SPECTOR® Club - Part 68

[Torn Bassist]

got a call from my old salsa band director on my way home from work tonight...had a great conversation and it looks like I'll be sitting in with the band tomorrow during to kick off a fund raising gig/clinic with Joe Lala, a legendary latin percussionist/actor who is battling cancer.

Should be a fun time for a great cause! I'm excited to play with people again and stoked to debut the fretless in a live setting!

That sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

Cool, just want you to be prepared to represent the Spector bass club....now go on out there and give them hell my friend!

Thanks for having my back! Currently sat in my office preparing for my 4 hour workday. Bass is behind me with all its equipment. Looking forward to this! Talk to you guys later!

 

[Bredian]

Sold my Q5 a few weeks ago, not because I was dissatisfied with the quality, but mostly the differences in volume caused by movement of the tone controls. As I learn about Spector models, pretty sure I'm looking for model levels with active pups, along with an active pre. The Q5 had some great thump when I cranked the tone controls full open, but then the tone was uneven, not flat.... when set flat, it was completely passive. Comments? Will this problem get solved with a Euro model or do I need to jump into US...... loved the 35 inches



also

Funny you should mention basses, airports and soft cases. I was picking up a friend last year driving my SUV into the airport gas station to shift my bass from the front seat to the back, stopped about 50 feet behind an officer standing by her car.... as I pulled the case from the front seat and walked it around to the rear doors (while on my phone) I noticed she had her hand on her service weapon looking at me hard.... and suddenly relieved..... 9/11/12... things not to do.

 

[awilkie84]

Sold my Q5 a few weeks ago, not because I was dissatisfied with the quality, but mostly the differences in volume caused by movement of the tone controls. As I learn about Spector models, pretty sure I'm looking for model levels with active pups, along with an active pre. The Q5 had some great thump when I cranked the tone controls full open, but then the tone was uneven, not flat.... when set flat, it was completely passive. Comments? Will this problem get solved with a Euro model or do I need to jump into US...... loved the 35 inches



also

Funny you should mention basses, airports and soft cases. I was picking up a friend last year driving my SUV into the airport gas station to shift my bass from the front seat to the back, stopped about 50 feet behind an officer standing by her car.... as I pulled the case from the front seat and walked it around to the rear doors (while on my phone) I noticed she had her hand on her service weapon looking at me hard.... and suddenly relieved..... 9/11/12... things not to do.

That would be solved by switching from the EMG BT to another pre-amp. I never noticed that kind of crazy dynamic, though. The BT in my NS-2000/5 was quite stable.

 

[worshiprocker]

Sold my Q5 a few weeks ago, not because I was dissatisfied with the quality, but mostly the differences in volume caused by movement of the tone controls. As I learn about Spector models, pretty sure I'm looking for model levels with active pups, along with an active pre. The Q5 had some great thump when I cranked the tone controls full open, but then the tone was uneven, not flat.... when set flat, it was completely passive. Comments? Will this problem get solved with a Euro model or do I need to jump into US...... loved the 35 inches



also

Funny you should mention basses, airports and soft cases. I was picking up a friend last year driving my SUV into the airport gas station to shift my bass from the front seat to the back, stopped about 50 feet behind an officer standing by her car.... as I pulled the case from the front seat and walked it around to the rear doors (while on my phone) I noticed she had her hand on her service weapon looking at me hard.... and suddenly relieved..... 9/11/12... things not to do.

That would be solved by switching from the EMG BT to another pre-amp. I never noticed that kind of crazy dynamic, though. The BT in my NS-2000/5 was quite stable.

My ns 2000/5 is that way, it sounds great with the preamp boosted but a bit quieter when flat or cut at all. This is not the case with my CRFM.

 

[johnsonabq]

Sold my Q5 a few weeks ago, not because I was dissatisfied with the quality, but mostly the differences in volume caused by movement of the tone controls. As I learn about Spector models, pretty sure I'm looking for model levels with active pups, along with an active pre. The Q5 had some great thump when I cranked the tone controls full open, but then the tone was uneven, not flat.... when set flat, it was completely passive. Comments? Will this problem get solved with a Euro model or do I need to jump into US...... loved the 35 inches.

Can't go wrong with a Euro5. The tone pump takes a little getting used to but certainly doesn't suffer from that problem. Used Euros are a great value.

 

[j.kernodle]

Jeff. just getting around to this, but congrats on the walnut stain 5er. one of the hottest specters I've ever seen. you did good!

 

[johnsonabq]

Jeff. just getting around to this, but congrats on the walnut stain 5er. one of the hottest specters I've ever seen. you did good!

Thanks Jim! Good to see you back.

 

[iceboxbass]

Good lord that is a lovely looking bass!

On another note, I'm playing my first gig in nearly 2 years tomorrow. A festival with an expected attendance in excess of 4000 people. Nerves? Naaaah..... I.. I swear..

It's for the bullied kids I wrote about before, it'll be a fantastic experience for sure! We had to kick the 17 year old pianist out because he was one hell of a diva, called us all unprofessional and jokes.. So we have to practice with the new pianist (who is driving 260km to play one song) two hours before the gig. Stress? Naaahhh.... I.. I again swear...

So I have packed up my Euro in its soft/hard case (TKL thing) along with a DI box, my wireless sender/receiver, a patch cable, spare batteries, an instrument lead, spare strings, strap, ear plugs, and brand new wristbands. Managed to get it all into the case, pretty impressed with that! Not taking a rig as the festival organizers have rented an entire backline.. Have I forgotten anything? I hope not.

Not only is a festival for the kids, it's also my introduction into the session musician world of East Norway, so I want to turn up prepared (like I usually try to be) and be well received.. I hope it goes well!

YES Kyle \m/ You'll knock them over!

 

[iceboxbass]

Wait, a US custom-made bass didn't come with a case?

Yeah my Coda came with the traditional HSC...since my perm left shoulder injury and 5 weeks post neck surgery (Which yesterday my Dr. gave me a clean bill of health ) I decided its time to go lighter as possible. Plus my roadie, "Fire" A.K.A. Wife, will appreciate lighter and not as cumbersome.

 

[iceboxbass]

The FAA passed some sort of new regulation in the last year or two allowing instruments in soft cases to be carried on without a hassle; the size restriction on regular, rectangular carry on bags is to make sure that they'll actually fit in the compartment at all.

Even on packed flights I've never have an issue finding space for a gig-bag in an overhead, but occasionally I'll leave it in the front closet if there is room just to make for easier boarding and disembarking.

As a former employee that worked hand in hand with the airlines for 10.5 yrs. there has always been exclusions to the carry-on size limitations, guitars were on that exclusion list.

 

[iceboxbass]

got a call from my old salsa band director on my way home from work tonight...had a great conversation and it looks like I'll be sitting in with the band tomorrow during to kick off a fund raising gig/clinic with Joe Lala, a legendary latin percussionist/actor who is battling cancer.

Should be a fun time for a great cause! I'm excited to play with people again and stoked to debut the fretless in a live setting!

Have a blast Brad!

 

[gard0300]

I'm a new Spector owner and I have a dumb question. Are Spectors any harder to keep the strings quiet than any other bass? I have played probably 10-15 different basses and it has never been an issue. I don't believe it's the active pickups or the 35" scale, but maybe the radius?? It is by far the flattest fretboard I've played. Could that be an issue for me? I'm sure I will figure out the error in my technique with time, but I was just curious. Btw, it's a Euro XL4

 

[johnsonabq]

I'm a new Spector owner and I have a dumb question. Are Spectors any harder to keep the strings quiet than any other bass? I have played probably 10-15 different basses and it has never been an issue. I don't believe it's the active pickups or the 35" scale, but maybe the radius?? It is by far the flattest fretboard I've played. Could that be an issue for me? I'm sure I will figure out the error in my technique with time, but I was just curious. Btw, it's a Euro XL4

What do you mean by "keep the strings quiet"? Is it the noise from your hand sliding up and down the strings? (round wound strings) Is it the strings clanking on the frets? (low action, aggressive playing) I don't think I've ever had a problem like this but let's clarify yours so we can help.

 

[gard0300]

Just normal playing and string skipping. I notice it more towards the nut. I've always had decent technique and a relatively clean playing style. But I sound a little "sloppier"...I guess is what I'm saying. Not sure. My open notes are definitely not getting muted effectively. But I can goto to my other basses and it's not an issue. Maybe it's just a mental thing?

 

[anton72]

My Mini Rig of Doom

 

[Torn Bassist]

I'm a new Spector owner and I have a dumb question. Are Spectors any harder to keep the strings quiet than any other bass? I have played probably 10-15 different basses and it has never been an issue. I don't believe it's the active pickups or the 35" scale, but maybe the radius?? It is by far the flattest fretboard I've played. Could that be an issue for me? I'm sure I will figure out the error in my technique with time, but I was just curious. Btw, it's a Euro XL4

Just normal playing and string skipping. I notice it more towards the nut. I've always had decent technique and a relatively clean playing style. But I sound a little "sloppier"...I guess is what I'm saying. Not sure. My open notes are definitely not getting muted effectively. But I can goto to my other basses and it's not an issue. Maybe it's just a mental thing?

It could be a number of things. You might first check the relief you have in the neck, You say that it's flat so you might need to allow a little and some of us allow up to .015". I play a little harder on the A string and have a close to flat maple neck (last time I checked it was under .010") that would 'ring-out' when I played the B or C notes on that string, while at the Guitar House Todd noticed this and raised the action slightly on that string (I have DR Lo-rider strings on this bass with a hex core for a little more tension).

 

[MDBass]

Just normal playing and string skipping. I notice it more towards the nut. I've always had decent technique and a relatively clean playing style. But I sound a little "sloppier"...I guess is what I'm saying. Not sure. My open notes are definitely not getting muted effectively. But I can goto to my other basses and it's not an issue. Maybe it's just a mental thing?

Spector basses have really excellent sustain and a lot of harmonic content, and that coupled with the active EMG's will really highlight any small technique errors that went unnoticed previously...keep shedding, it'll clean up

 

[tomydacat]

My Mini Rig of Doom

VERY NICE

 

[iceboxbass]

My Mini Rig of Doom

Very NICE

Spector basses have really excellent sustain and a lot of harmonic content, and that coupled with the active EMG's will really highlight any small technique errors that went unnoticed previously...keep shedding, it'll clean up

To add a little to what has already been said here...Spector's active pre-amps/EMG pickups are highly articulate. I am one that likes my neck flat with minimum string/Extremely low action. I definitely keep my finger playing very clean and mute the other strings. I play a Coda 5XL DLX which has a big radius fingerboard.