SPECTOR® Owners Club

[jymyben]

when the EMG geezers came out there was at least one guy that put them in one of his spectors, maybe more than one…

cant remember the year, but pretty sure he bought a green and blue set that he picked up when there was a spector hang weekend at a music store in oklahoma…

they might have been fortes…

i think it was one of those he put the geezers in…

maybe someone can help fill in the blanks to help find the posts where he talked about doing this and his results…

finding out when the geezers came out, and reading posts from that time period might help…

I've been looking at the new Pulse II 4's and thinking that's not a bad axe with the reverse pups but the issue of active-only with no separate battery compartment is a bit of a worry. Has anyone gone the route of passive pups with a switch or is that a lost cause? Never been a fan of active-only for this reason but it's a damn fine-sounding axe, and I've wanted a Spector for that unique tone.

 

[dpaul]

Loving the retro vibe here with the finish and maple board with dot markers; gorgeous!

Spector USA NS-2 Bass Guitar - Sonic Blue, Sweetwater Exclusive

Spector USA NS-2 Electric Bass Guitar - Shell Pink, Sweetwater Exclusive

I just wish they had a retro price!

 

[Relayer71]

when the EMG geezers came out there was at least one guy that put them in one of his spectors, maybe more than one…

cant remember the year, but pretty sure he bought a green and blue set that he picked up when there was a spector hang weekend at a music store in oklahoma…

they might have been fortes…

i think it was one of those he put the geezers in…

maybe someone can help fill in the blanks to help find the posts where he talked about doing this and his results…

finding out when the geezers came out, and reading posts from that time period might help…

I remember those basses - couldn't remember the TB member, but just did a google search for "Spector Hang Talkbass" and this came up: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/spector-ns-2-forte-le-hang-bass-kramer-era-candy-blue.1241631/

 

[jymyben]

that is the guy, and one of the basses…

thanks for finding that…

pretty sure he ran that passive for a bit, then added the TC pre…

I remember those basses - couldn't remember the TB member, but just did a google search for "Spector Hang Talkbass" and this came up: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/spector-ns-2-forte-le-hang-bass-kramer-era-candy-blue.1241631/

 

[bste9]

New bass day for me! Brought this one home yesterday.

About a year ago I was pulled back into a full band after 20ish years of only playing in acoustic duos, lots of upright/guitar/mandolin. During those 20ish years I sold my old NS2C (shouldn't have) since I played it so rarely and the battery was always dead when I needed it. Should have kept it, but there you go.

Saw this Euro 5RST in a local store last year while shopping for a good 4-string. Noted it looked cool, but wasn't interested in a 5-string. Fast forward a year and after a circuitous bass year I'm in the market for a 5-string. Stopped by the store and they still had the very same bass! Played it against all the other 5ers they had in the shop (some nice stuff) and this won out. Got a good deal on it as well since it had been in the shop so long -- I'll say it was just waiting for me.

View attachment 5317044

thats got a beautiful flamed maple top! Congrats

 

[drooartz]

thats got a beautiful flamed maple top! Congrats

I'm really excited about it. I like to think I don't care about what a bass looks like when I buy it, but it certainly factors in.

Been playing it a bunch today, still really happy with it. No plans for any mods other than maybe a passive/active push-pull pot switch someday (yes, I've had batteries die at a gig), just as a security blanket. In a lot of ways, it feels like having my old NS2C back, but with a few of my niggles solved.

 

[ynot12]

I remember those basses - couldn't remember the TB member, but just did a google search for "Spector Hang Talkbass" and this came up: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/spector-ns-2-forte-le-hang-bass-kramer-era-candy-blue.1241631/

I was at that Spector hang and played that blue and the green special Forte's. Those were the first colored ones. That was a time when this club was super active. Quite a few of us pit some GZRs in our Spector's and they were universally loved. We were all flipping Spectors constantly at ridiculously low club special prices relative to today's, just so we could keep trying different ones. We all gave each other great deals and "new to me" basses were en route constantly. I had a few with GZRs and loved them. It was a while ago so I can't speak to tonal differences, but I do remember they were the hot pickup here in the club for a little while.

My avatar pic is from that Hang. Such a great event!

 

[ynot12]

That's exactly what I have in both my Rebops, and is a great combo for that classic Spector tone!

I just sent you a message through your website. My DM box here is way past its limit until I renew my membership. LOL

 

[bste9]

Guys(and ladies)....I have always been a fan of the Tonepump in the Euros. I've had Euros with the TP, EMG BTS and EMG BQC. I always preferred the Tonepump over the over the EMGs. In fact, I really hated the BQC im my Euro 5 so I decided to replace it with one of @AgingEngineer's LHZ pre. I just spent a few hours playing it this morning. Holy sh*t does this thing sound good! Now I am thinking of replacing the TP in my other Euros, and I really like the TP!
If you are looking to replace a pre, get yourself an LHZ!

 

[AgingEngineer]

I just sent you a message through your website. My DM box here is way past its limit until I renew my membership. LOL

Hey @ynot12, I replied to your email. Let me know if you didn't get it!

 

[AgingEngineer]

Guys(and ladies)....I have always been a fan of the Tonepump in the Euros. I've had Euros with the TP, EMG BTS and EMG BQC. I always preferred the Tonepump over the over the EMGs. In fact, I really hated the BQC im my Euro 5 so I decided to replace it with one of @AgingEngineer's LHZ pre. I just spent a few hours playing it this morning. Holy sh*t does this thing sound good! Now I am thinking of replacing the TP in my other Euros, and I really like the TP!
If you are looking to replace a pre, get yourself an LHZ!

This post just made my day! The LHZ started its life here, on Talkbass, and I am always surprised, humbled, and delighted when I log in to find it being discussed. I'm glad you are digging the tone, and really do appreciate you taking the time to post about it. Cheers!

 

[JanusZarate]

I've been looking at the new Pulse II 4's and thinking that's not a bad axe with the reverse pups but the issue of active-only with no separate battery compartment is a bit of a worry. Has anyone gone the route of passive pups with a switch or is that a lost cause? Never been a fan of active-only for this reason but it's a damn fine-sounding axe, and I've wanted a Spector for that unique tone.

IME, it really depends on how much time you spend playing the instrument. When I was gigging more often with EMG-loaded basses, I'd change the battery every 4-6 months as a precaution - but I didn't need to. Per EMG, the typical battery life is 1500 hours for a 2-pickup setup on a conventional alkaline 9V, less if it also has an active EQ or active tone control also drawing from the battery. On paper, that works out to well over a year with daily 2-3 hour sessions.

I've never encountered a situation where the battery died on me mid-gig. I've had way more go wrong with my pedalboard than I've ever had with an active bass. But as always, YMMV.

The only active pickups I've used that are true battery hogs would be Fishman Fluence pickups. They get around 120 hours for a 2-pickup setup on 9V - about 8% of a typical EMG pair. I suppose that's the trade-off for the versatility and unconventional design of Fishmans.

 

[r_bnks]

IME, it really depends on how much time you spend playing the instrument. When I was gigging more often with EMG-loaded basses, I'd change the battery every 4-6 months as a precaution - but I didn't need to. Per EMG, the typical battery life is 1500 hours for a 2-pickup setup on a conventional alkaline 9V, less if it also has an active EQ or active tone control also drawing from the battery. On paper, that works out to well over a year with daily 2-3 hour sessions.

I've never encountered a situation where the battery died on me mid-gig. I've had way more go wrong with my pedalboard than I've ever had with an active bass. But as always, YMMV.

The only active pickups I've used that are true battery hogs would be Fishman Fluence pickups. They get around 120 hours for a 2-pickup setup on 9V - about 8% of a typical EMG pair. I suppose that's the trade-off for the versatility and unconventional design of Fishmans.

Exactly. Me neither, but I also change the batteries in every 6 months just to be sure.
Dying battery is just an internet hearsay, non-sense.

 

[MasterBrianD]

Hi guys,

Does anybody know what type of potentiometer I would need to replace the pot for the Bass EQ on a Tonepump preamp?

Its a 2022 Wimbish model with the volume/balance/bass/treble configuration as opposed to volume/volume/bass/treble (if that makes any difference).

I'm a noob when it comes to the electronics in basses and always feel like I am going to order the wrong part.

From some quick research it looks like a 10k pot is needed, but are there different pot sizes, shaft sizes etc? If possible I would like to get one exactly the same as the one thats in it to replace it with.

Also are the stock Euro pots brand named like CTS, Alpha etc.

Thanks.

 

[AgingEngineer]

I've been looking at the new Pulse II 4's and thinking that's not a bad axe with the reverse pups but the issue of active-only with no separate battery compartment is a bit of a worry. Has anyone gone the route of passive pups with a switch or is that a lost cause? Never been a fan of active-only for this reason but it's a damn fine-sounding axe, and I've wanted a Spector for that unique tone.

I'm gathering by the question that you are worried about the battery life, or it dying during a gig? If so, I can relate... I switched from passive to active 20 years ago and was a bit apprehensive for a while. I trusted passive pickups: they'll always work and I'm not constantly worried about the battery health. What I've learned is this:

• The battery in an active bass doesn't just die: it takes weeks for the battery to actually stop working. During those weeks, you'll hear when it starts getting weak. It'll start with the peaks getting a little soft feeling like they are being squashed by a limiter. If you ignore it and keep going for another week or so, you'll start to hear it becoming distorted or overdriven sounding when you play really hard. Keep going for a few more weeks, and it'll just get dirtier and lower in volume. You have a LOT of warning before a battery finally dies.
• For my basses (Spector, Fender, Schecter, and Ibanez), the battery will last for a year of regular gigs and practice. I swap them out every 6 months just so I don't have to think about it.
• I don't use rechargable batteries! Many of those WILL just die without warning: they keep pumping out full voltage until they are empty. That's great for a lot of electronics, but in a bass preamp that gentle voltage fade of a traditional battery is your best friend. Drop in your trusty copper-top Duracell and you'll have no surprised and always deliver the tone.

Welcome to the club!

 

[AgingEngineer]

Hi guys,

Does anybody know what type of potentiometer I would need to replace the pot for the Bass EQ on a Tonepump preamp?

Its a 2022 Wimbish model with the volume/balance/bass/treble configuration as opposed to volume/volume/bass/treble (if that makes any difference).

I'm a noob when it comes to the electronics in basses and always feel like I am going to order the wrong part.

From some quick research it looks like a 10k pot is needed, but are there different pot sizes, shaft sizes etc? If possible I would like to get one exactly the same as the one thats in it to replace it with.

Also are the stock Euro pots brand named like CTS, Alpha etc.

Thanks.

The electrical specs are easy: it's a 10k Linear taper pot. The physical specs are going to be difficult because it seems like finding pots with M8 thread that are 10mm long are almost impossible to find. When building the LHZ preamp I had to actually have custom pots manufactured because I couldn't find the same size pots off the shelf. Here's a page with a comparison and dimensions: LHZ Custom Potentiometers – LHZpreamps.com

You will want to look for pots with physical dimensions like the attached photo.

That said, you might be able to get the Bourns PDB181 family of pots to work... They have an M7 thread, but it's only 6.5mm long so might be too short for some Spectors.

Cheers!

 

[MasterBrianD]

The electrical specs are easy: it's a 10k Linear taper pot. The physical specs are going to be difficult because it seems like finding pots with M8 thread that are 10mm long are almost impossible to find. When building the LHZ preamp I had to actually have custom pots manufactured because I couldn't find the same size pots off the shelf. Here's a page with a comparison and dimensions: LHZ Custom Potentiometers – LHZpreamps.com

You will want to look for pots with physical dimensions like the attached photo.

That said, you might be able to get the Bourns PDB181 family of pots to work... They have an M7 thread, but it's only 6.5mm long so might be too short for some Spectors.

Cheers!View attachment 5319608

Thank you so much! Gent.

 

[scottcallaghan]

Man, I love the classic Spector growl here:

 

[GASsyFunker]

I've been looking at the new Pulse II 4's and thinking that's not a bad axe with the reverse pups but the issue of active-only with no separate battery compartment is a bit of a worry.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, as the battery does have it's own compartment (although the cover does require a screwdriver to remove).

That said, as others have mentioned, the batteries won't drain very fast. I use rechargeable 9v batteries and just swap them every month or so to be safe, but they could probably last much longer.

I have a Pulse II 5 and it is amazing for everything from Jefferson Airplane to Metallica to Dua Lipa.

You can get a pseudo passive tone by cutting treble completely, boosting bass to taste, using the neck pickup only, and playing finger style through a warm amp.

 

[ewe2]

I'm gathering by the question that you are worried about the battery life, or it dying during a gig? If so, I can relate... I switched from passive to active 20 years ago and was a bit apprehensive for a while. I trusted passive pickups: they'll always work and I'm not constantly worried about the battery health.
Welcome to the club!

Thanks for those points, yours and JanusZarate's were the most coherent responses. With some pickups you just don't know how hungry they'll get and that's a load off my mind that they aren't that greedy.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, as the battery does have it's own compartment (although the cover does require a screwdriver to remove).

I'm not a fan of compartments I need to unscrew to get to a battery, but hey I have to put up with them in a couple of Jazz basses. Those however, do have passive switches. I wasn't chasing passive tone on everything, just to have the option in case a battery died but if they're active pickups, that's obviously not an option. All that aside I still think a Pulse 4 is a great deal for me, it'd be nice to have a Euro but those are wayyy expensive down here in Australia, I think the Pulse gets the Spector tone well enough.