Spector Club - Part 17

[beatdatthang]

Spector Q4 Pro Bass | eBay

1 day left... looks like a good deal... I'm thinking about it but I really like the curved body of the NS basses...

Yep, me too. I'd hold out for a Rebop or another NS-2 to come available. I've played the Performers and Legends and I just love the smaller body and curved back contour of the NS basses. That's SPECTOR to me.

If you can find a relatively inexpensive NS2000/4 they also have the contoured shape and they are neck-thru. The upper horn is slightly slimmer and more pointy than the traditional NS shape but they are really nice instruments. I owned one for 6 months (NS2000/5 5 string) before I traded it in for my Euro 5 and it was a really nice bass. They are Korean made and the quality was excellent.

They are very similar to the NS-95's of which there is a 5er for sale on eBay right now (it's actually the same color as the NS2000/5 I used to own - amber stain).

USED SPECTOR NS95 5 STRING BASS IN NATURAL WITH GIG BAG | eBay

A little more pointy than the traditional NS, but the curves are there.

 

[PhatBasstard]

Heres a question for NS2a owners: do you find the output of these basses to be a bit weak, especially compared to other Spectors. I find the output weak and somewhat "dull" compared to my other two Spectors, especially my Euro. Anyone?

I've owned three. I replaced the pups with regular EMG's to great improvement in two of them (they fit easily). You'll find the Haz copy in these is very good and very close to the original.

I'd replace the pups first and see what you think. Those "Spector/EMG Selects" are crappy and not even as good as the bottom of the barrel EMG-SSD's. Those pickups are really the weak link of these basses. Replace those and it's a whole new world.

 

[delucajohn2000]

Nope. Nothing hit it. It's the darndest thing. Seriously, the seller wrapped the bass in bubble wrap, put it in a heavy-duty gig bag (a really nice one) wrapped the gig bag in bubble wrap, and packed it in a very sturdy box with a ton of packing peanuts and balled-up newspaper. I honestly would've "thrown it off the roof" (to coin a phrase I've read in this thread) and felt safe that it wouldn't have been damaged.

I found a couple of tiny chips in the bubble wrap surrounding the bass but it was too little to save so it obviously happened in shipping - not the sellers fault. The only thing I can figure is that because it's right at the neck pocket joint, the point of highest stress, that the temperature change (sub-freezing Buffalo, NY at night to 80 degree south Georgia during the day) probably caused the finish to crack and when I unwrapped it from the bubble wrap and held it up to inspect it, the chips just kinda fell off.

Still sounds great, though! Just finished breaking her in by playing through the entire Operation: Mindcrime album by Queensryche (Eddie Jackson gets the best tone from his SPECTORs) kind of as a tribute to Eddie Jackson.

That sucks to hear what happened to your Rebop. I'm glad it still sounds good and yeah, I was playing Mindcrime with my Rebop the other night and was able to pretty much nail Eddie Jackson's tone as well.

 

[beatdatthang]

That sucks to hear what happened to your Rebop. I'm glad it still sounds good and yeah, I was playing Mindcrime with my Rebop the other night and was able to pretty much nail Eddie Jackson's tone as well.

Is there a better 80's rock style bass album? If so I haven't found it. Mindcrime and Empire are what I always strive for when it comes to tone and being tight with a drummer. Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield were one of the best rhythm sections in rock during that time. Amazing!

The finish damage sucks, but hey at least it was a $500 Rebop and not a $4000 USA NS. I keep telling myself to look at the bright side...

 

[dukeisdog]

Is there a better 80's rock style bass album? If so I haven't found it. Mindcrime and Empire are what I always strive for when it comes to tone and being tight with a drummer. Eddie Jackson and Scott Rockenfield were one of the best rhythm sections in rock during that time. Amazing!

The finish damage sucks, but hey at least it was a $500 Rebop and not a $4000 USA NS. I keep telling myself to look at the bright side...

Basses get chipped, knocked around, etc. Yeah, it sucks, but it wasn't gonna stay in mint condition forever. It's best to not sweat it and enjoy the Spector!

 

[Ronnietex]

I run mine with the bridge pickup full and the neck pickup at about 75 to 80 percent. I found that those setting make my Euro5LX growl even more.

+1 on my Euro 4.

 

[superdick2112]

Still sounds great, though! Just finished breaking her in by playing through the entire Operation: Mindcrime album by Queensryche (Eddie Jackson gets the best tone from his SPECTORs) kind of as a tribute to Eddie Jackson.

Agreed, Eddie's best tone always was from his Spectors. I was noodling on my white Spector Euro the other day & watching VH-1 Classic, when Queensrych's "I Don't Believe in Love" video came on, and I found myself digging out several of their older CDs out & playing along for the rest of the afternoon. "Mindcrime" is a great album, but I like "Rage for Order" even more..

 

[beatdatthang]

Basses get chipped, knocked around, etc. Yeah, it sucks, but it wasn't gonna stay in mint condition forever. It's best to not sweat it and enjoy the Spector!

I hear ya, but I'm one of those guys who tries his hardest to keep his gear in as pristine shape as possible. Other than fret wear, you'd have a hard time finding anything wrong with most of my gear.

Not a huge deal. It is, after all, all about the TONE...

 

[dukeisdog]

I hear ya, but I'm one of those guys who tries his hardest to keep his gear in as pristine shape as possible. Other than fret wear, you'd have a hard time finding anything wrong with most of my gear.

Not a huge deal. It is, after all, all about the TONE...

Oh, I hear ya there. I keep my Spector in the case when I'm not playing it (don't wanna risk it with my cats and dogs), but what's done is done. You've still got yourself a killer looking and sounding bass. Everytime I see I green Spector I wanna pull the trigger and order a green Euro 5LX, I just can't afford to do so at the moment. Maybe one day I'll own 2 of them, but for now, I'm happy with my Blue Stain Euro 5LX.

Enjoy the Rebop!

 

[beatdatthang]

Oh, I hear ya there. I keep my Spector in the case when I'm not playing it (don't wanna risk it with my cats and dogs), but what's done is done. You've still got yourself a killer looking and sounding bass. Everytime I see I green Spector I wanna pull the trigger and order a green Euro 5LX, I just can't afford to do so at the moment. Maybe one day I'll own 2 of them, but for now, I'm happy with my Blue Stain Euro 5LX.

Enjoy the Rebop!

Thanks duke. The green was the main reason I jumped all over it. I'd never seen a Rebop in transparent green stain before. I'm sure I can at least get it touched up somehow. The Rebop is awesome. I still miss my Euro 5, though!

 

[dukeisdog]

Thanks duke. The green was the main reason I jumped all over it. I'd never seen a Rebop in transparent green stain before. I'm sure I can at least get it touched up somehow. The Rebop is awesome. I still miss my Euro 5, though!

Not a problem, and yeah, I'm sure you could find someone that could make it look like new. How do you like the tone of the bolt on Rebop compared to the Euro neck thru? I've seen some really nice rebops at good prices, but I really love the neck thrus, and haven't had an opportunity to actually sit down and play a Rebop for a good amount of time.

 

[beatdatthang]

Not a problem, and yeah, I'm sure you could find someone that could make it look like new. How do you like the tone of the bolt on Rebop compared to the Euro neck thru? I've seen some really nice rebops at good prices, but I really love the neck thrus, and haven't had an opportunity to actually sit down and play a Rebop for a good amount of time.

This is my first Rebop and these are my first impressions:

The tone is extremely similar to the Euro 5 I used to have but the Rebop is slightly more "punchy" with the ability to dial in a little more mids and highs and the Euro 5 was slightly "warmer" with a rounder bass tone. You feel more than hear the Euro's bass "oompf". The Euro had a little more sustain, but I haven't (to this point I just got the Rebop today and played it for 3 hours until my wife threatened to murder me in my sleep) noticed that much of a difference - probably because the bolt-on Rebop neck pocket is so deep. It runs all the way up to the neck pup.

I do like the punch of the Rebop, it adds a little extra if you're going to slap our if you're trying to get that burpy jazz sound. Still has that "growl" we all love, though. The neck also feels a little faster to me because of the light satin finish that feels almost like raw maple. The Neck-thrus get the same glossy finish on the neck as on the body so they don't feel as "fast" to me. Also, the Rebop neck has more of a "U" shape whereas my Euro had more of a "C" shape. The overall thickness was about the same, though.

She's a real tone machine (like all SPECTORs) and I'd still be playing her right now (instead of just looking at her) if the wife and kids weren't asleep!

 

[LimaGuy]

This is my first Rebop and these are my first impressions:

The tone is extremely similar to the Euro 5 I used to have but the Rebop is slightly more "punchy" with the ability to dial in a little more mids and highs and the Euro 5 was slightly "warmer" with a rounder bass tone. You feel more than hear the Euro's bass "oompf". The Euro had a little more sustain, but I haven't (to this point I just got the Rebop today and played it for 3 hours until my wife threatened to murder me in my sleep) noticed that much of a difference - probably because the bolt-on Rebop neck pocket is so deep. It runs all the way up to the neck pup.

I do like the punch of the Rebop, it adds a little extra if you're going to slap our if you're trying to get that burpy jazz sound. Still has that "growl" we all love, though. The neck also feels a little faster to me because of the light satin finish that feels almost like raw maple. The Neck-thrus get the same glossy finish on the neck as on the body so they don't feel as "fast" to me. Also, the Rebop neck has more of a "U" shape whereas my Euro had more of a "C" shape. The overall thickness was about the same, though.

She's a real tone machine (like all SPECTORs) and I'd still be playing her right now (instead of just looking at her) if the wife and kids weren't asleep!

Great description
I forgot if you mentioned which pre amp is in it, the EMG BT or the OBP1?

 

[Evil Undead]

Well I spent some time tonight cleaning and buffing this bass, and it looks even better than before. The few finish marks buffed right out. I'll take pictures tomorrow.

Heres a question for NS2a owners: do you find the output of these basses to be a bit weak, especially compared to other Spectors. I find the output weak and somewhat "dull" compared to my other two Spectors, especially my Euro. Anyone?

I don't know if my opinion counts here because the electronics have been upgraded in my NS-2A, but I find the output of mine very good and loud.

 

[iceboxbass]

Some Photos of the Forte

I guess they are like cousins

The Bridge that gives all that sustain. From the JPS photo session

The Pau Ferro is amazing From the JPS photo session

Inside the control cavity From the JPS photo session

Wow! Look at that Pau Ferro! beautiful! Is that copper shielding in the control cavity?! Not seen/noticed that before! Very nice pics LimaGuy!

 

[iceboxbass]

I've finally arrived at my string of choice being TI Jazz flats.

It's taken me a while to get there, my first sets were Blue Steels, then D'Addario Nickel Wounds, then switched to flats with a set of DR Legends, then some Chromes on the four string, then the GHS Precision flats that came on the NS-95 when I got it from icebox (they are the smoothest of all the sets I've tried, just too mellow for me), then a set of Chromes to replace those, and finally I bought a set of TI Jazz Flats for the four string and all I can say is WOW!. All the brightness of Chromes and reduced tension to boot. I don't think I could ask for anything more... except them not being so expensive maybe.

Next up will be a set of TI's for the Spector in the spring.

Interesting about the TI flats...I thought about putting them on my basses too but a bit pricey.

 

[iceboxbass]

Well I spent some time tonight cleaning and buffing this bass, and it looks even better than before. The few finish marks buffed right out. I'll take pictures tomorrow.

Heres a question for NS2a owners: do you find the output of these basses to be a bit weak, especially compared to other Spectors. I find the output weak and somewhat "dull" compared to my other two Spectors, especially my Euro. Anyone?

Not at all! My former NS-2A was a sound monster!!!

 

[iceboxbass]

So my Rebop finally arrived today and I'm stoked! Unfortunately, she didn't arrive unscathed...

There are two spots right at the base of the neck on the body where the finish chipped off during shipping. I don't blame the seller, he did an excellent job packaging it for shipping. I can only guess it was the weather change coming from upstate New York to south Georgia and riding in the back of a UPS truck for a week.

It's a little bit of a buzz kill because the finish is so gorgeous (I can't find a single other blemish anywhere) and I'd never seen a Rebop with the transparent green like this before. Ah Well, it's a bolt-on so now I've just got to see if I can color match the the best I can and do some touch up.

Here are some pics:

SprintPhoto_b54t2r-1.jpg picture by horsepower56 - Photobucket

I wonder how much a pro would charge to try to refinish those bad spots? Love the bass, though. Sounds and plays EXACTLY as I remember.

SPECTORS RULE!

Beat! So sorry about the beating in shipping your ReBop took! I know the feeling...it's happened to me more than once. And thats a huge buzz kill!!! Infuriates me!!! I had to send a bass back to Musicians Friend once. Make a claim against the shipper. That's a gorgeous ReBop though! You have a rarity! Cheers bro!

 

[iceboxbass]

Mine should ship this week, now I'm getting paranoid..... Maybe I should have it overnighted or 2nd day. I would litterally cry if she got tore up in transit.....

No worries mate! I've bought a lot of my basses in the winter. Never had that happened. If you ship with a case less chance of destruction.

 

[5StringFool]

Interesting about the TI flats...I thought about putting them on my basses too but a bit pricey.

Well I found them used here in the classifieds, they were about 2 mos old and good and broken in when I got them, so I got them for a little less than half price.

They sounded very similar to the Chromes of about the same age on my 4 string. The difference in tension was unreal though. I had to have the truss rod tightened all the way to get the neck relief I needed with the Chromes. When I put the TI's on and tuned them the neck went from having relief to being slightly back bowed. I had to loosen the rod to get the desired relief. Since the 4 string is a mid line older Yamaha RBX I was really happy to not have to keep so much tension on the rod.

The funny thing is if I would have bought TI's from the getgo I would have spent less money on strings in the "tonequest", and even though the TI's are pricey when you factor in the life of a flatwound they are actually cheaper than most other strings in the long run.