Spector Club - Part 12

[madbassplaya]

EMG BTC pre
EMG something pickups.
Mine was about 11.5 pounds
Solid maple (no walnut/alder as with the new Euros)
brass nut
Sounds awesome.

Thanks for the info man!

Couple of questions:

How does the solid maple sound?
I've been told the scale length was 34 but then told that it was 35 by another. I'm curious to find out which it actually is.

Also, what is string spacing on these models?

 

[stjohn1299]

awesome mad! Congrats!

 

[grendle]

Thanks for the info man!

Couple of questions:

How does the solid maple sound?
I've been told the scale length was 34 but then told that it was 35 by another. I'm curious to find out which it actually is.

Also, what is string spacing on these models?

Maple I think is similar to alder maybe but with tighter, deeper lows and glassy highs. A big part of the Spector tone imo.

If the bass has dot inlays it should be 34' scale, If it has crown inlays it should be 35". It should have emg DC35's for a 4 and dc 40's for a 5 with the emg BTC preamp as Jar said. Gold hardware,Schaller tuners, brass nut. My 5 string in the photo i posted a few pages back is a dot NS5CR 34' scale 5 string.

 

[stjohn1299]

I believe it's a 35". If the seller can give you the serial #, PJ at Spector could probably verify for you. Spector has outstanding Customer Service.

 

[grendle]

I believe it's a 35". If the seller can give you the serial #, PJ at Spector could probably verify for you. Spector has outstanding Customer Service.

+100

 

[grendle]

How green? Like this green?

Invalid Link Removed

looks killer with the black hardware too!

 

[madbassplaya]

awesome mad! Congrats!

Thanks man, it's not GREEN but I think it'll do!

Maple I think is similar to alder maybe but with tighter, deeper lows and glassy highs. A big part of the Spector tone imo.

If the bass has dot inlays it should be 34' scale, If it has crown inlays it should be 35". It should have emg DC35's for a 4 and dc 40's for a 5 with the emg BTC preamp as Jar said. Gold hardware,Schaller tuners, brass nut. My 5 string in the photo i posted a few pages back is a dot NS5CR 34' scale 5 string.

Thanks for the info man! I was hoping it was a 35" scale!

I believe it's a 35". If the seller can give you the serial #, PJ at Spector could probably verify for you. Spector has outstanding Customer Service.

That's another reason I have been interested in them was the CS.

 

[iceboxbass]

I enjoy saddling this unicorn up whenever I can Maybe it's me but I've seen a few green NSCR and Euro 5s available on the used market but the 4 however is far more elusive to me. I've seen only two - one here on TB and one on the Tebusaki Boys site. Not that I don't appreciate the Euro 4 in the pic, lol, but I'd feel awfully special if a green (or even a piano black - equally rare) 4 came into my possession.

Correction: neglected to consider the Ian Hill :|

Whew! I'm glad I didn't need to correct ya. ;D Some gorgeous SPECTORS there!

Looks like I'm going to be getting my first Spector after all!

I am getting it from the classifieds. The seller says it's a Spector CRFM5.

Do you guys know much about the Specs on this one?

Congrats! For your first Spector you picked one that'll make you plenty happy and very versatile. Awesome 5r for the PW band!

Here's what I copied from the Spector history archives;
NS-5CR(TM) The five-string Czech NS-Bass(TM)
34" Scale
A special note about serial numbers and this model:

The first units did not have a serial number
Serial numbers were first placed inside the control cavity
Later units the serial numbers were put on the back of the headstock as is common with current Czech Republic models
1994-1998 Unknown
$1,995.00

 

[iceboxbass]

Maple I think is similar to alder maybe but with tighter, deeper lows and glassy highs. A big part of the Spector tone imo.

If the bass has dot inlays it should be 34' scale, If it has crown inlays it should be 35". It should have emg DC35's for a 4 and dc 40's for a 5 with the emg BTC preamp as Jar said. Gold hardware,Schaller tuners, brass nut. My 5 string in the photo i posted a few pages back is a dot NS5CR 34' scale 5 string.

Sorry but, maple is NOTHING like Alder. Besides being heavier it's a little brighter and tighter tone. I had an all alder ReBop and currently have an all solid maple NS-95 SSD. There's a world of difference sonically putting aside the pre differences.

 

[stjohn1299]

Mad, FWIW, my Euro 4 has all maple wings as well...yours' is probably roughly the same age as mine, which is around 2002-2003. The tone of yours should be in the vicinity of how mine is....of course, the pickups are different, but as far as the tightness, punchiness, and brightness, I'd suspect ours will be fairly close in that department.

 

[madbassplaya]

Congrats! For your first Spector you picked one that'll make you plenty happy and very versatile. Awesome 5r for the PW band!

Thanks man! I'm hoping she does justice in that setting!

Mad, FWIW, my Euro 4 has all maple wings as well...yours' is probably roughly the same age as mine, which is around 2002-2003. The tone of yours should be in the vicinity of how mine is....of course, the pickups are different, but as far as the tightness, punchiness, and brightness, I'd suspect ours will be fairly close in that department.

I'll have to check when this one was made. It's around 10 years old I believe.

Hearing your Spector on that video made me really start looking into getting one. Man that things a monster!

 

[grendle]

Sorry but, maple is NOTHING like Alder. Besides being heavier it's a little brighter and tighter tone. I had an all alder ReBop and currently have an all solid maple NS-95 SSD. There's a world of difference sonically putting aside the pre differences.

I agree fully, I was just looking for a generic tone wood with something in the ball park with similar fundimental tone. It's not like maple, but closer than mahagany, or agithis etc. I didnt know his level of technical prowess, or his familiarity with different woods. I figured everyone knows what an alder fender bass sounds like though. Having said that, I think the description was accurate lol

 

[madbassplaya]

I agree fully, I was just looking for a generic tone wood with something in the ball park with similar fundimental tone. It's not like maple, but closer than mahagany, or agithis etc. I didnt know his level of technical prowess, or his familiarity with different woods. I figured everyone knows what an alder fender bass sounds like though. Having said that, I think the description was accurate lol

I get what you're saying. I've had several alder basses (including several fenders). I've never had a maple bass though. I've also never had a bass with EMG pickups in it. People have always told me that EMG's sound "sterile" and I was reading in another thread about a guy that takes out the EMGs and tonepump preamps because he doesn't like the sound much.

I don't want my bass to sound "sterile" but I am wanting a workhorse that has got some powerful lowend and can cut through the mix if it needs to.

 

[LimaGuy]

I get what you're saying. I've had several alder basses (including several fenders). I've never had a maple bass though. I've also never had a bass with EMG pickups in it. People have always told me that EMG's sound "sterile" and I was reading in another thread about a guy that takes out the EMGs and tonepump preamps because he doesn't like the sound much.

I don't want my bass to sound "sterile" but I am wanting a workhorse that has got some powerful lowend and can cut through the mix if it needs to.

Mad,
I was possibly considering that CRFM5 that you are getting.
That is going to be an amazing bass. You will be very happy with the tone. My Euro 4 is an early model which was made within a few years of the CRFM series. The tone is not "sterile" at all. It is punchy, clear and deep. And I am 99% sure it will cut through the mix. P.S. I love EMG pickups.

 

[iceboxbass]

I get what you're saying. I've had several alder basses (including several fenders). I've never had a maple bass though. I've also never had a bass with EMG pickups in it. People have always told me that EMG's sound "sterile" and I was reading in another thread about a guy that takes out the EMGs and tonepump preamps because he doesn't like the sound much.

I don't want my bass to sound "sterile" but I am wanting a workhorse that has got some powerful lowend and can cut through the mix if it needs to.

First of all...sound is a preference on a personal level. On this Spector Club you'll hear all you want about the sonic of EMG pups. I love em! To my ears they're sure not sterile and it'll more than punch thru the low-end especially with that model of 5! You'll be alright. Do not fear...they'll call you the "Bringer of Thunder"!

 

[peledog]

I believe it's a 35". If the seller can give you the serial #, PJ at Spector could probably verify for you. Spector has outstanding Customer Service.

This. +1

 

[stjohn1299]

Oh man, the last description I would put on my EMG's is sterile. Maybe some of the lower tier models are that way, or the passives, but I don't think you'll be disappointed with them. A lot of it is the preamp too. The Tonepump is pretty agressive, especially the non-trimpot versions like I think you'll have. They're tamable though...my pre is the no trim as well. You just have to dial your amp to it, or maybe cut the volume knobs for each pickup back a bit. Honestly though, what bass do you NOT have to do that for?

 

[madbassplaya]

Mad,
I was possibly considering that CRFM5 that you are getting.
That is going to be an amazing bass. You will be very happy with the tone. My Euro 4 is an early model which was made within a few years of the CRFM series. The tone is not "sterile" at all. It is punchy, clear and deep. And I am 99% sure it will cut through the mix. P.S. I love EMG pickups.

Sometimes, I feel like it's cool to NOT like EMG's. I spoke with a guitarist about them and he told me he had a bass player with a EMG P pickup one time and he had the most massive tone he had ever heard.

Clear and punchy sound great to me!

First of all...sound is a preference on a personal level. On this Spector Club you'll hear all you want about the sonic of EMG pups. I love em! To my ears they're sure not sterile and it'll more than punch thru the low-end especially with that model of 5! You'll be alright. Do not fear...they'll call you the "Bringer of Thunder"!

Funny...that's what they already call me. Seriously!

 

[Lammchop93]

On the topic of green Spectors, here is a pic of a local bass player who used to be the bassist of Days of the New and Tantric. His name is Jesse Vest. He's playing in the biggest local band in the Louisville, KY area. I'm almost positive he has used Spector his entire life.

I've met him a handful of times and he is a great guy. Most of his bands shows are 21+, so I haven't been able to catch em, but they have a HUGE following, and they seem to be playing twice a week around here.

 

[madbassplaya]

Oh man, the last description I would put on my EMG's is sterile. Maybe some of the lower tier models are that way, or the passives, but I don't think you'll be disappointed with them. A lot of it is the preamp too. The Tonepump is pretty agressive, especially the non-trimpot versions like I think you'll have. They're tamable though...my pre is the no trim as well. You just have to dial your amp to it, or maybe cut the volume knobs for each pickup back a bit. Honestly though, what bass do you NOT have to do that for?

I believe the bass I'm getting has the EMG pre Spector was using before going to the tone pump.