SPECTOR® Owners Club

[PhatBasstard]

No problem! Used to read a ton of Guitar and Bass mags when I was starting out back then, and they advertised them pretty heavily. Always remembered them because they seemed a little cheesy.



Yeah Fender was very vocal about the process. It'd be super weird if Spector was doing it on the DL.

FWIW, it wouldn't be the first time a US instrument manufacturer didn't know "exactly" what was going on with it's overseas partners.

I.E.: Spector's enlightenment about the true specs of it's Tone Pump....10 years after the fact.
Dan Lakin thought for years that his imported Skyline series had no graphite reinforcement bars like his US basses. Only to find out that the 5 string necks had them all along.

 

[heinpete]

Look at the rear strap pins - they are different!!! Holy s..., I won't sleep tonight. I can't believe they are two basses not one...

...must be different basses, look at the positions of the knobs pointing towards: only the PU-blend shows the same ...

 

[e.rich]

If those are indeed two separate basses, with near or consecutive serials, and considering the flame pattern is pretty much identical, I think we have to consider that the Czech shop is doing some undisclosed Photo Flaming.....

There's no way that happens by coincidence.

Just throwing out another, less nefarious possibility. What if the shop had a single thick piece of maple, from which they cut two tops? Think bookmatching but on two different instruments. That would produce an exact copy. Ditto on the fretboard. I'm just guessing that these are from the same run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmatching

This doppleganging (is that even a verb??) probably happens from time to time. It's just that one bass heads in one direction and the other bass heads out in the other direction, never to meet up again. And if they did, there's such a small percentage of us Spector brethren who would be able to see the similarities so it would go largely unnoticed.

All that said, that they both wound up in the same color with the same after-market Spector pre-amp swap and in the same area is just plain weird. Cool but weird.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Speaking about strap locks. Which do you guys prefer, Dunlop (dual design) or Shallers?

I prefer Schaller myself.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Back to the doppelganger... Here's another picture that the new owner sent me.
On the left is a shot form Jamie's (brotherbassj) original FB ad where I bought the bass and the right shot he took today. Just uncanny how they're the same.

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What freaks me out is the neck wood under the bridge, the center sections looks similar in contrast and then to the right the next section is light before the same pattern starts in the lower wing...this is fantastic and I'm really interested in the serial numbers, want to see how close the two are!

 

[nervous]

It's something fender and other dealers did back in the late 90s on certain instruments.

They'd basically take a photo of a piece of wood and then take a thin, transparent film/wrap and print the grain on it. They'd then apply the film/wrap to the instrument and finish over it. Generally they'd put the flames on a piece of wood that lacked a distinctive grain pattern.

I doubt Spector would stoop to that on instruments like this, but I agree the pattern similarities are uncanny.

It would REALLY suck if the Euro factory was doing this without Spector's consent, but again, doubtful.

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I ain't goin all tin foil hat on y'all but this idea has been my head from the outset. Pretty sure that's not the case because the body shape presents a unique challenge to this idea but I have spent a lot of time looking at these two, now more for differences than similarities and I am struggling to find any. I can't understand yet how his could happen.



Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[nervous]

I tweaked the pic to bring them closer in appearance.

Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

 

[heinpete]

...looking at the left screw in the A-string saddle it is obvious that we are gossiping about the identical bass... someone really as more fun than all the topic-repliers!?

 

[iceboxbass]

Especially if you're a fat guy like me

Hey, it's comfortable for us slim guys too

Man, I just looked at those pics on the large IMac screen vs IPAD mini...... I am sooooooo jealous. That bass is simply stunning. I would love to hear a sound clip. You know it's got to be just stellar the warmth that comes from that aged maple.

I cannot believe I haven't looked at these pics on our 20" iMac yet...lol Thanks Chris! After Big Blue I knew I'd have to keep the bar high If it wasn't for reeeeally wanting an older NS-2 I was really thinking hard about buying the NS-5H2 gold/black that's just stunning...it still haunts me! As soon as I receive my retirement compensation from work...ITS MINE BuWahahahahahahaha!

I'm big boned......... That's what Cartman says and I agree 100%.

Ah yes... The Milwaukee curve.

Yay or nay? (Orange strings)View attachment 478659

COOL! I just don't care for the feel of coated strings...I tried some Black Beauties once, they got switched out in 5 minutes, but to each their own, but I just love the looks of the different colored strings. I wish a string company would figure out how to infuse the color INTO the wire...that would be really cool! I'd be buying them all the time....as long as they came in Flatwounds

Proud owner of the doppleganger. Sorry for the crappy photo. I verified the pickups and preamp: DC35's + HAZ. As you guys said, it is an exact copy. I will wait on Jeremy's serial number. That aside, this thing kills! Sustain for days!

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Lets get the serial numbers and photos of these basses and I'd like to present it all to PJ for his take on it. If that $hit is going on you KNOW he's gonna want to know.

Congratulations and welcome to our family here! Thanks for coming by and showing us the "doppelgänger"...just amazing!

 

[iceboxbass]

Just throwing out another, less nefarious possibility. What if the shop had a single thick piece of maple, from which they cut two tops? Think bookmatching but on two different instruments. That would produce an exact copy. Ditto on the fretboard. I'm just guessing that these are from the same run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmatching

This doppleganging (is that even a verb??) probably happens from time to time. It's just that one bass heads in one direction and the other bass heads out in the other direction, never to meet up again. And if they did, there's such a small percentage of us Spector brethren who would be able to see the similarities so it would go largely unnoticed.

All that said, that they both wound up in the same color with the same after-market Spector pre-amp swap and in the same area is just plain weird. Cool but weird.

I believe you're onto something here E...if you think about it, being a woodworker myself, when you slice a piece of wood, the piece that it came off of, face to face, would be an exact photo copy, close to perfect match. BUT, this would either have to have someone being aware and doing this purposely or just highly by accident. Which it could very well be either. Who knows how many identical so could be out here but just because of close proximate residences we got the opportunity probably for the first time to see "Twin" Spectors.

 

[iceboxbass]

I tweaked the pic to bring them closer in appearance. View attachment 478760View attachment 478761


Sent from my iPhone using TalkBass

NOW...in this blown up version, I can see a difference in the body. Upper side of pickups in between, where it looks like an open grain spot, the bottom bass does have several vertical wood grains where the top one doesn't. Could be a lighting/angle camera shot thing but maybe not. And the vertical wood grain theme seems to carry out on that same side from the bottom up to that point, just so very faintly. I really think these two basses have face to face cuts from the same piece of wood and being they use 1/2" slices the differences would be so minuscule.

 

[evermelon]

I believe you're onto something here E...if you think about it, being a woodworker myself, when you slice a piece of wood, the piece that it came off of, face to face, would be an exact photo copy, close to perfect match. BUT, this would either have to have someone being aware and doing this purposely or just highly by accident. Which it could very well be either. Who knows how many identical so could be out here but just because of close proximate residences we got the opportunity probably for the first time to see "Twin" Spectors.

True, but the two pieces would actually be a mirror of each other so for that to have happened here, one would have to be a lefty bass

 

[iceboxbass]

Well guys...I'm going to be on the road all day today driving down to Columbus, Ohio to visit two of our adult kids for a week AND to be merged with my new to me NS-4/2 on Thursday! I will be taking my Acoustic B-20 rig with so I can play! I WILL try using my iPad using GarageBand to make a sound track of the NS-4/2. I'm really quite shy about recording myself soloing... You'd think for a guy that plays in 3 bands weekly that I wouldn't be so shy...I guess we are our own worse critics AND there's so many guys on here with amazing chops, a lot better than myself! But I'll do my best, pick out my fav song...but first, I'm seeing my surgeon for the first time after my operation. Expecting great things!
Everyone have a fabulous day! Looks like it's going to be a great day for driving 7 hours!

 

[iceboxbass]

True, but the two pieces would actually be a mirror of each other so for that to have happened here, one would have to be a lefty bass

You know what...that would be correct. DRATS! UNLESS, one photo was taken in a mirror...

 

[Torn Bassist]

True, but the two pieces would actually be a mirror of each other so for that to have happened here, one would have to be a lefty bass

Very true!

I'm guessing that they 'pre-cut' putting the upper and lower sections together to find a good match, these sections being thick get sliced for the tops of each wing and they keep them together so they reduce having to perform the 'matching' step once again and this grain was thick and didn't change between these two sections! What makes this freaky is not only are these basses the same color but two people modified the tone circuit the same way....obviously they forgot to match the strap buttons, lol.

 

[NOLA Bass]

Just throwing out another, less nefarious possibility. What if the shop had a single thick piece of maple, from which they cut two tops? Think bookmatching but on two different instruments. That would produce an exact copy. Ditto on the fretboard. I'm just guessing that these are from the same run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bookmatching

This doppleganging (is that even a verb??) probably happens from time to time. It's just that one bass heads in one direction and the other bass heads out in the other direction, never to meet up again. And if they did, there's such a small percentage of us Spector brethren who would be able to see the similarities so it would go largely unnoticed.

All that said, that they both wound up in the same color with the same after-market Spector pre-amp swap and in the same area is just plain weird. Cool but weird.

This would be my guess. They cut two maple tops from a thicker piece yielding almost identical results.

 

[anton72]

A small post-X-Ray update: I've had MRI scanning of my spine today and the doctor said I can carry on with NS-2 Basically, I have a problem but not that big to reduce bass weight and no need for surgery at least if I stick to some pre-cautions in my daily routine. Carry on, Spector growl !!!

Sooo I don't have to sell the best bass of my life NS-2 stays with me.

 

[cableguy]

A small post-X-Ray update: I've had MRI scanning of my spine today and the doctor said I can carry on with NS-2 Basically, I have a problem but not that big to reduce bass weight and no need for surgery at least if I stick to some pre-cautions in my daily routine. Carry on, Spector growl !!!

Sooo I don't have to sell the best bass of my life NS-2 stays with me.

that's awesome!!

 

[cableguy]

Well guys...I'm going to be on the road all day today driving down to Columbus, Ohio to visit two of our adult kids for a week AND to be merged with my new to me NS-4/2 on Thursday! I will be taking my Acoustic B-20 rig with so I can play! I WILL try using my iPad using GarageBand to make a sound track of the NS-4/2. I'm really quite shy about recording myself soloing... You'd think for a guy that plays in 3 bands weekly that I wouldn't be so shy...I guess we are our own worse critics AND there's so many guys on here with amazing chops, a lot better than myself! But I'll do my best, pick out my fav song...but first, I'm seeing my surgeon for the first time after my operation. Expecting great things!
Everyone have a fabulous day! Looks like it's going to be a great day for driving 7 hours!

Have a good drive and congrats on the new bass!

 

[husky123]

Hey guys,

A few clubbers have been hitting me up for sound clips on my NS 2P and I've been putting them off because I REALLY suck at recording. But, being as cool as this club is, I've been getting tons of help from guys like Sam, Omer and Cooper, etc. I still know just enough to get in trouble but I finally got a decent "take" of what the 2P sounds like live to my ear. This clip is the NS 2P direct with no effects, compression or anything. It was recording using a cheap mbox interface into GarageBand (gasp). I just did a quick improv and there are plenty of flubs/mistakes (please don't focus on those lol).

To me the 2P sounds very similar to my NS 2's but just with more of an open and airy (there's those words again) way. Sounds like a passive NS 2 honestly. As always, headphones or good speakers work best. See what you think:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/5a1ne1mrzq1zsgb/NS 2P direct.mp3?dl=0