Spector Club - Part 13

[TimWilson]

Tim, I own Dave's NS-2 and it was an aftermarket addition. The Spector bridge is wider than the Kahler, and whoever did the installation added some wood (I believe it's rosewood) on each side to fill in the gaps. Both PJ and Stuart said it was a "tone sucker" when I told them about this bass, but I must say that it has a pretty solid sound.

I tried to add a picture of the bridge, but unfortunately I'm unable to do it from my phone. This is the only one I can upload, a shot of me playing the bass. If you look close at the upper side of the tremolo, you can somewhat see the gap. Gonna try and load up another shot in a little bit.

Oh, dude, that is sweet like a pretty stranger's reckless hands on the subway. Now I want it even more. I think my bridge won't have the same problem as yours: It's the smaller, import size.

Do you maybe have a sample of that bass' sound up on the web somewhere, in any kind of format? I'd really like to hear it. And it looks like you have a brass nut there. Mine does, too. Do you find that any use of the bar at all sends the bass out of tune, or can you get away with a little bit of wankery during a song, saving the dive bomb madness (which I'm SURE puts it out of tune) for the end of the song?

 

[cjmodulus]

Good Luck!

Many thanks! Leaving now for the show!

 

[stjohn1299]

If I was going to put a trem on a bass, a NS2A would probably be about the only one I would do....I wouldn't want to take anything above that to the point of no return by removing so much wood from the body. It's a pretty significant cavity that has to be removed for the cam to operate. It'd be real easy to route all the way thru the body.

 

[connected2aj]

Oh, dude, that is sweet like a pretty stranger's reckless hands on the subway. Now I want it even more. I think my bridge won't have the same problem as yours: It's the smaller, import size.

Do you maybe have a sample of that bass' sound up on the web somewhere, in any kind of format? I'd really like to hear it. And it looks like you have a brass nut there. Mine does, too. Do you find that any use of the bar at all sends the bass out of tune, or can you get away with a little bit of wankery during a song, saving the dive bomb madness (which I'm SURE puts it out of tune) for the end of the song?

Thanks man. It's a pretty awesome bass. I did record with it on a track called Pepper Mary by 13 Hands. I believe the song is up on the website www.13hands.com.

As for the Kahler, I really don't use it much. Wanted another NS-2 and got this one for a song. I do find that if I push down on it lightly it doesn't go out that bad. If I go a little out, I can go the opposite way and it tends to get back, but if I get crazy with it watch out.

 

[JPSBassist]

Hey guys... the photos of the NS-Body are sometimes a little misleading.

There are NO flat surfaces anywhere on the NS-Body save the flat parts of the headstock.

Attached are three photos I took, first of my first-gen Euro4... the second is PJ Rubal's NS-230 (30th Anniversary Bass), and the bottom is the first NS-2 BEM. Shot for BPL last year (it was upside down I simply flipped the image).

The curves are there... the same on all of them. Even the 5 and 6 string models have a slight curve where the bridge sits recessed.

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[peledog]

That Dave LaRue video is definitely one of the better ones out there. I still use the "spider" technique he teaches to warm up my fingers when getting ready to play.

Yep. I use the same technique to warm up. It's been so long, I'd forgotten where I first learned it. LOL I'm thinking it was in a mid 90s Bass Player Magazine issue...

 

[madbassplaya]

Thinking of going with the Sadowsky strap:

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I really wish it didn't say "Sadowsky" on it.

 

[Shmandy]

Thinking of going with the Sadowsky strap:

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I really wish it didn't say "Sadowsky" on it.

Don't sweat it. I play my Spector with an Ibanez strap; have for years. I just like the strap.

 

[grendle]

Boo! Hisss! Look at levies thay have some good ones. Cheap 2-4" nylon to quality 2-4" padded leather, about $6-$40

 

[chrisloe]

Oh, dude, that is sweet like a pretty stranger's reckless hands on the subway. Now I want it even more. I think my bridge won't have the same problem as yours: It's the smaller, import size.

Do you maybe have a sample of that bass' sound up on the web somewhere, in any kind of format? I'd really like to hear it. And it looks like you have a brass nut there. Mine does, too. Do you find that any use of the bar at all sends the bass out of tune, or can you get away with a little bit of wankery during a song, saving the dive bomb madness (which I'm SURE puts it out of tune) for the end of the song?

Hi Tim. I had a black NS-2A (and a white one) back in the mid 90's when I was playing full time. Both had Emg's, EMG preamps and sounded and played great. I decided to put a Kahler bass trem on the black one, (after seeing a Jackson Concert bass with one). Biggest mistake ever.

First of all, the guy who put it in (great guy, great work) said it was really a bear to get in because of the curved body. He had to take put a big piece of wood to get it to fit and that he would not do it again if I wanted one on my white NS-2A (he did all the work on both basses). The bass did not play the same, and it lost "that Spector tone" it had before. It was a neat novelty, but not worth ruining a great sounding and playing bass. If I could go back in time, I would go stop myself from doing it, and I would still have both of them, instead of just the one I still have. I got rid of it shortly after installing the Kahler, traded it on a NS-2O.

Not to discourage you, but this was my experience, that Stewart and PJ are 100% right (go figure) about it being a tone sucker.

 

[iceboxbass]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Anyway, my Spector Legend 5 strung up in tenor tuning next to my Ampeg Portaflex. It makes me smile in my pants.

Very nice! A man with double great Taste!!

 

[chrisloe]

Boo! Hisss! Look at levies thay have some good ones. Cheap 2-4" nylon to quality 2-4" padded leather, about $6-$40

Check out the strap from Mono cases.
http://www.monocase.com/mono-gs1-betty.asp

A little expensive, but a really comfortable, cool strap.

 

[TimWilson]

Hi Tim. I had a black NS-2A (and a white one) back in the mid 90's when I was playing full time. Both had Emg's, EMG preamps and sounded and played great. I decided to put a Kahler bass trem on the black one, (after seeing a Jackson Concert bass with one). Biggest mistake ever.

First of all, the guy who put it in (great guy, great work) said it was really a bear to get in because of the curved body. He had to take put a big piece of wood to get it to fit and that he would not do it again if I wanted one on my white NS-2A (he did all the work on both basses). The bass did not play the same, and it lost "that Spector tone" it had before. It was a neat novelty, but not worth ruining a great sounding and playing bass. If I could go back in time, I would go stop myself from doing it, and I would still have both of them, instead of just the one I still have. I got rid of it shortly after installing the Kahler, traded it on a NS-2O.

Not to discourage you, but this was my experience, that Stewart and PJ are 100% right (go figure) about it being a tone sucker.

Wow. Well thanks for the reviews, guys. I guess I should cool the rockets on this idea. I've made tragic mod mistakes to basses, too, and I wouldn't want to regret another one. I guess I was thinking with my eyes, and not with my ears. Rookie bass mistake — and old crone like me should know mo' better!

 

[NOLA Bass]

Check out the strap from Mono cases.
:: MONO ::

A little expensive, but a really comfortable, cool strap.

I love these and have bought 4 of them along with a single and double gigbag. Well worth every penny in my opinion.

 

[iceboxbass]

I use my ears , feel and experience more than anything else. Tools are good though, and measure things before your replace your strings !!! That way you know where you started. If your changing to the same gauge and tuning, you really shouldn't need to tweek things much if at all. DONT OVER TIGHTEN SCREWS!!!!!! make them snug, dont strip the heads.

Remember: ITS ALL PERSONAL PREFERENCE!!!!! Most videos I have seen give you a good starting point, its not a be all end all. I like my necks a little straighter than what I have seen as std., and I like my action a little lower . Most say 5/64'' on the low E is Low action. My rebop is 3/64" and my other strings are lower , with the minimal level of buzz I like. I also personally prefer my E string a little higher than the other strings, I tend to play it a little harder and like to dig in without it buzzing all over the place. Take things slow. don't over adjust anything and you'll be fine.

Just my .02

I'm the same way. I look, adjust, feel, and listen to what I like when setting up one of my basses.

 

[iceboxbass]

On a set up note.....

How close do you guys get your adjustments to "perfect" ( for your taste). I'm talking truss rod and saddle height.

Once apon a time I used to get them close and go with it ( within a 1/4 turn or less
say on the rod , and maybe a turn on the bridge screws).

Now a days, I try and get my adjustments down to about an 1/8th of a turn on the the bridge and less on the truss rod.

What do you guys do?

I adjust my bass EXACTLY the way I like. No,"Well that's about good enough,"! I don't care how long it takes me. I keep adjusting...play it...adjust some more until it's just right.

 

[LimaGuy]

I'm the same way. I look, adjust, feel, and listen to what I like when setting up one of my basses.

+1
After I get one. I do the "big" setup, then for about a week I keep making minor adjustments, till I get it exactly how I like. I just made a few adjustments on the NS-95 today. I am almost there.

 

[iceboxbass]

That's my own personal captive audience.

There is a tiger, a NAPA auto parts guy that were presents from my son when he was like 5 or 6.
A laughing cow (my GWRRA chapter mascot) that sounds more like pissed off cat now that the batteries are dieing,
and no star wars stuff... unless you're talking about the 2009 METALLICA calender (still sealed) on the wall...
and a hooded skull dude candy bowl from Halloween (my birthday) that moves, has red eyes that light up and he says things like "Tryin ta steal my candy are ya? I'll bite yer fingers off!" if the sensor sees movement.

No 5'ers here ... strictly a 4 banger SPECTOR player!

Coool...I swear, my wife & I saw R2D2 on your amp. Because I showed it to asked her what the name of that robot is...

Got a gig tonight! I'll try to get video and pics and post it here tomorrow!

SPECTOR CATS UNITE!!!!!!!!

As long as I keep them well fed and happy... they don't use my gear as scratching posts. Which is good cause my cabs are TE green carpet covered

different cat..

Yeh yeh...You Spector cats always stick together!

What MM did you sell to get your Spector Rick?

I've owned two Stingrays, three Stingray 5's, and 1 Bongo. Of all of these, the Bongo had the most stable neck. One of the Stingray 5's had a really stable neck as well. The others did need tweaks occasionally, which is somewhat annoying.

I talked with Tim Lindsey bassist for Molly Hatchet and he swears that the MM neck is the only one he can't move. I talked Spector to him. Don't think I convinced him though...

 

[grendle]

+1
After I get one. I do the "big" setup, then for about a week I keep making minor adjustments, till I get it exactly how I like. I just made a few adjustments on the NS-95 today. I am almost there.

Yep I do the same. Get it close then play it a bit. Put it down , come back and tweek it a few more times till its perfect. Lol

 

[iceboxbass]

I'm losing sleep over an idea, and I hoped the bruddahood here can either help me pursue, or talk me down...

Is it impossible to install a Kahler bar on an arched body like an NS2-A? Kahler says it can't be done, but certainly I'm not the first one to see this in my worrisome mind. I'm told that LaRue had/has one... Can anyone confirm?

That'd be soooo cool bro!!!! I know you can do it! Can't wait to hear it!

I should sell my truck and walk to work for a Bahama Blue USA.....

Bro! I was thinking the exact same thing...sell my Monte Carlo SS...and I only live 3 miles from work! Then there's that 120" a year of snowfall plus -42F...I do have a mtn. bike for summer & snowshoes or xctry skis for winter...THAT BAHAMA BLUE USA MAKES ME CRAZY!!!!!!! ARG!!!! Must win lottery!