Spector Club - Part 14

[grendle]

The problem is, these things aren't cheap We aren't like guitar players here that pay like $5 for a set of strings.

Nope they arent! I made a string cleaner out of a piece of 3/4" PVC. Cap one end tight , insert strings, add Denatured alcohol,cap the other end, shake and let sit over night ( or at least a few hrs). Works great. Gives about 70-80% or so of the zing back.

Denatured is pretty cheap at home depot. I figure if I can double the life, I'm doing good. The pipe trick keeps them straight so you don't have to coil them, and stores anywhere pretty easy.

 

[peledog]

I know they don't get a lot a love here on TB but I love Elixers. They sound, to me, like nicely broken in rounds and they last forever. Though if you use a pick a lot they tend to get the fuzzies. And you can get them with a tapered B string from Juststrings.com. YMMV

+1

I put new Elixir strings on recently, after having a set on for a year or so. Quality stuff.

 

[iceboxbass]

I avoid anything ghs for about the past 15 years. Imo DR's are the best I have used and I stick with them. Their consistant, high quality, affordable, and last longer than anything else.

I had a wierd issue with ghs when I did use them in the past. I had a winding on the string break. Not the core, but just a single piece of winding. Happened 2 or 3 times ( boomers were the only thing available at the local store back in the day) . My rebop had boomers on it when I bought it, and it had the same thing on the E string. Anyone else ever seen this?

ONCE in over 3 years I had a brand set of GHS 3050-5 where the B string came with a slight burr on it over the bridge PU. No problem though, I emailed the store I bought from and had a new B string in a couple days.

For a while I was only using DR strings. I finally found a string I really loved. Mostly Hi Beams but also tried Fat Beams and Lo Riders.

I ended up with a bunch of bad sets. But I will say that DR replaced them quickly.

I had a set of Fat Beams that had a weird overtone buzz on the A string.
I had a set of tappered Long Scale DR's that had really weird overtones on each string.
And I had a set of Lo Riders & Hi Beams that the B String winding busted while installing them.

I still have Lo Riders on my NS-2JAR and Hi Beams on my Euro 4LX. I am currently using D'addario Pro Steels on my others and I am liking them.

THAT really installs the confidence in DRs for me... Where I live, practically everything is ordered on line. I don't need and don't have the time for taking a high chance of receiving bad strings. :scowl:

AWE, YEAH!!!! Congrats man, that's awesome!!

Thanks Chris! It's you bro and seventhframe, that inspired me to switch over to USA SPECTORS. Mucho Gracious!

Nice

Thanks!

I used the Spector SS strings on My Euro, and I loved them, but when I put them on my USA NS-4 I didn't like them at all. The DR Highbeams (SS) are what I really like on my NS-4.

I'll keep that in mind...are they flats Chris?

So I sent my truss rod cover off about a week ago to have it inlaid with Abalone, got it back yesterday, put it on this morning, looks awesome, the pics don't do it justice.

Wow! Very very nice! How much does he charge?

Exactly. I'll give the DR's a shot when it's time to change strings and see what I think about them.

Everytime I try a different brand, I'm not finding the sound that I'm listening for. So I end up coming back to GHS!

 

[stjohn1299]

Denatured is pretty cheap at home depot. I figure if I can double the life, I'm doing good. The pipe trick keeps them straight so you don't have to coil them, and stores anywhere pretty easy.

What an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing!

 

[iceboxbass]

Nope they arent! I made a string cleaner out of a piece of 3/4" PVC. Cap one end tight , insert strings, add Denatured alcohol,cap the other end, shake and let sit over night ( or at least a few hrs). Works great. Gives about 70-80% or so of the zing back.

Denatured is pretty cheap at home depot. I figure if I can double the life, I'm doing good. The pipe trick keeps them straight so you don't have to coil them, and stores anywhere pretty easy.

I know some bass players that'll boil life back into their strings by boiling them in hot water.

 

[chrisloe]

Alright , Thats SICK! Where and how much? GAS!

Robinson Custom Inlays

$130.00 A little expensive, but looks awesome.

 

[grendle]

I've bought probably a hundred or so sets of DR high beams over the past 10-15 years ( 3-4 basses in the stable at a time), never had an issue with mine, but everyone has their own experience. I would say that goes for all brands though (ghs included ). I would order them with confidence from my experience. The DR High beams are that bright zingy steel sound, which isn't for everyone.

 

[grendle]

I know some bass players that'll boil life back into their strings by boiling them in hot water.

I used to do that. It worked pretty good, but I found on the boiled sets for some reason I would usually break one shortly after putting them back on (always the E string). So I stopped. I figured it was probably from either the heat or from coiling them.

I saw someone on here that posted the pipe trick, and thought , wow that was just too simple, and it keeps the strings straight. I tried it for myself and it works like a champ. I think it cost me $3 dollars for the PVC and the caps, the Denatured was like $6 a quart, or $15 a gallon. I have enough in the quart for maybe 6-8 sets of strings? maybe more? Gotta love the simple tricks lol .

 

[loend68]

For a while I was only using DR strings. I finally found a string I really loved. Mostly Hi Beams but also tried Fat Beams and Lo Riders.

I ended up with a bunch of bad sets. But I will say that DR replaced them quickly.

I had a set of Fat Beams that had a weird overtone buzz on the A string.
I had a set of tappered Long Scale DR's that had really weird overtones on each string.
And I had a set of Lo Riders & Hi Beams that the B String winding busted while installing them.

I still have Lo Riders on my NS-2JAR and Hi Beams on my Euro 4LX. I am currently using D'addario Pro Steels on my others and I am liking them.

Big fan of DR Strings, mainly Hi-Beams. I guess I've been lucky and never had a bad set in 15+yrs.

 

[chrisloe]

I'll keep that in mind...are they flats Chris?

No Flats, I just don't like flats, Rounds...

 

[Versatek6]

...are they flats Chris?

Everytime I try a different brand, I'm not finding the sound that I'm listening for. So I end up coming back to GHS!

Not Chris, but to answer your question, yes the DR Legends are flatwound versions of the Hi-Beam string; stainless wrap, round core.

I installed these on one of my basses (maple body, single P-pickup) and do find that they have a very classic sound. Retail is around $40, but watch the 'Bay - I got mine for under $30 shipped.

When I wanted to try flats on my Spectorcore, I didn't want to spend much, so I got Webstrings.com's Detroit Flats, and have found no reason to use anything else. Great price, great sound, great feel.

You seem to catch grief for liking GHS. Just for reference, I learned that they are the OEM manufacturer for Lakland strings.

 

[bassmanc]

I saw that but the Bartolini's kind of turned me off. I do like the white color though.

You can allways change pick ups!

 

[bassmanc]

I also notice a date that must be written in marker on the front side, because it is back words in the picture, looks like 6/2/86. The add said the bass was made in 86, do you think this is what the store is using to date the bass?

Anyone know if Hazlab's hand wrote date's on their preamps back then?

So you guys know.It's not a fake.What it is,is a prototype for the NS 2A NOT a NS-2.Thus using cheaper parts to lower the cost.Remember at that point Spectors were more of a production/handmade bass,and of course they wanted to make more affordable bass.Using different pickups,bridges and preamps...

 

[nervous]

Dr hi beams for me please

Likewise.

But I will add, IMHO, that the Blue Steel strings are very good as well.

 

[grendle]

Likewise.

But I will add, IMHO, that the Blue Steel strings are very good as well.

agreed. They are actually more than DR's here. $30 a set compaired to $25.

 

[JPSBassist]

No Flats, I just don't like flats, Rounds...

Funny but over the past year I've become more of a fan of flats. I've got a new set of Dogal Jaco flats for my new NS-2 when I pick it up later this month.

 

[JPSBassist]

So I sent my truss rod cover off about a week ago to have it inlaid with Abalone, got it back yesterday, put it on this morning, looks awesome, the pics don't do it justice.

What did that cost you if you don't mind me asking. You can PM me if you want. Thanks!

 

[nervous]

$130.00 A little expensive, but looks awesome.

THUMP! (That was me hitting the floor after losing consciousness)

 

[JPSBassist]

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!

Awesome! I know you're going to love it.

 

[Christian Waiau]

just did a quick demo of a new Spector Preformer Series bass.. It did need a quick set up but other then that it plays/sounds nice

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Not sure if on the rules... It was for a certain metal/rock website that will be doing a giveaway soon.