SPECTOR® Club - Part 64

[Clearwave]

Have you guys seen the insane bidding war that's happening on eBay over a stock NS-2A?

3 days left, over 30 bids and now at $1625!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-80s...E-/130950531383?pt=Guitar&hash=item1e7d428937

I think I know what part of the "value" of this bass is.

That's an original USA Spector 9v circuit in this bass. NOT the Kramer/Korean copy. You can look at the tracings on the board and the types of pots used.

My best guess is someone knows that's an original USA Kramer-Era circuit and they're bidding on it. Not necessarily the bass.

Kramer Era USA 9v circuits are hard to come by. And they really are in many people's opinion, the best version of the USA circuit.

Not sure about that preamp. The pots are the same as my kramer era USA 9v, but the circuit board is the same as my Korean 9v copy.

I think I know why bidding is so high, it doesn't say "Korean made" anywhere in the listing. Those guys think they are bidding on a USA made "vintage" bass.

 

[Rebopmass]

"So Beautiful, So Dangerous" For sure... "Go for broke"

Big Heavy Metal fan.

Im seriously leaning towards that one. Must be all the plutonium nyborg man. Lmao

 

[sumgruuvz]

i feel sorry for the poor sap who tries to resell it. lmao!! HUGE loss!!

 

[Rebopmass]

i feel sorry for the poor sap who tries to resell it. lmao!! HUGE loss!!

Whats makes it harder to fathom is I have seen a few priced around 1k and none got a sniff. The seller may have some interesting feedback after this or he is having freinds drive it up lol. Itll be interesting to see how this plays out. I was all in at 475 lol. Ill stick with my white euro im finally getting next week. And its way way cheaper than that one.

 

[armybass]

Hope your experience is much better this time. That is the issue I see with some of the NS2A's often, and even with the Korean HAZ it can be hit or miss. Where in VA are you? We have several members including myself in VA that you might be able to get togther with and try the different models.

I am in the Richmond area. Thanks for the info. I love the tone of Spector basses. Really looking forward to this bass. I would love to find a good PJ Spector too.

 

[sumgruuvz]

Whats makes it harder to fathom is I have seen a few priced around 1k and none got a sniff. The seller may have some interesting feedback after this or he is having freinds drive it up lol. Itll be interesting to see how this plays out. I was all in at 475 lol. Ill stick with my white euro im finally getting next week. And its way way cheaper than that one.

right on. id get a euro before an ns2a. i have one similar with the ns94. i dont id gain any of the extra goodies a euro would offer. cant wait to see your new bass

 

[Fat240]

Yeah. They're an authorized Spector dealer.

The only thing I can figure is because this is a new model, the initial shipment will be just a few basses. Meaning not every dealer will get more than one or at best two. So in the beginning "Very very limited" is probably accurate.

That is probably what he means, and usually it is another wait after the first run if it is a popular model.

I am in the Richmond area. Thanks for the info. I love the tone of Spector basses. Really looking forward to this bass. I would love to find a good PJ Spector too.

Brotherbassj is local to you and Seth at GC can hook you up also.

 

[cableguy]

So last night at my friends studio we were both playing through each others gear (he just picked up a Lull MV4) and I had a chance to run my NS2A through his Mesa M6 into my fEARful 12/6. Holy Cr*p! It totally blew my mind. It was set pretty flat except I think the deep bass was engaged. Then I hit my BDDI which I have set for some serious tube grind and it was totally sick. The tone was kind of like Tool Sober. I was planning on going with a GK 1001RB-II but now I'm leaning Mesa. I know a lot of you guys have played both. What were you're thoughts on the two? At this point I don't think I'll be able to demo both together.

 

[bunkaroo]

So last night at my friends studio we were both playing through each others gear (he just picked up a Lull MV4) and I had a chance to run my NS2A through his Mesa M6 into my fEARful 12/6. Holy Cr*p! It totally blew my mind. It was set pretty flat except I think the deep bass was engaged. Then I hit my BDDI which I have set for some serious tube grind and it was totally sick. The tone was kind of like Tool Sober. I was planning on going with a GK 1001RB-II but now I'm leaning Mesa. I know a lot of you guys have played both. What were you're thoughts on the two? At this point I don't think I'll be able to demo both together.

I was going to go for the Carbine as well, but frankly the reports of reliability problems kept me away from the M6 or M9. I would recommend doing some extensive searching on it both here and elsewhere before you make a decision.

That said, I went with the 1001RBii and I am very happy with it. Tons of power and the tone is great on its own. Coupled with the B3K pedal it's been everything I hoped it would be.

 

[Rod Harder]

I've used the M6 and M9 live, I really liked the voicing and simpler EQ compared to the Mpulse 360 and 600. I used them with both a Hartke Hydrive 410 and a mesa ph212 and really loved the grit and character of both amps. I can't speak to the GK but I had great luck with both the M6 & M9, at higher volumes the M6 had great grit and tubey growl without anything in front of it too.
** I didn't have any issues with these amps and didn't see any of them come in for repair at my shop (we were a mesa dealer) in my time there. I had more issues with the 400+ than the carbine series as far as warranty service.

 

[Fat240]

So last night at my friends studio we were both playing through each others gear (he just picked up a Lull MV4) and I had a chance to run my NS2A through his Mesa M6 into my fEARful 12/6. Holy Cr*p! It totally blew my mind. It was set pretty flat except I think the deep bass was engaged. Then I hit my BDDI which I have set for some serious tube grind and it was totally sick. The tone was kind of like Tool Sober. I was planning on going with a GK 1001RB-II but now I'm leaning Mesa. I know a lot of you guys have played both. What were you're thoughts on the two? At this point I don't think I'll be able to demo both together.

For bottom end and tight mids, I prefer the Mesa. That fEARful I'm sure tightend the tone up also. Do you know what drivers it was loaded with? I had a GK 1001RB before I switched to Mesa and the Mesa to me had more bottom and organic tone. I liked the GK but it was like running Dual DC's very clean and sterile. Both good just depended on the type of music your doing.

 

[worshiprocker]

I am going to try the Spector thingy again. I got a cool old NS2A? cheaper version last summer but it had been bungled up in the preamp and I never could get it fixed. BUt I am getting a Korean made NS 20004 tomorrow. I see folks really going over the deep end and going Spector crazy....I truly feel that I could easily go that route too....hoping tomorrow is a better experience than my last time around.

I have a lot of love for NS2As

Pretty clean looking NS-2B just went up on eBay - reasonable starting price too:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spector-NS-Bass-Guitar-/130952500449?pt=Guitar&hash=item1e7d6094e1

That is a cool bass

So last night at my friends studio we were both playing through each others gear (he just picked up a Lull MV4) and I had a chance to run my NS2A through his Mesa M6 into my fEARful 12/6. Holy Cr*p! It totally blew my mind. It was set pretty flat except I think the deep bass was engaged. Then I hit my BDDI which I have set for some serious tube grind and it was totally sick. The tone was kind of like Tool Sober. I was planning on going with a GK 1001RB-II but now I'm leaning Mesa. I know a lot of you guys have played both. What were you're thoughts on the two? At this point I don't think I'll be able to demo both together.

I have never been a fan of the m6/9 amps That being said I own and gig a 1001rb-ii and LOVE it. I've tried a few different amps and keep coming back to it. And Justin from tool plays the 2001RB.. just saying lol

 

[Fat240]

I was going to go for the Carbine as well, but frankly the reports of reliability problems kept me away from the M6 or M9. I would recommend doing some extensive searching on it both here and elsewhere before you make a decision.

That said, I went with the 1001RBii and I am very happy with it. Tons of power and the tone is great on its own. Coupled with the B3K pedal it's been everything I hoped it would be.

For the type of music you guys do, I think the GK was the right amp. When the bass is busy and needs to be clear and precise.

 

[husky123]

Honestly the Mesa M6/9 and GK 700/1001 are very similarly voiced. Big, wide bottom end with crazy bright upper mid/treble extension.

 

[bunkaroo]

For the type of music you guys do, I think the GK was the right amp. When the bass is busy and needs to be clear and precise.

Yeah it seems to cut well. Still want to try the Carbine some day though.

 

[cableguy]

For bottom end and tight mids, I prefer the Mesa. That fEARful I'm sure tightend the tone up also. Do you know what drivers it was loaded with? I had a GK 1001RB before I switched to Mesa and the Mesa to me had more bottom and organic tone. I liked the GK but it was like running Dual DC's very clean and sterile. Both good just depended on the type of music your doing.

My 12/6 has the 3012LF and 18 sound mid.

 

[cableguy]

Thanks for the info guys. I will try to go play a GK soon. I had one a few years ago and really did like it. But that Mesa still calls to me.........

 

[superdick2112]

I've noticed the most popular amps in the Spector Club tend to be Ampeg, GK and Mesa - all great brands.
Just curious - am I the only Phil Jones amp user here in the Club?

 

[eukatheude]

Hi there. I have a Euro 5 and I want to swap out its bridge with a lower mass one. Do you guys have suggestions on retrofits? Experiences? Thanks

 

[LimaGuy]

I think I know what part of the "value" of this bass is.

That's an original USA Spector 9v circuit in this bass. NOT the Kramer/Korean copy. You can look at the tracings on the board and the types of pots used.

My best guess is someone knows that's an original USA Kramer-Era circuit and they're bidding on it. Not necessarily the bass.

Kramer Era USA 9v circuits are hard to come by. And they really are in many people's opinion, the best version of the USA circuit.

Sam seems to think that the circuit is actually a modified NS-2A circuit... Which again... who knows? It does make sense that if you were dropping in a USA circuit you'd drop in active pups.

But Kramer did some crazy stuff in the end days of their being. And USA circuits in a Korean model isn't unheard of.

I do agree, regardless of whatever is in this puppy, $1600 is way too much.

Unless the people doing the bidding war are confused regarding if it's an NS-2... If they thought they were getting a White Kramer NS-2, $1600 is a steal.

Or it could be a case of two people who really, really, really want a white Spector. LOL.

Not sure about that preamp. The pots are the same as my kramer era USA 9v, but the circuit board is the same as my Korean 9v copy.

I think I know why bidding is so high, it doesn't say "Korean made" anywhere in the listing. Those guys think they are bidding on a USA made "vintage" bass.

Clearwave,
Looking at the photo of your circuit on your prototype NS-2A. The Circuit in your bass has pots more like a Brooklyn Era 9V USA Circuit.

As of this morning, it is up to $2,015.00

Looks like the seller did add the photos of the circuit after the initial post, so someone thinks it's a USA made "vintage" Spector.

Looking at the circuit again, I am 99.9% sure its a modified Korean board.

The seller seems to be a pawnshop.

My guess, they got a "hot interested" buyer and they have a buddy jacking the price up to get as much as possible out of the interested buyer.

The same seller also has a NS-2JAR for sale

Which has some severe cracking in the finish especially on the back. He claims "this is common for this model."

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spector-NS-...E-/130950596443?pt=Guitar&hash=item1e7d43875b

We have seen some Euros with this just near the control cover but its not common at all for around the whole body.

My prediction.
Expect the NS-2A re-listed again in about 5-7 days after the auction ends.