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SPECTOR® Club - Part 60

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#422
delucajohn2000 said:
I was due for an updated pic so since everyone has been taking pictures of their basses like this, I felt I should also :) This one was only done with the iPad but I need to get a better one with a digital camera.

9ceb9b9122531db16cee6c392b0abae7_zps01941877.jpg
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VERY nice photo John! :D:cool:
 
#424
seventhframe said:
I have to say...There's just SOMETHING about the Forte model that just has an extra dose of Mojo sauce. When I put the US9V in mine, it just has a ring to it.
I love....LOVE both my NS-2's. But the Forte holds it's own indeed!! Even with the OBP-2 it sounded incredible!
The saying "No frills, all tone" is indeed true! :bassist:
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You know, I totally agree with you on this. They have their own sound, and it is a fantastic one at that. Is it the matte finish? Cause, like you said, even with the OBP-2 they have their own tonal signature.
 
#425
delucajohn2000 said:
Aw, c'mon Lee! That question is not easy and would probably take me days to answer :) Every time I think I might have the answer, I think of a reason for wanting one of the others so man, that is tough.

Here is my thinking right now:

Green NS-5XL - I just love the color since it is so different. The neck is amazing on this thing and is so comfortable, it's not even funny.

Buckeye NS-4 - Super fat neck which I love so switching between that and the NS-5 really easy. That walnut back is just magic in the tone category, and the final big reason....It belonged to Chris Loe and he also gave me the custom abalone truss rod cover for that bass.

Forte - Just an all around great bass. Love the feel and the tone of the 9V USA circuit is just amazing. Plus, it belonged to Sam so I have to factor that in as well :)
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I knew I recognized the flame pattern on the Forte. :D


Seriously though - what a fine collection. When I make an East coast trip, I'm going to stop by and drool. (is that ok?)
 
#426
Fat240 said:
I'm about an hour and half from there.



Looking good Ho. He's going to bring mine to Phil on Wed to get him to check out the fret board. So that will take him out another week to June 8th. Best to get any fret work done before he starts the finish though. Here's what he sent today. He wet it down to show the grain. The wings are quite a bit darker than the rock maple. I wonder how it will take the black stain? Could almost do a oil finish on it. :hmm:
bass2_zps77551fa7.jpg
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Looks beautiful and it would certainly looks fantastic in an oil or matte poly finish. I'm excited to see how this is going to turn out.
 
#427
husky123 said:
Anytime dude, anytime.
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One of these days I will pick Sam up and we will take a trip down. Let me finish with this mess I am going through right now, and then things will be all cool.

peledog said:
I knew I recognized the flame pattern on the Forte. :D


Seriously though - what a fine collection. When I make an East coast trip, I'm going to stop by and drool. (is that ok?)
Click to expand...

Any time dude. To quote the movie Snatch "Do ya like dags?" :) I have a bunch of dogs so my house can be really crazy which freaks some people out. Sam has already told me he will never come over since he isn't a fan of dogs and mine are complete lunatics. Jack Russel Terriers are a bit high strung and I have 8 of them :help:
 
#428
delucajohn2000 said:
One of these days I will pick Sam up and we will take a trip down. Let me finish with this mess I am going through right now, and then things will be all cool.



Any time dude. To quote the movie Snatch "Do ya like dags?" :) I have a bunch of dogs so my house can be really crazy which freaks some people out. Sam has already told me he will never come over since he isn't a fan of dogs and mine are complete lunatics. Jack Russel Terriers are a bit high strung and I have 8 of them :help:
Click to expand...

that's way too many....about 6 too many! LOL :help:
 
#431
Mr.Bassie720 said:
You know, I totally agree with you on this. They have their own sound, and it is a fantastic one at that. Is it the matte finish? Cause, like you said, even with the OBP-2 they have their own tonal signature.
Click to expand...

Not sure if it's the matte finish. My Spalt NS-2 is matte as well. Who knows...could be a bunch of things. No inlays (more wood on the fingerboard = more mass)? I don't know.

All I know is that they are monstrous! Anyone who wants to get into a US made bass and doesn't want to shell out the extra money for an NS-2 will not be remotely disappointed by any means.
My very first Forte video I made was with the OBP and I still refer back to it in awe of that tone.
I bought my Forte sight unseen (and unheard). I knew I wanted to get into a US made bass and that was the best thing I ever made.
As someone here mentioned though.... One US made Spector and that's it. :bassist:

This is obviously not insinuating that the other models are of any lesser quality or tone. I've heard many recordings and samples by people here and every single one of them says one thing: It's a SPECTOR! :bassist:
 
#432
NSD yesterday ! First impression of the CRFM, Man that neck is fat ! I like it though. Tone for days. I only played it on a few songs before switching to the Rex for the night. Donny's got it strung up with some heavey strings and there was to much tension for me after a few songs. Im tuned up a whole step higher then he is.

Today I'll restring it with some 105 ProSteels and convert it to 18V. I told Donny I was real excited to have a Czech made bass. My fathers family all came here from Czechoslovakia in the early 1900s. :bassist:

My band also tried out a singer last night. He seems like a great fit. His voice fit the music well, Kinda old school metal. And he came with lyrics to one of our songs which was awesome !
 

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#434
So, this post is probably getting long, sorry for that.

I have a Czech US9V copy in my very early SSD NS-5CR. When I received my Forte 5 I noticed that my NS-5CR had slightly damped highs in comparison. It was no issue before as I simply boosted the highs at the amp. But now it's slightly difficult to switch between the two basses.

I examined the electronics in the NS-5CR and found out that the bass sounded better and had more treble when I bypassed the 9V circuit!
preamp.jpg


Unfortunately the original Czech manufacturer can't be reached. As I have some experience in electrical engineering I started to examine the preamp by myself. I made a simulation in LTSpice and found out that the highs are indeed very damped.
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Additionally I compared the simulation to a real life measurement done with professional audio measuring equipment. The measurement results are about the same as in the simulation.
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I found out that if I bridge one resistor I get a flat frequency response, both in the simulation and when applied to the circuit!
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Problem: I put it back into the bass and it still sounds dull. :eyebrow:

Original preamp:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Passive / without preamp:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Modified preamp:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I somehow do not want to change the preamp as it is a copy of THE Spector preamp and it's supposed to sound good, but currently I'm quite disappointed.

Does anybody have a frequency response or circuit diagram for the US9V preamp? Confidentiality guaranteed, of course.

Greetings from Germany,

Jonas
 
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#435
seventhframe said:
Not sure if it's the matte finish. My Spalt NS-2 is matte as well. Who knows...could be a bunch of things. No inlays (more wood on the fingerboard = more mass)? I don't know.
Click to expand...

That's been a theory of mine too (solid Pau board). That and the beefy necks. My Forte also has something else going on with the tone. It is ridiculously ballsy and makes me crumble every time I plug it in to the big rig. That's why I will NEVER sell it. It's my boo.
 
#437
I somehow do not want to change the preamp as it is a copy of THE Spector preamp and it's supposed to sound good, but currently I'm quite disappointed.

Does anybody have a frequency response or circuit diagram for the US9V preamp? Confidentiality guaranteed, of course.

Greetings from Germany,

Jonas

Almost sounds like you have a loss along the treble path, might be the pot.

Try to email PJ at [email protected] to see if he can send you the circuit diagram.
 
#440
Well, my NS4 officially got the switch from gold to black hardware yesterday. Played it at practice and have a reunion gig tonight I'll be playing it at! Thanks to Husky123 for the inspiration. I'm not much of a gold hardware guy and once I saw his with the black, I knew it needed the change.

Before:

spector_mesa.gif


After:

buckeye_black_web_zpsa5a52289.jpg


Yes, I need to pick up some straplock buttons today. :D

Anyone looking to buy a gold US bridge or tuners?
 
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