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SPECTOR® Club - Part 60

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#442
AdamR said:
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.
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I'll be trying out mine tonight at rehearsal. Mostly AIC & STP type stuff for this bass. Funny you said how fat the neck is. I'm coming from a Euro5 and am digging how thin the neck is. (Can't imagine what a DW NS-2 would be like, but I'm willing to try :D) It's all relative. I put DR Hi-Beams (.45-.105 & 440 tune) on mine. They're my "go to" strings. Looking forward to tweaking the B3K a bit and diving into Man In The Box and Plush! :bassist:
c8109864-7cee-4516-bf46-5f03d3e60635_zpsf46e6e21.jpg
 
#443
brotherbassj said:
Jim

I will save you some money......seriously.......go straight to a Euro unless you have a spare $2500-2800 to go straight to a USED NS-2. I say this as alot of longer term members will tell you that you can save yourself alot of money and time and go right for the big gun.

I have had Euro models that I put Spector (haz lab contracted, some old school know it as HAZ, but we try to maintain the usa9volt circuit) 9volt pre in a a humbucker model I put the usa 18 volt Spector pre in. That might get you 95% there and save you some money.......however ......purists will tell you to go straight for the NS-2 if you can.

Lee (Husky123), Sam (Limaguy) JPSbassist, Worshiprocker, Jeffplaysbass, Bunkaroo....just to name a few.....many others can help you out. There is a wealth of knowledge within the club..........feel free to ask alot of questions..........there are also multiple websites that will give you descriptions of construction and youtube video's of tone.

There is soooooooooooooooooo much you can learn and find out out the Spector world! Good luck and welcome aboard (potentially)

:D

warning.......this can get addictive.....
warning #2.....you actually might prefer the Euro necks(coming from fender profiles), as the US model necks can and are apparently a little chunkier, except for maybe the early Brooklyn and Kramer era years......
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from J.Kernodle
"yes, well said.

here's how I basically look at the used market on spectors. this is if you want the classic NS2 or Ns4 sound. so I'm leaving out bolt ons and extended range basses. each of these will get you the Sound to varying degrees of authenticity. once you get to an NS2 the extra money gets you fancier finishes and inlays and Woodstock made basses. I prefer the necks on the Kramer and Brooklyn basses but the quality of the new Woodstock stuff is the best ever.

if your budget is sub 500: old NS2a. you get solid maple construction, neck through, most of em have been upgraded to active EMGs. if its got EMGs, it will have the sound.

700-1100: used euro, euro lx, or NSCR. the preamp makes a difference. if you get one with a tonepump, ask if it has a trim pot. the non trim tone pump is, in my opinion, a defective design.

over 1500: used forte or NS2O or SSD era NS4. these are all American made spectors and a big step up.

over 2000: used NS2 Kramer or possibly brooklyn era.

over 2500: used Brooklyn, used Woodstock NS4

over 2800: used Woodstock NS2."

Thanks to you both as your posts are extremely helpful; I'm headed to pickup 4 basses that were on consignment that will get sold in the classifieds (70's Fenders, older MM, and an 80's ESP)

3 more questions:
* What about weight; I am looking for 8 - 9 lbs, tops
Does it depend on that particular bass or are American or European consistently heavier?
* I'm very used to 1 5/8" round back 70's necks or my 1 3/4" flat back 1960 neck; does this still sound like the Europe necks are closer? Chances are I will buy a used bass here and won't be able to try first.
* Any description of the P/J tone vs. Soap Bars?
I have J basses but prefer the fuller/thicker P type tone these days; never have had a soap bar bass.

Thanks in advance
 
#444
Thanks to you both as your posts are extremely helpful; I'm headed to pickup 4 basses that were on consignment that will get sold in the classifieds (70's Fenders, older MM, and an 80's ESP)

3 more questions:
* What about weight; I am looking for 8 - 9 lbs, tops
Does it depend on that particular bass or are American or European consistently heavier?
* I'm very used to 1 5/8" round back 70's necks or my 1 3/4" flat back 1960 neck; does this still sound like the Europe necks are closer? Chances are I will buy a used bass here and won't be able to try first.
* Any description of the P/J tone vs. Soap Bars?
I have J basses but prefer the fuller/thicker P type tone these days; never have had a soap bar bass.

Thanks in advance[/QUOTE]


Hi-
I have two euro bolt ons, and a Legend P/J. One is about 8lbs, the others a little heavier, maybe 9. I understand that as a general rule the neck through are heavier. ( lots of people here will have direct knowledge of that).

I come from fender land, and the bolt on euro necks are difinitely more
P thanJ. They feel faster, and better to my hand though, than any fender neck I ever had.

With my basses the soap bars are smoother and less aggressive than the single coils. I have H/H, J/J, and P/J. However the neat thing about the soap bars, is that you can get P and J configurations that fit the routes, so there's lots of possibilities! :bassist:

Steve
 
#445
Jim C said:
3 more questions:
* What about weight; I am looking for 8 - 9 lbs, tops
Does it depend on that particular bass or are American or European consistently heavier?
* I'm very used to 1 5/8" round back 70's necks or my 1 3/4" flat back 1960 neck; does this still sound like the Europe necks are closer? Chances are I will buy a used bass here and won't be able to try first.
* Any description of the P/J tone vs. Soap Bars?
I have J basses but prefer the fuller/thicker P type tone these days; never have had a soap bar bass.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I might suggest not putting too many qualifications on the bass you're looking for. Especially if you're buying used. IMHO Weight can be mitigated by a good strap. I wouldn't let weight be a deciding factor in choice unless it's just stupid heavy. I don't think you'll find any Spector to be too heavy. That said, yes, neck through basses can be heavier but the wood used will also be a factor. After 40+ years of playing bass I can tell you that (IME) any quality bass (in this case Euro or USA) will be one that you can adapt to and be very happy to play. I don't think I've seen a P-pup only Spector. P/J and J/J. I've been using EMG soap bars for 24 years (they're on my Euro) and like them. I bought my first P/J Spector last week and like that tone too. But the pups are only one factor in tone.

Sounds to me from what you've said, that if you're looking for a four banger then the Euro4LX-Classic would be your best bet. But the tone pump pre won't be anything like a Fender. Changing to an Aggie or EMG pre may be in order but that would be your call.

Just my 2 cents on this. :D There're others here in this club that know a hell of alot more than me and some have already chimed in. I just wanted to talk about going into this with too many rules about the features of your next bass. Any Euro or USA (even Legend) will be a damn good bass.
 
#448
#450
regarding the weight of Spectors...

My Euro 5LX weighed in between 9.5 and 10 lbs, My Forte 4 was 9lbs and my US BO Fretless 5 is 8.5lbs. Bass Central usually puts the weight of each bass in the description so that might give you a good idea as to what works best for you.

I try to keep my basses under the 10lbs mark if at all possible...it's just a personal preference.
 
#451
NOLA Bass said:
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.


Anyone looking to buy a gold US bridge or tuners?
Click to expand...

Nice! I like the black hardware. I was toying with the idea of changing my Spalt NS-2 to gold hardware.... :D
 
#452
NOLA Bass said:
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?
Click to expand...

I would be interested in the tuners I have a couple worn ones. I'll PM you.
 
#453
NOLA Bass said:
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.

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?
Click to expand...

Oh yeah... That works. :D
 
#456
NOLA Bass said:
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

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

Anyone looking to buy a gold US bridge or tuners?
Click to expand...

Looks great Nola.
 
#458
Has anyone else tried these strings on their Spector?

Dunlop-heavy-core-bass-strings.jpg


I just put a set of the .55-.115 on my NS-4 and tuned it to D G C F and man, I really like these so far. Normally, I would be abit worried about the neck moving but since this neck on the NS-4 is like a telephone pole, I don't think I need to worry about it. Plus, even though these are tuned down a full step, the tension on them is still really good so I am really impressed so far.
 
#459
well, rehearsal went decent today (my playing). but the ns-94 with the trimpump sounded fantastic. just a little grit to it and BAM!! smokin spector tone. and eddie jackson probably had something to do with it as i listened to "the thin line" before rehearsal ;)
 
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