Spector Club - Part 15

[LimaGuy]

So 200.00 for a stripped empty hull of an NS20004 is kinda high, no?

The one you are referring to, would only need Pickups and Pots. If you can pick those up for $40-$50ish, then I would say its right about a decent deal. But you would hope the neck is in good shape.

 

[dukeisdog]

Spector LX5 I bought a few weeks ago, I've already posted it but I seriously love this thing! I couldn't be happier. I'll have it paid off full this week, then I can keep saving up for my next Spector.

Hopefully the picture works, I can never post pictures from my iPhone.

 

[connected2aj]

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.

I really dig the OBP-2. The sound is very close to the HAZ. My NS-2's(HAZ) and Forte X(OBP-2) sound very similar to one another. This may be blasphemy, but I think I may actually like the Aguilar a little more right now though.

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Anyone have any advice on re routing my ns2a bridge ? With the curved body , I feel like I will have to have an over head router to keep it flat ??? Ideas Spector brothers ????

 

[Tracebassplayer]

Anyone have any advice on re routing my ns2a bridge ? With the curved body , I feel like I will have to have an over head router to keep it flat ??? Ideas Spector brothers ????

Make a jig to hold upside down for table router. Level adjustable of course. That's what I did to make the cuts in my NS-2J to repair the split in the body.
Routing will be difficult.
Or use a milling bit in a drill press and jig it top side up.... might be easier.

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Ok my father n law has. A great drill press and forstner bits . Not sure how that is spelled . But seems like its gonna be tough no matter what to get the right depth all around the route . Really wish there was a way to pop out that old filler , but it is glued in place ....

 

[basstones]

Anyone have any advice on re routing my ns2a bridge ? With the curved body , I feel like I will have to have an over head router to keep it flat ??? Ideas Spector brothers ????

Jarrod,
Here is a very crude drawing of how I routed my NS2A.
With the bass laying flat on bench I used scrap wood to build the outside of the jig to be slightly above the body of the bass and then used 1x2's to lay across the top of the outside supports to keep the router level and adjusted my router( dremel tool with route attachment) to make the cuts. Hope this helps.

View attachment router jig.bmp

Brian

 

[iceboxbass]

I could do that but then I wouldn't have a house to live in

Ah! What's a house when you could have an array of SPECTOR basses lined up?!?!;D

Hey peeps!

I'm down to three choices after emailing BC.

Custom White Gloss Euro Wimbish, gold hardware
Forte 4 Flame Maple OBP-2, black hardware
Forte 4 Flame Maple USA 9V, black hardware

Forte 4 OBP-2!!!

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.

+1! Great advise!!!

..and just remember... The Rule Book for SPECTOR basses is "more of a guide than code"... Capt. Barbosa...

+1, that's for sure! Just when you think that you have it all figured out then comes an anomaly! :scowl:

So 200.00 for a stripped empty hull of an NS20004 is kinda high, no?

I would offer $125.00-150.00 Trace.

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?

Gee, Mr. Ed Sullivan, eh! "The Big Shoo, really Big Shoo".

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!

Congrats! I haven't taken delivery of my Forte 4(NOV) but it's paid for, and saving for my next USA SPECTOR 5r...welcome to "SPECTOR FEVER"! (Sung to the tune,"Cat Scratch Fever")

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.

We'll see how BPL goes... can't wait!

here's a YouTube clip of the Forte 4 OBP-2 that finally sold me on it!

If those don't get you excited!

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:

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.

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.

thank you JPS! Interesting facts!
I always felt my Ian Hill neck was most notably thinner than my NS-2A...

I really dig the OBP-2. The sound is very close to the HAZ. My NS-2's(HAZ) and Forte X(OBP-2) sound very similar to one another. This may be blasphemy, but I think I may actually like the Aguilar a little more right now though.

+1 on the Aguilar! It has a sound of it's own. See YouTube videos above.

 

[iceboxbass]

Or use a milling bit in a drill press and jig it top side up.... might be easier.

This would be the best option IMO.

 

[iceboxbass]

Ok my father n law has. A great drill press and forstner bits . Not sure how that is spelled . But seems like its gonna be tough no matter what to get the right depth all around the route . Really wish there was a way to pop out that old filler , but it is glued in place ....

Very carefully use you hand or light weight mallet with a wood chisel lightly tap from middle of pup routed slot to outside. Making sure chisel edge is flat on the wood. It shouldn't take much to loosen the old filler.

Jarrod,
Here is a very crude drawing of how I routed my NS2A.
With the bass laying flat on bench I used scrape wood to build the outside of the jig to be slightly above the body of the bass and then used 1x2's to lay across the top of the outside supports to keep the router level and adjusted my router( dremel tool with route attachment) to make the cuts. Hope this helps.

<img src="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=230453"/>

Brian

Now here's an excellent idea!

 

[Lowest End]

So I have two questions for the fine folks here.


1. I have an NS2A with stock pickups and electronics. I just acquired a set of active PJ EMG pickups that I'd like to install. I'm plenty handy with a soldering iron (I used to do recording studio maintenance) but I have never done pickup work. Also, since I'm going from passive pickups to active I assume the power cable will be new. What is involved in this? Any suggestions or tips?


2. I just started playing with some guys that tune way down to C (and occasionally drop Bb). I'd like to use the NS2A but was curious how it would hold up with that super-low tuning. I used a Warwick Corvette 5-er for it last night and definitely want to use a 4-string for it (since that low string is unusable)...


thanks in advance!

 

[Chrishi87]

Damned
Unfortunately no Spector for me at this time
I see this as a sign, that I should´t get a ReBop.
Instead I will save for a Euro 5. I think thats the right decision

 

[delucajohn2000]

here's a YouTube clip of the Forte 4 OBP-2 that finally sold me on it!
Spector Forte 4 - SOUNDLAND GMBH STUTTGART - YouTube
AND...Forte 5!
Spector Forte 5 - SOUNDLAND GMBH STUTTGART - YouTube
If those don't get you excited!

Just to throw a curve ball into those, listen to this USA bolt-on as well. I never was really considering one of these but after hearing this video, I might consider it now:

Spector NS-5 Bolt On Buckeye Burl Top - YouTube

Too bad all of these videos are in German since I don't speak it but getting to hear the bass is the most important thing i guess.

I think I watch this video at least 3-4 times a week also and love the X body style.

Mike Duda - Forte 4X Demo - YouTube

 

[delucajohn2000]

2. I just started playing with some guys that tune way down to C (and occasionally drop Bb). I'd like to use the NS2A but was curious how it would hold up with that super-low tuning. I used a Warwick Corvette 5-er for it last night and definitely want to use a 4-string for it (since that low string is unusable)...


thanks in advance!

If you are going to tune that low, I would recommend getting the bass setup for that tuning and leaving it there. If you are going to constantly tune down like that, it will really cause your neck to move since the strings won't have as much tension when dropping down to C.

You would probably want to consider a thicker set of strings as well to try and compensate for this lower tuning. I know DR makes the DDT line for drop down tuning and Circle K has sets for this as well but I have never tried them.

I plan on getting another bass and having it setup for C# tuning just for this reason. There are a bunch of songs I want to play along with in that tuning but don't want to cause any issues with the neck on my Euro since it is tuned standard. For now, I play them on the low B string since I have a 5 string but some songs are tough since they use a good amount of the open strings.

 

[Lowest End]

If you are going to tune that low, I would recommend getting the bass setup for that tuning and leaving it there. If you are going to constantly tune down like that, it will really cause your neck to move since the strings won't have as much tension when dropping down to C.

You would probably want to consider a thicker set of strings as well to try and compensate for this lower tuning. I know DR makes the DDT line for drop down tuning and Circle K has sets for this as well but I have never tried them.

I plan on getting another bass and having it setup for C# tuning just for this reason. There are a bunch of songs I want to play along with in that tuning but don't want to cause any issues with the neck on my Euro since it is tuned standard. For now, I play them on the low B string since I have a 5 string but some songs are tough since they use a good amount of the open strings.

I also use this bass for an AIC tribute band that tunes to Eb (and drop Db), so it's going to have some changes (however, that only plays out every few months or so).

If this new project takes off, I might look at another 4-string instead of another 5-string as I had planned.

Decisions, decisions!

 

[delucajohn2000]

I also use this bass for an AIC tribute band that tunes to Eb (and drop Db), so it's going to have some changes (however, that only plays out every few months or so).

If this new project takes off, I might look at another 4-string instead of another 5-string as I had planned.

Decisions, decisions!

Just tuning the Eb, you would be fine but when you start getting into the Db, that is where it gets crazy. I think "Rain When I Die" is tuned to Db and that is when Mike Inez pulls out the Specor

Alice In Chains - Rain When I Die (Live at Rock Am Ring 2010) - YouTube

 

[Trailight]

here's a YouTube clip of the Forte 4 OBP-2 that finally sold me on it!
Spector Forte 4 - SOUNDLAND GMBH STUTTGART - YouTube
AND...Forte 5!
Spector Forte 5 - SOUNDLAND GMBH STUTTGART - YouTube
If those don't get you excited!

I'm going to try and make a Forte video soon so it'll sell more people on this amazing piece or lumber!

 

[TCube]

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.

Hi Delucajohn, You're right. My NS4H2 has the controls you mentioned (like 400 & 800 Hz mid controls). Another cool thing about my particular instrument is that it has master and PUP pan as opposed to separate volume controls for the neck and bridge PUPs.

According to Spector, the DCs were standard up to 2006 after which they went to the EMG35CS-TW. I don't know what the 35CS sounds like, but the DCs are terrific.

Thanks for your input!

 

[delucajohn2000]

Hi Delucajohn, You're right. My NS4H2 has the controls you mentioned (like 400 & 800 Hz mid controls). Another cool thing about my particular instrument is that it has master and PUP pan as opposed to separate volume controls for the neck and bridge PUPs.

According to Spector, the DCs were standard up to 2006 after which they went to the EMG35CS-TW. I don't know what the 35CS sounds like, but the DCs are terrific.

Thanks for your input!

My next Spector will have the one pickup blend knob but that usually comes down to personal preference. I am not a big fan of the separate volume knobs for each pickup but I know others love it.

The CS-TW pickups are Ceramic and also can be set to single coil mode when you pull the knob out. My Euro has them and to be honest, I never use them in single coil mode since I really am not a fan of the sound.

 

[jarrod cunningham]

Jarrod,
Here is a very crude drawing of how I routed my NS2A.
With the bass laying flat on bench I used scrap wood to build the outside of the jig to be slightly above the body of the bass and then used 1x2's to lay across the top of the outside supports to keep the router level and adjusted my router( dremel tool with route attachment) to make the cuts. Hope this helps.

<img src="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=230453"/>

Brian

Brian that's exactly what I had in mind !!! Thanks for the help !