SPECTOR® Club - Part 59

[johnsonabq]

I have one in the stable now and love it. Warm, fat and growly. The drive knob has a great interaction with the gain and mids. Also the TH5 has sweepable mids so you can dial in exactly what you want.

In comparison with the Mesa's M6/9 it is on the other side of the spectrum for sure.

Tone Hammer - warm, fat and chewy mids and "old school" tone.

Carbines - huge non filtered low end and über aggressive high mid and top end, more hifi.

I'm looking for a small class D to fit on top of my TCE RS212/RS210 speakers. I'm using an RH450 now. Just getting a bug to change up my sound. I like the speakers and their small footprint. A 19" rack-mount amp just wouldn't fit. Figured the TH500 would be nice but there are none around here to play.

 

[JPSBassist]

Looks like one of the few pre2012 maple fretboards. I've never seen a USA but I've seen euros... Very rare indeed

You played the first BEM maple 4 and 5 string USA Models at BPL... in 2010. LOL.
Not 2012. But that's OK. You were there and I took photos as evidence. So I'll overlook it.

 

[JPSBassist]

Set-up question - for those with P/J config:

If you look at the profile of your bass, are the P pickups angled to be higher in the center, so that they kind of conform with the shape of the body, or are they level from edge to edge?
The last guy who did a set-up for me cranked down the outer screws so that they are slightly higher in the center, and they follow the curve of the body. Not sure if this is correct.

My thoughts on this are that the radius of the neck being 16" is not near as severe a curve as a bowed instrument at say 6 or 7" radius... and with active pups the difference isn't anything you'd notice regarding the intensity of the signal.

It would be the curve of the radius of the neck that matters, not the curve of the body. If that makes sense?

Think about this... are the tops of humbuckers or J pups curved or flat?

I think flat is fine. Jimmy Eppard's setups from the NY Workshop has the P - spit-coil pups in the NS-2 flat and not angled down to match the radius of the fingerboard.

Sounds like a tech with some interesting ideas... but they are probably more useful with older-vintage all passive P basses. Old basses, especially ones with original old passive pups can be subject to having certain strings ring louder due to the closeness of the pups. It might make sense to do this on a 1959 P-Bass.

But I hardly think it would apply to any modern USA or Euro Spector with active EMG pickups and an active circuit.

 

[jbravo]

Anybody here play their Spector through an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500? If so how was it? been looking at one.

I use a TH500. I love it! Between the drive, pre gain and eq you can do a lot with it. Although Id have to agree they are more old school sounding vs. modern. And if you didn't like it, they seem to sell really fast.

I bought mine used from Christian, so you could check with him for another opinion...

Steve

 

[marchone]

This is why I thought about the radius curve.

Also, the poles on my Tele's single coil are higher at the center than the ends.

 

[Basstovsky]

Set-up question - for those with P/J config:

If you look at the profile of your bass, are the P pickups angled to be higher in the center, so that they kind of conform with the shape of the body, or are they level from edge to edge?
The last guy who did a set-up for me cranked down the outer screws so that they are slightly higher in the center, and they follow the curve of the body. Not sure if this is correct.

I always set mine up for equal volume across all strings, generally they are angled a *little* but not a lot

 

[Worldeeeter]

My thoughts on this are that the radius of the neck being 16" is not near as severe a curve as a bowed instrument at say 6 or 7" radius... and with active pups the difference isn't anything you'd notice regarding the intensity of the signal.

It would be the curve of the radius of the neck that matters, not the curve of the body. If that makes sense?

Think about this... are the tops of humbuckers or J pups curved or flat?

I think flat is fine. Jimmy Eppard's setups from the NY Workshop has the P - spit-coil pups in the NS-2 flat and not angled down to match the radius of the fingerboard.

Sounds like a tech with some interesting ideas... but they are probably more useful with older-vintage all passive P basses. Old basses, especially ones with original old passive pups can be subject to having certain strings ring louder due to the closeness of the pups. It might make sense to do this on a 1959 P-Bass.

But I hardly think it would apply to any modern USA or Euro Spector with active EMG pickups and an active circuit.

Great insight, Patrick. Thanks!

 

[johnsonabq]

I use a TH500. I love it! Between the drive, pre gain and eq you can do a lot with it. Although Id have to agree they are more old school sounding vs. modern. And if you didn't like it, they seem to sell really fast.

I bought mine used from Christian, so you could check with him for another opinion...

Steve

I tried to PM Christian but his mailbox is full.

 

[Fat240]

Check out this modded beauty[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[johnsonabq]

Check out this modded beauty[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I like that... paint is not factory. Ya think?

 

[iceboxbass]

I seen the three presets and think it would be great for switching, how is the tube sound? size?

I know it's not my rig but Jody tested the tube sound for me and it sounded SICK! I couldn't believe my ears! If you had your eyes closed you couldn't really tell that it wasn't a tube amp!

The bad thing is, he has arthritis really bad and can't even play them, and he still buys more. He will sell them and they are all in mint condition, so you will pay top used price.

I can see why someone would want to collect them, they look so cool!

Oh yeah.... In

SaWeet!!! LOOK... It's the infamous double boxed bass!!!

 

[Fat240]

I like that... paint is not factory. Ya think?

Yeah, you can tell I'm at work tonight till 11:30 and trying to surf the world on Craigslist looking for a diamond in the ruff. No luck tonight.

 

[iceboxbass]

Set-up question - for those with P/J config:

If you look at the profile of your bass, are the P pickups angled to be higher in the center, so that they kind of conform with the shape of the body, or are they level from edge to edge?
The last guy who did a set-up for me cranked down the outer screws so that they are slightly higher in the center, and they follow the curve of the body. Not sure if this is correct.

I adjust my pickups according to string height...so the bottom of the strings are close to same distance to pickups from string to string...as much as is possible.

 

[brotherbassj]

I have one in the stable now and love it. Warm, fat and growly. The drive knob has a great interaction with the gain and mids. Also the TH5 has sweepable mids so you can dial in exactly what you want.

In comparison with the Mesa's M6/9 it is on the other side of the spectrum for sure.

Tone Hammer - warm, fat and chewy mids and "old school" tone.

Carbines - huge non filtered low end and über aggressive high mid and top end, more hifi.

I found the m6 to sound more full and warmer than the TH500....the th500 sounded thinner and grittier to my ears....

 

[Rebopmass]

Deal has been done. It's now officially mine!

Wow id potentially sell my kids for this. Damn. Just kidding but it is gorgeous

 

[Christian Waiau]

Anybody here play their Spector through an Aguilar Tone Hammer 500? If so how was it? been looking at one.

I do! My main gig rig was a tone hammer 500 with a gs412. I also used it with a single 112sl. It doesn't have a tone of high end sparkle as say a gk Orr genz but the tone is very full and defined. Don't get me wrong... Lots of highs but it doesn't have that ear hurt option lol

 

[superdick2112]

Wow id potentially sell my kids for this. Damn. Just kidding but it is gorgeous

LOL

Many years ago, when I was just out of High School, I lived on top ramen and mac & cheese for an entire year, just so I could save up enough for a nice bass & amp.

I'm getting a bit too old to do stuff like that anymore...

 

[Christian Waiau]

I tried to PM Christian but his mailbox is full.

AHHHH!!!! My supporting member sub ran out... I'll renew in the morning lol wow I'm over about 300 messages...

 

[johnsonabq]

I do! My main gig rig was a tone hammer 500 with a gs412. I also used it with a single 112sl. It doesn't have a tone of high end sparkle as say a gk Orr genz but the tone is very full and defined. Don't get me wrong... Lots of highs but it doesn't have that ear hurt option lol

It's funny you mention the GS412 as I have one of those but I've been using a combination of TCE's RS212 and RS210. That's why I'm looking for a small amp. Been using their RH450. I want something that's will give me that growl. I don't need sparkle, but I want aggressive.

 

[Mr.Bassie720]

NS-2JA-R in Cadillac green^

Forte-4 #27 in Hotangerine with Spector USA 9V circuit (HAZ circuit)^

And the work in progress, Euro #0183. I change my mind daily about the color. Today, it's matte natural with black hardware. Also in the running, Gretsch orange gloss finish with black hardware.