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Spector Club - Part 15

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#485
I'm a Spector newb who's reading up on everything Spector. Question: The Tone Pump is a pre-amp, right? I ask because the pups on my bass (NS4H2-Ex, 2006) are EMG 35DC which were typically wired with a Tone Pump according to Spector. Yet, when I open the control cavity, there's an OBP3. So, either the TP is not a pre amp, or, my bass has a non-standard PUP/preamp combination. (A lot of things on this bass are not standard - in a very good way.)

Btw, just in case you didn't know, these Spectors sound absolutely stunning.
 
#486
TCube said:
I'm a Spector newb who's reading up on everything Spector. Question: The Tone Pump is a pre-amp, right? I ask because the pups on my bass (NS4H2-Ex, 2006) are EMG 35DC which were typically wired with a Tone Pump according to Spector. Yet, when I open the control cavity, there's an OBP3. So, either the TP is not a pre amp, or, my bass has a non-standard PUP/preamp combination. (A lot of things on this bass are not standard - in a very good way.)

Btw, just in case you didn't know, these Spectors sound absolutely stunning.
Click to expand...

The TonePump is a Pre amp and is used in the Euro Series. Your NS4H2-EX, 2006 is a USA series so that is why you have the OBP3.

P.S. Stick around here and you will learn about Spectors very fast, lots of information always be passed around in this forum. :bassist:

P.P.S
Post a photo and Trace will provide you with a club # if you like. :hyper: :bassist:
 
#487
TCube said:
I'm a Spector newb who's reading up on everything Spector. Question: The Tone Pump is a pre-amp, right? I ask because the pups on my bass (NS4H2-Ex, 2006) are EMG 35DC which were typically wired with a Tone Pump according to Spector. Yet, when I open the control cavity, there's an OBP3. So, either the TP is not a pre amp, or, my bass has a non-standard PUP/preamp combination. (A lot of things on this bass are not standard - in a very good way.)

Btw, just in case you didn't know, these Spectors sound absolutely stunning.
Click to expand...

Probably the one thing that is standard on that bass is your OBP3 which I think is a good thing. :) I like the Tone Pump in my Euro 5LX but the OBP3 has an adjustable mid control if I am not mistaken as well as a stacked knob for treble and bass. The Tone Pump doesn't have a mid control so there is only treble and bass.

The EMG 35DC's are standard too I believe but now it looks like they include the TW pickups. I am sure you can still get the DC's in it though since that is definitely a popular option.
 
#493
Tracebassplayer said:
Cool. Then I'll wait till " the big show" to tell You you're number ...
Ha! Bet you thought I was gonna say it, huh? :D
Click to expand...

Haha. After lurking this thread for so long, i'd like to think that i've grown accustomed to your style, Trace. :D

Needless to say, the suspense is killing me.
 
#495
I got my Spector Euro 5LX about 3 weeks ago and am finally gonna have it all paid off this week. It's the first big thing I've bought since I started working, and I'm excited to start saving for my next Spector!
Basses%20and%20Gear
 
#496
TCube said:
I'm a Spector newb who's reading up on everything Spector. Question: The Tone Pump is a pre-amp, right? I ask because the pups on my bass (NS4H2-Ex, 2006) are EMG 35DC which were typically wired with a Tone Pump according to Spector. Yet, when I open the control cavity, there's an OBP3. So, either the TP is not a pre amp, or, my bass has a non-standard PUP/preamp combination. (A lot of things on this bass are not standard - in a very good way.)

Btw, just in case you didn't know, these Spectors sound absolutely stunning.
Click to expand...

Glad you like.

I have a question... "according to SPECTOR"? Where did you get this "according to" information? Just curious.

The Aguilar OBP Active Tone Circuits and the Europe Series SPECTOR TonePump share a similar architecture.

Both circuits use the same primary technology for amplifying the signal from the pickups. It is called a JFET circuit, or Junction Field Effect Transistor.

Old preamps (or circuits... same thing) used an amplifying circuit called an operational amplifier. OpAmps on paper are a mathematical wonder. They can exponentially increase sound waves with very little energy. But in reality they have a primary flaw which is they overload. Heat caused by the resistance that electricity creates when being pushed through a copper wire (or other material) is their main enemy.

The SPECTOR TonePump is installed in all Europe Series SPECTORs. The TonePump only comes standard in one USA SPECTOR, the RX-T (Rex's Tele-Bass). Rex Brown prefers the TonePump over the traditional (Op-Amp based) NS-2 9v circuit.

Read the last three or four versions of this forum and you'll get caught up really quick on the "what's-what" with the World of SPECTOR. The guys on this board are very, very knowledgeable about these things.

Your NS-4H2-EX with the OBP-3 is actually stock. The EMG 35DC's are not... but an easily installed factory option. The standard pup for the NS-4H2, NS-5H2 and NS-6H2 are the EMG CS-TW single/dual coil tapping pickups.

Welcome to the club... when do we get to see photos of your beauty?
 
#497
Tracebassplayer said:
Having confirmed the sale of an NS-2A from LimaGuy to Evil Undead....

Evil Undead is SPECTOR® Club # 262. :hyper::hyper:
Click to expand...

That's awesome! I felt kinda bad about that whole eBay/TB thing, but all's well that ends well. Hope you're digging it Evil!!

delucajohn2000 said:
That's a bit of an under-statement! :-) I have to say, I tried out Limaguy's JAR the last time I was over and I really liked that bass a ton. I really liked the beefy neck since it felt similar to my Euro 5 so it wasn't a huge difference to play between the two. Plus, I really loved the sound of that bass so I can definitely see myself getting one in the future.

That's a tough decision between the 3 of those. a White Wimbish would be really sweet but the Forte's are great as well. Very different necks though from what I hear though since I think I remember someone saying the Forte has a pretty beefy neck as well.
Click to expand...

It'll be tough, but - at least I've narrowed it down. A bit. :p If this Wimbish profile is really closer to a jazz neck - I do like that feel - but...but...in the same price range I can get a USA. So, I'm going to make the decision after BPL.

bassmanc said:
Trust me,get the Forte with the 9v!
Click to expand...

I might wait on the 9V, now that I think about it and what Sam said. I can always upgrade later - and I'd like to hear what the OBP-2 sounds like first.

LimaGuy said:
I was getting nervous, I didn't see any comments on the NS-2JAR and I was thinking for a moment you didnt like it.

From your description above I think I was on target describing it and you like it so I feel better now. :hyper: And you did steal it for that price. :hiding:

Regarding your new decision. I would say go with the Forte 4 Flame Maple OBP-2, (you could always add the USA 9V later, unless the price isnt too much more when ordering now)
And "get a steal" on a used "Euro or NS-4CR down the road.
Click to expand...


LOL! I was all quiet because I was just playing it for two days straight. You were spot on with your description, so thanks for that! I couldn't believe no one else bid either - I did put my bid in the final 10 seconds, and it stuck. I'm glad it did. :D

We'll see how BPL goes... can't wait! :bassist:
 
#499
LimaGuy said:
How does the Ian Hill neck compare to the NS-2A necks?

I notice that my NS-2A and previous NS-2A had a thinner neck then both of my Euros.

So is the Ian Hill neck similar to the NS-2A neck or even thinner?

A new USA Forte4 or NS-2 would have a similar neck to the Euro LX, NS-2A or NS-2JAR from front to back?
Click to expand...

Both the Ian Hill and the new Alex Webster basses have pretty thin (front to back) necks. You can feel it. That's for sure.

Here are the specs on a few basses you might find interesting.

I measured at the 2nd and 12th frets. The 2nd instead of the first (meaning center between) because the volute starts around the center of the first fret on most USA modes and a little further down the neck on the Euro models. This gives the illusion of the necks being thicker if you measure there.

So here we go:

Link Removed

Here's something you should know:

The addition of the carbon fiber support rods added thickness to the neck. So the thing to the Kramer necks being so much thinner is that they lacked these support rods.

Doug Wimbish has ordered current USA SPECTOR models WITHOUT these support rods. So that's one of the keys to getting a thinner neck.

Yes. The NS-2A necks and the Ian Hill necks are very similar in thickness.

The Alex 5-string neck is more the thickness of the standard Euro4LX neck... which is saying something since the Euro5LX neck is much thicker than the 4-string (at least they feel that way to me when I play them... the numbers don't show that big a difference).

I think it's notable that my NS-4's neck is thinner than my NS-2's neck by a noticeable amount.

Also the USA necks are much thinner at the headstock and thicken up quickly by the 12th fret and remain nearly the same thickness down to the body joint.

The Euro models gradually thicken down the length of the neck. So the difference between the 2nd fret and 12th isn't as dramatic as the USA models. At least this is what the numbers show.
 
#500
JPSBassist said:
Both the Ian Hill and the new Alex Webster basses have pretty thin (front to back) necks. You can feel it. That's for sure.

Here are the specs on a few basses you might find interesting.

I measured at the 2nd and 12th frets. The 2nd instead of the first (meaning center between) because the volute starts around the center of the first fret on most USA modes and a little further down the neck on the Euro models. This gives the illusion of the necks being thicker if you measure there.

So here we go:

Link Removed

Here's something you should know:

The addition of the carbon fiber support rods added thickness to the neck. So the thing to the Kramer necks being so much thinner is that they lacked these support rods.

Doug Wimbish has ordered current USA SPECTOR models WITHOUT these support rods. So that's one of the keys to getting a thinner neck.

Yes. The NS-2A necks and the Ian Hill necks are very similar in thickness.

The Alex 5-string neck is more the thickness of the standard Euro4LX neck... which is saying something since the Euro5LX neck is much thicker than the 4-string (at least they feel that way to me when I play them... the numbers don't show that big a difference).

I think it's notable that my NS-4's neck is thinner than my NS-2's neck by a noticeable amount.

Also the USA necks are much thinner at the headstock and thicken up quickly by the 12th fret and remain nearly the same thickness down to the body joint.

The Euro models gradually thicken down the length of the neck. So the difference between the 2nd fret and 12th isn't as dramatic as the USA models. At least this is what the numbers show.
Click to expand...

I had a feeling you would have the answer, but you explained it even better then I imagined. I am sure this will help out alot of people in the future also, Thanks :D :bassist:
 
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