SPECTOR® Club - Part 64

[johnsonabq]

That would be a great idea, Todd helped me out a lot! When you get that planned out let me know and maybe I might be able to make a trip over to meet you if it's not going to be a bother for your day with Todd and your new bass....

You're more than welcome! That'd be great.

I'm with that, 4 string all the way but I would like to add a 5 for the extra color....

Ever since I bought Jim's NS-4CR I now have to have a four and a five string at all times!

 

[Torn Bassist]

4 Years ago when I started with this forum (on version #5), the general thought on the TonePump was so negative... it was often called "The ToneDump" and it really irritated me.

My first Spector was a Korean-Made Q4-Pro. Then I got my NS-2A (which I still own to this day and it's sitting right next to the Blue Dream in my rack). I finally got a Euro4LX and once I dialed the TonePump down to about 60% I was hooked.

I've long been a lover of the TonePump. I have one in my NS-2A. Although I converted it to a fretless, which I have never regretted doing... it's a SICK fretless with that circuit.

I hear you about the USA 9v. And it's true. That 9v USA circuit has a solid-state OpAmp growl and warmth to it you will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else, I find that the TP can really get you there with the right tweaking.

PJ Rubal, Stuart and the guy who designed it for Spector (the TP) used PJ's NS-2 #603 as the sound platform for that circuit's development. And number 603 is one of the best sounding Spector's I've ever heard (or played).

I did that TonePump video to put the negative stuff about that circuit to rest. I was tired of hearing it.

And I'm really glad that more and more people are appreciating just how good sounding that circuit is.

Thank you for saying so.

And lastly, you've said EXACTLY what I was talking about in my post a few minutes ago addressing the "justification" of purchasing a really expensive bass.

Honestly, if I WAS going to do any gigging, I'd do EXACTLY what Sam has recently done and invest in some Euro models (or some Korean models). I would NEVER take The Pearl or Dream out to a gig where they could be damaged or dented/dinged. LOL. Which in a way is sad. I find that these basses are really more like works of art. And I'd sometimes rather look at them then play them.

This really makes Stuart a little irritated. Because they were made to be played. And built to last.

I think Donny is a wise man, for sure. Listen to him. He's straight-up.



WHICH I TOTALLY NEED SOME GOOD PHOTOS OF FOR THE WEBSITE PLEASE!!! Just some good body shots, front and back. I don't care about the condition of the guitar. Those are so hard to come by.

I will never sell my NS2A, it has been with me for over 20 years now and will be a great platform for modification/upgrades and is still a quality bass.

 

[Torn Bassist]

I think the reason it seems like some posts get ignored is due to the fact that there are times when there are so many posts, it gets tough to even keep up with them. I am all for conversation but if people are using a post to respond to only one thing and then doing another response for another, it gets to be way too many. Multi-quote is your friend people

I did have the reverse situation one time though I have to say. When I got my green bass, someone actually sent me a PM telling me I was showing off and was pretty nasty about it. I ignored them and they aren't someone I see around here anymore but I will admit that I don't post pictures often because of that. I know it shouldn't matter but the thought comes to me every time a new thread starts so I only post pictures every now and then

I like to see the basses that everyone has, please post them for all to see...

 

[AdamR]

Both my basses (which were both owned by a number of club members including Donny) have TonePumps. I love them. Great gritty tones, especially with a pick. As for the lower end models not getting any love, My Rex has been getting more play time then my Czech NS4CRFM. Both are amazing but theres something about the Rex.

Im hoping I can pick up a white Chris Keal next spring and it will get a Tone Pump.

 

[77jazz]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/help-spector-ns2-price-1000656/

 

[iceboxbass]

I like that shot. My basses are sitting in PS and I can plug in any background I want. Yours is the real deal.

See...
View attachment 350793

Lol...a little more to the left please Nice!

That is a very cool intro picture Ice Man.....

Thanks Torn! While at Lake Michigan beach Wed. I was thinking about a beach photo with my Coda but a lot windy, sand blowing every where. I'll wait for a calm day and take some on the beach.

In with a new soundclip that I'm pretty happy with tone wise! I need to get another good pic of the family!

https://soundcloud.com/slapadabass69/mortalfish-new-song-ideas/s-SKK2N

I ran the euro 4 lx through an Aguilar TLC, darkglass b3k, and Tone Hammer pedal with the AGS switch on. Let me know what you guys think!

NICE job cj, LOVE it!

Thanks guys! I'm really liking this setup- View attachment 350805

Simple and effective, IMO. Sounds awesome clean and gritty!

Simple indeed and awesome sound

Previously I posted about a Spector bass available at cosmomusic in Toronto area. I stopped by there today and snapped some pics. They want $1800 for it.
(I am not affiliated with Cosmo. I am customer of the store.)

Beautiful Spector and thats a good price

Well today is weight watchers day for the Spectors!

I used the ultra-scientific method of putting the bass case on the bathroom scale with and without the bass in it. Since the scale does increments of .2 which is 2/10 of a pound, these numbers are probably an ounce or two off by approximation.

UV NS-5XL with BEM: 10 lbs., 8 ounces
Coda 5XL: just about 11 lbs.
Webster: 10 lbs, 5 ounces
NS-6XL: just over 12 lbs.
Blue NS-5XL: 10 lbs, 8 ounces
Euro 5LX: 10 lbs, 6 ounces

That's a lot of wood!

Huh...your Coda 5XL is .6# heavier than mine...mine is 10.4# and it doesn't feel that heavy.

In the Last part there was talk, a lot of talk, about strap button positioning on Spector basses...I didn't really take notice on my Coda 5XL DLX until last week, the bottom strap button is positioned in the center. Came that way from Woodstock.

In with the current four...

Very nice action/pics! I was just thinking this morning about getting some new action shots of my gigs.

 

[cjmodulus]

Even though I picked up a euro 4lx (which I love, although it needs a 5th string... Hehe) I'm still in love with my legend 5- I've been wanting to swap pres and pickups (which I might still do eventually) but even stock I get some great tones with it. On top if that, it's built so well and it's soooo comfy... I'm a proud supporter of Korean spectors!

I do feel like some of my posts get overlooked a good bit of the time, but I usually attribute that to the pace of this club, and the fact that I check in so infrequently that my posts are usually non-sequiturs in the context of the conversation at the time- not because I play 'lower end' spectors (which still smoke basses twice their price IMO). That said, I do make an effort to read every post on here, because I don't want anyone to feel like they're being ignored here.

 

[sumgruuvz]

Absolutely, Patrick! I am at work and shoot you a p.m. later on this evening.

 

[cjmodulus]

NICE job cj, LOVE it!

Simple indeed and awesome sound

Thanks Ice! I've been trying to get out and jam more because I'm loving my sound so much right now!

 

[banebass]

Hello everybody!
For all of you that dig Buckeye burl, a shot of my NS-5XL

 

[PhatBasstard]

Great collection....oh, I remember reading about the Stryper bass but forgot to ask Todd how the restoration was going...didn't he send it to the original painter?

Actually, he had me send it directly to the original painter.
The painter took the pups out and confirmed (original paint still in the cavities) that it was indeed the Tim Gaines Spector.
We weren't completely 100% sure as the serial number on it apparently had no record.
But, except for paint, all the other physical characteristics matched up and there were tell tale signs of black paint having been removed at some point.
Plus, the guy I bought it from gave me the story of where the bass suposedly came from.
I guess he wasn't fibbing.

 

[bunkaroo]

I'm always afraid that wearing a G-string will make my butt look fat...

Indeed - I think I would need something bigger like a Z-string!

 

[bunkaroo]

Bunk, that Blue NS-5 is killer! great finish on that one!

Thanks!
That was the one that seemed to pass between 4 different people in the space of a year. I actually contacted a couple of the previous owners to see if they thought anything was wrong with it. Couldn't figure it out because when I got it, it sounded and looked exactly as I expected. I recall getting it for something like 2200 trade and cash value combined. For a high gloss NS-5XL. Crazy.

 

[bunkaroo]

I like to see the basses that everyone has, please post them for all to see...

Ditto. John's 5XL is the reason I ordered my fretless in that finish.
Many drooled over that bass at NAMM.

Oh and no multi-quote on the iOS app - sorry for the multiple replies John!

 

[cjmodulus]

Ditto. John's 5XL is the reason I ordered my fretless in that finish.
Many drooled over that bass at NAMM.

Oh and no multi-quote on the iOS app - sorry for the multiple replies John!

There is a way to do it, but you have to keep copying and pasting stuff, it's kind of annoying. The old app my have been a bit buggier, but it did have a nice multi quote feature.

 

[johnsonabq]

I like to see the basses that everyone has, please post them for all to see...

I think TB should have a profile gallery instead of just a profile picture. Then we could post pics of all our basses and amps. It would help us when we make future purchases. Most likely kick GAS (SAS) into high gear!

 

[iceboxbass]

Enjoy.
Pau Ferro is my favorite for sure.

So far my favorite Fingerboard is Maple...but I haven't tried Ebony, yet.

 

[sumgruuvz]

well now that i have everyone's attention around here, i have thought about what i said and i still feel that way. some may argue, but, it also has been brought to my conscience how fast these threads fly and it's near to impossible, unless you have ample time, to read everyone's posts. so with that i hope i didnt piss any of you off. if i did, then i guess i did. for those of you who actually read what i had to say, thank you for taking a moment to read what i said. i know, this isnt therapy. but i rely on you guys as fellow musicians, bassists, and spector lovers to give me as much help and support as you can so we can all achieve that goal of having that top notch tone that stuart spector envisioned his dream with. some get closer than others, but most of us can get pretty close with some really great upgrades and mods. this is by far the best and coolest thread on the forum so let's keep it that way and take a little extra time to help each other out. and by the way, all of you who have acquired new spectors, they are all outstanding pieces of work. i hope you enjoy them to the limit they will take you. here's a little video i forgot about to post. please dont cringe too bad. lol
cheers!



amos

 

[iceboxbass]

In with some Spector and DT swag! Group photo in progress

SaWeet!!! Beautiful work! You have my interest for sure.

last night, first time ever to play my spector performer. plugged it into some beatup hartke with two 6s and a 15. then split di into the house. i also use a darkglass b7k. my god. i was cutting thru the mix. (btw i play in a 2 guitar setup metal band) man it sounded awesome. been a long time i felt happy with my live sound. even pur guitarists got surprised. i cant even imagine the poossibilities if i play higher end spectors. hehe

Awesome! It's a great thing when no matter which Spector bass is played, it performs amazingly, and cuts through those guitars. Any videos or pictures to share with the club?

Oh you think YOURS dont get any love? try being the only NS-2C man on the board! Its all good...they're Spectors baby!
I still havent gotten the black one in the pic yet though...

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Man oh man...I especially like that White one! Wish I'd bought one like that off GC 2 years ago. Isn't there another member in our club that collects these? I thought there was

I hope it isn't taken that way. Of course we ooh and ahh over the exotic tops and stuff, but all are welcome and respected. One of the best things about the non US models is how each offers great value at their price point.

+1! I've had just about every model of Spector...I know I've had 1 or 2 from every Spector shop. Just took me a while to find "That" one I've been listening for. They ALL were excellent instruments.

Yeah, I think its a fantastic club as well...I didn't mean to pick a scab by the way. The support here in the Spector Club is amazing, especially during Chris Loe's battle with Leukemia. I have been here a long time...#75...sold all my Euro's, kept my NS-2A's and NS-2C's....nothing sounds like a Spector!

+1!

IMHO... This is the most caring, helpful, supportive, and informative club I know of. Someone sells a bass, they alway have a "club" price. Someone swaps out their pre, it's up for grabs at a steal of a price. And if they change out their hardware, they give it to another member who needs it.





Well said Guys. +1

I too am in a very fortunate position to be able to put in for two USA builds. I had to stop playing music for a living 18 years ago and even though I've found success in IT not a day goes by that I don't miss having music as my only job and passion. I've worked hard and learned another career starting a age 39 and now I'm treating myself to my dream basses. But the biggest bonus of all is finding this club to share it all with.

If I have in any way contributed to your current view of this club I sincerely apologize.

+1!

+1

I haven't had a chance to reply to everything in the thread and it certainly isn't my intention to make it seem like we only talk US builds. I fully believe all the Spectors owned by members here are great instruments - I just haven't had a chance to ever play all the models they make so when someone is talking about a Legend for instance, I don't feel I have anything I can contribute to the conversation.

As far as the thread being some kind of pissing contest, I don't get that from it. I see that several guys including myself have been fortunate to buy their dream basses this year. I know I've stated this previously - my recent barrage of pics of US basses must seem like I'm just going nuts, but with the exception of the Coda, this was a plan I had for this year based on some favorable financial realities for me in the past 12 months that are not guaranteed to last. So I made sure I got these basses ordered when I could. I don't anticipate placing another US build order for quite some time unless I move one first which is very unlikely.

I know often I find myself just trying to catch up on the reading...especially since being retired, lol. Where did I used to find the time before???

Late as usual.... But here

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*Drops a smoke bomb and disappears into alternate recording universe

Love your studio picture seventh!

 

[delucajohn2000]

Ditto. John's 5XL is the reason I ordered my fretless in that finish.
Many drooled over that bass at NAMM.

Oh and no multi-quote on the iOS app - sorry for the multiple replies John!

There is a way to do it, but you have to keep copying and pasting stuff, it's kind of annoying. The old app my have been a bit buggier, but it did have a nice multi quote feature.

Sorry to say, both the IOS and Android apps are basically useless to me. I am to the point where I just use the browser if I am checking out the forums on my phone or iPad since I find it more difficult to use the app.

With the app, it's even tough to see who is posting things sometimes since it is tough to tell if they are quoting a post someone else made or typing it themselves. I read a thread way back about someone complaining about the app and the response to them was "if you don't like it, write your own app." Alrighty then. Sure, it is great someone takes the time to write an app but if it's easier to use the browser on the device, something is wrong there but hey, maybe i shoud write my own