SPECTOR® Owners Club

[fibz]

I'm likely going to avoid the "X" series route so as to maintain the traditional level of compression I'm used to with EMGs. So either their standard PJ set or PJA for warmer treble.

Where can one find a 9v Haz or clone preamp?

There are two clones I'm using, either from @SNCpre or @BaZZZZZ.
Since you mentioned you're bass is not a Spector, I believe a standard SNC Haz Clone (which has a fixed knob layout) would be difficult - but I think Sheldon could make it custom. The Baz THB3 is also a great sounding small alternative. No idea about how postal services from Russia are affected by the current situation though.
A great sounding pre with plenty much growl is also imho the EMG BTS with the right settings set via dip switches. Not expensive and fairly good available everywhere.
I've posted my preamp samples before but here it is again. The Spector used here is a Euro LX with PJ pickups with DR DDT and the EQ is always boosted to max.
Since I don't know what bass is yours, a bass loaded with dual coil pickups would sound less growly.

 

[jack7265]

I'm likely going to avoid the "X" series route so as to maintain the traditional level of compression I'm used to with EMGs. So either their standard PJ set or PJA for warmer treble.

Where can one find a 9v Haz or clone preamp?

The "X" series have a different micro amp inside the pickup that give you a closer sound to what the Kramer era pickups would give you. There have been differing opinions as to what pickup, EMG or EMG-X, people prefer. But for the most part, it seem more people tend to favor the "X" series pickups. Personally, I prefer the sound of the "X" series pickups. But, you will not know until you get a chance to try them out.

If your looking for a HAZ clone, try getting in touch with @SNCpre . Can't beat his clones, they are as close as you're going to get to a 9V HAZ, current version, or with Kramer era specs.

 

[avi]

The "X" series have a different micro amp inside the pickup that give you a closer sound to what the Kramer era pickups would give you. There have been differing opinions as to what pickup, EMG or EMG-X, people prefer. But for the most part, it seem more people tend to favor the "X" series pickups. Personally, I prefer the sound of the "X" series pickups. But, you will not know until you get a chance to try them out.

If your looking for a HAZ clone, try getting in touch with @SNCpre . Can't beat his clones, they are as close as you're going to get to a 9V HAZ, current version, or with Kramer era specs.

That's funny because in the 80's when these came our everybody bought them and immediately replaced the pickups with EMG's.

 

[jack7265]

That's funny because in the 80's when these came our everybody bought them and immediately replaced the pickups with EMG's.

I'm not sure what you're talking about. The Kramer era NS-2 came with EMG active pickups. The Kramer era EMG active pickups had a completely different sound than the EMG active pickups used post Kramer era. With the addition of the "X" series micro preamp, the post Kramer era EMG active pickups sounded a little closer to the Kramer era EMG active pickups.

 

[avi]

Ns-2a's came with Spector pickups. Everyone I know who bought them swapped the pickups for EMG's to make them more like the NS2. Sorry...I see Kramer and I automatically go to NS-2A,B,C etc
My bad. I miss read the post. I need sleep. Carry on.

 

[jack7265]

Ns-2a's came with Spector pickups. Everyone I know who bought them swapped the pickups for EMG's to make them more like the NS2. Sorry...I see Kramer and I automatically go to NS-2A,B,C etc
My bad. I miss read the post. I need sleep. Carry on.

No problem. I can understand why you responded as you did, since I didn't specify that I was referring to an NS-2, and not an NS-2A. But typically, you are talking about the NS-2, and not an NS-2A when you talk about the Spector sound. But as I have always said, how do you refer to the Spector sound when the EMG active pickups have changed through the years, and even the HAZ was redesigned after the Kramer era. The volume and tone pots for the Brooklyn and Kramer era were 25K pots, and post Kramer they changed the volume and tone pots to 100K pots, so that the 9V HAZ could be used with active, or passive pickups. And, there are a lot of other considerations when you talk about the Spector sound, which I don't have the time to go into.

 

[SlappyTap]

No problem. I can understand why you responded as you did, since I didn't specify that I was referring to an NS-2, and not an NS-2A. But typically, you are talking about the NS-2, and not an NS-2A when you talk about the Spector sound. But as I have always said, how do you refer to the Spector sound when the EMG active pickups have changed through the years, and even the HAZ was redesigned after the Kramer era. The volume and tone pots for the Brooklyn and Kramer era were 25K pots, and post Kramer they changed the volume and tone pots to 100K pots, so that the 9V HAZ could be used with active, or passive pickups. And, there are a lot of other considerations when you talk about the Spector sound, which I don't have the time to go into.

I'm a big tinkerer so any other knowledge you could share would be wonderful. I know stuff like that makes a huge difference.

 

[SlappyTap]

If you're looking for the Spector sound, there are many variations of what may be called the Spector Sound, but the 9V HAZ, or HAZ Clone, and a set of EMG PX and JX pickups tend to be more common.

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The EMG pickups with the alnico magnets will give you more of a vintage tone. I set up one of my Spector basses with a Glockenklang 3-band preamp and EMG PAX and SJAX (short J Pickup), and it gives me the vintage P bass sound when the P pickup is selected, and some vintage J bass sound when I select the J pickup.

I set up one of my Spector JJ basses with a 9V HAZ clone and a pair of JAX pickups, and that gives you a real good sound.

It's all experimentation of the different combinations to look for that sound you want. Good luck.

I thought the standard EMG pickups were the ones produced since the beginning (P/J), and the "X" series came about in the late 2000s as a "higher headroom" variant of that design?

 

[Calvinc4s]

I thought the standard EMG pickups were the ones produced since the beginning (P/J), and the "X" series came about in the late 2000s as a "higher headroom" variant of that design?

I have read that the X series sound closer to the standard EMG p/j's from the late 80's than today's standard P/J's.

I have the standard EMG P/J that came in my euro and would like to try them for myself.

 

[SlappyTap]

There are two clones I'm using, either from @SNCpre or @BaZZZZZ.
Since you mentioned you're bass is not a Spector, I believe a standard SNC Haz Clone (which has a fixed knob layout) would be difficult - but I think Sheldon could make it custom. The Baz THB3 is also a great sounding small alternative. No idea about how postal services from Russia are affected by the current situation though.
A great sounding pre with plenty much growl is also imho the EMG BTS with the right settings set via dip switches. Not expensive and fairly good available everywhere.
I've posted my preamp samples before but here it is again. The Spector used here is a Euro LX with PJ pickups with DR DDT and the EQ is always boosted to max.
Since I don't know what bass is yours, a bass loaded with dual coil pickups would sound less growly.

What an amazing resource, cheers for that. Of those listed, I thought the 2-band SNC was the best sounding and closest to the 18v HAZ at the top of the list. I've messaged him but haven't heard back as of yet, is TalkBass the best place to reach him? Thanks everyone for their help so far.

edit: Actually you're also right about the EMG BTS, the Off-On setting does sound pretty close and quite good. There's something a bit extra thunderous about the SNC though in comparison.

 

[jonnymac]

What an amazing resource, cheers for that. Of those listed, I thought the 2-band SNC was the best sounding and closest to the 18v HAZ at the top of the list. I've messaged him but haven't heard back as of yet, is TalkBass the best place to reach him? Thanks everyone for their help so far.

Are you talking about the two band SNC? Sheldon is pretty responsive, usually within a day. He makes 2 versions of that preamp one is on a single board that looks like the haz and the other is on two boards. They have the same components and sound identical. He builds the preamps to order and it all depends on if he has parts/boards at the time as far as which version he's making. I'm waiting for a 2 board version to be mailed to me.

 

[jack7265]

I thought the standard EMG pickups were the ones produced since the beginning (P/J), and the "X" series came about in the late 2000s as a "higher headroom" variant of that design?

The EMG active P/J pickups used in the NS-2 have gone through a minumum of at least four different versions. They had a brown back EMG pickup used during the Brooklyn and early Kramer era, a black back EMG pickups was used during the Kramer era, around the SSD/Woodstock era they came out with another version with the push on connections and then maybe around 2017 they started using the EMG pickups with the "X" series micro preamp. Each version had a different sound to them.

This is a picture showing the brown and black back EMG J Pickups that were used during the Brooklyn and Kramer era.

 

[SlappyTap]

The EMG active P/J pickups used in the NS-2 have gone through a minumum of at least four different versions. They had a brown back EMG pickup used during the Brooklyn and early Kramer era, a black back EMG pickups was used during the Kramer era, around the SSD/Woodstock era they came out with another version with the push on connections and then maybe around 2017 they started using the EMG pickups with the "X" series micro preamp. Each version had a different sound to them.

This is a picture showing the brown and black back EMG J Pickups that were used during the Brooklyn and Kramer era.

View attachment 4638665

Good to know! Is there info out there to suggest that the pickups internal preamps where changed over these years? It was always my understanding that the spec hadn't really changed too much since their introduction.

 

[jack7265]

Good to know! Is there info out there to suggest that the pickups internal preamps where changed over these years? It was always my understanding that the spec hadn't really changed too much since their introduction.

I'm not aware of any information pertaining to what has changed to the makeup of the EMG pickups. I researched the X series pickups, and I found information back to 2011, so the "X" series pickups have been around at least that long, but weren't used in the Spector NS-2 until somewhere around 2017.

 

[Interspace Station]

40P5 and 40DC finally found their home alongside a BTS in my 2003 Rebop 5. Night and day from the original HZ pickups and Tonepump pre, this thing sounds amazing now. Bright, punchy, full, ALIVE, comparable to my Forte 4 P/J Haz setup. HZ's and Tonepump (no trim) will be in the classifieds in the coming days if anyone is interested.

 

[johndb]

This is an American made Spector bolt on from the early days of the Spector bolt on models. They are fantastic instruments from the experience I've had with 2 of them.
For the record, I am admitting LT for from an expert on Spector history. I have been exploring the brand for a few years now and have kind of nose dived in to explore the often murky waters of Spectors passed. It can get a bit confusing as times but there are a few folks here who have a very detailed resume of Spector knowledge. I just happen to have owned(still own 1) 2 bolt ons.
They do not hold the same value/prestige as the neck thru US options(NS and forte) but they are formidable instruments. I actually don't understand the negative bias that holds the value down on these fantastic instruments.
I'm guessing it has a non trim pot tone pump in it for a pre amp. That body has the much loved curved body shape and is solid maple.
There are a few videos out there of them sounding fantastic in action with this pick up configuration.

im not sure what exact info your looking for but hopefully some of this helps.

I concur. Fabulous basses. My NS JH5 #006 was part of a limited run for Sam Ash, and features a fully carved body of solid flamed maple and a double J humbucker by Villex. About 17 of them exist. I replaced the original Aguilar OBP-1 with a Darkglass Tone Capsule and refinished the bass in blue (it was originally a beat up brown stain) Fantastic bolt-on basses in this era. Side note: Todd Cooke has #014 in Silverburst.

 

[fibz]

What an amazing resource, cheers for that. Of those listed, I thought the 2-band SNC was the best sounding and closest to the 18v HAZ at the top of the list. I've messaged him but haven't heard back as of yet, is TalkBass the best place to reach him? Thanks everyone for their help so far.

edit: Actually you're also right about the EMG BTS, the Off-On setting does sound pretty close and quite good. There's something a bit extra thunderous about the SNC though in comparison.

You're welcome, hope it helps. And yes, the SNC 2-band is great too. But i do consider the BTS a great alternative and have it working in several basses as well. There's also a large fan base for BQC/BQS here which I also found good. But imho a good voiced 2-band pre doesn't need a dedicated mid control.

 

[Katoosie]

I concur. Fabulous basses. My NS JH5 #006 was part of a limited run for Sam Ash, and features a fully carved body of solid flamed maple and a double J humbucker by Villex. About 17 of them exist. I replaced the original Aguilar OBP-1 with a Darkglass Tone Capsule and refinished the bass in blue (it was originally a beat up brown stain) Fantastic bolt-on basses in this era. Side note: Todd Cooke has #014 in Silverburst.
View attachment 4638825

So this has been bothering me on many flamed maple tops.

You see that middle where both sides got glued together and there is a full mismatch between the grain? It has always bothered me on the basses i have owned that had this visible mismatch.
Cosmetic, doesnt affect a thing, I know... But yeah. I'm picky.

Otherwise it looks great!

 

[avi]

I concur. Fabulous basses. My NS JH5 #006 was part of a limited run for Sam Ash, and features a fully carved body of solid flamed maple and a double J humbucker by Villex. About 17 of them exist. I replaced the original Aguilar OBP-1 with a Darkglass Tone Capsule and refinished the bass in blue (it was originally a beat up brown stain) Fantastic bolt-on basses in this era. Side note: Todd Cooke has #014 in Silverburst.
View attachment 4638825

What's a Villax? Never heard of it. Just looked it up and couldn't find anything. I've done a huge search for Double J pickups fornreplacements for my Chapman. I did however find a Bart Double J that I didn't know ever got produced.

 

[e.rich]

In case anyone is in the market…. Just looking to free up some funds for an NS4 I have my eye on.

For Sale - Spector Euro4 - full maple wings, EMGs, Darkglass