SPECTOR® Club - Part 64

[Rod Harder]

New Rex-Pro, along with my almost new euro. I really need to spend some time learning to take real pics, but this gives the gist... Had to move the strap button... Not trying to cause strife, but I figured the USA strap button position is "good enough" for me.

View attachment 353418

Love the gold hardware on the Rex! - Did you change out the bridge and tuners or did you buy it already done?
I've got a Rex 5 and the only thing I don't love about it is the strap button position. It just feels "off" when I switch between the NS2A and the 4X then to the Rex. I'll have to try moving it too.

 

[superdick2112]

After reading this I went back into my bedroom and broke out my Modulus Quantum 5 which I bought back in 1994 and played a lot for the next 11 years. It has an ebony fingerboard. I hate to admit but I've conditioned it only once or twice and I've lived in Albuquerque the whole time. I've also subjected it to a lot of "Kean & Shine" to clean the strings and neck.

I just broke out my SureFire LED flashlight and inspected the fingerboard "up close and personal" and other than the expected wear it's flawless. Not a single crack. Is what you are referring to a Spector ebony thing?

I learned this the hard way. I had a B.C. Rich Handmade Mockingbird semi-hollow 7-string with an ebony board, and it cracked due to my failure to properly oil & maintain it. It's dry as hell here in Colorado, so now I service all my boards every two months, I keep Herco clay humidifiers in all of my instrument cases, and I keep all my instruments in their cases when not playing them.

 

[rstellar13]

Hey not sure if I can do this but here we go, trying to sell my Legend six with gold hardware, link in my sig or if you guys can give any advice on price or something i could do to send it to a better home thanks

 

[JPSBassist]

I must have gotten lucky with my 20 year old Carvins, both of which have ebony boards. I never really did anything with them, and they've go not cracks. It's pretty humid here in the warmer months but it can get dry in the winter.

The Webster does have a very slight crack in the fretboard but it has not gotten worse the whole time I have had it.

How often would you do the Behlen application to a pau ferro to darken it up? Thinking about doing it with the 6XL.

Typically few places on the East Coast dip below 50% humidity at any time... and 50% is ideal for maintaining guitars.

----------------------

The Behlen Fingerboard Oil...
I've done 3 different applications since getting the bass last November.
You want to use this stuff in a WELL ventilated area. You open the bottle and the chemical smell hits you and you know you're dealing with a finishing product. It's not the relatively benign stuff that the Formula 65 is. You need to wear gloves and do this in your garage with the door open and fan on. Because if you do this in your house, you'll make the place smell like a woodshop.

 

[JPSBassist]

After reading this I went back into my bedroom and broke out my Modulus Quantum 5 which I bought back in 1994 and played a lot for the next 11 years. It has an ebony fingerboard. I hate to admit but I've conditioned it only once or twice and I've lived in Albuquerque the whole time. I've also subjected it to a lot of "Kean & Shine" to clean the strings and neck.

I just broke out my SureFire LED flashlight and inspected the fingerboard "up close and personal" and other than the expected wear it's flawless. Not a single crack. Is what you are referring to a Spector ebony thing?

It's an Ebony thing.

Two things have probably helped preserve your Modulus.

First - Do you have air conditioning? Is your Modulus kept in a cool, dark case in a closet or under a bed?

And climate control in your house can greatly reduce the effects that an arid, dry climate will have.

Take your Modulus and put it in your garage. Or, leave it on your porch (but out of the sun), and let's see how long before your fingerboard cracks.

Second - Does your modulus have a carbon-fiber neck? Carbon fiber is much less prone to expanding and contracting due to changes in temperature. This creates a very stable platform for your bass's fingerboard. I'd wager that if your bass has a carbon fiber neck, that's another variable for why your bass has not been subject to what is a very documented, typical issue with instruments made with Ebony.

I don't make this stuff up. Do some research yourself and see what any luthier or wood expert will tell you.

I've had Ebony fingerboard instruments here. And I DO NOT have air conditioning in my house. I live on a mountain a mile from the Pacific Ocean and during the summer I rarely see sunlight because my house is constantly covered in fog. And even WITH that humidity, I have to condition my instruments or they dry out.

So no. It's not a Spector Ebony thing. It's an Ebony thing. Period.

 

[JPSBassist]

I learned this the hard way. I had a B.C. Rich Handmade Mockingbird semi-hollow 7-string with an ebony board, and it cracked due to my failure to properly oil & maintain it. It's dry as hell here in Colorado, so now I service all my boards every two months, I keep Herco clay humidifiers in all of my instrument cases, and I keep all my instruments in their cases when not playing them.

I keep my instruments out. I rarely case them.
And I have a cool air humidifier for my office.
Ideal humidity for ANY stringed instrument is 50% according to the experts (luthiers) I've spoken to and when after my first winter with my NS-4 I could feel the fret edges because the wood of the neck had dehydrated and shrunk.
Luckily a week in a properly humidified room brought it back.
But it would have sucked if it hadn't.
I ordered one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Air-O-Swiss-A...5337782&sr=8-12&keywords=cold+air+humidifiers

 

[djaxup]

A very seasoned german luthier told us just the same thing in a workshop here: ebony is very prone to cracking if not maintained properly. It might never happen, but it does often enough to warrant a warning.

 

[jbravo]

Love the gold hardware on the Rex! - Did you change out the bridge and tuners or did you buy it already done?
I've got a Rex 5 and the only thing I don't love about it is the strap button position. It just feels "off" when I switch between the NS2A and the 4X then to the Rex. I'll have to try moving it too.

Thanks! Hardware came from a swap with my older p/j legend. The button move made a huge difference!

 

[kevinsbass]

Hey Kevin from Corrales! What time? I'll try to make it. Thanks for the shout!

4:30ish to 9:30ish. Long gig, huh?

 

[johnsonabq]

4:30ish to 9:30ish. Long gig, huh?

Yeah it is. Sounds like a good excuse to jump on the Harley and cruise up into the east mountains.

 

[johnsonabq]

First - Do you have air conditioning? Is your Modulus kept in a cool, dark case in a closet or under a bed?

And climate control in your house can greatly reduce the effects that an arid, dry climate will have.

We use the typical southwest swamp cooler. So that does act as a humidifier but that only applies to the summer. In the winter, standard gas central heating, which tends to remove humidity.

Second - Does your modulus have a carbon-fiber neck? Carbon fiber is much less prone to expanding and contracting due to changes in temperature. This creates a very stable platform for your bass's fingerboard. I'd wager that if your bass has a carbon fiber neck, that's another variable for why your bass has not been subject to what is a very documented, typical issue with instruments made with Ebony.

Yes, it has the usual Modulus carbon fiber neck so maybe I've been lucky on this score too. My Modulus was/is always in it's case when not in use (no humidifiers) but now with my Spectors I keep them out to see/play most of the time. I also played a Steinberger w/ebony board for five years before that, but it also had a carbon fiber neck. So you can see my mindset. That's almost 25 years straight of using ebony fingerboards without any issues or special attention.

A very seasoned german luthier told us just the same thing in a workshop here: ebony is very prone to cracking if not maintained properly. It might never happen, but it does often enough to warrant a warning.

I don't make this stuff up. Do some research yourself and see what any luthier or wood expert will tell you.

Heh heh... Of course you're not making this up, but in all this time you are the first (to me) to tell me how much more high maintenance ebony is. I always assumed it just required the standard attention. I will be speaking to my tech/luthier. When I did mention my builds to him earlier he complimented me on my choice of ebony but didn't mention maintenance. I did notice though when I brought in my Euro (pau ferro) to him for a neck adjustment and setup for tapered strings, the first thing he did was remove all the strings and grab the oil and condition the fingerboard.

It's dry as hell here in Colorado...

Yeah, I used to play all over Colorado in my touring days and the lack of humidity, especially in the winter, would play hob with my voice. Used to bring my own humidifier with a facemask to breath into but it was only in CO in the winter I had to use it. This was most needed up in the ski areas (Aspen, Vail, Winter Park, etc.)

Now with this all being said, I believe that everyone should be aware of the woods used in their precious basses and tend to their needs accordingly.

But back to addressing Brads question. Maintenance notwithstanding, I highly recommend ebony for your next build for both it's beauty and it's sonic qualities.

 

[superdick2112]

Yeah, I used to play all over Colorado in my touring days and the lack of humidity, especially in the winter, would play hob with my voice. Used to bring my own humidifier with a facemask to breath into but it was only in CO in the winter I had to use it. This was most needed up in the ski areas (Aspen, Vail, Winter Park, etc.)

One nice thing about living & playing here at a mile high - whenever we play gigs out of state, we have all kinds of extra breath, & energy to spare!

 

[husky123]

I have an ebony story too. I've owned the same buckeye NS 2 twice over the last year (I know, I know). The ebony and abalone is a beauty of a combo. Never had a problem with it. Sold it and got it back about 4 months later. When I got it back the frets were sticking out the ends badly. So badly it was almost unplayable as you'd cut yourself running up and down the board. Like make sure your tetanus shot is updated material.

Any who's, after oiling and oiling it got a tad better but I finally had to take it to a luthier and have him file the frets. He did a great job and you cannot even tell it's been done. That's my ebony story but with that said, I'd get it again. Love the look and tone of it. But I'm in VA too and we do get decent humidity for sure.

 

[johnsonabq]

I have an ebony story too. I've owned the same buckeye NS 2 twice over the last year (I know, I know). The ebony and abalone is a beauty of a combo. Never had a problem with it. Sold it and got it back about 4 months later. When I got it back the frets were sticking out the ends badly. So badly it was almost unplayable as you'd cut yourself running up and down the board. Like make sure your tetanus shot is updated material.

Any who's, after oiling and oiling it got a tad better but I finally had to take it to a luthier and have him file the frets. He did a great job and you cannot even tell it's been done. That's my ebony story but with that said, I'd get it again. Love the look and tone of it. But I'm in VA too and we do get decent humidity for sure.

So where did the bass go when it was away? Must've been out west here somewhere?

 

[johnsonabq]

One nice thing about living & playing here at a mile high - whenever we play gigs out of state, we have all kinds of extra breath, & energy to spare!

+1 My house is at about a mile high and I noticed that too when traveling. Nice bonus.

 

[johnsonabq]

OK. I need to make an admission here. This photo was created, in Photoshop, by yours truly.

This is actually PJ's NS-230. And the fingerboard and neck in this image is not real. And the inlays, if you look closely, are NOT the right size.

The wings of this bass and everything else you see is real. But to be able to use PJ's NS-230 on the front cover of the 2011 Spector Print Catalog (the last year Spector did a print catalog), I had to "cheat" the image to make it look like a standard NS-2. And NOT the NS-230, which was no longer available.

Link Removed

I must say Kudos to your Photoshop skills. I even sent that pic (your edited one) to PJ when discussing wood for a build and that's when he told me it was his bass but didn't mention that the neck wasn't. Very good.

 

[husky123]

So where did the bass go when it was away? Must've been out west here somewhere?

It went over to Indiana way.

 

[johnsonabq]

New Rex-Pro, along with my almost new euro. I really need to spend some time learning to take real pics, but this gives the gist... Had to move the strap button... Not trying to cause strife, but I figured the USA strap button position is "good enough" for me.

View attachment 353418

VERY nice pair there!

 

[johnsonabq]

It went over to Indiana way.

Still pretty humid there. But that's just me. I can't stand the humidity in Dallas! I'm spoiled on the high desert.

 

[5string_phunk]

very interesting discussion on the finger board topic! I'm intrigued by all of the different experiences and stories.

This will be my main player and will see all types of climate. I currently live in Nashville which can go from pretty humid to very dry in the course of a day, but I'm also seriously considering a move to the San Fran/Sac-town area next fall.

Patrick-Thanks for your input! Since you're in CA, your thoughts/experiences will be heavily considered in my decision making process. I really like the way the FB looks on the Blue dream! I am going to ask PJ what his thoughts are on getting a darker Pau Ferro board and then conditioning it in similar fashion.

I'm also a compulsive string changer, a set doesn't last much longer than 2-3 months on my main players, so I don't think it would to too difficult for me to perform regular maintenance on the ebony.

It's Ebony vs the darker/stained/conditioned Pau Ferro at this point because I'm wanting to save the BEM for the Coda build!