 20 years, and got this Euro last Friday.

Very nice! Welcome!

 

[cjmodulus]

Well guys, my band wants to go to a friend's home studio (he's a production student) to get a decent demo recorded! I'm excited, but I was wondering if anyone has any tips- I'd like to use either the hartke or the MXR DI to add a little bit of grit, but I'm afraid of scooping out my mids (both these pedals seem to have a bit of scoop with their drive modes engaged). It's a metalcore/post hardcore band (I know, not really my thing either, but the dudes in the band are good friends and they let me get away with some cool lines), and a lot f the bands our guitarist listens to are bands that have less-than-audible bass. I really want to be heard on these recordings, since whenever the guitarist is playing chords I'm usually laying down a groove, not just hammering roots.
One option is to just go with a clean sound, which I'm not against, but I'd like to get a little bit of grit if I can.