SPECTOR® Club - Part 63

[Torn Bassist]

SWEEEEET! I've always loved the Anniversary Spectors!!! ...I also love the fact that Todd is willing to bring them out for others to enjoy!! ...I'd probably have them under lock and key in a climate controlled glass case!

Congrats on your new bass as well! Who doesn't love that new Spector smell!!

This is one of the reasons I am afraid of making a trip to Tulsa...Todd would lull me into a Spector-fueled haze and then I'd end up leaving with a hefty credit card bill!

#676 sold itself and is a beautiful NS2!

He started me off with the Coda then moved to the Wimbish, next was the 20th (SSD model) and all I could do was just hold it at first until he told me to play it then came the twin J 30th and I think after playing the first few basses he might have been more comfortable with me as a player...but...I still could have fainted! lol

The Black Cherry and my Ultra Violet came to the sound room to compare which made me want the new bass, he did not expect the purchase because I talked with him about testing for a possible build.

 

[dukeisdog]

here's a cover we did of stinkfist last saturday. the audio is not great but you get the jest of it. and the singer forgot the words. lol.

Sounds good! Looks like your cabs bigger then a Neo 410 though (your signature). What cab are you running?

 

[Torn Bassist]

I just couldn't dig it, my hand arm just wasnt sliding on the finish like I'm used to and I only picked it up an hour before the show so I didn't really have any time to mess with it. I ran the EQ relatively flat with my Sansamp doing most of the work and it sounded great all night.

Torn -
I'm actually in the works of ordering a USA 5 from Todd actually, just waiting for the right time to drop the cash. I was planning on the unfinished neck but I'm kinda second guessing it now considering I didn't really like the Ibanez. Can anyone comment on the USA B.O necks? I'll have to talk to him about the jack, too. I'm hoping I can take care of it myself, but I cant seem to figure out a way to disassemble the input jack at all, and theres no access to it from the electronics cavity it seems.

The Coda neck felt great and I liked the front to back feel, I have long fingers and get cramped on a 1.5" after playing 40 songs so I tend to stay away from them and I'll probably sell my 03 Fender Jazz because of this however the Coda felt natural and I think it might have been the thickness I noticed....hope this helps!

 

[sumgruuvz]

Sounds good! Looks like your cabs bigger then a Neo 410 though (your signature). What cab are you running?

thanks. the cab was the other bassists cab and head. we just stacked our stuff since all we had was that little corner to play in. well i did anyway. 6 people in a band makes a small stage. and one that's small gets smaller. but thank you. those mids are super punchy on that bass you can kind of tell after the build up. but all in all, i wish i had spent just a little more time dialing my tone. maybe next time.

 

[PhatBasstard]

I've worn most of those "others" and I'm glad Spector doesn't follow them like a lemming because that's what Leo did. Every bass I've ever tried had some sort of a balance issue. FOR ME, Spector is the only one that got it right. Guess I just got lucky.

I'm not trying to say NOT to mod your bass. Heck, do what you need to do, but if it ain't broke...

Yes. To thyne own self be true.
But I know I'm definately not the only one that feels this way.
I've seen others besides me have done this (our subject bass being another obvious example) with Spectors.
In fact, what got me to do this in the first place was the second Spector I ever bought.
The previous owner had done it and it fit and balanced much better than the stock, off-set position of my other one.
I modded the other one and "Wow", same result. I didn't do it for looks (Why?).

Over twenty years ago, the reason I was given (from a reputable Spector dealer that suposedly was told this by Spector)
for the off-set (and I have personally experienced this myself) was nothing so prophetic as "perfect balance":
It was that, due to the NS's slim body, it rides too low in some guitar stands, where the peg, if directly dead center,
will make contact with the floor, not allowing the weight of the bass to fully rest securely in the guitar stand, thus being unstable.
This doesn't seem to be an issue any longer with most of today's higher physical profile stands.

Sorry to burst the bubble.

And I never did like Fenders.....

It simply makes the bass hug you and feel a part of you a little more.
A side benefit (that I didn't expect) was that it also alleviated much of the neck dive issue I was getting on one of my previous Spector 6's and a Rebop 5.

It's nice that it works for you. But don't knock it until you've tried it (with an already modded NS of course).
You can't proclaim "perfection" until you've "Come to the darkside young Firewalker", for a sampling ("others" don't count).

Don't get me wrong, the NS is still my fave bass.
I just don't get caught up in the mysticism or myth of "perfection".

 

[sumgruuvz]

https://www.facebook.com/8ballsandabox/posts/10151599475479961?notif_t=like
here is stone by a.i.c. from last saturday.

 

[iceboxbass]

I met Todd Cooke at the Guitar House yesterday and he has a very nice store, the kindness Todd has made the 3 and a half hours we spent together feel like a couple of old friends catching up on things. He had his Wimbish, Coda, 20th, and 30th basses there for me to play with....and....I was nervous touching all of them especially when he told me that I have played the 30th the longest it had ever been played!!!!

Oh, I added to my collection because he had a very nice Black Cherry NS2 in the store with a wonderful Pau Ferro neck.

That's awesome! Congratulations on you new NS-2! She's a beauty!

 

[NOLA Bass]

I met Todd Cooke at the Guitar House yesterday and he has a very nice store, the kindness Todd has made the 3 and a half hours we spent together feel like a couple of old friends catching up on things. He had his Wimbish, Coda, 20th, and 30th basses there for me to play with....and....I was nervous touching all of them especially when he told me that I have played the 30th the longest it had ever been played!!!!

Oh, I added to my collection because he had a very nice Black Cherry NS2 in the store with a wonderful Pau Ferro neck.

Very cool and a beautiful NS2!

 

[husky123]

Oh don't worry oh great Sensai I'm not caught up in a web of mysticism. There's things I'd change but that's not one of them. I don't know about that "story" you have either...maybe someone else will chime in.

I've always be a "solve for 80%" solution type of guy. You can't please all so by all means drill yours out and fill the void with a wood screw my man. My guess though is you're in the 20%.

Yes. To thyne own self be true.
But I know I'm definately not the only one that feels this way.
I've seen others besides me have done this (our subject bass being another obvious example) with Spectors.
In fact, what got me to do this in the first place was the second Spector I ever bought.
The previous owner had done it and it fit and balanced much better than the stock, off-set position of my other one.
I modded the other one and "Wow", same result. I didn't do it for looks (Why?).

Over twenty years ago, the reason I was given (from a reputable Spector dealer that suposedly was told this by Spector)
for the off-set (and I have personally experienced this myself) was nothing so prophetic as "perfect balance":
It was that, due to the NS's slim body, it rides too low in some guitar stands, where the peg, if directly dead center,
will make contact with the floor, not allowing the weight of the bass to fully rest securely in the guitar stand, thus being unstable.
This doesn't seem to be an issue any longer with most of today's higher physical profile stands.

Sorry to burst the bubble.

And I never did like Fenders.....

It simply makes the bass hug you and feel a part of you a little more.
A side benefit (that I didn't expect) was that it also alleviated much of the neck dive issue I was getting on one of my previous Spector 6's and a Rebop 5.

It's nice that it works for you. But don't knock it until you've tried it (with an already modded NS of course).
You can't proclaim "perfection" until you've "Come to the darkside young Firewalker", for a sampling ("others" don't count).

Don't get me wrong, the NS is still my fave bass.
I just don't get caught up in the mysticism or myth of "perfection".

 

[Torn Bassist]

That's awesome! Congratulations on you new NS-2! She's a beauty!

Very cool and a beautiful NS2!

Thank You both very much!

 

[LimaGuy]

I've worn most of those "others" and I'm glad Spector doesn't follow them like a lemming because that's what Leo did. Every bass I've ever tried had some sort of a balance issue. FOR ME, Spector is the only one that got it right. Guess I just got lucky.

I'm not trying to say NOT to mod your bass. Heck, do what you need to do, but if it ain't broke...

Yes. To thyne own self be true.
But I know I'm definately not the only one that feels this way.
I've seen others besides me have done this (our subject bass being another obvious example) with Spectors.
In fact, what got me to do this in the first place was the second Spector I ever bought.
The previous owner had done it and it fit and balanced much better than the stock, off-set position of my other one.
I modded the other one and "Wow", same result. I didn't do it for looks (Why?).

Over twenty years ago, the reason I was given (from a reputable Spector dealer that suposedly was told this by Spector)
for the off-set (and I have personally experienced this myself) was nothing so prophetic as "perfect balance":
It was that, due to the NS's slim body, it rides too low in some guitar stands, where the peg, if directly dead center,
will make contact with the floor, not allowing the weight of the bass to fully rest securely in the guitar stand, thus being unstable.
This doesn't seem to be an issue any longer with most of today's higher physical profile stands.

Sorry to burst the bubble.

And I never did like Fenders.....

It simply makes the bass hug you and feel a part of you a little more.
A side benefit (that I didn't expect) was that it also alleviated much of the neck dive issue I was getting on one of my previous Spector 6's and a Rebop 5.

It's nice that it works for you. But don't knock it until you've tried it (with an already modded NS of course).
You can't proclaim "perfection" until you've "Come to the darkside young Firewalker", for a sampling ("others" don't count).

Don't get me wrong, the NS is still my fave bass.
I just don't get caught up in the mysticism or myth of "perfection".

Oh don't worry oh great Sensai I'm not caught up in a web of mysticism. There's things I'd change but that's not one of them. I don't know about that "story" you have either...maybe someone else will chime in.

I've always be a "solve for 80%" solution type of guy. You can't please all so by all means drill yours out and fill the void with a wood screw my man. My guess though is you're in the 20%.

I have personally asked PJ this question before. Why is the lower strap holder off center on the NS body and his response was:

"It was placed off center to better balance the bass for because of the smaller NS body"

 

[Fat240]

Oh don't worry oh great Sensai I'm not caught up in a web of mysticism. There's things I'd change but that's not one of them. I don't know about that "story" you have either...maybe someone else will chime in.

I've always be a "solve for 80%" solution type of guy. You can't please all so by all means drill yours out and fill the void with a wood screw my man. My guess though is you're in the 20%.

I would not change mine either, but I have used wooden dowel rods to fix striped screw holes. If I was to mess up, I mean mod my strap holes a oak dowel cut flush would look much nicer than a wood screw.

 

[jnumme]

Schallers or dunlops ?

 

[GHOST AT]

#676 sold itself and is a beautiful NS2!

He started me off with the Coda then moved to the Wimbish, next was the 20th (SSD model) and all I could do was just hold it at first until he told me to play it then came the twin J 30th and I think after playing the first few basses he might have been more comfortable with me as a player...but...I still could have fainted! lol

The Black Cherry and my Ultra Violet came to the sound room to compare which made me want the new bass, he did not expect the purchase because I talked with him about testing for a possible build.

Congrats on the new NS-2! Todd is the perfect pusher,give a sample ,and and let the product sell itself

 

[husky123]

Yes congrats Torn. You are killing it these days!

 

[PhatBasstard]

Oh don't worry oh great Sensai I'm not caught up in a web of mysticism. There's things I'd change but that's not one of them. I don't know about that "story" you have either...maybe someone else will chime in.

I've always be a "solve for 80%" solution type of guy. You can't please all so by all means drill yours out and fill the void with a wood screw my man. My guess though is you're in the 20%.

Sensai?! Not quite.
But the fact I've played these basses (almost exclusively) longer than many on this board have even been alive is not something I'm going to hide or apologize for. It is what it is.

The dealer in my "story" was Knut Koupee in Minneapolis.
One of the first Spector dealers.
No, I cannot confirm what I was told, but it seems I heard it in more that one place and made perfect sense as it had been the only drawback (for me) to having the strap peg dead center.

I saw my first NS2 in there in '83 or '84. Would have bought one immediately, but I was in love with one of Ned's other creations, the Steinberger L2. My first Spector came a year or two later even though the BadAss bridge was nearly a deal breaker (gotta' have quick release).
A Kramer era came about a year after that that had the bottom peg moved.

Why what I said was a problem for you in the first place is still a mystery.
I didn't tell anyone to start drilling holes.
I simply tried to let someone know that their bass was OK and hopefully feel better about it.
That this was not something that unusual.
And since his Euro was nearly the same color as my Forte, the black flush head screw was a somewhat easy "patch" if the natural wood showing through the hole was bothering him.

I'll make sure I clear it next time.

I have personally asked PJ this question before. Why is the lower strap holder off center on the NS body and his response was:

"It was placed off center to better balance the bass for because of the smaller NS body"

FWIW,
PJ was probably a kid back when this issue first reared it's head.
There was no PJ Rubal involved with Spector back then to my knowledge.

Given that, his answer sure would be the PC, commercially correct one at this point now, wouldn't it.

Center of gravity (for balance) is center of gravity, regardless of body width.

What works for you works for you. No problem here.

 

[JPSBassist]

Yes. To thyne own self be true.

YES! IF you are a working bassist (session, touring, whatever) and you use your bass to make income to pay your bills... then your bass is a tool. You need it to do your job.

And you need it to work for you the way you are most comfortable.

Sting put duct tape on the knobs so they'd not move. He had his tech Danny duct tape a big slab of foam between the bridge and J pup to mute the strings.

You do what you have to do to make it work. If you need to move the position of the strap button, and that's the difference between your Spector being almost right and just right... grab the drill and tap that sucker.

Yes I think they are beautiful and all of that. But they were built to be played. So play them. And that means mod them if you need.

That's part of what makes it YOUR bass. Because you've modified it to meet YOUR needs.

I just don't get caught up in the mysticism or myth of "perfection".

Good. Neither does Stuart. Truly, having been to Saugerties and having worked with them closely going on 4 years now, I have to say that if anything the process by which changes happen and things are decided are "organic"... they are born more from necessity than from some ideal of perfection.

Stuart wants to make the BEST basses and guitars he can. But he has no delusional thoughts that he can make "Perfect" basses or "The Best" (meaning better than every other luthier in the world). That's not who he is or how he thinks.

I can tell you how the strap button on the original NS-Bass - the first production model ever completed worked... it didn't. At all. So it was moved. LOL.

There's an enormous amount of trial and error. Of trying this and that to see if it is a BETTER solution.

I can tell you that Stuart's attitude towards moving the strap button would be, "Do whatever makes you happy."

Hardly the attitude of some guy who wants to create a mythology around what he'd done.

Actually, I'm the myth builder... the chronicler of the Spector tale. And I'd rather tell it from the standpoint of fact, truth and reality than spin some great myth and go around stating my opinions (which are easily debunked and at times laughably ridiculous) as fact. "No body is doing this better..." blah blah. There are plenty of hacks (no need to mention any names) who want to be the mouthpieces for this or that company more than willing to spew that sort of nonsensical malarkey.

That's not me.

However... should a Spector "Cult" arise of its own volition, I'd be happy to become one of the mystical mythological figureheads... I mean why not?

 

[husky123]

FWIW,
PJ was probably a kid back when this issue first reared it's head.
There was no PJ Rubal involved with Spector back then to my knowledge.

Given that, his answer sure would be the PC, commercially correct one at this point now, wouldn't it.

Center of gravity (for balance) is center of gravity, regardless of body width.

What works for you works for you. No problem here.

No, I'm sure his answer is the actual reason....for balance. No problem here either. Have a great night!

 

[thisSNsucks]

FWIW, although not a fan of the Dunlops (Schallers forever! ), I have also moved the bottom strap anchor to the middle on every Spector I've ever owned, just like yours is now. I feel they balance much better in this location and have never been able to figure out why Spector off-sets it.

If the hole bothers you, get the appropriate sized, flush head wood screw and simply plug it. I used a black one on my recently acquired Forte 4 and, from a distance, you almost can't tell it's there.

Not to drag out this conversation, but my Brooklyn NS-2 came to me with the strap peg in the middle, one of the previous owners clearly moved it.

In my attempts to bring it back to how it was I moved it back to the stock position.

I immediately changed it back to the middle. Balance is spot on in both positions but I tend to hold my necks pretty horizontal so the middle position was more comfortable to me. I also thought the peg in the middle position brought the first fret closer to me as the bass sits a little more on my right side now.

Different strokes for different folks, but I really like the peg in the middle.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Congrats on the new NS-2! Todd is the perfect pusher,give a sample ,and and let the product sell itself

Todd must have recognized my addiction!

Yes congrats Torn. You are killing it these days!

Thank You Lee, both are wiped down and ready for bed! lol