SPECTOR® Club - Part 57

[brotherbassj]

Alert selling Ian Hill in mint condition in classifieds

 

[e.rich]

Another tasty green Euro in case anyone is interested (no affiliation, btw, just an appreciator of the emerald). Check out those wings!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spector-Euro-4-Green-Stain-Used-Loved-condition-/160994158792

So much for having any willpower whatsoever. Looking to add this lovely to the stable.....

 

[iceboxbass]

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

Wow! That's SICK!!!!

 

[JPSBassist]

but then you gotta listen to the bass line in sir psycho sexy on blood sugar sex magic and realize that it's quite ok to use one!

Totally agree!
And that's how I know if I've got my envelope's settings right.
I listen for that tone.
"Sir Psych-o sexy, that is me, sometimes I feel I need to scream."

 

[JPSBassist]

Here is a random question. Why do all of the neck throughs use three pieces of maple instead of one big thick slab of maple? Are the three sandwiched together stronger or less prone to warping? I don't really understand the physics there.

Our family owns a 35 or so acre christmas tree farm and we took down a good size maple a few years ago when we were clearing some more acreage for trees. One of the boys reminded me this morning that we hid away in the barn a whole bunch of maple in various lengths and sizes. Totally forgot about that. I confess that really don't understand much about maple beyond that looks purty and sounds great.

The cross-cut pieces of rock maple are bonded with the grain opposing each other.

This is a poor attempt at a visual description:

________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


This gives the neck extra rigidity.

Rock maple is also stronger than standard maple. The area it grows in is cold and so the trees grow slowly, but the wood fibers are more dense and tighter.

Rock Maple only grows in one area of upstate NY where the huge continental glacier retreated some 10,000 years ago leaving approximately 70ft of topsoil with no rocks or mineral deposits in it, so the wood grows clean with few knots or discoloration. The roots of the trees can go straight and deep without running into things to limit or bind them.

 

[JPSBassist]

that's exactly why most builders do multi piece necks.

Totally correct. It helps with the neck's stability and strength.

(I may have it wrong) but the opposing grain patterns give it stability to stay where the truss rod put it, and to resist twisting.

(you don't)
Totally correct again. And twisting, especially towards the E or B string is a common problem with vintage basses with necks made from 1 piece of wood. But a lot of vintage necks are made from mahogany or other types of maple which are not as strong as rock maple.

the coda I think is the only one piece neck.

That's correct. The rigidity of the rock maple WITH the pau ferro (which is called Bolivian Rosewood but is NOT actually a member of the rosewood family, is VERY strong and rigid) help keep the Coda's necks more stable. They don't move as much as a vintage J does.

 

[JPSBassist]

Is this the NS-2A that you turned into lined fretless? What are some effects that you like to add to the fretless sound to help it sustain or not sound flat other than chorus?

Yes! It's the only NS-2A I've ever owned. Ironically I had a Q4 and a Legend before it. So it was my first Neck-Thru Spector.

I've got so much money tied up in that bass... LOL. I'll never sell it because I could never get my money back out of it.

It's a super cool bass. With the USA bridge and the active EMGs, TonePump and all of upgrades I've done it pretty much looks like an NS-2 from that time.

I usually only use the chorus. I will sometimes add a very, very slight amount of flange and a little delay with the carbon copy.

But usually it's just the chorus...

Since the neck has been "glossed over" with boat epoxy, it's brighter anyway than the typical "thumpy sounding" fretless.

I also use Dogal Carbon Steel flats, which are brighter than the other flats I've tried.

It's a really cool sounding bass. Too bad I'm not that great at fretless. LOL.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Yes! It's the only NS-2A I've ever owned. Ironically I had a Q4 and a Legend before it. So it was my first Neck-Thru Spector.

I've got so much money tied up in that bass... LOL. I'll never sell it because I could never get my money back out of it.

It's a super cool bass. With the USA bridge and the active EMGs, TonePump and all of upgrades I've done it pretty much looks like an NS-2 from that time.

I usually only use the chorus. I will sometimes add a very, very slight amount of flange and a little delay with the carbon copy.

But usually it's just the chorus...

Since the neck has been "glossed over" with boat epoxy, it's brighter anyway than the typical "thumpy sounding" fretless.

I also use Dogal Carbon Steel flats, which are brighter than the other flats I've tried.

It's a really cool sounding bass. Too bad I'm not that great at fretless. LOL.

What settings are on your chorus (depth/rate) effect, do you run it in the middle by chance?

 

[JPSBassist]

Talking about Envelope Filters...
Shot at NAMM by Sweetwater... the girl they were having ask questions kept getting her butt in the way of my camera (because I was shooting low to get Doug working the pedals and playing).

What's funny is in the beginning you see me and Aalics Bronson (a Spector Artist himself but also Doug's tech and good friend) in the background talking about pedals.

Good times. I needed a hair cut and a shave. LOL.

http://youtu.be/aKcBs5WEAqI

 

[bassmanc]

Hi All,
Well my Spalted Wimbish showed up today (a day early) and I am at a loss for words about how awesome this Euro is!
I love the grain and flame that is on this Spalted top. The set up was great out of the case and a very nice weight...Not heavy and not light..Just right at 8lbs This bass was definitely worth the wait and I am a true Spector convert now
I started researching Spector last year with the one Bass to rule them all mindset. I was originally going to get a Forte but I have only played slim neck profiles since I started playing Bass in the 80's. I played a friends NS2 back in the 80's and remember saying: This Bass is Bitchen man!.....but...The neck is to fat for my hands Fast forward to last year and I got a chance to try out a Euro Wimbish and I was hooked. Spector tone, great combo of woods and a slim fast neck. Since I liked the look of the Forte's plain fretboard and matte finish but loved the neck on the Wimbish, I decided to create my version of a Forte/Wimbish.

A special thanks to Todd for making this 25 + year journey happen for me

Still in awe...

A few shots indoors with my Spalted Maple truss cover installed and it matched the Spalted top very well and the flame looks great in person

Pics are definitely not as good as Patrick's but my little iPhone 5 takes some nice quick shots.

You know you could've gotten a Forte with the Wimbish neck and spalted right?

 

[connected2aj]

Yes! It's the only NS-2A I've ever owned. Ironically I had a Q4 and a Legend before it. So it was my first Neck-Thru Spector.

I've got so much money tied up in that bass... LOL. I'll never sell it because I could never get my money back out of it.

It's a super cool bass. With the USA bridge and the active EMGs, TonePump and all of upgrades I've done it pretty much looks like an NS-2 from that time.

I usually only use the chorus. I will sometimes add a very, very slight amount of flange and a little delay with the carbon copy.

But usually it's just the chorus...

Since the neck has been "glossed over" with boat epoxy, it's brighter anyway than the typical "thumpy sounding" fretless.

I also use Dogal Carbon Steel flats, which are brighter than the other flats I've tried.

It's a really cool sounding bass. Too bad I'm not that great at fretless. LOL.

I really have no problems with sustain on my fretless NS-2, but I love using reverb on it. It really adds a new dimension to the sound. In fact, that's always on when I'm using my fretless.

 

[Fat240]

So much for having any willpower whatsoever. Looking to add this lovely to the stable.....

Very nice looking bass

 

[JPSBassist]

What settings are on your chorus (depth/rate) effect, do you run it in the middle by chance?

Actually since there's so many knobs on the new MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe I figured it was easier to just snap a photo of my current settings.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[JPSBassist]

I really have no problems with sustain on my fretless NS-2, but I love using reverb on it. It really adds a new dimension to the sound. In fact, that's always on when I'm using my fretless.

And your fretless is so beautiful. That's a really sexy NS-2. Every since doing the first Spector website and seeing your artist profile photo with that bass I remembered it.

Not a lot of fretless NS-2s running around out there.

 

[marchone]

You know you could've gotten a Forte with the Wimbish neck and spalted right?

I thought the only option for the Forte is the USA 9-volt? This opens a range of possibilities.

 

[bassmanc]

 

[Fat240]

Love the fretboard inlays.

 

[Zitch]

So much for having any willpower whatsoever. Looking to add this lovely to the stable.....

you could do much worse, thats a beaut!

 

[Zitch]

The cross-cut pieces of rock maple are bonded with the grain opposing each other.

This is a poor attempt at a visual description:

________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


This gives the neck extra rigidity.

Rock maple is also stronger than standard maple. The area it grows in is cold and so the trees grow slowly, but the wood fibers are more dense and tighter.

Rock Maple only grows in one area of upstate NY where the huge continental glacier retreated some 10,000 years ago leaving approximately 70ft of topsoil with no rocks or mineral deposits in it, so the wood grows clean with few knots or discoloration. The roots of the trees can go straight and deep without running into things to limit or bind them.

You have a new name, I dub thee "The Spector Professor"

 

[djaxup]

My Spector Tone Pump (?) does not seem to have a trim pot. It looks like this one here:

Invalid Link Removed

It is glued in place so i can only see four sides of six. It does not read Spector or Tonepump on the casing, in fact it is jet black without any words on it. Is something wrong?