SPECTOR® Club - Part 59

[JPSBassist]

Sexy. No doubt.

 

[jnumme]

Really really regret selling this one

 

[jnumme]

From a purely technical standpoint I prefer the OBP-3 to the BQC.

The OBP-3 is designed using BOTH JFET and OpAmp components and offers the attack and clarity of a JFET circuit with the warmth and color of the OpAmp.

It is VERY similar to the USA 18v circuit.

This issue (which pre is better, etc... ) falls under the same category of discussion that the "which bass is better" question presents.

As an individual musician with your own tastes, influences and the tone you want to find/hear in your instrument selections, you really need to try to find as many samples of these two circuits in action as possible and make up your own mind.

Other bassists will have biases and thoughts on this or that, like what I said above about the tech.

But at the end of the day this is YOUR bass we're talking about. YOU will use it to make music for YOU. And therefore ONLY YOU can make the decision which is going to be best for you.

Please always keep that in mind when asking anyone for their recommendations on this or that bass/amp/circuit/pedal, etc... In the end the ONLY opinion that matters is your own.

Yeah I know but from what I have heard and read it's sounding like the OBP 3. and by the way nice family picture on ur Facebook today...lol Jody

 

[JPSBassist]

Hahaha! I've been working on the lil lady of the house just to spend half of the cost of a new NS-5XL on a used NS-5XL WCR...and that so far is going like this :scowl: And I'm doing it under the disguise of a retirement gift that I'll always have and remember. I'm not giving up...never give up! Keeping the eye on the prize

For years I had "hobby obsessions" that took me out of the house.

I was a competition tactical gun competitor for years. I'd spend months where I was at the firing range in between the moments when I was working, which was pretty much all the time. I had nearly $30,000 tied up in my main three competition guns (with scopes/accessories/etc...) and I went through a small fortune in ammo. I never used cheap, crap bullets. Only the best for my babies.

More than one girlfriend told me I had a cold heart because I preferred the company of cold steel to them.

I've always been an avid cyclist and go through periods where I am riding my bicycles like a fiend. 20-30 miles a day. Hours at a time on the road, just me and a bike.

Then I started playing music again. And now I spend my spare time just 3 feet from where I spend most of my time working... in my office just to the side of my desk plugged into my amp and pedals.

I finally found a hobby that kept me home.

This is ammo for you. You can tell your wife that at least you're home, where she knows you'll be safe and keep out of trouble. Your hobby also produces music, keeps your brain and neural pathways active and young, and is proven to reduce the risk of heart disease (Lima is the case study for that). I say bass playing cures cancer (I'm the case study for that).

Tell her that you have a friend (me) that has lost many a great girl to my obsessive hobbies that keep me out of the home.

This new WCR NS-5XL is going to be a health-investment that is sure to keep you more safe for you'll be at home, improving your health.

And let me know if it works.

 

[JPSBassist]

and by the way nice family picture on ur Facebook today...lol Jody

Thanks. Except that NS-230 (I WISH PJ WOULD SELL IT TO ME... I'D WRITE THE $15,000 FOR THAT ONE) belongs to PJ Rubal.

 

[iceboxbass]

"WARNING! MAKE SURE ALL LIQUID REFRESHMENTS IS OUT OF MOUTH BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!"

Lesson #1 when performing a pre-amp swap out on your bass...Make sure you don't do so when drinking 96oz of Gatorade mixed with Laxatives getting ready for "Colonoscopy" the next morning! Not fun or...NOT fun! Lol

I have Black Velvet gutted out. Ready to install Korean Haz Copy tomorrow. Speaking of gutting out...I've gotta run! See ya later.......

 

[jnumme]

LMAO.
Or should I say rut row

 

[iceboxbass]

Finally got a outdoor shot of my SE #5 Euro LX4

NICE photo Jody!

From a purely technical standpoint I prefer the OBP-3 to the BQC.

The OBP-3 is designed using BOTH JFET and OpAmp components and offers the attack and clarity of a JFET circuit with the warmth and color of the OpAmp.

It is VERY similar to the USA 18v circuit.

This issue (which pre is better, etc... ) falls under the same category of discussion that the "which bass is better" question presents.

As an individual musician with your own tastes, influences and the tone you want to find/hear in your instrument selections, you really need to try to find as many samples of these two circuits in action as possible and make up your own mind.

Other bassists will have biases and thoughts on this or that, like what I said above about the tech.

But at the end of the day this is YOUR bass we're talking about. YOU will use it to make music for YOU. And therefore ONLY YOU can make the decision which is going to be best for you.

Please always keep that in mind when asking anyone for their recommendations on this or that bass/amp/circuit/pedal, etc... In the end the ONLY opinion that matters is your own.

+1!

For years I had "hobby obsessions" that took me out of the house.

I was a competition tactical gun competitor for years. I'd spend months where I was at the firing range in between the moments when I was working, which was pretty much all the time. I had nearly $30,000 tied up in my main three competition guns (with scopes/accessories/etc...) and I went through a small fortune in ammo. I never used cheap, crap bullets. Only the best for my babies.

More than one girlfriend told me I had a cold heart because I preferred the company of cold steel to them.

I've always been an avid cyclist and go through periods where I am riding my bicycles like a fiend. 20-30 miles a day. Hours at a time on the road, just me and a bike.

Then I started playing music again. And now I spend my spare time just 3 feet from where I spend most of my time working... in my office just to the side of my desk plugged into my amp and pedals.

I finally found a hobby that kept me home.

This is ammo for you. You can tell your wife that at least you're home, where she knows you'll be safe and keep out of trouble. Your hobby also produces music, keeps your brain and neural pathways active and young, and is proven to reduce the risk of heart disease (Lima is the case study for that). I say bass playing cures cancer (I'm the case study for that).

Tell her that you have a friend (me) that has lost many a great girl to my obsessive hobbies that keep me out of the home.

This new WCR NS-5XL is going to be a health-investment that is sure to keep you more safe for you'll be at home, improving your health.

And let me know if it works.

Lol I'll try this! Great points! I too used to ride my Cannondale Team racing cycle 25-42 miles per day 5-6 days per week and Mtn. Biking on Sunday...9 years ago. When we were dating she worked her way to doing 63 miles, Metric Century. I did the real Centuries and the Metrics in between, plus lots of races. That was her way of spending time with me. I will definitely take your approach though. Thanks!
(Time to run! )

 

[5string_phunk]

"WARNING! MAKE SURE ALL LIQUID REFRESHMENTS IS OUT OF MOUTH BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!"

Lesson #1 when performing a pre-amp swap out on your bass...Make sure you don't do so when drinking 96oz of Gatorade mixed with Laxatives getting ready for "Colonoscopy" the next morning! Not fun or...NOT fun! Lol

I have Black Velvet gutted out. Ready to install Korean Haz Copy tomorrow. Speaking of gutting out...I've gotta run! See ya later.......

HA! I understand your pain all too well! I have been doing a 48 hour organic juice "reboot" that has required me to drink 192 ounces of juice and 256 ounces of water and absolutely no solid food! I have not left my house in the past two days for fear of...well you obviously know!

To make this post poignant to the Spector thread, I HAVE spent countless hours with my fretless since Friday!

 

[5string_phunk]

WOW! What a beautiful bass! ...and also a beautiful yard!

 

[peledog]

"WARNING! MAKE SURE ALL LIQUID REFRESHMENTS IS OUT OF MOUTH BEFORE READING ANY FURTHER!"

Lesson #1 when performing a pre-amp swap out on your bass...Make sure you don't do so when drinking 96oz of Gatorade mixed with Laxatives getting ready for "Colonoscopy" the next morning! Not fun or...NOT fun! Lol

I have Black Velvet gutted out. Ready to install Korean Haz Copy tomorrow. Speaking of gutting out...I've gotta run! See ya later.......

LOL! I hate those tests. Good luck to ya!

 

[LimaGuy]

From a purely technical standpoint I prefer the OBP-3 to the BQC.

The OBP-3 is designed using BOTH JFET and OpAmp components and offers the attack and clarity of a JFET circuit with the warmth and color of the OpAmp.

It is VERY similar to the USA 18v circuit.

This issue (which pre is better, etc... ) falls under the same category of discussion that the "which bass is better" question presents.

As an individual musician with your own tastes, influences and the tone you want to find/hear in your instrument selections, you really need to try to find as many samples of these two circuits in action as possible and make up your own mind.

Other bassists will have biases and thoughts on this or that, like what I said above about the tech.

But at the end of the day this is YOUR bass we're talking about. YOU will use it to make music for YOU. And therefore ONLY YOU can make the decision which is going to be best for you.

Please always keep that in mind when asking anyone for their recommendations on this or that bass/amp/circuit/pedal, etc... In the end the ONLY opinion that matters is your own.

As JPS mentions above. It really is up to everyone own personal taste on what they feel is their ideal tone or ideal Spector Tone.

Some people use pedals others do not.

At this time I personally don't own any pedals (Sorry Omer, don't pass out)

I have personally played Spector basses with a OBP1, OBP2, OBP3, BTS, BQC, Spector Trim and Non-Trim TonePumps, Korean 9V Spector copy, Brooklyn era Spector 9V Circuit, Kramer Era Spector 9V Circuit & current Woodstock era Spector 9V Circuit.

Below are some sound recordings I have made ove the past 2 years comparing the different basses and preamps.

Obviously this is not 100% scientific since I dont remember the exact strings or bass and treble settings on each recording
but I think these can give people a general idea of Tones of various Spectors and Preamps.

These are all constant in each clip.
Recorded into Pro Tools.
All strings would be stainless steel strings.
All being played finger style.

To start:
Here is a Forte-4, 1st with a OBP2 then with a 9V USA Circuit so you can hear the difference directly of 2 different Pre's in the same bass.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
---------------------------------------------
Using my now famous "The Riff" Here I am comparing a TonePump to a 9V USA Circuit
Keep in mind with this comparison I did alot of EQ'ing on the Tonepump clip to get it to sound similar to the 9V USA Circuit

Euro4LX Maple/Walnut/Alder Wings Tonepump Preamp
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Forte-4 Solid Maple Wings 9V USA Circuit "Haz"
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
--------------------------------------------------
Below are various basses I have owned with different Pre's

Forte-4 Solid Maple Wings OBP2 Preamp
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Euro4LX Maple/Walnut/Alder Wings Tonepump Preamp
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Euro4 Solid Maple Wings OBP1 Preamp
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

NS-2A Solid Maple Wings BTS Preamp
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Kramer Era NS-2 Solid Maple Wings 9V USA Circuit "Haz"
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
----------------------------------------------------
Out of all of this, I personally have come to this conclusion for my own Spector Tone quest.

A NS-2 P/J with a 9V Circuit going through a TC Electronics BH250 Head being used as a preamp, using the direct output into Pro Tools. The only effect being used is the "Comp in the Middle" TonePrint in the BH250 which boost the mids while giving some compression.

Here is a clip of something I just worked on last night which I love the bass Tone I got using the above mentioned process.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Jasonger]

That last clip sounds great Sam!!

 

[jnumme]

Thanks Sam

 

[jnumme]

WOW! What a beautiful bass! ...and also a beautiful yard!

Thanks... Spring in Michigan is always great for the yards.

 

[Trailight]

Some people use pedals others do not.

At this time I personally don't own any pedals (Sorry Omer, don't pass out)

A mere technicality that will be remedied in time.

Nicely done on the tracks! The US9V is king. End of story.

To add to the personal tone discussion. It's one thing to play at home in a sterile environment picking on every single part of the sound spectrum. It's another to play in a live situation either in a jam or on stage. Get the tone YOU love, what YOU are comfortable with, plug it in to whatever amp you wish and let it rip!!! For my ear it's the Spector with US9V with Ampeg. Case closed. I am confident I don't need to go on an endless road to search for something only to come back to it. But that's just moi.

 

[worshiprocker]

What I was driving at (sorry I wasn't clearer) was the change in feel and playing going from a wider 5 string neck (35") to a more narrow 4 string neck (34"). I'm afraid I'll make mistakes because I'm thinking I'm playing one note but find I'm playing another because of those differences. I've played only 5er's for 19 years now but hearing you guys rave about the NS2 I've been thinking about picking one up to see what the true Spector experience is all about. For the actual change, I'll have both in stands, with straps and wireless transmitters (one for each) attached, ready to go. I can't justify buying an NS2 if I'm not going to play it when I gig. I guess I'm not a true collector... yet.

I use to go back and forth between a fender jazz V and a Yamaha 4 string. 2 very different basses and I never had any problems. But I also jump from multiple different basses to multiple different guitars. To me, it make sense to have multiple different profiles of scale, neck, pups, whatever. this is how I approached guitar and a recent realization for bass. Its my personal opinion and I'm excited to grab a couple new spectors.

A mere technicality that will be remedied in time.

Nicely done on the tracks! The US9V is king. End of story.

To add to the personal tone discussion. It's one thing to play at home in a sterile environment picking on every single part of the sound spectrum. It's another to play in a live situation either in a jam or on stage. Get the tone YOU love, what YOU are comfortable with, plug it in to whatever amp you wish and let it rip!!! For my ear it's the Spector with US9V with Ampeg. Case closed. I am confident I don't need to go on an endless road to search for something only to come back to it. But that's just moi.

 

[iceboxbass]

LMAO.
Or should I say rut row

 

[iceboxbass]

HA! I understand your pain all too well! I have been doing a 48 hour organic juice "reboot" that has required me to drink 192 ounces of juice and 256 ounces of water and absolutely no solid food! I have not left my house in the past two days for fear of...well you obviously know!

To make this post poignant to the Spector thread, I HAVE spent countless hours with my fretless since Friday!

I feel for you my friend! NEVER again! Heading to hospital in a few.
Atleast you had some quality time with your looog awaited Fretless Spector!

 

[j.kernodle]

ugh, colonoscopy prep! hope it's not red Gatorade.