SPECTOR® Owners Club

[SLaPiNFuNK]

...and that's why my Forte SS with Aguilar Super Doubles has no preamp. The passive tone of these pickups is so good you need nothing to tweak.

Hence why I have been playing my Coda in Passive Mode mainly It has Super Doubles

 

[Torn Bassist]

Yes. it sounds like physically playing the Fender will feel similar. So if the Fender feels good, the Coda probably will. I think I have also heard the
Coda neck is a little less bulky. So that will be a plus also.

With my Coda P I wanted the 1.625 neck width as I've got long fingers so it's definatly a P without any shave. Also, the original Aguilar pickup and Obp2 with passive didn't work for me so Spector installed an active EMG P and Aguilar Obp3 for me.

 

[4stringer711]

One thing that I came to realization after I had my Coda 5 for 2 years was how much I really missed the comfort, fit and the NT smooth tone a lot. I was into the Coda but not as much as my former NS Spector body basses. If you decide to try the waters of the Coda, may I suggest trying out one of the less expensive Coda Pro models.
Best of luck to you!

Thanks for the tip. That's my biggest concern. I've only played an NS for 15 years, but I am exploring the possibility of trading for a Coda. But I'm afraid I will miss the NS shape.
So many beautiful instruments, but I can't have them all.

 

[backtobass]

Hey all. I was trying to find out any specs on the NS2a necks and cant seem to find any solid info. I know the necks are different. I have a Euro and the neck is more P-bassy. But then I have a Legend X that's got a little thinner front to back profile and I really like the play. Maybe even a little more than the Euro. Is that what the NS2a's are like? I'd love to find a used Doug Wimbish to try, but so far that white whale has eluded me.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Hey all. I was trying to find out any specs on the NS2a necks and cant seem to find any solid info. I know the necks are different. I have a Euro and the neck is more P-bassy. But then I have a Legend X that's got a little thinner front to back profile and I really like the play. Maybe even a little more than the Euro. Is that what the NS2a's are like? I'd love to find a used Doug Wimbish to try, but so far that white whale has eluded me.

My NS2A is a no serial number bass that was one of the first made, prior to the EMG Select pickups being named EMG Spector and before the neck volute was added plus I've got the American case....the neck is 1.625 with a thin front to back which means it roughly 1/16" thinner!

 

[tomydacat]

Does anyone have any first hand stories playing a Coda vs a Fender. Not in tone, but in feel, body size, neck, etc.

I have only ever played an NS but like the look of the Coda. There is no place local to check one out. I am house sitting a Fender Jazz for a few weeks over Christmas and and trying to see if they feel similar for comparison purposes. Thanks.

IMO the Coda I had played like butter. Fenders usually have a poly finish on it . Mine was sanded smooth as butter and very fast. Also no dead notes . Frets great from top to bottom. The only one I fender I can compare it to is my MIJ 66 reissue very well built . My 93 longhorn is the thinnest jazz I have played and 22 frets .

 

[backtobass]

My NS2A is a no serial number bass that was one of the first made, prior to the EMG Select pickups being named EMG Spector and before the neck volute was added plus I've got the American case....the neck is 1.625 with a thin front to back which means it roughly 1/16" thinner!

Its amazing that 1/16" can make such a feel difference.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Its amazing that 1/16" can make such a feel difference.

Yeah, I guess it has a lot to do with a C versus D shape as well.

 

[backtobass]

Right. It really is the shape. And I guess I never looked up that a Euro LX like I have has a 1.64 width compared to the Legend's 1.57. I know the DWs are 1.5 . All seem to have the same radius of 16". All these numbers never seem to mean much though until I actually wrap my fingers around the neck. I'm just trying to get an idea of what the NS2a is going to feel like. It sounds like it would be more like my Legend than my Euro, but still not as slim as a DW. .

 

[MDBass]

...and that's why my Forte SS with Aguilar Super Doubles has no preamp. The passive tone of these pickups is so good you need nothing to tweak.

Hence why I have been playing my Coda in Passive Mode mainly It has Super Doubles

My Coda PMM is also totally passive

 

[MDBass]

I've had and played both the Coda and Fenders. The Coda is really close to the look, feel and playability. But sounds and plays much better. Lower string playing action than all Fenders I've played. Though the Squire Matt Freeman's sig edition P bass body seemed to be thinner front to back and much lighter than the Coda, weighing 7.4#. One thing that I came to realization after I had my Coda 5 for 2 years was how much I really missed the comfort, fit and the NT smooth tone a lot. I was into the Coda but not as much as my former NS Spector body basses. If you decide to try the waters of the Coda, may I suggest trying out one of the less expensive Coda Pro models.
Best of luck to you!

I was actually pretty unimpressed with the Coda Pro line; they're light and play fine, but the stock pickups and electronics left a lot to be desired.

 

[iceboxbass]

Thanks for the tip. That's my biggest concern. I've only played an NS for 15 years, but I am exploring the possibility of trading for a Coda. But I'm afraid I will miss the NS shape.
So many beautiful instruments, but I can't have them all.

Since you've been playing the NS body for 15 years you will definitely miss it. Hence, if you can afford a used Coda Pro which are available for $400-500, that way you can still have your NS Spector as well. Just a thought...FWIW I've been playing with the thought of picking up a used Coda Pro myself. Check GC used Spector page.

 

[iceboxbass]

Hey all. I was trying to find out any specs on the NS2a necks and cant seem to find any solid info. I know the necks are different. I have a Euro and the neck is more P-bassy. But then I have a Legend X that's got a little thinner front to back profile and I really like the play. Maybe even a little more than the Euro. Is that what the NS2a's are like? I'd love to find a used Doug Wimbish to try, but so far that white whale has eluded me.

Our club at one time back several years ago was NS-2A rich. I owned an early 87 NS-2A, and I'd say the neck was very close to the Legend 4 Classic I once had, front to back thinness, but shaped differently. The NS-2A had more of a C shape neck. Both necks were easy and very fast players. Since you're pleased with your Legend X neck I believe that you'll be very happy with the NS-2A neck as well.

 

[iceboxbass]

I was actually pretty unimpressed with the Coda Pro line; they're light and play fine, but the stock pickups and electronics left a lot to be desired.

That's good to know Matt, thanks. Sounds like an easy fix by swapping out the pickups for a better passive pickup and forget the preamp all together and take it out. How was the fit and finish on the Pro model that you had Matt?

 

[iceboxbass]

Hey...Check out this beautiful NS-2JA-R on GC! Not a bad price! Very RARE woodgrain body pattern for these.
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[iceboxbass]

Ok, one more and I'll stop...I PROMISE Anyone looking to jump into a USA built Spector Forte 4...here's a used one at GC.
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[jack7265]

Thanks for the tip. That's my biggest concern. I've only played an NS for 15 years, but I am exploring the possibility of trading for a Coda. But I'm afraid I will miss the NS shape.
So many beautiful instruments, but I can't have them all.

FWIW, my first Spector was a Coda 4 DLX. Thereafter, I bought Spector basses with NS body shapes. After getting used to the NS body shape, I prefered it over the Coda body shape. Also, the Coda body shape began to feel out of place after playing an NS body shape for a while. I ended up selling the Coda 4 DLX after settling on the NS body shape. Others have said that they have no problem going from the NS to the Coda body shape, so don't go only on my opinion in making your decision. The best advice would be to actually try a Coda body style and make your own decision.

 

[grimmchaos]

Ok, one more and I'll stop...I PROMISE Anyone looking to jump into a USA built Spector Forte 4...here's a used one at GC.
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I would stay away from that one.. there are a few finish issues with it. I actually purchased it and returned it locally to my GC. It was a great sounding and playing bass, but there were some issues with the finish under the top coat that bugged the crap out of me for the price. They weren't willing to knock money off and then relisted it again without making any mention of the finish problems, even though they were as upset as I was at how the original store listed the bass.

I returned it then decided to wait for either a mint one to show up in the classifieds or order a brand new one (I ended up ordering a new one last month).

 

[MDBass]

That's good to know Matt, thanks. Sounds like an easy fix by swapping out the pickups for a better passive pickup and forget the preamp all together and take it out. How was the fit and finish on the Pro model that you had Matt?

Never owned one, just played them at NAMM and BPL; pickup swapped and removal of the pre is certainly route I'd go if I bought one though.

 

[iceboxbass]

I would stay away from that one.. there are a few finish issues with it. I actually purchased it and returned it locally to my GC. It was a great sounding and playing bass, but there were some issues with the finish under the top coat that bugged the crap out of me for the price. They weren't willing to knock money off and then relisted it again without making any mention of the finish problems, even though they were as upset as I was at how the original store listed the bass.

I returned it then decided to wait for either a mint one to show up in the classifieds or order a brand new one (I ended up ordering a new one last month).

Whoa! That's really good to know. Thank you for letting our club know about this Forte 4.