SPECTOR® Club - Part 74

[Sufenta]

Here is number 1084. It's been played a lot more than yours. The Haz copy was kinda shot when I got so I put in a tone pump and new EMGs in it.

Its a nice bass, I've been playing it a lot lately. I think I'm going to switch back to the black hardware today.

Excellent pic. Had a black Ibanez Bean Bass in the 80's that I'd love to have back. Getting a Spector like this in my collection might satisfy that itch.

 

[ynot12]

I finally got around to ordering Omer's Trailight CD.

I've been streaming it on Facebook while working out the last few times and, man, what an incredible record! Thought provoking, inspirational, and just the right amount heavy. Love it!

 

[ynot12]

Also, I think Ice runs his bass at 100% and treble at 75%. That could explain a lot why the front end of that amp is getting blown up.

It could be his bass. My P-bass w/ 1/4-pounder will distort ANY cab I put it through, unless I turn the bass down on the amp. And this is with the pick-up backed up to flush with the guard.

Well that could have something to do with it! Hahaha!

 

[jnumme]

Anyone got a USA 9v haz they would like to sell ? :O

 

[iceboxbass]

This Forte SS makes me panic...S.A.S.! I already imagined how it could be customized with shaved thinner neck and "rusty worn" finish like these Warwicks custom shop ones Invalid Link Removed
of course, not the same but a sort of worn finish, making them really look doom and brutal.

Yeah, Fender is big on the "Road Worn Look" also...it's not my cup of tea I'd rather do all the wearing look myself. My wife says "Why would someone want to buy and pay more for something that looks beat up and used already?" Lol I agree with her. To each their own as they say.

This is an absolute true story.......

I first wanted to start playing bass when I was about 12-13. I heard peace sells from Megadeth and that was it. I got this really cheap Gibson SG style knock off bass and a little 10 watt practice amp. I played the crap out of it for about 2 months. I was a caddy at a local country club and was making 30-40 dollars a day in cash money. For a 13 y/o living at home and working 4-5 days a week, I was making great money. I saved up and got an Epiphone Jazz Bass. It sounded better, it stayed in tune longer also. So now I was on the look out for a bigger amp. I played with a drummer and 2 guitarists. Both guitarists had these 50 watt combo amps with dual speakers, so I need something big and loud. The store I took music lesson from sold Peavey amps and I wanted the TNT 150 bass amp and was saving up to get it................that's when gold struck. I don't want to sound stereo typical, but my father was of Jewish decent and could make a penny bleed for days. He loved going to garage and yard sales. So one day I was out with my dad and he wanted to stop by a garage sale, I wasn't really interested. But I followed him up the drive way and that when I saw it.... Theses two huge Fender cabinets with 1 - 15in speaker in each of them and a Fender BassMan Head. It had a sticker of $75 takes all. I asked if it worked and the woman selling said " I think so". My dad being the man he was said "$50 since you don't know if it works". She took it. We loaded it all up and home we went. It was sooooooo loud, I would only use one speaker. Now I could finally drown out the guitarists and the drummer. I loved that amp. I played it for almost year with no problems. By this time I was still just an idiot trying to figure out what was what in the world of bass and music. Well, one day the amp would turn on but no sound. I took it to a local shop who fixed electronics. They told me it was trashed and it would be like $300 to fix it. They said they would give me $30 for it just for parts. I ended up not selling but taking back to where I was taking lessons. The head and both cabinets. I told them where I took it to get it fixed and that they said the head was trash. The store gave me $125 towards the price of the new peavey amp. It was portable and a lot lighter to carry than the other three pieces. It was only about a month later, when I was told by someone who worked at the music store that what I had was a vintage Fender head and speakers and that the head needed new tubes, but was in perfect condition otherwise at which point I was just happy no dragging all the speakers and head around everywhere I went. I had no idea what I had until about 8 years later. It was the ultimate garage sale find and the ultimate stupid idiot kid who didn't know what he had. Now I slow down at garage sales to take a look in. Trying to find that one gem that got away from me.

To your original post. I use an SWR Workingmans 200 and a custom 4x10 ported cabinet from a local builder with Eminence 4 Ohm speakers. It gives me enough low for drop D or BEAD tuning. It seems like you can pick up an SWR 200 for like $100 just about anywhere. And you can get some real nice 2x10 cabs for about $100 also.

Cool story Wolf! Isn't that a bugger finding out too late...:scowl:

This one

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Yeah, the Forte has been PJ's baby that he created from the beginning. He looks mighty proud, as he should be too.

 

[anton72]

Also, I think Ice runs his bass at 100% and treble at 75%. That could explain a lot why the front end of that amp is getting blown up.

Besides, all MarkBass amps has no active\passive switch so you should be very careful setting EQ and Gain when first plugged in. This is one of the reason why many people with hot-output active basses (think nontrim TP!) feel disapointed when first plugging in MBs, but on the other hand you'll feel the same if you plug your active bass in "passive" input in any other amp.

 

[Tracebassplayer]

Anyone got a USA 9v haz they would like to sell ? :O

Yeah... Good luck with that!

 

[anton72]

Spector fellas who are lucky to have both Forte 4 and NS-2/4, does Forte feel heavier? I had the only chance to play Forte 4 once and it felt like on the heavy side. But actually they should weigh the same, shouldn't they?

 

[Tracebassplayer]

O, SO cleaned, Rem'ed 10" of extra battery lead, put on a set of Spector Nickel medium strings (I think), fresh 9v battery.

Now, What about this SPECTOR branded preamp ??

 

[husky123]

Spector fellas who are lucky to have both Forte 4 and NS-2/4, does Forte feel heavier? I had the only chance to play Forte 4 once and it felt like on the heavy side. But actually they should weigh the same, shouldn't they?

I've had a couple Forte's in my hands. Ho's beauty was light be it had some (ahem) work done. My Forte that e owns now was not bad, right around 10 pounds I think.

 

[jnumme]

Yeah... Good luck with that!

Lol .....I know

 

[johnsonabq]

Anyone got a USA 9v haz they would like to sell ? :O

Worth a shot huh Jody?

 

[anton72]

I've had a couple Forte's in my hands. Ho's beauty was light be it had some (ahem) work done. My Forte that e owns now was not bad, right around 10 pounds I think.

10 pounds is quite heavy. My NS-2 is around 9.

 

[Clearwave]

My Forte 4 feels heavy, about the same as the other Fortes I've played. It's heavier than the Kramer era NS2s I've played.

I doubt It's heavier than modern Woodstock NS2s but I don't know.

I love the solid feel of my Forte.

 

[Clearwave]

Now, What about this SPECTOR branded preamp ??
]

My Haz copy from NS2a #1064 is similar to yours, but it says KRAMER/ SPECTOR on it.

 

[husky123]

My Forte 4 feels heavy, about the same as the other Fortes I've played. It's heavier than the Kramer era NS2s I've played.

I doubt It's heavier than modern Woodstock NS2s but I don't know.

I love the solid feel of my Forte.

Yeah, I like the weight too. My Forte felt like I could go out back and use it to split wood.

 

[puremetal33]

Anyone got a USA 9v haz they would like to sell ? :O

Been looking a couple months with no luck. Hoping I'll unearth one around the time my new Euro build shows up.

 

[iceboxbass]

Sorry about all the late postings guys...butt deep snow yesterday and wood shedding been keeping me REEEEAAAALLLY busy.

I actually spoke with Justin from Aguilar about this at length yesterday, as they had shipped me out a set of SS and HOT J's before heading to NAMM.

Standard EMG's sound nothing like the Aguilar's, as pretty much everything about their design is different: ceramic bar magnets versus alnico pole pieces, active versus passive etc.

The EMG's are much more hi-fi sounding; compressed, scooped and bright, compared to the Aguilar's open, warmer mid grind.

As far as the Aguilar line up goes, the SS are essentially slightly overwound J pickups in larger shells; think big, fat single coil sound with extra output and an aggressive upper mid voicing.

The HOT's are the most aggressive of all of them; very overwound, with extra large pole pieces, they have the most output. Along the lines of Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounders, but with the midrange pushed up front instead of scooped out.

Hope that helps

Hmmm...the SS and Hots do sound very nice by your description.

Me too. I often wonder how the guys with multiple USA builds afford them. That's a HUGE chunk of change to drop!

When there's a Will, you find a way SELL SELL SELL

a couple more pics from the import side:
front and back of the NS-2000/5 Dan Briggs. Nice color, but this particular bass weighed 11 lbs

My former NS-2000/5 that Donny has now weighed right in @10.8# My former NS-95 was pretty close to 12#. I miss that Spector...low strings, fast neck and sounded GREAT! But when the USA Spector Forte 4 fever hit...I sold everything that I had except for my original Spector Legend 4...then I sold it eventually when I ordered the Forte 5.

I was not aware the Webster came in red, or maybe I'd never seen one before.

Yeah, not quite as exciting as the original black with red splatter Webster.

Hi guys,

Just listed an Aguilar OBP-2 in the classifieds. If any of you need one, hit me up for club discount.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f129/fs-aguilar-obp-2-onboard-preamp-1049162/

Thanks,
Tony

WoW! That sold really fast!

Ha ha... Donny, you're welcome anytime.

I've been thinking the opposite until now. Get a NS4 with 35P's in it, but this has me thinking (It always costs me money when I get like this ). Maybe a NS2 JJ w/SS or Hot J pups?

I'd like to hear what the Forte SS sounds like. Does it have an Aggie pre? I wonder what they (SS and/or Hot J) would sound like with the 9v or 18v pre's. If they are passive pups but wound hot, do they push the 9v like it needs in order to get it's "sound"?



I've been an EMG humbucker guy since 1989. But since the Spector bug bit I've been seeking a more mid forward tone. Hmmm...

Have you thought about buying a set to try? That might resolve curiosity.

Sorry. Not at show today. But others have posted excellent pics of those on here and FB. I have audition today on keys for an originals band

Good luck! I hope you get the position with that band!

Kinda violent up in Pellston,MI

Hey...it's the GREAT NORTH after all! If you're not fighting the butt deep snow, your fighting off the wolves, coyotes, Bob Cats, Cougars, deer, elk or the wife Hehehe

British Audio Service, mostly do repairs, (specialize in British amps of all types) but every once in a while they have a TE gem to sale! Edit: I went back and looked, they refurbed if for a guy that does some photo stuff for them and he ended up selling it through him, I got it with a brand new TE amp cover for 300 bucks, which has been the best money Ive ever spent.

Here she is!

And when that wont do it I have this:

Tracebassplayer knows, from his own experience with his that if this head wont do it nothing will!

Wow! VERY COOL! Puts thoughts in my head about going Trace Elliot for a try. Nice rigs you have!

Ice, I remember when you first posted about that and it still surprises me. I'm wondering if that floor model had been abused as I have not had issues with any of the 5-strings I've played on my MicroMark 801. Top quality practice amp IMO.

Being a floor model probably a safe bet, but I've never been a fan of single 8's

Also, I think Ice runs his bass at 100% and treble at 75%. That could explain a lot why the front end of that amp is getting blown up.

Yes I do most of of the time, not always though, but for that little rig I backed off to center before playing thru it. Which is what I like to do when try out various bass rigs...then make small incremental adjustments as I go. I like to find out where they sound best. When I go from my Ampeg B-15T Portaflex Fliptop at home to our churches Ampeg BA-112 I have to make adjustments to my Coda preamp. Usually less bass, more treble.

NSD alert...

Well, lemme start by saying I got this 89 NS-2A from THE ORIGINAL OWNER
It was purchased in 91 at (I forget tthename of the music store) in Boston, MA. Moved to Wyoming then to JAPAN and back to the USA.
I think it has the original strings on it. It hasn't been played much. no scrathes, buckle rash, etc. It does have a coupe nicks on the top edge of the headstock, though, and a finish crack from one of the tuner screw to the other and up to a third. not into the wood though AFAICS.

SN = N-144x ... Hey Phat, What can I get for info off the SN?


It's a ... and get this, I've never seen one like this....

Not to be confused with a cherry burst...

This is is ...FLAMED cherry burst !!!
Not completely flamed, mostly just the upper horn and upper edge of the wings. The lower wing edge not so prominent. Almost like it was going to be flamed finish and someone changed their mind but left some of the flaming on the wing.
I think it loooooks coooool.

it is light on the lemon center actually more a - I dunno what but, not so "mostly" bright yellow like the usual cherry burst, It has a really nice fade.
I've never been a "xxx burst" kinda guy but I REEEEEALY like this one. I think it's the most gorgeous burst anything I've seen.
I've taken the strings off to do a really good detailed cleaning and a setup.

But, Here's a couple pics... before the cleaning started...

Trace! That's one sick Cherryburst NS-2A! love the flaming on the upper horn and the pickups look NEW still. Congratulation on a SaWeet buy! I thought for sure you were going to be buying Carey's NS-2A.

I'm gassing pretty hard for a Trace Elliot combo to jam with for small gigs and at home now..... I had to turn down one that was distorting.

I just got home from a benefit show we played for a lady fight with breast cancer. This hits home for me as my mom is a survivor.

It was soo much fun, we got Guitar Center to donate a squier strat and all the bands signed it. We raised $1500 and it was just a great night! hopefully some pictures will surface sooner than later. Just thought I would share with you all.

That's pretty awesome Donny! Benefits are a lot of fun to do.
BTW, how is your mom doing? I pray she's doing well and the cancer is gone. I used to be on her update page but haven't heard anything in a long time.

Awesome job Donny. I'll shoot you a PM. In April I'll be at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the yearly FireFighter convention. They do a "pink heels" benefit for cancer patients and survivors. I'll grab some T-Shirts for you and your mom. They travel all across the country in Pink Fire Trucks delivering flowers, shirts and support to all those battling cancer. They are actually based out of Phoenix , AZ. It a very impressive display of support when 7-10 pink Fire trucks show up at your door and have acknowledgement of the battle people go through fighting cancer. You can request a stop whenever they are in the area. The 2014 tour schedule isn't out, so get your names in now. Link Removed
We all know someone or some of us have battled cancer, it's evil, it's sly, it's clever, you've got to go after those little parasites with every ounce of fight in you.

View attachment 389437View attachment 389438

Outstanding!

So, I see a few differences in my 2 Haz Copy preamps...
both say E2-003A behind the battery hold down.. The one outside the cavity says KRAMER an DC-1-VO

but, I can't see... wait...hold the phone..
The one IN the bass says SPECTOR...?????? and 3-V-O

The Haz copy that's not installed looks like it has bigger capacitors and beefier components on the board.

My 2nd bass was an Aria Pro II SB II Elite...the Rudy Sarzo sig model. I picked it up in 1989. I swear the first 5 frets were each 2" apart! Peavey ended up making an almost-identical model for Rudy when he switched to them.
Rudy's move to Spector is definitely an evolution; I know it was for me! I traded that Aria for my first Spector (NS-4CR) in 1997, and I haven't owned another brand since!

Oh, and speaking of Dio...

View attachment 389447

COOL pic! Nice of Radio Shack

Here is number 1084. It's been played a lot more than yours. The Haz copy was kinda shot when I got so I put in a tone pump and new EMGs in it.

Its a nice bass, I've been playing it a lot lately. I think I'm going to switch back to the black hardware today.

OMG! That's so beautiful in Black with gold!

 

[Tracebassplayer]

What bridge is on that black NS-2A?

 

[iceboxbass]

Besides, all MarkBass amps has no active\passive switch so you should be very careful setting EQ and Gain when first plugged in. This is one of the reason why many people with hot-output active basses (think nontrim TP!) feel disapointed when first plugging in MBs, but on the other hand you'll feel the same if you plug your active bass in "passive" input in any other amp.

Yep that's correct...not my first rodeo though.