SPECTOR® Club - Part 73

[Tracebassplayer]

Okay, here's a horror story for all of you.
Upon further inspection, I notice a big crack down the front of the bass body:

Heres the back, the crack doesn't go around the top of the body but continues more then halfway down the back of the body:

There are several small cracks
I think it happened from being loaded onto the truck for delivery in the -40 … Again :scowl:

Over the last several years I notice that it seems this kind of damage always happens in winter. So I'd say your correct. The cracks are a result of too fast of a temp change.
I'm sorry this happened to you. It really sucks when you buy anything and it arrives damaged. More so on a dream bass from Spector.

 

[dukeisdog]

Over the last several years I notice that it seems this kind of damage always happens in winter. So I'd say your correct. The cracks are a result of too fast of a temp change.

I just can't see what else would make 5 significant cracks like that. I don't know how deep they are but maybe they could be buffed out or something somehow. Again, I'm not too excited about that but after waiting so long for another Green Euro to show up and missing how ever many I missed, I kinda want my search to be over. I'll have to wait and see what the seller says but I've gotta say, cracks aside, it's a great bass and I really can hardly feel the neck cracks. It's more about them being there and what they could do long term to my bass.

 

[Clearwave]

Do you think these cracks happened after you opened the case?

 

[D.A.R.K.]

So sorry to see that, no box is pure negligence- the peanuts inside make it seem like the seller never boxed it in the first place. I hope you can get a refund or refinish.

 

[dukeisdog]

Do you think these cracks happened after you opened the case?

Definitely not. It actually wasn't too cold here today, maybe -15 tops, compared to -34 without windchill. Like I said, I waited a good 35 or 40 minutes to open the case and was very anxious. I wanted to open it while the driver was there but heard the horror stories of the finishes cracking. Theres actually a thread about it on the first page.

Like I said, my tracking info told me that the bass was out for delivery several times this past week but it never reached my house. I finally got fed up with it and didn't want to wait over the weekend again and possibly not even get it monday, so I made a trip down there to pick it up and it was actually out for delivery. I think it was on the truck for a full day or two of driving and taken back into the warehouse because the weather/time permitted the driver to complete the route.

I explained to UPS SEVERAL times that it was an expensive guitar (didn't want to confuse them with the word bass) that couldn't keep going through temperature changes like that. They told me it was in the warehouse, then couldn't locate it anymore.

 

[dukeisdog]

So sorry to see that, no box is pure negligence- the peanuts inside make it seem like the seller never boxed it in the first place. I hope you can get a refund or refinish.

Yeah, I agree that it's not the way to ship an expensive bass like this and am definitely looking forward to the response from the seller. Does anyone know what a refinish on a Euro 5 would cost? I would really like to keep it a gloss green.

 

[Wolf Tower 5]

Okay, here's a horror story for all of you.



I wake up in the morning after being promised via telephone a delivery of my bass last night to check my tracking information and see that it hasn't changed. I called to confirm that the bass was at the UPS depot like my tracking info told me and they had to call the location and get somebody to call me back 'within the hour'. Well two hours go by and I call back to find out that nobody left a note to call me back so I was really disappointed with that. I spoke to another person who said the same thing, and didn't get a call back again, so I decided to head down there and figure out what was going on for myself.





So I get there to a huge line, and only one guy working and running into the back to get to the packages, which was clearly holding up the line big time. Eventually its my turn and I give the guy my tracking number and ask him whats going on with my package, and he has to go in the back to look for it. Comes back maybe 15 minutes later, and says its out for delivery



So eventually I leave after speaking to the guy working there for a few minutes to wait at home for my promised package again. It finally gets here, and after letting it warm up I finally opened up the case to my beautiful green Euro 5LX!

Upon further inspection, I notice a big crack down the front of the bass body:

Heres the back, the crack doesn't go around the top of the body but continues more then halfway down the back of the body:

There are several small cracks in the back of the neck, also:

Sorry for the long post but I'm really not too sure what to do here.. I finally got my dream bass, and of course this happens, but there's nothing I can do with it, just kinda have to let it sort itself out. I have before pictures in the sellers shop and the bass is in mint shape, I do trust that he sent it out in good shape and this happened in shipping. I think it happened from being loaded onto the truck for delivery in the -40 degree weather then taken off because they didn't have time to deliver to my place. This happened several times and I'm really disappointed with UPS right now.



It looks great aside from the cracks in the finish and the flaming in the finish looks killer compared to my dark Blue 5LX that I also love so much. I sent a message to the seller and most likely won't hear back until tomorrow during the day, so I guess now I play the waiting game… Again :scowl:

Dude..........THAT SUCKS. I would see if you can get enough out of the claim to have Pat Wilkens refinish it. They say he's the best in the business.

 

[djaxup]

Sounds like the trim level on your Pre might be too high, try backing it off with that little white/blue screw on the pre-amp.

I meddled with the trim a lot, it does not change the phenomenon at all, apart from making it quieter/louder of course.

 

[awilkie84]

I meddled with the trim a lot, it does not change the phenomenon at all, apart from making it quieter/louder of course.

Wiring issue, then. I'd pull the pickups, make sure the leads are seated properly. Then, pull the schematics up for the TP wiring & see if there's anything wrong.

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

That's awesome. Congratulations!!

Thanks!

Woot Woot Congrats Kyle!

Thanks!!

Yes! Great Kyle. Now comes the fun part, putting together the order. The wait is hard but worth every second. Can't wait to see your new baby!

Man, the wait is the worst part! Last time it was 2 months delayed (other more important builds for a show were going on) and I was itching so damn much!!

Floppy, huh? Isn't the KBX just the Kellybird CBX series? I have a CBXV and it's definitely not floppy. What gauge/brand are you running? I have D'Addario XL 45-130 on mine (5 string model)

It's the Kelly, no bird.

One of my favorite looking basses. The B is floppy as hell, it's 34" scale after all.

AWESOME we need more Spector 6'ers in here, 6-string Spectors are so cool!

Mine's only a Legend (but Mark of StS did modify it with EMG-X's and a BQC so its got the tone at least!) but it's so freakin classy, can't wait to see the mock-up of your 6LX order!

I can't wait to see the mockup either! 6 strings Spectors are awesome, the bassist from Dissipate plays a Legend 6 I think and man. It's awesome looking/sounding


[DEL]TraceBassPlayer[/DEL] dukeisdog: sorry about your green Euro dude, that just sucks.

 

[Tracebassplayer]

I just can't see what else would make 5 significant cracks like that. I don't know how deep they are but maybe they could be buffed out or something somehow.
It's more about them being there and what they could do long term to my bass.

If you look back through the threads during the winter months you'll see other Spector basses with the exact same cracks in the neck and body.
It seems to only effect the high gloss finishes as far as I remember from the pics like yours that I've seen. It is caused from warming up to fast.

They are only finish deep and do not go into the wood. It's the finish that can't evidently handle fast changes in temperature.
It can be fixed but, Unfortunately, it's NOT an easy fix. It would have to be stripped and refinished, IIRC. It sucks I know...
The high gloss greens like yours always make me think of Apple Jolly Rancher candy... YUM!

 

[Tracebassplayer]

So sorry to see that, no box is pure negligence- the peanuts inside make it seem like the seller never boxed it in the first place. I hope you can get a refund or refinish.

Actually, if it's not the Spector case that is form fitting the bass... I'd pack it full of peanuts to help cushion it and keep it from banging around inside the case inside the box with peanuts around the case.
The fact that there was no shipping label on the case when it arrived tells me it WAS boxed at one time.
The real question is - If there was no Shipper label on the case, HOW DID THE DRIVER KNOW WHERE TO DELIVER IT TO.

Maybe the driver figured out what it was, took it out of the box and played for a few days, then delivered it but couldn't find the box. maybe his wife tossed the box? That would explain him knowing what the delivery address was.

 

[Tracebassplayer]

TraceBassPlayer: sorry about your green Euro dude, that just sucks.

That is dukeisdog's bass, not mine.

 

[Betrayer_Bass]

That is dukeisdog's bass, not mine.

My bad, must have read the SN from a quoted post. Fixed...

 

[dukeisdog]

Actually, if it's not the Spector case that is form fitting the bass... I'd pack it full of peanuts to help cushion it and keep it from banging around inside the case inside the box with peanuts around the case.
The fact that there was no shipping label on the case when it arrived tells me it WAS boxed at one time.
The real question is - If there was no Shipper label on the case, HOW DID THE DRIVER KNOW WHERE TO DELIVER IT TO.

Maybe the driver figured out what it was, took it out of the box and played for a few days, then delivered it but couldn't find the box. maybe his wife tossed the box? That would explain him knowing what the delivery address was.

Yeah, who really knows. It wouldn't surprise me, really, with the issues I had with the tracking info the past few days.

I have the box that my Rex 5 shipped in and can assure everyone that my green euro box is missing at least half of the shipping labels. The driver had a piece of paper dated the 8th which is totally incorrect, they should have the date of the first delivery attempt which would've been the 3rd. Some things not right here, and I'm gonna get to the bottom of it. I just know it's going to be a frustrating process.

 

[tomydacat]

Can the clear coat on the green just be sanded down to make it a flat or matte finish?

 

[dukeisdog]

Can the clear coat on the green just be sanded down to make it a flat or matte finish?

This is kinda what I was thinking, and actually may think it could help bring out the flaming in the maple a bit more, but I could be wrong about that.

The only issue is that the whole bass would have to be sanded as the marks run pretty much all the way down the neck. Can anyone that's gotten a refinish done hit me with a ballpark estimate? I know it's kinda tough but it would be nice to kinda have an idea. I think I remember reading somewhere that a refin would cost around $400, which doesn't seem too bad considering it's a high end neck thru bass, but if I knew I was gonna go this route I would've bought an identical blue euro and just got it refinished in green.

 

[Envincibal]

I ran into an issue with my US/SSD with FedEx... I ended up getting a quote from Cue at Gerhards Guitarworks, and in the end FedEx paid for the damage and Cue worked some magic and you could never tell the bass was damaged

PM me if you want more details

Jon

Okay, here's a horror story for all of you.

I wake up in the morning after being promised via telephone a delivery of my bass last night to check my tracking information and see that it hasn't changed. I called to confirm that the bass was at the UPS depot like my tracking info told me and they had to call the location and get somebody to call me back 'within the hour'. Well two hours go by and I call back to find out that nobody left a note to call me back so I was really disappointed with that. I spoke to another person who said the same thing, and didn't get a call back again, so I decided to head down there and figure out what was going on for myself.

So I get there to a huge line, and only one guy working and running into the back to get to the packages, which was clearly holding up the line big time. Eventually its my turn and I give the guy my tracking number and ask him whats going on with my package, and he has to go in the back to look for it. Comes back maybe 15 minutes later, and says its out for delivery

So eventually I leave after speaking to the guy working there for a few minutes to wait at home for my promised package again. It finally gets here, and after letting it warm up I finally opened up the case to my beautiful green Euro 5LX!

Sorry for the long post but I'm really not too sure what to do here.. I finally got my dream bass, and of course this happens, but there's nothing I can do with it, just kinda have to let it sort itself out. I have before pictures in the sellers shop and the bass is in mint shape, I do trust that he sent it out in good shape and this happened in shipping. I think it happened from being loaded onto the truck for delivery in the -40 degree weather then taken off because they didn't have time to deliver to my place. This happened several times and I'm really disappointed with UPS right now.

It looks great aside from the cracks in the finish and the flaming in the finish looks killer compared to my dark Blue 5LX that I also love so much. I sent a message to the seller and most likely won't hear back until tomorrow during the day, so I guess now I play the waiting game… Again :scowl:

 

[Torn Bassist]

I may end up getting my money back and using it towards my Custom Green Rebop 5 build with the maple neck and black inlays. It was going to be a one of a kind build but I just couldn't make it happen, and then I found a green Euro and had my mind set on it. It would just be the wait time on a custom build that would kill me but I know it would be worth it in the end, if it can get here safely.

Maybe the insurance will cover a refinish on this bass!

 

[Holdsg]

Wilkins will refin a bass for between $400 and $500. I have never asked him how much just to re-poly a bass.