SPECTOR® Club - Part 70

[Unfinely Tuned]

Sorry about the last post, I searched more intensely and found that I can use the BQC without the active balance control with the HZ's and set it up using my existing vol pots and adding the stacks to the other pots for the time being until I upgrade to actives instead of spending the $50 now and uninstalling it later.

 

[MDBass]

Oh man, that Brooklyn is sweet!!

Thanks Jeff!

Swapping out the Dimarzio PAF's for the Aguilar set brought the tone of the bass to life in a BIG way, and the dual series-parallel switches are icing on the cake

I never thought it would happen...but my GAS is gone!

 

[worshiprocker]

This was a Special NS-JH5 sold only through Sam Ash.
Those are 2 Villex Pickups with a Villex mid Control and a OBP1 Preamp.

I know nothing about that pickup system, but it sounds interesting

Wanted to ask the club for some honest opinions:

1) For a early Model (Non-trim TP) Euro 4, would a OBP-3 or a USA 18V be a better replacement? This existing non-trim TP is a bit hot compared to my other gear, and I really prefer to have notches on my eq knobs. Per my understanding I'd have a "dead" knob with the USA 18V (as it's wired treble, bass, master out of the box) and would gain sweepable mids with the OBP-3, but I'm not really clear tonally what differences I will hear.

As-is I'm pretty happy with the tone of the TonePump, but it's very hot out of the box, which makes switching between instruments difficult. I also just prefer to have knobs with indents at the flat position. It's kind of a picky thing, but it seems silly to me personally to practice for hours with a metronome, and then have to guess when I'm boosting or cutting EQ. Especially in a studio situation where consistency becomes key.

2) My Euro 4 arrived with a Halo Hardshell case that does not quite fit. I've seen some mixed reviews on the Spector branded cases. Can anyone recommend a non-Spector branded hardshell currently available? Have you had problems with the Spector branded ones as well?

1) The 18v sounds a lot like a less harsh TP to my ears. Bu tI have also heard the OBP-3 sounds close. I would go with the cheaper one.

2) I love my Spector case, but with as much time as it spends in the trailer and traveling it is really taking a beating and I might have to replace it in the next year at this rate.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Totally unrelated, I've relisted my NS-2J SE-1: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/brand-new-spector-ns-2j-se-1-a-1025636/#post15041655

I originally pulled it as it played and sounded too good to part with, but I just found my be-all, end-all bass, a 1979 Brooklyn NS-2 w/ Aguilar P/J-HC pickups, Mighty-Mite circuit and dual series-parallel switches , and it reignited my bass/gear purge.

Excuse the terribly grainy iPhone photo, I'll take some new hi-rez family shots tomorrow

I know a few club members were interested last time I had it for sale, so anyone who is still (or newly) interested should PM me for a club price

Very NICE!

 

[anton72]

Guys, does anybody familiar with Kramer era trussrod nut specification? My fretless NS-2 needs a replacement nut and I can't find any locally because its inch not metric. PJ referred to their Czech workshop but they only have Euro type nuts in stock....Does anybody know the inner thread caliber of these nuts? The outer slot has cross-screwdriver shape.

 

[johnsonabq]

Thanks Jeff!
Swapping out the Dimarzio PAF's for the Aguilar set brought the tone of the bass to life in a BIG way, and the dual series-parallel switches are icing on the cake

You like the aggies better than EMGs? Also, what's the pre?

I never thought it would happen...but my GAS is gone!

Heh heh... We'll see about that.

 

[spector_boogie]

Is it possible to get a good full range sound through the FOH sound without using the DI? And if so, what mic should be used?
Thanks

What do you mean? One thing I love about Spectors is that even "just" through a DI they sound awesome. Most other basses aren't like that.
Trying to mic live as a bassist is near Act of God levels.

 

[spector_boogie]

Totally unrelated, I've relisted my NS-2J SE-1: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/brand-new-spector-ns-2j-se-1-a-1025636/#post15041655

I originally pulled it as it played and sounded too good to part with, but I just found my be-all, end-all bass, a 1979 Brooklyn NS-2 w/ Aguilar P/J-HC pickups, Mighty-Mite circuit and dual series-parallel switches , and it reignited my bass/gear purge.

Excuse the terribly grainy iPhone photo, I'll take some new hi-rez family shots tomorrow

I know a few club members were interested last time I had it for sale, so anyone who is still (or newly) interested should PM me for a club price

Those are sick. I saw one in Nashville probably 5 years ago but it was totally trashed and I think they wanted like $6k for it so I laughed and moved on. If I ever buy another 4 it'll be another Brooklyn.

 

[MDBass]

You like the aggies better than EMGs? Also, what's the pre?

The bass actually came with Dimarzio PAF's and a Mighty Mite preamp (one of the 9v HAZ copies)...the Dimarzio's sounded like you were listening to the bass through thick foam earplugs, very muffled with a lot of lost midrange and treble information, and the Aguilar set really lets the natural tone of the bass shine through.

I do actually prefer Aggie pickups to the standard ceramic EMG sets, I swapped the EMG's for an Aguilar 60's set on the NS-2J I'm selling as well.

I just find the Aguilar pickups to be more versatile; I can still get very modern sounds out of the NS-2 (killer slap/tapping tones, the famous Pantera/AIC pick-style growl, etc.) but now I have all of the classic vintage Fender P and J bass sounds at my disposal as well, everything from Jamerson to Jaco, but more clarity and note definition due to the NS-2's superior construction

 

[johnsonabq]

What do you mean? One thing I love about Spectors is that even "just" through a DI they sound awesome. Most other basses aren't like that.
Trying to mic live as a bassist is near Act of God levels.

The thing is, my speaker cab (Aggie DB212) has a voice that is part of my sound. That voice is not heard through the DI. Therefore, if just using the DI for the PA, "my sound" won't be there.

I'm not saying it won't sound good. Just that it won't be "my sound". I could use the DI and a mic but I'm trying make my job easier (I usually run sound too). I did this for years with good results. But if I had a mic on the cab that would capture the full range of frequencies I could just use that and be done with it.

 

[Torn Bassist]

The thing is, my speaker cab (Aggie DB212) has a voice that is part of my sound. That voice is not heard through the DI. Therefore, if just using the DI for the PA, "my sound" won't be there.

I'm not saying it won't sound good. Just that it won't be "my sound". I could use the DI and a mic but I'm trying make my job easier (I usually run sound too). I did this for years with good results. But if I had a mic on the cab that would capture the full range of frequencies I could just use that and be done with it.

There are a lot of different microphones types but you still EQ everything at the board anyways so you might try to pull 'your sound' using the standard Shure SM57 first....you probably have a few of these in your bag!

 

[iceboxbass]

Totally unrelated, I've relisted my NS-2J SE-1: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f126/brand-new-spector-ns-2j-se-1-a-1025636/#post15041655

I originally pulled it as it played and sounded too good to part with, but I just found my be-all, end-all bass, a 1979 Brooklyn NS-2 w/ Aguilar P/J-HC pickups, Mighty-Mite circuit and dual series-parallel switches , and it reignited my bass/gear purge.

Excuse the terribly grainy iPhone photo, I'll take some new hi-rez family shots tomorrow

I know a few club members were interested last time I had it for sale, so anyone who is still (or newly) interested should PM me for a club price

WoW! I'd think about going back to playing 4 strings for THIS! SaWeet Bass MDBass!

A earlier post I stated that I talked to HAZ last week to order some parts and he said that they were close to catching up, BUT I talked to them about 6 or 7 months ago and he told me the same then also. With that I have been told that they are going to be pretty pricy in the range of $500 bucks.

Yeah, either someone decided to up the price dramatically because of the past demand or to slow the orders down. Probably the first...and it'll slow the orders down as well. I sure wouldn't pay that price. Especially when there's more options for less than half the price out there. Just silly. :scowl:

 

[Holdsg]

Certainly should put a damper of folks getting a Euro then modding it with the US Haz electronics.

 

[worshiprocker]

The thing is, my speaker cab (Aggie DB212) has a voice that is part of my sound. That voice is not heard through the DI. Therefore, if just using the DI for the PA, "my sound" won't be there.

I'm not saying it won't sound good. Just that it won't be "my sound". I could use the DI and a mic but I'm trying make my job easier (I usually run sound too). I did this for years with good results. But if I had a mic on the cab that would capture the full range of frequencies I could just use that and be done with it.

You could try using 2 mice, one at the outer edge of the speaker and one in the center. then just blend to taste (this might be more work than necessary. I prefer to have my cab mic'd and run a DI. If I can only choose one I've been happy with my DI tone. My cab is just a monitor anyways

There are a lot of different microphones types but you still EQ everything at the board anyways so you might try to pull 'your sound' using the standard Shure SM57 first....you probably have a few of these in your bag!

^This^

 

[johnsonabq]

There are a lot of different microphones types but you still EQ everything at the board anyways so you might try to pull 'your sound' using the standard Shure SM57 first....you probably have a few of these in your bag!

As a matter of fact Carey I do. I was wondering if I should use a mic with a frequency response below the 40hz of the SM57.

I also have a dual 15 band EQ in the rack that I run the kick through. Maybe I'll use a '57 and put the other 15 band in the channel insert of the bass guitar channel so I can EQ some lows below the 80hz shelving of the mixer.

I'm trying to get some lows but avoid adding boominess to the sound.

 

[husky123]

Hey guys,

It's been awhile since I've posted...just super slammed with work and stuff at the moment. Anyways, as some of you have noticed my white Euro is up for sale in the classifieds. As always and of course a club discount applies.

 

[puremetal33]

Hey guys,

It's been awhile since I've posted...just super slammed with work and stuff at the moment. Anyways, as some of you have noticed my white Euro is up for sale in the classifieds. As always and of course a club discount applies.

Man, what a beautiful bass. GLWTS!

 

[Jepus]

OMG That white 4LX. Want...

 

[johnsonabq]

If I can only choose one I've been happy with my DI tone. My cab is just a monitor anyways

Unless your cab is tonally neutral it will affect how you EQ your rig. (this is a moot point if you're DI is set to "pre") That's why studio monitors are designed not to color the music in any way.

Hopefully the bias induced by our cabs can be recreated at the mixing board (when using just a DI). But what if you want the cabinet's "voice" to be part of your sound? A DI only run to the board just took that out of your "sound". I spent a good chunk of $ on that cab for that voice. I want the audience to hear it too.

I'm trying to make that happen. I'm just doing this for pure pleasure so I want to sound my best for me and the audience or I just won't do the gig. Now this applies to my main band. When I do the "hired gun" gigs I just get up and do what I'm asked and make the most of it. I do those gigs just for the stage time and extra $.

Funny how a new bass (or two) motivates me to take almost any gig just so I can get up on stage and play it.

I've always been afraid of sending just my bass straight out to the board. I've had a hard time trusting the board/engineer to make my bass sound the way I want it to. I've found that the bass guitar is the last instrument in a band that a sound engineer learns to mix. I wish we could all be guys like Eddie Jackson, Mike Inez, etc... They have the luxury of their own man out front who they trust to get their sound in the mix.

As I said, I run our sound except when we can get one other guy to come and do our sound. He is also a local musician but has a sound company too. But I trust him because we go way back. He was my drummer in Della Street (back in the day) and is also the drummer for some of my hired gun gigs so he knows my sound and we have an understanding.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sorry I was so long.

 

[Torn Bassist]

As a matter of fact Carey I do. I was wondering if I should use a mic with a frequency response below the 40hz of the SM57.

I also have a dual 15 band EQ in the rack that I run the kick through. Maybe I'll use a '57 and put the other 15 band in the channel insert of the bass guitar channel so I can EQ some lows below the 80hz shelving of the mixer.

I'm trying to get some lows but avoid adding boominess to the sound.

You are a very smart man Jeff, that is a great idea! I like the DI with mic blend...and...I like it when I play a show that uses a sound company running there board, they always love the Spector so much they want to add a microphone mix with the DI, your chasing the same thing!