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Spector Club - Part 14

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#564
diechris said:
The back of the neck behind the nut looks off... The bridge.... The bottom of the neck to body looks off too..
Click to expand...

Yeah, what's the word for that part again? There is no 'bulge' at the nut. (LOL shut up)

Now, they've added that it was a custom order WITH the Schaller bridge. :eyebrow:

Usually with the Kramer era NS-2, wasn't the serial number horizontal at the top back of the headstock?
 
#566
I'm not well versed in the Kramer-era Spectors, but the neck block looks odd to me. Maybe I'm just seeing things, but look at the picture of the front of the body showing the neck block. Notice the difference in each of the 3 pieces of the neck, particularly the middle. Now look at the picture of the neck block from the back of the body. It looks like the neck section on the bottom on the back of the bass looks like the middle section of the neck on the front??? Is this common? Something looks off on that to me...
 
#567
bobunit said:
Volute.

Yes, however since it they were stamped they were prone to rubbing off.
Click to expand...

So here's the thing... the first Kramer models didn't have the "rubber-stamp" serial that was prone to reacting with the clear coat and "melting". They were stamped just like the Brooklyn models.

And the volute on every NS-2A I've ever seen matches the sharply-shaped USA NS-2 volute. Ironically, my NS-2A is shaped more like my new USA NS-2 than any of the Euro4LX models I've owned.

So my bet has been that:

1) It is an early Czech Republic model. The rough route for the control cavity is a giveaway (a real Kramer NS-2 would have copper insulation and that cavity would be sanded and traced. The volute would be sharp and distinct, not hump-like. The wood is clearly not figured quilt maple, but looks like some of the early woods used in the making of the NS-4CR models.

2) The circuit looks to be one of the more rare Japanese copies. These were much closer to the actual NJ-made Haz. But not close enough. And the Korean-made circuits had different pots and looked the same for pretty much the entire run of the NS-2A series. I've seen a dozen NS-2A models from 1986 to 1990 and they all have very similar features. The odd one being the Sammick-made models towards the end. And they are so easy to spot because of the placement of the four control knobs.

3) These new photos are a little better and it definitely looks like there's some wood shims under that bridge to place it flat. SPECTOR has never used that bridge on an NS-2 or any other bass for that matter. It might fool the unaware and they might think it looks like it's a Leo Quan. But we all know that in 1983 Stuart developed the USA Brass bridge that's on the NS-2 to this day and the Leo Quan was discontinued on the NS-2.

4) The Truss Rod cover has been painted silver. Truss rod covers except for the very first few NS-1 models in 1977 have always been gold. I have seen a couple of white painted ones from the very beginning of that particular cover.

5) Headstock issues: First, the Double-S logo is thicker and placed more in the centered position closer to the tuners that the NS-2A is known for. But every NS-2A and NS-2 of that time had the Schaller tuners that used the 90-degree anchor screw. There's no sign of wood filler on the back of the headstock where these holes would have been filled in. And the early Czech models used the Schaller tuners that had the anchor point in the same position as these newer Gotoh tuners use. Gotoh tuners have a thicker shaft, so this bass had the tuning peg holes bored out to accommodate them.

Another indicator that it's a fake (meaning it's not an NS-2) is that yes, current NS-2 models use Gotoh tuners... but a vintage Kramer model such as this would have Schallers. So as typical of many of the fakes I've seen... and when I say fakes... they're almost always real SPECTORs, just not the model the owner is claiming, this one has the right details... but they're wrong for the year and model they claim it is.

6) Dot-neck. By 1986 the crown inlays were standard on the NS-2. The NS-2O had dot-neck inlays, but always had an oil, not high-gloss finish. And every NS-2O I've ever seen, and I've seen several, has had the most amazing quilt. Not bland and spotty like this bass has. Which again, is much more typical of European maple.

7) The control cavity cover is missing a serial number. It has six screws... the USA models have 5. There are no screw inserts into the wood for the finely threaded control cavity screws to insert into. Both the NS-2A and the USA NS-2 in 1986 had these. The Czech models have never had them (at least the few dozen I've taken the cavity off of haven't had them).

8) The weight is off. This guitar should weigh in at around 9.5lbs if it's a USA. And it's two pounds lighter. Which is a result of softer, less dense wing wood and the lack of the USA bridge.

9) I've never, EVER seen a USA NS-2 with a graphite nut. These basses always come with a hand-fitted solid premium brass nut that lasts a lifetime. I've never heard of any SPECTOR owner needing a new USA nut except to replace one which has been damaged by impact, etc... The Czech and NS-2A Korean models came standard with graphite nuts.

IT IS A FAKE.
It's a SPECTOR. But it's NOT a USA model. It's not even close.

Based on all of the above I put my bet on an early Czech Republic model that's been sanded, stained and gloss-finished. The bridge route has been filled in, the peg-holes bored out and it's been fitted with new hardware. Someone placed a Japanese Haz copy in it and didn't prep the control cavity correctly.

This bass is worth about half of what they're asking for it in this altered condition. It's probably a great player bass, but it is NOTHING that would have any collectable value. It's a Euro that's been dressed up to look like a USA and nothing more.
 
#569
JPSBassist said:
2) The circuit looks to be one of the more rare Japanese copies. These were much closer to the actual NJ-made Haz. But not close enough. And the Korean-made circuits had different pots and looked the same for pretty much the entire run of the NS-2A series. I've seen a dozen NS-2A models from 1986 to 1990 and they all have very similar features. The odd one being the Sammick-made models towards the end. And they are so easy to spot because of the placement of the four control knobs.
Click to expand...

Invalid Link Removed

The pots do have Haz Labs stamped on them.
 
#572
Still issues with this eBay bass . JPS says early ns4cr . But wouldn't it have a ssd logo not a double ss ??? Kramer closed while samick was making the last runs of ns2a basses , so it can't be a Kramer era right ? So if it's an early cr with dots it should have the ssd logo .... During the time before stu won rights to use the ss again ... But clearly a ss logo .

Also doesn't look like a refin to me . It was natural from the beginning or the control cavity would be a different color . And to mention , I had a ssd ns4cr with dots and flamed maple body . Inside of the cavity was painted black . Seems like it could have been oil or clear satin and then sprayed high gloss .

Or what about the fact it could just be a Frankenstein bass ???
 
#573
jarrod cunningham said:
Still issues with this eBay bass . JPS says early ns4cr . But wouldn't it have a ssd logo not a double ss ??? Kramer closed while samick was making the last runs of ns2a basses , so it can't be a Kramer era right ? So if it's an early cr with dots it should have the ssd logo .... During the time before stu won rights to use the ss again ... But clearly a ss logo .

Also doesn't look like a refin to me . It was natural from the beginning or the control cavity would be a different color . And to mention , I had a ssd ns4cr with dots and flamed maple body . Inside of the cavity was painted black . Seems like it could have been oil or clear satin and then sprayed high gloss .

Or what about the fact it could just be a Frankenstein bass ???
Click to expand...

JPS might mean early CR when the Spector trade mark came back but a few "transitional" CR basses that still had dot necks slipped out.
 
#574
PhatBasstard said:
It was kind of thought at first that it wasn't an US (JPS), but an altered Czech of some kind. Trace said he knew of a guy that was making real closely accurate copies and was pretty sure this was one of them.

I'm assuming they're getting their date (since no serial) from the date you can see on the underside of the pre. These pics are more thorough and detailed than before.
Click to expand...

Remember, it was determined those are not active EMGs.

Could this bass be a protoype that was only released in Japan?

I think I posted this last time.
Check out this link from a Japanese Spector Fan site.

This bass looks very similar.

Which they call a 2000 Czech NS-2C ser# R336 :confused: ???

Spector Fan Community in Japan - No.0050 Mr.about me

Change the bridge to what they think is a BadAss bridge, add a Haz and you got yourself a make believe NS-2.
 
#575
jarrod,

I think your old NS4 HOLO is now at a Guitar Center north of San Diego.
Check used item. 106917886 selling for $1,999

This was being sold on Bassgear.com in July, I think for $1,600. Then it was recently being sold on TB for $2,500. Now if this is the same bass it means the last owner droped down alot or traded it for much cheaper for then his asking price of $2,500.
 
#576
LimaGuy said:
jarrod,

I think your old NS4 HOLO is now at a Guitar Center north of San Diego.
Check used item. 106917886 selling for $1,999

This was being sold on Bassgear.com in July, I think for $1,600. Then it was recently being sold on TB for $2,500. Now if this is the same bass it means the last owner droped down alot or traded it for much cheaper for then his asking price of $2,500.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it is my old one , I'll look soon . According to pj rubal , there were only 4 SSD era ns4 in holoflash . So probably is the same . Nice bass , but let's be honest , it's like a euro by today's standards . If they did a production model euro in holoflash it would be just as nice or nicer . Glad I got it at a good price on eBay and sold it for a little profit .
 
#577
LimaGuy said:
Remember, it was determined those are not active EMGs.

Could this bass be a protoype that was only released in Japan?

I think I posted this last time.
Check out this link from a Japanese Spector Fan site.

This bass looks very similar.

Which they call a 2000 Czech NS-2C ser# R336 :confused: ???

Spector Fan Community in Japan - No.0050 Mr.about me

Change the bridge to what they think is a BadAss bridge, add a Haz and you got yourself a make believe NS-2.
Click to expand...
Could be, but don't forget about the tuners and missing brass nut issue. If "acquired" in 2000, this could certainly be one of the last dot neck Czechs to get out in '99 with a newly reacquired Double S logo.

And those silly Japanese ;) kind of like to be creative yet only semi-knowledgable in there "labeling" of such things. I doubt Spector would call that Czech bass an "NS2C" considering there is already a history of another, yet very different import with that model designation. That's an NS4CR. They probably meant to call it an NS2CR and forgot the R.....or accidentally tacked it on to that serial number in the listing.
 
#578
BRAND SPANKING NEW FROM NEW YORK USA SPECTOR FORTE4(A.K.A. Lucy Liu) has been ordered tonight!!! Ordered thru Bass Central. They had one on order several months back so should be done soon they said. And delivered to my front door! :hyper: :bassist:
 
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