SPECTOR® Club - Part 58

[bobunit]

To celebrate my one year anniversary of beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma I just bought this stunning beauty. Violet is the ribbon color for Hodgkins. I played Spector's for years and owned many. After trying a lot of different basses over the past 10 years I decided to go back to the basses I loved and Spector was my #1 choice. I can't wait to get it. This one is special.

Good for you! Congrats!

 

[Envincibal]

OK, so I've really been wanting to go back to Spector after selling my Euro 5-string basses, but the 35" scale hasn't work for me. Then I find an SSD (USA) 34" scale, and pick it up on the bay... only to arrive with some damage - which is still in the process of getting squared away with FedEx...

I then find another Spector (SSD/4-string) for $599!!! I immediately buy it... it arrives and it was clearly damaged prior to shipping (this damage has been her for years - and the seller has no idea how that happened) - of course all of the pics on the auction do not show the areas where the bass was damaged - its being sent back for a refund...

On my business trip to the DC area (left yesterday), I see there is a 5-string SSD in the Townsend, MD store - perfect (its on the way down)! I get to the store, they find the bass, and the action must be a mile-high!! The neck has some serious back-bow and ask the salesman to have the bass setup, only to find out "Oh yea, there were some problems with the truss rod on that bass - it doesn't work, but we can give you a really good price on the bass" - I handed the bass back to him and left the store, knowing that it wouldn't be cheap to replace the truss rod

Have I somehow angered the Spector gods?

 

[e.rich]

To celebrate my one year anniversary of beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma I just bought this stunning beauty. Violet is the ribbon color for Hodgkins. I played Spector's for years and owned many. After trying a lot of different basses over the past 10 years I decided to go back to the basses I loved and Spector was my #1 choice. I can't wait to get it. This one is special.

That's fantastic! She is special for sure. I, like most of my club brethren, have been drooling over that purple lovely since the pics first started to surface!

 

[bunkaroo]

OK, so I've really been wanting to go back to Spector after selling my Euro 5-string basses, but the 35" scale hasn't work for me. Then I find an SSD (USA) 34" scale, and pick it up on the bay... only to arrive with some damage - which is still in the process of getting squared away with FedEx...

I then find another Spector (SSD/4-string) for $599!!! I immediately buy it... it arrives and it was clearly damaged prior to shipping (this damage has been her for years - and the seller has no idea how that happened) - of course all of the pics on the auction do not show the areas where the bass was damaged - its being sent back for a refund...

On my business trip to the DC area (left yesterday), I see there is a 5-string SSD in the Townsend, MD store - perfect (its on the way down)! I get to the store, they find the bass, and the action must be a mile-high!! The neck has some serious back-bow and ask the salesman to have the bass setup, only to find out "Oh yea, there were some problems with the truss rod on that bass - it doesn't work, but we can give you a really good price on the bass" - I handed the bass back to him and left the store, knowing that it wouldn't be cheap to replace the truss rod

Have I somehow angered the Spector gods?

That sucks man. Really sorry to hear that.

Just FYI and I don't know if this is a possibility for you, but they are making the NS-5 now in the US shop which is a 34" scale 5-string. There's also the Codas as well at 34" scale.

 

[johnsonabq]

OK, so I've really been wanting to go back to Spector after selling my Euro 5-string basses, but the 35" scale hasn't work for me.

First off... Bummer about your luck. That does suck.
I'm curious though; what's wrong with the 35" scale? It really helps that low B. I went from and 34" Steinberger 4 string to a 35" Modulus fiver 19 years ago and never looked back. Wondering what the issue is. (You're certainly entitled to your preferences.)

 

[bunkaroo]

I'm assuming it's the feel of the scale. I was playing 34" scale exclusively until I got my first Euro 5 a few years ago, and it has been an adjustment. There are still times were playing a 1st to 4th fret stretch on the B string can be a little uncomfortable for me.

 

[johnsonabq]

To celebrate my one year anniversary of beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma I just bought this stunning beauty. Violet is the ribbon color for Hodgkins. I played Spector's for years and owned many. After trying a lot of different basses over the past 10 years I decided to go back to the basses I loved and Spector was my #1 choice. I can't wait to get it. This one is special.

Outstanding news on your health! Excellent news on your new bass. I was just talking about that Ultraviolet stain. Glad Todd sold it to someone so deserving. Congrats!!!!

 

[johnsonabq]

I'm assuming it's the feel of the scale. I was playing 34" scale exclusively until I got my first Euro 5 a few years ago, and it has been an adjustment. There are still times were playing a 1st to 4th fret stretch on the B string can be a little uncomfortable for me.

Fair enough... Of course there'll be a difference but I hadn't noticed it that much. Think I'll measure the difference between those frets on my Spector and on my Fender Jazz.

Definitely can't go wrong with the 34" NS-5!

 

[grendle]

OK, so I've really been wanting to go back to Spector after selling my Euro 5-string basses, but the 35" scale hasn't work for me. Then I find an SSD (USA) 34" scale, and pick it up on the bay... only to arrive with some damage - which is still in the process of getting squared away with FedEx...

I then find another Spector (SSD/4-string) for $599!!! I immediately buy it... it arrives and it was clearly damaged prior to shipping (this damage has been her for years - and the seller has no idea how that happened) - of course all of the pics on the auction do not show the areas where the bass was damaged - its being sent back for a refund...

On my business trip to the DC area (left yesterday), I see there is a 5-string SSD in the Townsend, MD store - perfect (its on the way down)! I get to the store, they find the bass, and the action must be a mile-high!! The neck has some serious back-bow and ask the salesman to have the bass setup, only to find out "Oh yea, there were some problems with the truss rod on that bass - it doesn't work, but we can give you a really good price on the bass" - I handed the bass back to him and left the store, knowing that it wouldn't be cheap to replace the truss rod

Have I somehow angered the Spector gods?

the dot inlay ns5cr's are 34" if you can find one. great B on the one i had. it was a tank for sure, and the neck was a little thick but super comfortable.

 

[Rod Harder]

I haven't been around TB for quite a while, but here's the current collection, mine has shrunken substantially over the last 5 years:

From L - R:
Mid 80's NS2A - Owned since 1987 and has played over 2000 nights of shows in my hands.

Samick era NS2A w/ EMG BQC preamp & EMG PJ set

LTD Vintage P/J w/ EMG PJ set

2013 Legend Classic 4X

Over the last 25 years I've owned 30+ Spector basses of every type and era, and sold several of them to TB folk here as well.

 

[iceboxbass]

I've noticed that there aren't a lot of basses out there with the walnut stain. And the only one with the high gloss finish that I've seen is the one that Todd owns. An NS-2DW Doug Wimbish Bass. I think an NS-5XL with the tube quilting and ebony fingerboard will be quite special. They're shaving the neck to simulate the necks of the Kramer period since I didn't want a neck thicker than the Euro I have now.
This is Todd's NS, the bass that convinced me.

+1 on the walnut stain! For 5r's you can order the Webster neck which is the thinnest 5r neck from Spector.

Oh my are all those in his collection ?
If so that is borderline obnoxious ...lol

I call it jealous on my part and a fortunate man. A good way to have a retirement investment also.

Truth!

After I received my new bass, I commented to him how addictive Spectors are and that I'm already saving for my next US build. Todd said when he bought his first US Spector he only planned to have one in his collection...he followed that statement by telling me that he now owns 116!

View attachment 333469

Wowzers!!! That's a lot of basses.

My iPhone won't send pictures to my e-mail at the moment. I just want to post the pictures of my electronics!

Do you use Photo Bucket? I have an iPhone and that's what I use in order to post from my iPhone. There's a lot of great help from experienced bassist on here.

not an oficial member yet but this little beauty should be here monday

Congratulations! That's eye popping gorgeous!!

I've been drooling over the new ultraviolet finish ever since I saw pictures of the 1st UV to come out of the Woodstock shop, but this bass simply awes me with it's classy looks.
The walnut stain/tube quilt maple is rapidly becoming one of my most desired colors. Tube quilt makes blues look like shimmering deep water, reds look like volcanic fire, and generally enhances the appeal factor of any color applied on it.
The walnut gloss stain would have looked amazing over the tube quilted maple on my blue NS-4......

+1 on tube quilting!

To celebrate my one year anniversary of beating Hodgkin's Lymphoma I just bought this stunning beauty. Violet is the ribbon color for Hodgkins. I played Spector's for years and owned many. After trying a lot of different basses over the past 10 years I decided to go back to the basses I loved and Spector was my #1 choice. I can't wait to get it. This one is special.

Congratulations on both, your fight against hodgkins and your new bass!
I just retired and I'm trying to persuade my wife that I need a Spector as a retirement gift. I've been eye balling some NS-5XL Water cured redwood!

 

[bunkaroo]

+1 on the walnut stain! For 5r's you can order the Webster neck which is the thinnest 5r neck from Spector.

Yeah I am not into brown at all, but that walnut stain could change my mind. Gorgeous.

I actually have the Webster neck profile being done for my NS-6XL order. I want that one to be a fast player.

 

[5string_phunk]

I'm loving the AW neck profile on my fretless! It feels thin, but still had some "meat" to it...if that makes any sense... Its the only way to go if you like a thinner neck profile!

 

[davidjbass]

The deal fell through! It's back up for grabs. Thanks for the nice thoughts though.

 

[johnsonabq]

The deal fell through! It's back up for grabs. Thanks for the nice thoughts though.

Oh No! But still. Congrats on your health. That's really the important thing. You can always find another bass.

 

[Joenok]

Regardless of what preamp is in it, unless a change has been made along the line, those pickups are 40DC's.

Thanks, PhatBasstard. -Oh, are they? Guess i´m thinking about "TW" or what´s their name, switchable humbucker/coils?
The ones on the present model. Love the versatility.

Envincibal, i´ve been fighting my self back and forth over the 35"scale issue. About 9-10 years back I switched from Spector basses to Mike Lull, main bass being a four-string.
I had a 35" Lull, but I never really could play as good as on the four. Might be because I never tried enough, 4-stringer got 97% play-time. Got too attached to it

However, I don´t know why technically, but some 35" seem perfectly suitable for me, and Spector being one of them.
I guess it might be that it´s a very different instrument from a Jazz, neck-through, wearing position and such. Never played a 35" Jazz that i liked.

 

[marchone]

I wonder what percentage of Spectors sold are 5s? I believe I recall for Sadowsky it's 50%.

 

[Envincibal]

small hands... I can feel a noticeable difference when I was playing the 35's. I don't know if its something that maybe I'll get used to (if I go for a 35" scale) - I guess worst case is that I could always sell it if it doesn't agree with me

First off... Bummer about your luck. That does suck.
I'm curious though; what's wrong with the 35" scale? It really helps that low B. I went from and 34" Steinberger 4 string to a 35" Modulus fiver 19 years ago and never looked back. Wondering what the issue is. (You're certainly entitled to your preferences.)

 

[iceboxbass]

Just acquired: a 2011 Euro4LX in Cherry Red. INSANE tones, and eminently playable. It's truly the perfect compliment to the passive Mod GVJ4 to the left -- and the pair are two of the most playable basses I've ever owned.

Once I replace my Schro 1210R with a Genz-Benz UB 212 (coming Friday), GAS will be (mostly) cured ... I think ...

It's a monster! ::cue Extreme song/Nuno riff/::

Number, please!

Beautiful Euro 4! Fabulous maple flaming! Welcome back to Spector!

OK, so I've really been wanting to go back to Spector after selling my Euro 5-string basses, but the 35" scale hasn't work for me. Then I find an SSD (USA) 34" scale, and pick it up on the bay... only to arrive with some damage - which is still in the process of getting squared away with FedEx...

I then find another Spector (SSD/4-string) for $599!!! I immediately buy it... it arrives and it was clearly damaged prior to shipping (this damage has been her for years - and the seller has no idea how that happened) - of course all of the pics on the auction do not show the areas where the bass was damaged - its being sent back for a refund...

On my business trip to the DC area (left yesterday), I see there is a 5-string SSD in the Townsend, MD store - perfect (its on the way down)! I get to the store, they find the bass, and the action must be a mile-high!! The neck has some serious back-bow and ask the salesman to have the bass setup, only to find out "Oh yea, there were some problems with the truss rod on that bass - it doesn't work, but we can give you a really good price on the bass" - I handed the bass back to him and left the store, knowing that it wouldn't be cheap to replace the truss rod

Have I somehow angered the Spector gods?

HooWee! That's some serious bad luck on used gear! Sorry to hear. Maybe just maybe it's meant for you to buy a new Spector bass?!?! Just some insight.

I haven't been around TB for quite a while, but here's the current collection, mine has shrunken substantially over the last 5 years:

From L - R:
Mid 80's NS2A - Owned since 1987 and has played over 2000 nights of shows in my hands.

Samick era NS2A w/ EMG BQC preamp & EMG PJ set

LTD Vintage P/J w/ EMG PJ set

2013 Legend Classic 4X

Over the last 25 years I've owned 30+ Spector basses of every type and era, and sold several of them to TB folk here as well.

Beautiful family there! Welcome back!

 

[johnsonabq]

small hands... I can feel a noticeable difference when I was playing the 35's. I don't know if its something that maybe I'll get used to (if I go for a 35" scale) - I guess worst case is that I could always sell it if it doesn't agree with me

No worries. Like I said before. You can't go wrong with a 34" NS-5JJ. Have thought about them myself. Guess I was lucky, my hands aren't large (damn ) but the scale never was an issue, now the neck width did take some getting used to. But soon, all was good.