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Spector age vs. sound

6

60s Guy

Oct 21, 2008
18
0
New York
#1
I am a long time amateur bass player. In the 80's, I bought a Spector NS-2 (serial number in the 900's) as a second bass to my Fender Precision.

Although I love and pamper my NS-2, I never realized how highly regarded the Spectors are.

I also learned there are Brooklyn Spectors, like mine, Kramer era, European made and Woodstock versions.

What is the difference in sound in a Brooklyn and Kramer era NS-2? Does the Woodstock or European versions sound like either?

Why did Kramer change the pre-amp?

Sorry about such basic questions, but I spent these years loving my bass because of the sound and feel. Now I learn it has a family.

Thanks
 

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#2
Though I am a long time Spector fan and now a Spector owner, I myself am just learning in the ways of Spector history, trying to get my hands on as many models from different periods to get a feel for them.

The one thing I can tell you for certain though, is that if you've got a Spector, you've got a great sounding bass!
 
#3
60s Guy said:
I am a long time amateur bass player. In the 80's, I bought a Spector NS-2 (serial number in the 900's) as a second bass to my Fender Precision.

Although I love and pamper my NS-2, I never realized how highly regarded the Spectors are.

I also learned there are Brooklyn Spectors, like mine, Kramer era, European made and Woodstock versions.

What is the difference in sound in a Brooklyn and Kramer era NS-2? Does the Woodstock or European versions sound like either?

Why did Kramer change the pre-amp?

Sorry about such basic questions, but I spent these years loving my bass because of the sound and feel. Now I learn it has a family.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Great NS-2 you have there, my friend!

The Brooklyn and Kramer Spectors that have the maple bodies pretty much sound the same. Kramer didn't change the preamp as the later Brooklyn and Kramers had the Hazlab 9v preamp.

Now there may be some disagreement here, but I think the later Woodstock to the present day Spectors sound different than the earlier ones and I believe it's because of the lack of the Hazlab. Even though the Hazlab is a two band eq, there is something about it that allows a very wide array of tones from a nice, fat P-bass tone, to the signature growly Spector tone and beyond.

I've never played on with any other preamps Spector has used other than the Tonepump, so others with an Aguilar, EMG, etc. will lend their $.02
 
#4
It has been forever since I've heard an old NS-2, but my Kramer Forum I (Spector NS-2 in Kramer clothing ;)) sounded pretty darn close. I'd attribute that mostly to a non-reversed P pickup in my book.


Picked this up a few years back in near mint condition for $500 delivered and it absolutely nails the NS-2 sound. They used to list for about $100 less than a solid colored NS-2 back when they were both in production by Kramer.
blueforum.jpg


BTW, very nice Spector!
 
#5
Hey, 60s Guy -

1) Welcome to TalkBass!

2) Absolutely suh-weeet Spector you have there!

3) I'd have to agree with Spector_Ray 100%.

4) Get your butt over to the Spector Club and get yourself a member # ASAP (Just PM Spector_Ray for one)! :)

BTW - please post some more pics of the bass if you can!
 
#6
I've talked about this a bit in the Spector Club thread. I have a NS2A with EMG's and just got a Euro with Tonepump.

While part of the tone is the same, part is extremely different. My wife who is tone deaf, can't carry a tune, and can't decifier the bass (or really any sound in a concert setting) immediately noticed the difference between the 2 basses.

Between the 2, I'd say the NS2's are more flat and smooth sounding with a bit of growl. The Euro's with Tonepump are growly all around. At least the ones I've had.
 
#9
Thanks to all for the info. I will post more pics of my bass in a day or two. The current pics were taken with a flash that changed the coloring. I want to accurately show the deep cherry color. The horizontal pic has the better color rendition.
 
#10
That is a beautiful Spector. I really regret selling my Kramer NS 2 years ago. I have one of the new NS5 XL's with the Haz Lab in it. From what I can hear it sounds pretty close to the older Haz Lab's. I have owned all the American Spector models in my days. And all the Haz Labs in them sounded great. They are pretty consistent.
 
#12
I have Brooklyn-era ('83) and a Euro NS-2 (whatever it's called, the NS-4CRFM, maybe?) that was probably made in '99 or '00. With the same make/type of strings on both, I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.

That's one Beautiful NS-2, I wish mine was a similar condition. :)
 
#15
#16
Spector_Ray said:
No it isn't, but Mighty Mite has one that looks awful close. From what I've heard in the Yahoo Spector club, they're a direct drop in so fit isn't a problem. I'm wondering if they sound like the old Hazlab pre.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Click to expand...
I'm guessing they meant "100hz" not "10Khz" on the bass boost and cut.

KPAX said:
Hey,
I just put a Mighty Mite MM114 in my Spector Euro 4LX (replaced my Tone Pump).
I talk about it in my post in this thread:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=515267&highlight=spector+mighty+mite
Click to expand...
Was there any issue with the holes (controls) lining up with that pre?
I have an older Euro and wonder if Spector has kept the control hole spacing standard on all NS basses.
 
#17
Which Spectors under $2k are recommended ? I'm looking at getting one pretty soon, back "in the day" the neck through models where considered to have better tone, but now I notice there's several models both neck through and bolt on that are popular, anyone care to share the differences? Thanks
 
#18
I have an '84 NS2 and love it to death... if the SN is in the mid 700's, does it have the Hazlab pre? It looks a lot like the one in the Mighty Mite link (changing the battery is scary because it is directly on the board and a tight fit!)

The Euro ones I have tried feel a lot like mine... I have never been able to try one side-by-side, but the tone sounds a little bit different to me. I am not sure if it would make a lot of difference, but mine has Birch wings.

ns2c.jpg


ns2a.jpg


ns2b.jpg
 
#19
Yeah, the hole spacing is the same.
I had to enlarge the pot holes a little bit (MM114 preamp pots are slightly larger diameter). I put masking tape over the holes on the finish side and drilled from that side to prevent chipping.
The only snag on my Euros was learning the control cavity rout is a little smaller/lower on the top side than the older Spectors.
I looked closely at pics of older Spector NS2's/Haz and the Mighty Mite MM114 is the same as the Haz - it's the Spector control cavity that's changed a bit on the top side. On my basses the MM114 wouldn't quite fit in the rout.
I wasn't going to cut on my basses so I dremel'd off about 0.2 in from the MM114 circuit board. That was no big deal. I ground off a pcb trace so I just jumpered it with a wire.
Since your Euro is older it may have the older/larger control cavity rout.

PhatBasstard said:
I'm guessing they meant "100hz" not "10Khz" on the bass boost and cut.


Was there any issue with the holes (controls) lining up with that pre?
I have an older Euro and wonder if Spector has kept the control hole spacing standard on all NS basses.
Click to expand...
 
#20
Wow, that's an old one.
It's got the Badass bridge (pre Spector bridge).

Fresh Eddie said:
I have an '84 NS2 and love it to death... if the SN is in the mid 700's, does it have the Hazlab pre? It looks a lot like the one in the Mighty Mite link (changing the battery is scary because it is directly on the board and a tight fit!)

The Euro ones I have tried feel a lot like mine... I have never been able to try one side-by-side, but the tone sounds a little bit different to me. I am not sure if it would make a lot of difference, but mine has Birch wings.

ns2c.jpg


ns2a.jpg


ns2b.jpg
Click to expand...
 

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