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SPECTOR® Club - Part 72

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#741
johnsonabq said:
I love unlined fretless. If I owned one I would want it unlined, except I'm afraid I'd never figure out how to play it. :help: :D
Click to expand...

It's not too bad. The side dot markers are very helpful so it wouldn't take you long to get used to it. I had stopped playing for 10 years and the first bass I bought was an unlined fretless which sounds a bit nuts but I was used to it in a matter of days. This was after not even picking up a bass in a long time so for someone that has been playing for a while, it won't be bad.
 
#742
delucajohn2000 said:
It's not too bad. The side dot markers are very helpful so it wouldn't take you long to get used to it. I had stopped playing for 10 years and the first bass I bought was an unlined fretless which sounds a bit nuts but I was used to it in a matter of days. This was after not even picking up a bass in a long time so for someone that has been playing for a while, it won't be bad.
Click to expand...

Cool... The SAS is building... :D

***edit***
I have a saved search on ebay for Spector fretless. We'll see.
 
#744
yeldarb69 said:
Quick question.I traded for phats Forte after playing Euros for the last eight years.I must be so used to the Euro models that the Forte just feels weird(to me).I have been spending a lot of time with it but we just ain't jelling,am i crazy ? The bass sounds amazing and i would prefer not to sell it,but i would prefer to have a bass that is comfortable for me to play.I have had at least 20 Euro models and never had this problem.
Click to expand...

johnsonabq said:
Is it the neck? I hear the necks are thicker than Euros on the Fortes and all USAs unless you ask for the shaved neck. (which I don't think you can to with the Forte)

Keep working with it. You'll probably get used to it.
Click to expand...


I felt the same way. My experience is similar. The first Spectors I played were Euros, the necks on them were pretty consistent. Chunky, but with traditional round C type profiles. I could have gotten used to them eventually, but I had Phil Jacoby shave them down for me. A few months down the line, the US Spector bug hit and hit hard. Spector Godfather Sam Cerami got me an insane price on a NOS Forte-4. Back then he was known as the Spector Pimp! Before the bass arrived I had ordered a US 9V circuit, those were the good old days LOL. When the bass arrived the first thing I noticed was that the neck was substancial. Technically speaking it was not huge front to back. The reason for this was that the neck had a flat profile. Like a squished D. I could have gotten used to it, but when you have one of the best luthiers on the East coast close by, why bother? Phil Jacoby to the rescue once again. Most of the material that he removed was from the "shoulders". It's not crazy thin now, but it is crazy comfortable. I understand that the newer model Fortes are beefy but rounder than the earlier ones.

photo-147.jpg


photo-146.jpg
 
#745
johnsonabq said:
I love unlined fretless. If I owned one I would want it unlined, except I'm afraid I'd never figure out how to play it. :help: :D
Click to expand...

My fretless is lined but its a cheep bass so I can learn how to play plus I didn't know if I would like the fretless and would want to dump it, the only problem with the lined neck is my brain was wanting me to play the silly thing in the center like a fretted bass rather than closer to the line so it will be in tune! lol The next fretless will be without lines that's for sure!!!
 
#747
Mr.Bassie720 said:
I felt the same way. My experience is similar. The first Spectors I played were Euros, the necks on them were pretty consistent. Chunky, but with traditional round C type profiles. I could have gotten used to them eventually, but I had Phil Jacoby shave them down for me. A few months down the line, the US Spector bug hit and hit hard. Spector Godfather Sam Cerami got me an insane price on a NOS Forte-4. Back then he was known as the Spector Pimp! Before the bass arrived I had ordered a US 9V circuit, those were the good old days LOL. When the bass arrived the first thing I noticed was that the neck was substancial. Technically speaking it was not huge front to back. The reason for this was that the neck had a flat profile. Like a squished D. I could have gotten used to it, but when you have one of the best luthiers on the East coast close by, why bother? Phil Jacoby to the rescue once again. Most of the material that he removed was from the "shoulders". It's not crazy thin now, but it is crazy comfortable. I understand that the newer model Fortes are beefy but rounder than the earlier ones.

photo-147.jpg


photo-146.jpg
Click to expand...

This is very cool.....I was going to say that I like my NS2A profile (which is the Kramer neck) and noticed the beefy necks on my NS2 basses when I got them...but...I'm liking them more as I play them and with my long fingers I think they will be just fine!
 
#748
There is a fretless Euro LX sitting in a store nearby for quite some time now, several years, and it has a special magic. I am a bit frightened that I won't be able to play a fretless... but the SAS is there. It sounds awesome, plays awesome and feels very good. Tons of Mojo. I guess the fretless players usually don't look for that Spector tone when buying a fretless, but either this bass or a fretless Wal - if I ever choose to enter fretlessland.
 
#749
djaxup said:
There is a fretless Euro LX sitting in a store nearby for quite some time now, several years, and it has a special magic. I am a bit frightened that I won't be able to play a fretless... but the SAS is there. It sounds awesome, plays awesome and feels very good. Tons of Mojo. I guess the fretless players usually don't look for that Spector tone when buying a fretless, but either this bass or a fretless Wal - if I ever choose to enter fretlessland.
Click to expand...

You can but try. Buy iiiiiiiit!
 
#750
johnsonabq said:
Is it the neck? I hear the necks are thicker than Euros on the Fortes and all USAs unless you ask for the shaved neck. (which I don't think you can to with the Forte)

Keep working with it. You'll probably get used to it.
Click to expand...

It is not only the neck,but it is a little heavier and i can feel it after standing for 45 minutes.I am getting to old for that !!! HaHa.I am not gonna put it in the classifieds yet,but if someone in the club knows someone,or is interested,pm me.
 
#751
yeldarb69 said:
Quick question.I traded for phats Forte after playing Euros for the last eight years.I must be so used to the Euro models that the Forte just feels weird(to me).I have been spending a lot of time with it but we just ain't jelling,am i crazy ? The bass sounds amazing and i would prefer not to sell it,but i would prefer to have a bass that is comfortable for me to play.I have had at least 20 Euro models and never had this problem.
Click to expand...
I bonded with my Forte 4 as soon as I lifted it from the case. I don't believe that a person needs to make yourself like a bass...either you do or you don't. IMHO My 2cents :D
johnsonabq said:
I love unlined fretless. If I owned one I would want it unlined, except I'm afraid I'd never figure out how to play it. :help: :D
Click to expand...
I too love the looks of the unlined fretless...that was my wish when I started looking this week but everything unlined was out of reach dollar wise. And like Carey, I wanted to spend a little less until I find out it's for me. Try one Jeff, go for it! :bassist:
delucajohn2000 said:
It's not too bad. The side dot markers are very helpful so it wouldn't take you long to get used to it. I had stopped playing for 10 years and the first bass I bought was an unlined fretless which sounds a bit nuts but I was used to it in a matter of days. This was after not even picking up a bass in a long time so for someone that has been playing for a while, it won't be bad.
Click to expand...
That's what I always figured also...I wasn't concerned about having lines to gage by. I don't look at the frets as it is now, I look at the side marker dots. John, what fretless bass did you play? Did you end up selling it? Did you enjoy it? :)
johnsonabq said:
Cool... The SAS is building... :D

***edit***
I have a saved search on ebay for Spector fretless. We'll see.
Click to expand...
GOOD for you Jeff!:bassist: Can't deny the fretless bug going around.:ninja:;):D
Torn Bassist said:
My fretless is lined but its a cheep bass so I can learn how to play plus I didn't know if I would like the fretless and would want to dump it, the only problem with the lined neck is my brain was wanting me to play the silly thing in the center like a fretted bass rather than closer to the line so it will be in tune! lol The next fretless will be without lines that's for sure!!!
Click to expand...
Hmmm...never thought about that aspect but I try to play close to the frets mostly. I go by intonation anyways, what my ears are hearing.
djaxup said:
There is a fretless Euro LX sitting in a store nearby for quite some time now, several years, and it has a special magic. I am a bit frightened that I won't be able to play a fretless... but the SAS is there. It sounds awesome, plays awesome and feels very good. Tons of Mojo. I guess the fretless players usually don't look for that Spector tone when buying a fretless, but either this bass or a fretless Wal - if I ever choose to enter fretlessland.
Click to expand...
Is it lined fretless? GO FOR IT! You know you want to. Why be agonized? :ninja::D
yeldarb69 said:
It is not only the neck,but it is a little heavier and i can feel it after standing for 45 minutes.I am getting to old for that !!! HaHa.I am not gonna put it in the classifieds yet,but if someone in the club knows someone,or is interested,pm me.
Click to expand...
My former Forte 4 weighed 8.5#. How heavy is yours? LimaGuy and I got our former Forte 4s at the same time and if my memory serves me correctly, we both were pleasantly surprised how comfortable the necks were. More of a flat D shape. My former Forte 5 had even a flatter and thinner neck. Very comfortable and fast neck.
 
#752
It's new bass day for me! :hyper: It has been 1 year to the month and almost the day, since I've received a bass, let a lone new. Sorry, it's not a beloved Spector, though I wish, but it's my very first fretless. It wasn't in the cards this time around...if I take to fretless, which I don't have any reason otherwise, there will be a Spector fretless/unlined in the future. :bassist:
 
#753
A question to the Tone Pumpers: where do you tend to set your trim pot? I set mine pretty low but noticed a more tame sound, not only lower volume but less harshness. I like harshness ;)
So where does everybody set their TP trim pot?


It is unlined, and i guess I would go for an unlined anways. Love the looks of an unlined fretboard. I am no fretboard looker anyways... I try to always look somewhere else when praticing so I don't get used to it too much.

Here it is:

http://www.cmsme.de/epages/62030644.sf/de_DE/?ObjectPath=/Shops/62030644/Products/280000
 
#754
#759
djaxup said:
A question to the Tone Pumpers: where do you tend to set your trim pot? I set mine pretty low but noticed a more tame sound, not only lower volume but less harshness. I like harshness ;)
So where does everybody set their TP trim pot?
Click to expand...

I set mine about halfway, that way, I can switch between Spectors and non-spector (blasphemy, I know) basses on a gig without much tweaking needed of my amp.
 
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