SPECTOR® Club - Part 74

[Holdsg]

very nice, thanks for posting that

 

[superdick2112]

Question for those who might know...

I know you can spec them on new builds, but is it possible to order USA NS-style replacement bridges in chrome or black?

I'm thinking my blue NS-4 would look nice with chrome hardware, and my amber NS-2 would look cool with black hardware.

 

[Wolf Tower 5]

DUDE I know exactly what you mean. I had several arguments with our producer/engineer. But at least he preferred to have an active bass played with a pick for recording lol

I've never recorded except for personal use, but this just shocked me. I can understand if your a "studio" musician or a hired gun, and they want you to have a certain tone or look. But when your in a band, namely YOUR BAND, I would be ultra miffed off if the producer or engineer told me to change my sound. YOUR SOUND, is what got you to the studio, YOUR SOUND, is what make you unique. I understand the producer is trying to get the best out of you, just like a sports coach. But the best always use your skills and amplify them, not try to make new ones.


OOOPS. I SHOULD HAVE KEPT READING. SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE SAID THE SAME THING. I read it and was like " that's BS" and replied. Now I see others did also.

 

[iceboxbass]

That's were the judicious use of a compressor comes in. You get the aggressive tone with only a little extra volume.

Ahhhhhh, okay.

Honestly, this "standard" needs to change. Engineers go to school to manipulate sound. They should be able to work with any bass, not just a P. I absolutely hate when sound techs ask me to bring a P-bass. It's MY sound. I get to dictate how it is.

And if they hired you for your sound then that's the way it should be but if they're hiring you for your playing ability but want "that" P bass sound then that's another story. They're paying you. But I very much agree about this stereo type P bass sound needs to halt. Time to bring it to the 21st century!

 

[johnsonabq]

But I very much agree about this stereo type P bass sound needs to halt. Time to bring it to the 21st century!

I sincerely doubt that Eddie Offord told Chris Squire to go home and get your Fender Precision. LOL

... Boy did I just date myself or what.

 

[MDBass]

hah, no he actually has sold 5 million records. He is a very accomplished producer and drummer. Most notably he drummed for Alice Cooper and House of Lords and has worked on Alice cooper, Beach Boys and Megadeath albums, lol

Extra annoying...a very accomplished musician who has allowed his impressive resume to go to his head and cloud his judgment...

It's one thing for a producer to use that kind of rational on arrangement/instrumentation/melody suggestions, but tone? Especially considering you obviously know what you're looking for and are referencing a very successful modern band in the hard rock genre.

That's just pure ego.

It's always interesting to see which way the cookie crumbles, I've worked with guys like this as well as the other side of the coin...folks like Ken Scott who are just the most humble down to earth fellows, you'd never know that they produced and engineered records for The Beatles, Elton John, David Bowie, etc.

 

[johnsonabq]

^^^ This ^^^

Not that we're beating up on you Donny. I'm know you did what you could. Besides, "Stop the Bleeding" rocks!

 

[MDBass]

^^^ This ^^^

Not that we're beating up on you Donny. I'm know you did what you could. Besides, "Stop the Bleeding" rocks!

Definitely not intending to bag on Donny at all, quite the opposite.

I totally empathize with how frustrating it can be to have an ego in the producers chair, especially when they are fighting your vision on something as personal as your bass tone.

Obviously Donny has great taste...he plays hard rock using Spector's with a pick for heaven's sake, surely he knows what he's talking about

 

[johnsonabq]

Isn't it time for smperry to step in? Hmmm...

 

[bassboy01]

hah, no he actually has sold 5 million records. He is a very accomplished producer and drummer. Most notably he drummed for Alice Cooper and House of Lords and has worked on Alice cooper, Beach Boys and Megadeath albums, lol

Was this Ken Mary? Killer drummer!!!

 

[Torn Bassist]

You can have any P pickup you'd like if you order one, but the two at NAMM had the Aguilar HOT pickups and sounded absolutely killer.

Have you played the AG4P-60 pickup and if so how would you compair it to the AG4P-HOT? Can you back down the driven, distorted sound that I'm hearing, I mean it sounds cool but I want a little flexability?

 

[Torn Bassist]

Just an aside statement but a sound engineer who learned much of the trade while being our (Della Street) soundman touring in the early 90's is now Alice Cooper's FOH engineer. He has learned well.

That's great Jeff. We had a guy who ran sound for us move on to a bunch of different bands, some of the more notables are Rush...during the Rio shows, Rodger Waters..The Wall Tour, and He just worked the show out in New York with the fella that is on Spectors facebook page holding his red Coda and blue Euro.

Hey everyone...As I was changing out the Batteries for first time in a year in my Coda 5XL DLX I thought I'd shoot a picture for those who hadn't seen the Electronics cavity. It'll give you an idea of how much space there is/isn't. Peace

This is great Mike, thank you very much!

 

[MDBass]

Have you played the AG4P-60 pickup and if so how would you compair it to the AG4P-HOT? Can you back down the driven, distorted sound that I'm hearing, I mean it sounds cool but I want a little flexability?

I actually have the P/J-HC set in my vintage NS-2, and they are KILLER; a big step up in dynamics, articulation, and tonal range over the Dimarzios that were in there, I now have the classic P bass tones, Jaco style J bass burp, and iconic Spector growl all in one bass.

The HOT's are also really dynamic; they'll grit up like that when you dig in, but played politely they're still clean.

I was really impressed with how well they mimicked an upright vibe in that tone comparison; if and when I end up getting a P style Spector, I'll definitely be going with the HOT pickup.

 

[johnsonabq]

I actually have the P/J-HC set in my vintage NS-2, and they are KILLER; a big step up in dynamics, articulation, and tonal range over the Dimarzios that were in there, I now have the classic P bass tones, Jaco style J bass burp, and iconic Spector growl all in one bass.

The HOT's are also really dynamic; they'll grit up like that when you dig in, but played politely they're still clean.

I was really impressed with how well they mimicked an upright vibe in that tone comparison; if and when I end up getting a P style Spector, I'll definitely be going with the HOT pickup.

What's involved with a swap out with EMGs. Are they solder less connections too?

 

[husky123]

Obviously Donny has great taste...he plays hard rock using Spector's with a pick for heaven's sake, surely he knows what he's talking about

Exactly. Not playing a Spector in that genre is like leaving the chicken out of chicken noodle soup. You ever had just noodle soup? Boring.

 

[mancefine]

Like Carey said. I think it's that they're going for the true P-bass look and tone here. Also, maybe the reversed config works best on a two pickup bass. Once you've moved the pup into the sweet spot for a single pickup bass the split coil pup sounds best back in it's original config. IMHO

This is correct. I can't remember why exactly, but Spector originally reversed the P pickup configuration because of the spacing between the P and J pickups in their standard NS or Euro models. To my knowledge, the new Coda P's are the first Spectors ever to have just P pickups, sans any custom basses made.

 

[MDBass]

What's involved with a swap out with EMGs. Are they solder less connections too?

Unfortunately only EMG has the solder-less connections, but the original pickups were actually Dimarzios.

I had my tech handle this one, as I wanted both pickups wired for series/parallel switching and he had to pull the two conductor leads and re-solder four conductor leads...standard pickup installs I do myself, but that was a bit above my pay grade

 

[Clearwave]

Honestly, this "standard" needs to change. Engineers go to school to manipulate sound. They should be able to work with any bass, not just a P. I absolutely hate when sound techs ask me to bring a P-bass. It's MY sound. I get to dictate how it is.

Hmm, I'd be up ***** creek without a paddle since I don't own a P Bass. Most of the sound guys are thrilled when they see either any one of my Rickenbacker's or my NS2.

Joe

DUDE I know exactly what you mean. I had several arguments with our producer/engineer. But at least he preferred to have an active bass played with a pick for recording lol

You should have asked him if he's engineered records that have sold "5 million records" ...if not, his opinion is in valid, IMO.

As someone who studied audio engineering in college, I approach it the same way I approach being a bassist for hire. If it's MY project then it's MY call....if I'm hired to record a band, it's definitely their call. I might suggest something else, but ultimately it's the decision of the people cutting the check! ...just my 2 cents!

I'll chime in since I've made a living engineering/producing full time for 20 years.

Great bass players, you don't have to tell them what to play. They automatically know what tone to dial in.

It is a constant struggle to only work with the great players, but it doesn't always work out that way.:

I try to keep nice instruments around the studio. My bass collection stays on a wall there. I have 2 p basses, a 5 string modulus, and usually some Spectors, that's it. (Quite often, a Spector comes home with me at the end of the day). If a bass isn't cutting it, we'll try one off the wall. Same thing with snare drums, guitars amps, vocal mics. We work until it sounds like a record. With me, there is no "fixing it in the mix". I fix it in the mix by not recording things that don't fit in the mix. Once in a while, I'll have a guy insist on playing a instrument with a bad tone. I just deal with it and move forward, try to make it work. Usually his part gets replaced.

I'll say this about the p bass and recording. The p bass it the default sound of the electric bass. If your going for traditional tones, the p bass is where it's at. Thats why all working studio players have one. Is it boring? can be.....but then again sometimes its best for the song for the bass not to stand out and glue together the rhythm section.

P.S. I've never made a successful 5 million seller, but I have worked on 5 million failures.

Check out the dbx 160A...love mine

Honestly, these sound good are indestructible and are easy to use. I've never worked in a studio that didn't have a couple of these.

 

[johnsonabq]

Unfortunately only EMG has the solder-less connections, but the original pickups were actually Dimarzios.

I had my tech handle this one, as I wanted both pickups wired for series/parallel switching and he had to pull the two conductor leads and re-solder four conductor leads...standard pickup installs I do myself, but that was a bit above my pay grade

I was toying with the idea of trying a P/J set of HOTs in my NS2. See how they play with the 9v. They're more expensive than the EMGs aren't they. Where's the best place to go? Best Bass Gear?

 

[Torn Bassist]

I actually have the P/J-HC set in my vintage NS-2, and they are KILLER; a big step up in dynamics, articulation, and tonal range over the Dimarzios that were in there, I now have the classic P bass tones, Jaco style J bass burp, and iconic Spector growl all in one bass.

The HOT's are also really dynamic; they'll grit up like that when you dig in, but played politely they're still clean.

I was really impressed with how well they mimicked an upright vibe in that tone comparison; if and when I end up getting a P style Spector, I'll definitely be going with the HOT pickup.

Thank You for your comments and information about the dynamics of the HOT pickup...very cool!