SPECTOR® Club - Part 57

[JPSBassist]

Patrick, your 18v review was helpful. My dilemma is 2 435's. i honestly don't like the Tonepump and the way the tone knobs are neither center detent nor boost only. Too much fiddling for me. I wanted the US9V but we know about the production issues.

Maybe I should get an 18v for one (studio first bass) and another pre for live (EMG, Aguilar, ?). Studio and live debut with this band is mid-May, so I need to get rolling!

Yeah that's probably the main drawback of the TonePump. I also like center indents.

I'd say that just as I make a comment about the 18v in a live setting, Quintin Berry releases a video like this:

Of course I've seen Quintin's pedal board up close... LOL. Some pricey gear there.

http://youtu.be/nOohRqeFnu4

 

[Clearwave]

Patrick also brings in yet another valid point to using effect pedals. There are good ways and not such good ways to order them in line from input to output, placing them in different orders can REALLY make a difference to your sound........so be careful and read up on effect pedal signal chaining........I have had my whole tone get "Sucked" from a person rearranging my board once many years ago......I will never forget it..said my tone would be much better.............trusted him..........went straight to a big stage..........oh no!!!!!!:scowl:

I was very very upset........but played until I could pull a straight line to my amp............

In my experience, I've learned all pedal degrade the tone. To my ears, it's not very noticeable until the 2nd or 3rd pedal. More than that, the tone goes downhill quick.

I love me some dot inlayed Czech basses

I'll take mine with dots!

Of course if Patrick was to give me his "Black Pearl". I wouldn't turn it down because of the crowns.

 

[Rockin Mike]

It's more of a gain control before the EQ. Turn it down & you get a more gradual adjustment on the EQ that doesn't get harsh and tends to be a teeny bit warmer. Turn it up & you get balls deep punch & growl, but can get kind of harsh on the treble control when turned up past 12 o'clock.

Reely... The thing to do then is to set it for the desired EQ character and use the volume control knob to avoid overdriving the amp input.

Mine's good but I should futz with it and see if I can get it even better.

Hm, how about extending that trim pot to a knob on the surface? Then we could turn the "anger" up or down for different situations. Concentric stacked with the regular volume??

Thanks!

 

[awilkie84]

Yeah that's probably the main drawback of the TonePump. I also like center indents.

They're soldered lead 500K pots. Why not just remove the pots & install center indented ones?

Reely... The thing to do then is to set it for the desired EQ character and use the volume control knob to avoid overdriving the amp input.

Mine's good but I should futz with it and see if I can get it even better.

Hm, how about extending that trim pot to a knob on the surface? Then we could turn the "anger" up or down for different situations. Concentric stacked with the regular volume??

Thanks!

That's one reason why I like my nonTrim TP. I can use the volume to go ballsy, or back off for smooth.

 

[JPSBassist]

Here's some of me playing the same track with 4 different Spectors, each with different pup and circuit configs.

All tracks recorded with the controls set on the center indents and volume at full.
___________________
NS-4 Water Cured Redwood - 18v USA Circuit - EMG DC Pickups - Spector Nickel Mediums
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
___________________
NS-2JJ (The Blue Dream) Quilt Maple - 9v USA Circuit - EMG J/J Pickups - Spector Nickel Mediums
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
___________________
NS-2-BEM (The Black Pearl) Quilt Maple - 9v USA Circuit - EMG P/J Pickups - Spector Nickel Mediums
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
___________________
1996 BOB (Bolt-On-Bass) Maple/Alder Body - EMG BQC Circuit - EMG DC Pickups - Flatwound Carbon Mediums
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Clearwave]

They're soldered lead 500K pots. Why not just remove the pots & install center indented ones?

Yeah, somebody should do that and see how it works.

I don't have a problem with my Tonepump. When I installed it, I turned the volume knobs to 100%, removed the black plastic spector knobs, and put them back on with the white dot in the up position. Then I played the bass and adjusted the low and treble knobs to where it sounded right, removed the knobs and replaced them with the white dot in the up position.

That way, when I pickup the bass, the white dots in the up position is my starting point, every time. It's something you have to get used to, but it doesn't take long.

That said, I'm really digging my Spector with the aggie ob-2 right now. That bass kills.

 

[brotherbassj]

Do it. Do it like yesterday.

I understand, but what if I like it?

 

[brotherbassj]

Yeah that's probably the main drawback of the TonePump. I also like center indents.

I'd say that just as I make a comment about the 18v in a live setting, Quintin Berry releases a video like this:

Of course I've seen Quintin's pedal board up close... LOL. Some pricey gear there.

http://youtu.be/nOohRqeFnu4

That was AWESOME

His technique is so cool...........he's alot of fun to watch! Thanks for posting this Patrick!

 

[loend68]

Yeah, somebody should do that and see how it works.

I had to replace one of the tone pots with my non-trim Tonepump and they are a different type of pot. I think it is a C10k reverse audio taper pot. I don't think you could even find one with a center indent.

 

[cjmodulus]

Louisville Slugger? Sorry first thing that came to mind........second is mentally manipulate them into getting their proverbial shite together

Lol. Yeah, one of the guitarists I play for still used his favorite 'smiley-faced' bedroom player EQ settings. I've tried convincing him to add some mids to his sound, but he won't have it since scooping gives him the same sound as some of his favorite bands... Oh well, more mids for me!

 

[worshiprocker]

Does adjusting the TonePump trim pot do anything other than alter the volume?
You could always just turn the volume knob if that's the case.

Does the trim pot have anything to do with tone?

The trim pot is a gain control, not a volume control... I find that it increases/decreases the harmonic characteristics of the tone, while increasing/decreasing the volume output at the same time.

 

[awilkie84]

I had to replace one of the tone pots with my non-trim Tonepump and they are a different type of pot. I think it is a C10k reverse audio taper pot. I don't think you could even find one with a center indent.

Hmmm...yeah...looks like I misread the wiring diagram. 100K/A for the Treble & a 10K/C for the Bass.

Well, there goes THAT idea.

Lol. Yeah, one of the guitarists I play for still used his favorite 'smiley-faced' bedroom player EQ settings. I've tried convincing him to add some mids to his sound, but he won't have it since scooping gives him the same sound as some of his favorite bands... Oh well, more mids for me!

I just don't understand how there can be so many "musicians" out there who want to do live performances (and be good) but don't understand anything about mixing. Hell, even using your ears should tell you there's something wrong.

 

[ynot12]

Actually... because the USA 9v is made by hand... the cost and time associated with making the circuits wasn't logical for a bass that Spector planned on making at least twice as many on a monthly basis.

Also, the JFET tech is really much better. There is no signal loss from the pickups through the circuit due to oversaturation during the note's attack.

PJ and Stuart saw it as a way to get the newer tech into Spector basses and improve the overall performance of the circuit.

The ONLY op-amp based circuit Spector uses anymore is the USA 9v. And that circuit is so growly because Henry (at Haz) and Stuart designed an array of op-amps to handle the over-sat issue, but this distorts the tone (as in overdrive type distortion).

PJ flew over to the Czech Republic with his famous Brooklyn NS-2 #603 (you can see this bass here next to PJ's biography: Link Removed ) and sat side-by-side with the circuit's designer to get the tone-color of the TonePump as close to his NS-2 as possible.

So regarding the TonePump, PJ's main bass (which I know he plays more than any other that he owns... I've played it and it's AMAZING!) is the master "template" for the TonePump.

Some history that that's not on any of the official sites for you TonePump lovers out there.

Hey Patrick,

Glad to have you back posting all of the insightful Spector goodness. I'm becoming a fan of the tonepump. It goes real well with my new GK MB112ii. By the way, it was great talking to you a few weeks back. I appreciate the time!

 

[bunkaroo]

I understand, but what if I like it?

Then we have a talk about my available Kramer.

 

[NOLA Bass]

So, if one 435 goes 18v with studio in mind, what do you guys think for the other? Aguilar? EMG?

 

[Rockin Mike]

Yeah, somebody should do that and see how it works.

I don't have a problem with my Tonepump. When I installed it, I turned the volume knobs to 100%, removed the black plastic spector knobs, and put them back on with the white dot in the up position. Then I played the bass and adjusted the low and treble knobs to where it sounded right, removed the knobs and replaced them with the white dot in the up position.

That way, when I pickup the bass, the white dots in the up position is my starting point, every time. It's something you have to get used to, but it doesn't take long.

That said, I'm really digging my Spector with the aggie ob-2 right now. That bass kills.

What a neat idea!

 

[StevieMac]

Yeah, somebody should do that and see how it works.

I don't have a problem with my Tonepump. When I installed it, I turned the volume knobs to 100%, removed the black plastic spector knobs, and put them back on with the white dot in the up position. Then I played the bass and adjusted the low and treble knobs to where it sounded right, removed the knobs and replaced them with the white dot in the up position.

That way, when I pickup the bass, the white dots in the up position is my starting point, every time. It's something you have to get used to, but it doesn't take long.

That said, I'm really digging my Spector with the aggie ob-2 right now. That bass kills.

I thought I was the only nut job that did stuff like that. LOL If the knobs don’t have dots I use the set screws to accomplish the same thing.

 

[NOLA Bass]

I have a spare EMG, so maybe I'll try it. Anyone compared the 2 band EMG to the Aguilar?

 

[peledog]

Actually... because the USA 9v is made by hand... the cost and time associated with making the circuits wasn't logical for a bass that Spector planned on making at least twice as many on a monthly basis.

Also, the JFET tech is really much better. There is no signal loss from the pickups through the circuit due to oversaturation during the note's attack.

PJ and Stuart saw it as a way to get the newer tech into Spector basses and improve the overall performance of the circuit.

The ONLY op-amp based circuit Spector uses anymore is the USA 9v. And that circuit is so growly because Henry (at Haz) and Stuart designed an array of op-amps to handle the over-sat issue, but this distorts the tone (as in overdrive type distortion).

PJ flew over to the Czech Republic with his famous Brooklyn NS-2 #603 (you can see this bass here next to PJ's biography: Link Removed ) and sat side-by-side with the circuit's designer to get the tone-color of the TonePump as close to his NS-2 as possible.

So regarding the TonePump, PJ's main bass (which I know he plays more than any other that he owns... I've played it and it's AMAZING!) is the master "template" for the TonePump.

Some history that that's not on any of the official sites for you TonePump lovers out there.

Thanks for this info. Love the TonePump! I told PJ it was my favorite preamp, and he grinned and said something along the lines of 'good, I put a lot of work into it' LOL!

 

[bassgiant15]

My Euro 4LX is on its way back to me!!!
I should have never let it go. Thx again Bunk for hooking me back up with it!!!

Can't wait! Just in time for my band to open for Red Jumpsuit Aparatus!!!