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Spector Club (Part 2)

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#741
You all are a wealth of knowledge.

With only a little bit of suggestion and persuasion, my family got me a Spectorcore for Christmas this year. I've been playing it pretty steadily since then.

I prefer to leave my instruments as close to stock as possible, but that isn't always optimal. And since this was pre-owned, some clean-up was in order, anyhow.

After about a month, I decided the EMG-HZ did not have as much presence as I wanted, so after poking through the forums for ideas, it has been replaced with an SGD Neo3 passive neck pickup. It is a direct drop-in replacement with the same EMG-style connector (no soldering): 15 minutes to swap, tops. It has that deep, warm neck-tone, but with an added openness. I think was a good choice for me.

Running the Neo3 with the bridge piezo at about 90% each on volume and tone gives a really nice hi-fi sound.

Hipshot D-tuner went on with no problems, and a new set of strings was now in order. I ended up trying DR's Hellborg UFO strings. They are different from the DR Lo-Rider nickels I am used to, so I am still getting my ears around the sound, but I think I like it. They are less forgiving of my technique problems, though. I have a set of flats waiting in the wings, just in case.

It's good to be with you!
 
#742
Question: I currently have the Spector Tonepump in my 4LX-35, but was wondering if anyone has had any experience with Spectors with the Aguilar OBP-2? I am wondering what kind of difference it will make?

If i am not mistaken, didn't Spector put them in their basses for awhile?
 
#743
The pic in my avatar is an NS2-C....lots of people overlook them cause they arent as pretty as the NS2A's, and also because they bolt-on neck...but they are great basses...and hard to find. I will post a couple of pics soon.
Captain_Arrrg said:
My wording was a little weird, my bad. I'm interested in the NS2-Cs though. They're mentioned on the Spector site, but no pictures there or at Spector World. So, as per TB rules and regs, they don't exist until photographic evidence is produced.

Now if there was only someone who had two they could photograph, and maybe tell us a little about them....
Click to expand...
 
#746
Captain, here they are....I forgot I had them already in my photobucket. By the way, another cool option that I thought about doing was taking the pickups/tonepump out of a ReBop and replacing them with some passive Duncans or something similar.
By the way, I have 3 Spectors Im going to put up for sale tonight.. one Euro and two ReBops;)

NS2-Cs.jpg



NS2C-2.gif
 
#748
Kwesi said:
You've actually got some pretty nice options for pickups:

Bartolini XXM56C

Bartolini M56CBC

Link Removed

Nordstrand DC6, Scroll down the page a bit.

EMG 45DC

Link Removed

EMG 45CS

I was thinking about goign the same route for my Euro 6LX (swapping out the stock EMG 45DCs) at one point but after a while I came to LOVE the sound I got from it. These are all drop in replacements for EMG 45 size pickups (your bass has 45HZs if you didn't know).

You may notice that the Nordstrands don't specify a six string version (they have the EMG 45 size for 5 strings) but they do make them. It would be a semi-custom order so the price would be above the $315 that is shown. I think he gave me a quote of $400 but you probably should check that out for yourself.

Also, EMGs now use a proprietary contact system between their pups and pre-amps. I know that you can rig a EMG pickup for use with other pre-amps but I'm not sure if the same works the other way around so it may be in your best interest to do both the pickups and preamp at the same time.

I would've linked some pre-amps to but I figure they're a lot easier to find, just look for one that accommodates 4 holes. I know Nordstrand, Glockenklang, Audere, Bartolini, EMG, Aguilar and John East Preamps all have ones that would work nicely for you.

So there ya' go! That's everything I've got, lol. BUT, I say give it a few weeks before making your decision. You may find, like I did, that you love the sound that you have and save a few hundred bucks! Enjoy :D.
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This is a wealth of information, THANK YOU!!!!
 
#751
direktor said:
4 posts above your statement is a picture of one :)
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I didn't know that the MK Legends were passive. As far as I know, you're the first club member with one. With the way my track record's been however, that's probably wrong as well....

There is absolutely no way a brand new USA NT will magically arrive at my door. (It's worth a shot.)


Thundar said:
NS2C-2.gif
Click to expand...

What's the switch for?

Extra cool points for whoever post clips of a passive Spector! I'd even take an ARC6 PRO.
 
#752
Dean,

Nice recordings! Ahh, I love that Spector tone!!

Thanks for sharing.

dean owens said:
don't laugh too much. this is my first attempt at messing with garageband. i was trying to do some quick learning and lay down some basic tracks. my main purpose was to have the stock sound before i make any changes to have a frame of reference. my timing gets off in a few places.

my rebop is an all alder body with emg hz's and the tonepump preamp. i recorded direct with no effects and i play with my fingers (sorry, my nails need a little trimming and you can hear them "grab" the strings every now and then).

i have an emg bqc, 40tw and 40p5 that i plan on putting in later. after i'm finished i'll put up a full thread about it. but figured i'd put the sound files i have now with the stock setup on here. again, don't laugh.

tonepump dimed for "rhythm" and "lead"

tonepump down for "rhythm" and "lead"

Tonepump dimed for the "rhythm" and down for the "lead"
Click to expand...
 
#753
Captain_Arrrg said:
I didn't know that the MK Legends were passive. As far as I know, you're the first club member with one. With the way my track record's been however, that's probably wrong as well....
Click to expand...

Yes, it's EMG HZs with no preamp (I popped the cover to be sure)

I'm sure there's somebody else with one here, but you're right, I haven't seen one either.

I'm slowly warming to the HZs. I can see how they wouldn't wow anybody out of the gate, but I have slowly come to realize that I can indeed get a fair range of sounds out of them.
 
#755
Sorry, my Spector isn't passive, but I think it's cool! I just got it today and I already love it!
IMG_0079.jpg

IMG_0080.jpg


Euro 4LX 435-Spalted Maple- It's a matte finish, but it's silky smooth. I am impressed! Sorry for the crappy pics, gotta get some batteries for the camera.
 
#757
bassgiant15 said:
Question: I currently have the Spector Tonepump in my 4LX-35, but was wondering if anyone has had any experience with Spectors with the Aguilar OBP-2? I am wondering what kind of difference it will make?

If i am not mistaken, didn't Spector put them in their basses for awhile?
Click to expand...
Older Euro's (like the one I am selling) came with an Aguilar OBP-1. I think it's available on USA models as well (or it might be the OBP-3). I don't know that Spectors ever came stock with an OBP-2. It should sound the same though, shouldn't it?
 
#758
Auriaprottu said:
Very nice bass, 6811.
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Thanks! I got a chance to gig with it last nite and all I can say is WOW:eek:! This bass is awesome! You can tell from my sig & my avatar that I'm pretty well stocked on "boutique" basses, but I'm simply shocked at how great this thing sounds! I had an NS5CR several years ago and I wasn't that impressed...which is why I don't have it anymore. If the new Euro 5s sound anything close to the 4s, I will probably try to sell my Roscoe(hell, I might do that anyway!).

Question?? What am I missing? The Tonepump sounded great thru my rig! That circuit doesn't seem to get much love around here, tho. Should I get a new pre?
 
#759
pbass6811 said:
Thanks! I got a chance to gig with it last nite and all I can say is WOW:eek:! This bass is awesome! You can tell from my sig & my avatar that I'm pretty well stocked on "boutique" basses, but I'm simply shocked at how great this thing sounds! I had an NS5CR several years ago and I wasn't that impressed...which is why I don't have it anymore. If the new Euro 5s sound anything close to the 4s, I will probably try to sell my Roscoe(hell, I might do that anyway!).

Question?? What am I missing? The Tonepump sounded great thru my rig! That circuit doesn't seem to get much love around here, tho. Should I get a new pre?
Click to expand...

Congrats on your new Spector!

If you like the sound of the Tonepump, there's no use in swapping it out. I'm an old Spector/Hazlab player and just love the tones I could get out of that baby and, for me, the Tonepump just doesn't give me that broad spectrum of sound compared to the Hazlab.
 
#760
pbass6811 said:
Question?? What am I missing? The Tonepump sounded great thru my rig! That circuit doesn't seem to get much love around here, tho. Should I get a new pre?
Click to expand...

If you like it, keep it. I had the Tonepump in my Zebop and it was without a doubt one of the best sounding basses I had ever played. It was just such a rich, useful preamp!

I remember one guy who was buying a bass from me trying out my Zebop when he picked the other bass up. He had just had a Zebop of his own with an EMG BTS preamp in it and sold it because it didn't sound so great. When he tried mine he was blown away and said that the EMG preamp had sucked all the life out of his!

So if you like it, keep it. I did!
 
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