SPECTOR® Club - Part 61

[grendle]

So I brought my Spector to band practice yesterday. Besides being the most comfortable 5 string bass I own, I finally got to hear how it sounded in a band setting. Long story short, I'm impressed.

I was actually thinking of selling or modding my NS-JH5 since I never really liked the solo sound. I thought it was kinda clicky with too much high mids and not enough low mids. While I haven't figured out a panacea for the low mids, I did realize that the increased high mids sound just lovely in the mix. Let's just say I know the definition of Spector Grind.

Now I just need to fix the preamp, and I may have a new #1!

Just dial in the low / low mids on your amp. That clicky high stuff is magic and growl in the mix cudos!

A bit of fret buzz doesn't translate to buzz out of the amp, just more growl, and it's quite musical.

 

[johnsonabq]

He he... That's another place the pump shines . The 9v doesn't handle the low B the best IMO. It farts a little and looses some depth on the B. doesn't sound like a 5er ns2 like you want. But the pump doesn't care, a p/j 40, and the pump at 18v is almost dead on a ns2 5er. Just drop the pickups down a hair I think that might by why the us 5ers come with the 18v pre.

Except for this one. It got a great write up in Bass Gear Mag...
Although I do admit the NS-5 I've got on order does have the 18v.

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[Jasonger]

Carlton Armstrong (Bassmanc) has the US9v in all his NS5XL basses.

 

[bunkaroo]

When my 5XL comes it will also be US9v with a 40P5 and 40J. I will be doing a lot of comparing of the B to the B on my 6XL with the DC's and 18v.

 

[dukeisdog]

When my 5XL comes it will also be US9v with a 40P5 and 40J. I will be doing a lot of comparing of the B to the B on my 6XL with the DC's and 18v.

I think thats gonna be a SWEET combo!

I really have to get around to ordering those pickups too. I've heard nothing but great things about them.

 

[johnsonabq]

When my 5XL comes it will also be US9v with a 40P5 and 40J. I will be doing a lot of comparing of the B to the B on my 6XL with the DC's and 18v.

Did you get the 35" or 34" scale?

 

[Jasonger]

When my 5XL comes it will also be US9v with a 40P5 and 40J. I will be doing a lot of comparing of the B to the B on my 6XL with the DC's and 18v.

That will be awesome! I have a NS5 bolt on on order with the US9v and P/J pups........

 

[iceboxbass]

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Awesome Patrick!

 

[gpx1200]

can all the tone pumps be run at 18V?
I have a 3-4yr old rebop5 with a tone pump w/trim pot and I want to up it to 18v, if I can?

 

[bunkaroo]

Did you get the 35" or 34" scale?

35". I think that's what the XL means. Probably explains why the new 34" scale is called just an NS-5.

 

[mexibass]

Hey guys! Still taking new members??

Here's my recently purchased Rebop 4 MM, you just don't know what I had to go thru to get my hands on this beauty (nothing illegal of course), I'll just say that it involved barely making it from a tornado, begging to a sour exgirlfriend to use her credit card, and arguing with a narrow minded flight attendant for an hour to bring it on a plane. But it's finally here! I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Spector family!

 

[cableguy]

He he... That's another place the pump shines . The 9v doesn't handle the low B the best IMO. It farts a little and looses some depth on the B. doesn't sound like a 5er ns2 like you want. But the pump doesn't care, a p/j 40, and the pump at 18v is almost dead on a ns2 5er. Just drop the pickups down a hair I think that might by why the us 5ers come with the 18v pre.

This is good to hear. I liked the TP in my NS2A but put in the MM114 that was in my Legend 5. I'm going to thrown the TP (at 18V) in my Legend 5 after I get done refinishing it. The bass also has active pups. Should sound great...

 

[johnsonabq]

35". I think that's what the XL means. Probably explains why the new 34" scale is called just an NS-5.

Uh duh!?! Sorry.

 

[bunkaroo]

Uh duh!?! Sorry.

Oh no don't take it like that. I was just kind of figuring that out for myself as I typed it.

 

[johnsonabq]

Oh no don't take it like that. I was just kind of figuring that out for myself as I typed it.

No worries Bunk. I said that because I DID already know it but had a brain fart. It's all good.

 

[cfsporn]

Just dial in the low / low mids on your amp. That clicky high stuff is magic and growl in the mix cudos!

A bit of fret buzz doesn't translate to buzz out of the amp, just more growl, and it's quite musical.

I'm planning to do that today at practice. Luckily the studio has a really nice Aguilar preamp that allows a lot of midrange control. I definitely enjoy the "Chainsaw in Tune" sound that I get by default though.

I doubt it is fret buzz. Even though it had brand new Rotosounds on it, I play with high action. I do dig in hard though…

 

[cjmodulus]

Hey guys! Still taking new members??

Here's my recently purchased Rebop 4 MM, you just don't know what I had to go thru to get my hands on this beauty (nothing illegal of course), I'll just say that it involved barely making it from a tornado, begging to a sour exgirlfriend to use her credit card, and arguing with a narrow minded flight attendant for an hour to bring it on a plane. But it's finally here! I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Spector family!

Nice bass man, welcome! Send a PM to tracebassplayer and he'll hook you up with a #. Feel free to stick around for the discussions too!

 

[cjmodulus]

Awesome Patrick!

+1, I had to save that Danny Trejo one. Lol so good!

 

[Fat240]

Hey guys! Still taking new members??

Here's my recently purchased Rebop 4 MM, you just don't know what I had to go thru to get my hands on this beauty (nothing illegal of course), I'll just say that it involved barely making it from a tornado, begging to a sour exgirlfriend to use her credit card, and arguing with a narrow minded flight attendant for an hour to bring it on a plane. But it's finally here! I couldn't be happier to be a part of the Spector family!

Nice! love the MM's with the BEM fretboard.

 

[PhatBasstard]

An interesting animal I found on the 'bay this morning...price isn't too shabby either!

That's an NS5CRFM. 34" scale 5. Awesome necks on those, different from the current ones I have played. Mine was a little thicker but totally hand shaped best 5 string neck I've ever played. Just melted in your hand. Killer B on those also. Better than some 35" basses out there. Don't see many of those. Cool color. Came with the EMG BT active tone control too ( at least mine did)

Actually, what we have there is a mid 1999 transition model.
It has dots yet has been branded with the (then) newly reacquired "Double S" logo.

The catch here is this is the time period where they also started puting the inlays on the Czechs and started making all 5 (US and Czech) and 6 (just US, no Czech 6's yet) string basses 35" scale.
A few "transition" basses got through so this bass could easily be 34" or 35" scale. If it matters to you, I would have the seller measure it and make sure he's just not assuming one or the other.