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SPECTOR® Club - Part 73

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#202
Mr.Bassie720 said:
We gotta start 'em young! He does love music. I think all kids do, instinctively. I'm sure this has been asked a thousand times, but I'm curious. At what age did you guys start playing bass? Not piano or guitar. Bass. I started at 16 on a P-bass clone made in Japan by an American company named Hondo.
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I picked up the bass around age 13 when I noticed there were a lot of Eddie Van Halens in the neighborhood but not many Michael Anthonys. (I borrowed that from somebody, forgive me if I can't remember whom but it so fits!). Had a PBass copy made by Tanara. If I remember right it cost less than $100, which to a 13 year old seemed like a lot of money at the time. Put it down when I was around 16 due to sports related interests. In 1995 I picked up again when a friend's band who's music I liked a LOT needed a bass player. I picked up a Yamaha RBX-350II at a local shop for $275, locked myself in my room learning all their songs, got the gig and I've never looked back since :)
 
#203
I'm 44, and only been playing for the past 2 years. Spector bug bit me one year into it. I spend hours+ on most days trying to make up for lost time. Joined my first originals band two months ago, and we're hoping to get the singer situation sorted so we can start playing out soon. You guys are all inspiring, and I appreciate your knowledge & insights.
 
#204
johnsonabq said:
But soon my parents paid me to paint the house and I bought a Rick 4001 in 1973.

Fall1976_zpsa35f7980.jpg
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Great photo! So much 70's awesomeness is represented here.
 
#205
catcauphonic said:
Great photo! So much 70's awesomeness is represented here.
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Thanks. The shot is from 1976, bass bought in 1973, but the coup de grâce is the Roger Dean posters in the background. I was a big Dean fan!

cableguy said:
You can sure tell who was into Rush.....:D
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Ha ha. Actually the Rick was a result of my Chris Squire influence. I bought that Rick the year before Rush put out their first album. ;)
 
#206
Its not how long you've played, but the passion and satisfaction you get out of it. I just stumbled into Spectors as of late and was just blown away by the sound and playability. In retrospect, besides geddy and jaco, I have always gravitated towards bassists with a sound based on the spector. I've always tried to chase that tone ghost with many different flavors of basses and rigs through the years. Now I simply plug in and dial the mids on my amp to taste. I have found the holy grail.
 
#207
#208
I've got a question regarding swapping out strings:

Since they include free setups for life when you buy a bass thru them, I had BassNorthwest take the Black Beauties off & put some DR Flats on it. Since then I've swapped those flats for the GHS Precisions (at home, with ease), and soon I'll want to swap these for a set of GHS Boomers I have. My question is how much tweaking am I likely going to have to do regarding truss, saddles, etc when I make the switch to the Boomers from flats? I'm still learning about different string qualities and doing my own setups, and could just as easily take it to BNW and probably watch while they do it for me. Thoughts?

edit: Flats 55-105, Boomers 45-105 mediums
 
#211
Because of the 35"scale and active electronics I switched to a lighter gauge set than I normally play on my fiver. The I had to tweak the truss rod a little and reset the action and harmonics but this is no issue for me. I did notice the neck on my Spector was a little more sensitive to string gauge changes than my fender v, but it easily was dialed in with little effort. Once the bridges are locked they don't move. I love that. No more fingernail polish on the set screws!
 
#212
It was 1978 when I began playing bass at the age of 13. Played a Fender P knock off until I could afford the real thing with my paper route money. Played the snot out of her in local clubs and CBGB in NYC until the early 80's when I purchased a second hand Rickenbacker 4001. "Retired" from it all in 1985 or 86. Picked it back up 3 years ago. Now I'm in two bands!!

Never too old!

Sepp
 
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#213
JGbassman said:
Sorry didn't catch the flats were a little heavier on the top end. You might be able to lower the action a little on the top end if you wish. Just undo the two locking screws on the side of the bridge and drop the saddles a little to where you like your action. If its not too much you probably won't have to reset your harmonics.
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Thanks for the reply. I have not had to mess with my bridge yet, but I guess I could just go to Todd's Spector site for the walk through on how it's done.
I will learn all this stuff eventually :cool:
 
#215
johnsonabq said:
Ha ha. Actually the Rick was a result of my Chris Squire influence. I bought that Rick the year before Rush put out their first album. ;)
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After looking at the picture more I see the Chris Squire influence.......you're playing with a pick.:p A Gedy influenced guy wouldn't do that. Great shot though. If I would have started during the seventies I'm afraid any pictures of me I would have been spitting blood of flames.....:hiding:
 
#216
catcauphonic said:
I'm 44, and only been playing for the past 2 years. Spector bug bit me one year into it. I spend hours+ on most days trying to make up for lost time. Joined my first originals band two months ago, and we're hoping to get the singer situation sorted so we can start playing out soon. You guys are all inspiring, and I appreciate your knowledge & insights.
Click to expand...

Looking back I've been playing almost 30 years. But there have been a few extended hiatus during that time. Good thing is it's like riding a bike, and it's always there waiting for you.......:bassist:
 
#217
Since i was knocked down at 19 when after seeing "Pantera - 5 minutes alone" video clip, Rex Brown was smashing his NS-5XL. Cause i am not living in the USA, it took me 10 years later to buy my very 1st Spector last month.

P/S: 10 years playing bass guitar now and will never put it down.
 
#218
cableguy said:
After looking at the picture more I see the Chris Squire influence.......you're playing with a pick.:p A Gedy influenced guy wouldn't do that. Great shot though. If I would have started during the seventies I'm afraid any pictures of me I would have been spitting blood of flames.....:hiding:
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Ha ha... What's interesting is that I'm now a big Geddy fan but I still play his music with a pick. He even describes his playing style as "I play with my fingers but want to sound like I'm playing with a pick".

He has developed a very unique style of playing that I'm not about to try and learn when I can just grab a pick and pretty much cop it straight away. I'm lazy that way. ;)
 
#219
johnsonabq said:
Ha ha... What's interesting is that I'm now a big Geddy fan but I still play his music with a pick. He even describes his playing style as "I play with my fingers but want to sound like I'm playing with a pick".



He has developed a very unique style of playing that I'm not about to try and learn when I can just grab a pick and pretty much cop it straight away. I'm lazy that way. ;)
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Funny thing about Geddy's style, he often uses his index finger back and forth across one string as if he's strumming with a pick. I've been doing that for years, never knew one of my heroes did it till I saw a live clip of "Animate" and saw Geddy using the same technique. Guess I gleamed it from him without even knowing it!
 
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