SPECTOR® Club - Part 66

[jnumme]

Lol. I can't handle the blood. I'm not as hardcore as you or Webster. Any gigs I do these days will be church gigs. I guess I could say it was representative of Jesus' blood?

No offense meant to anyone.

Lol. would be funny to see the folks faces when you plug it in and start play the first note though. ...

 

[Christian Waiau]

So it has both side screws? Interesting. You got yours at least 6 months before mine I believe. I guess they grab them from the top of the pile.

ohhhh i misread.

I have only one screw on the bottom side. i didnt know they came with screws on both sides?

 

[jnumme]

I really hate myself for moving the Coda.

What one did you have any old pics ?

 

[bunkaroo]

ohhhh i misread.

I have only one screw on the bottom side. i didnt know they came with screws on both sides?

Yeah my new 5XL has it on both sides. I thought they were just for locking in the saddles like on the Euro bridge but apparently it's also for pushing the saddles slightly for adjustments. Maybe my bridge was and routed mounted just off center a little.

 

[MDBass]

Mike has a luthier/repair business as well as his new-build business, and has and will work on nearly any brand. He is the best luthier on the West Coast.

Didn't realize he was a west coast guy...where is he located?

 

[Holdsg]

Seattle, Bellevue to be exact.

 

[bezo420]

I really need another Euro. I'm trying to save up some cash to just buy one. I miss playing my Euro. I use a 4 fretted now, so my 5 string fretless just sits in it's case. Maybe soon I'll post some new pics of a bigger family.

 

[cableguy]

Lol. I can't handle the blood. I'm not as hardcore as you or Webster. Any gigs I do these days will be church gigs. I guess I could say it was representative of Jesus' blood?

No offense meant to anyone.

That's funny..... I'm Christian and no offense taken.....

My Spector sounds great for worship when I play......

 

[jbravo]

Lol. I can't handle the blood. I'm not as hardcore as you or Webster. Any gigs I do these days will be church gigs. I guess I could say it was representative of Jesus' blood?

No offense meant to anyone.

Hey MBP -
With all the feedback you have I figured you played 6-8 shows a day

If you don't remember, I bought a green SX jazz from you in 2011. The best cheap bass I ever bought!

You know you need at least one Spector

 

[madbassplaya]

Hey MBP -
With all the feedback you have I figured you played 6-8 shows a day

If you don't remember, I bought a green SX jazz from you in 2011. The best cheap bass I ever bought!

You know you need at least one Spector

1. I used to gig a lot more. Had 3 or 4 projects going at once in school.
2. I was/am a gear hound.
3. That was a killer bass!
4. I know I know.

 

[worshiprocker]

1. I used to gig a lot more. Had 3 or 4 projects going at once in school.
2. I was/am a gear hound.
3. That was a killer bass!
4. I know I know.

you've owned a few Spectors tho... we just need to get you to keep one

 

[LimaGuy]

1. I used to gig a lot more. Had 3 or 4 projects going at once in school.
2. I was/am a gear hound.
3. That was a killer bass!
4. I know I know.

you've owned a few Spectors tho... we just need to get you to keep one

I think he owned the NS-2JAR for about 6 hours that went from me to him to you.

 

[LimaGuy]

I have 5 extra of the Chris Loe Bracelets that his sister sent to me.

If anyone is interested, PM me your address and I will send one out to you.

 

[tomydacat]

Just got me a Carvin B1500 will be trying it out with my NS2A ....Jamie let me know if you can feel it AHHAHAHA.... does anyone who has one of these know were to get an extra KNOB one was missing and some cheesy knob was on it?????

 

[Torn Bassist]

Just picked up my NS2A from Mike Lull. He did a full set-up and adjusted my hipshot D-tuner. Nothing like a new set of Roto 66's on it to get that Spector growl....

FYI for all the guys that have NS2A's, the D-tuner will need the lever ground down a little. Mike told me the Euros & US NS-2 do not have a little "hump" for lack of a better word which is right below the tuner & slightly above the nut. When the D-tuner is flipped to drop the pitch of the string it would hit the back of the neck. Just barely, but it hit none the less. It now works flawlessly and this bass just rocks......

What year is your NS2A? I have the 1987 with a smooth back of neck behind the nut, I also have never had to adjust as it is a very stable neck. Do you know what he did to your bass or adjustments he made???

 

[thisSNsucks]

I would say the alot of the "Classic Spector Tone" does come from the EMG's themselves.
The Spector 9V Circuit (Haz) or Haz copy or Spector TonePump Pre will add Growl and grind to the tone.

If you haven't seen this video regarding the Tonepump check it out. It will explain how the Tonepump works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b9x1TNtUKI0#t=107



Rich,

The Tonepump with the Trim will be a big change in the Tone of your Euro. Once the Trim is lowered down to 30-50% the bass and treble will sound much different then the non-trim version.

Regarding the USA 9-volt circuits, I was speaking to PJ about that today.

Remember they are hand made by HAZ Labs and the components in the circuit are getting harder to get in. They barely get enough in for new NS-2's so that is why there are no extras at this point.

P.S. while I was on the phone with him he had to go since he got a message from Todd for a new order.
I assume that was for your bass Brad.

Congrats.

I saw that Buckeye in person at he shop and as good as it looks in photos, imagine it 10 times better in person. You will be very happy.



As we discussed this is one of my missions in life, to get you playing a Spector. You have been the most difficult "John" to please.

I agree with that statement 100% except I'd go a step further and say pickup position (specifically the reverse P) really does it too. When I first received my preamp-less Brooklyn with EMG's, its still sounded very much like a Spector. Now with the stock Dimarzio's and MM114, it still sounds like Spector should, with just a little less articulation.

 

[awilkie84]

So...I think I'm going to keep my ReBop. I haven't been playing it recently, and put it up for sale. Since then, I haven't really put it down.

I think I'm going to give it a couple "upgrades". I'm going to take the pre-amp back to 9v, instead of 18v, I'm going to add a Trimpump, and it's going to get a bridge with intonation screws.

That being said, I want to change the truss rod out. Currently, I've had to shim it to get any play from the rod and it feels like it needs another shim. Has anyone swapped out truss rods before? Is it easy to do?

Really? Nobody's changed the truss rod out on their Spector?

Also, it looks like the intonation screw Euro bridges were taken off the store.

Oh, does anyone have an NS-2A they'd trade for a Fender Classic 50s P-bass?

 

[delucajohn2000]

Really? Nobody's changed the truss rod out on their Spector?

Also, it looks like the intonation screw Euro bridges were taken off the store.

Oh, does anyone have an NS-2A they'd trade for a Fender Classic 50s P-bass?

I will probably be changing the truss rod on my Rebop fairly soon. It's maxed for the most part so I want to replace it with a double-action rod since it currently has a single action one in there now.

 

[JPSBassist]

I would say the alot of the "Classic Spector Tone" does come from the EMG's themselves.

I agree, I think the EMGs color the tone a very specific way after hearing Spectors with Barts and Nordy pups.

The Spector 9V Circuit (Haz) or Haz copy or Spector TonePump Pre will add Growl and grind to the tone.

Yes. In the video below - thank you Sam for sharing it... I explain all of the history.

It's probably NOT clear in this video, because the video was already long enough and not about the USA 9v circuit... that the Spector USA 9v circuit IS OpAmp based. And it uses an array of OpAmps to get around the oversat issue. Which has an overdrive effect, thus the growl from the circuit.

It's not that Stuart set out to create a really growly circuit. He set out to create a bass with a tonal range that would sit in any mix and have a unique voice... its own sonic territory to play in.

The growl and grit in the USA 9v Circuit which he created WITH Henry's assistance (Henry owns HazLabs and makes the circuits for Spector) was a mixture of the limitations of the available tech options at the time and an unavoidable side-effect of the approach Stuart and Henry took to "get around" those limitations.

If you haven't seen this video regarding the Tonepump check it out. It will explain how the Tonepump works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=b9x1TNtUKI0#t=107

To be completely honest. And this may be blasphemy... but the TonePump is really a superior circuit to the USA 9v from a tech standpoint. JFET circuits are the standard now, OpAmp circuits are used in cheaper import basses or not at all anymore.

The USA 9v Circuit and the NS-2 since 1998 when Stuart and PJ relaunched the Spector brand after its demise with Kramer in 1991, has been about tradition.

Sincerely the best way to give someone the tone from those early, mid and late 1980's Spector basses is to build them as close to the originals as possible.

The NS-4 is a more modern take on the NS-2. As is the Euro4LX. Stuart really tries to experiment with the Bolt-Ons and other models. He sincerely tries to keep the NS-2 as close to the original as possible. Realizing that it's a classic and people want them because of that classic 1980's tone.

The Tonepump with the Trim will be a big change in the Tone of your Euro. Once the Trim is lowered down to 30-50% the bass and treble will sound much different then the non-trim version.

Yes. I've owned both. See attached. I had an early Euro4LX with the non-trim pot model and a new (brand new at the time) Euro4LX with the adjustable TP.

WORLD of difference in the tone... the older model was pretty much hot as all get out. The newer once it was adjusted, was tamed down but still very much Spector in tone.

Regarding the USA 9-volt circuits, I was speaking to PJ about that today. Remember they are hand made by HAZ Labs and the components in the circuit are getting harder to get in. They barely get enough in for new NS-2's so that is why there are no extras at this point.

I have been trying to get one for about 6 months... and I keep getting told, "Nope. None are available."

So don't feel bad. They may NEVER be available for purchase individually again.

Lol. I can't handle the blood. I'm not as hardcore as you or Webster. Any gigs I do these days will be church gigs. I guess I could say it was representative of Jesus' blood? No offense meant to anyone.

You know as the guy who designed that blood drip pattern I laugh every time I see something like this.

FYI - there are 5 component patterns that can be mixed and matched, therefore the Czech shop can adjust the mix of the 5 (2-3 of these 5 patterns can be used to create the total drip pattern). So each bass can sort of have a unique pattern. But after a while you can start to see repetitions in the patterns.

Bunk's Alex (which was mine) has the original pattern design first created for Alex and his prototypes. That pattern *with three of the components) is to me the optimal design for it's the true original design I came up with. Which is why it is on that bass. That one was built for me and is the one used in all of Spector's marketing.

Anyway... as the guy who designed that blood drip paintjob, I totally agree. LOL. Alex is a good friend. I've gotten to know him and his wife really well and I think they are sincerely great people. But that bass is totally NOT my style.

I do have to admit that the idea that a church bassist could play it and that blood represent Christ's sacrifice is very interesting. For that, it'd be worth seeing if PJ would do a special order gloss white Alex Bass with the blood. Then you have the white of the dove or of the lamb and the blood.

Regardless, I am not the least bit offended by either statement. I designed that bloody paint job and it's not something I'd play - thus after sitting in the corner for a year I sold it to Bunk because that bass SHOULD be played.

And the idea of a church bassist using it is actually symbolically cool in my opinion.

 

[grendle]

Really? Nobody's changed the truss rod out on their Spector?

Also, it looks like the intonation screw Euro bridges were taken off the store.

Oh, does anyone have an NS-2A they'd trade for a Fender Classic 50s P-bass?

change out a truss rod? naah , spector necks are some of the most stable out there. whats the set up issue? the neck pocket on the rebop is also ridiculously tight.