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Spector Club - Part 9

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#201
Tracebassplayer said:
OK, You aked for it...:hiding:
Canoga Park
Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(818) 709-5650
20934 Roscoe Blvd
Canoga Park, CA 91304
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Cerritos
Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(562) 468-1107
12651 Artesia Blvd
Cerritos, CA 90703
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


City of Industry
SAm Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(626) 839-8177
18031 Gale Avenue,
City of Industry, CA 91748
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Clovis

Gottschalk Music Center
www.gottschalkmusiccenter.net
(559) 298-4400
328 Pollasky Ave.
Clovis CA 93612
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Fortuna
Fortuna Music Mart
(707) 725-9230
1040 Main St
Fortuna, CA. 95540
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Fresno
Spitzer's Sound Stage www.spitzermusic.com (559) 224-5277
3821 N. Blackstone
Fresno, CA 93726
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Hollywood

Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(323) 850-1050
7360 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90046

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Lake Elsinore
Gearhounds www.gearhounds.com
(951)579-44091
18283 Pasadena Street Suite 103
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Los Angeles
International House of Music
(213)628-9161
339 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90013

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


West LA Music Link Removed (310) 477-1945
11345 Santa Monica Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025

(323) 845-1145
3501 Cahuenga Blvd. West
Los Angeles, CA 90068
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Manhattan Beach
Dietz Bros Music Link Removed
(310) 379-6799
240 South Sepulveda Blvd.
Manhattan Beach, Ca. 90266
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Merced Gottschalk Music Center
www.gottschalkmusiccenter.net
(209) 723-3337
355 W Main St.
Merced CA 95340
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Oakland Leo's Audio Invalid Link Removed (510) 652-1553
5447 Telegraph Rd.
Oakland CA 94609
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Ontario

Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(909) 484-3550
4449 Mills Circle
Ontario, CA 91764
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Redondo Beach
Harbor Music www.harbormusic.net(310) 406-3090
1024 South PCH
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Salinas
Wise Music(831) 424-7885
233 Monterey
Salinas, CA 93901
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
San Francisco
Haight Ashbury Music Center www.haight-ashbury-music.com (415) 863-7327
1540 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
San Rafael
Bananas At Large www.bananasmusic.com (415) 457-7600
1504 4th St
San Rafael, CA
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Santa Cruz
Union Grove www.uniongrovemusic.com
(831) 427-0670
1003 Pacific Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Torrance
L.A. Music Services www.lamusicservices.com (310) 787-0123
2367 West 208th St. Suite 2
Torrance, CA 90501

Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(310) 214-0340
19800 Hawthorne Blvd., #228
Torrance, CA 90503
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Westminster
Sam Ash Music Stores
Invalid Link Removed
(714) 899-2122
14200 Beach Blvd,
Westminster, CA 92683-4522
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've already been to the Spector dealer locator. I'm assuming most Sam Ash stores won't actually have a Euro on the floor, though. I'm just wondering if anybody knows where the Euros are in stock, to save me 20+ phone calls.

JPSBassist said:
The Euro4LX-Classic with P/J pups is the growlier of the two. I own one of each. Although I have to admit that I leave my Euro4LX-TW-35 in single coil mode all the time now. I like the way the TW pups sound as single coils better.

If you want low... go with the P/J setup.
Click to expand...
Thanks, just the info I sought. Growlier + lower? LX FTW!

I do know there's an Ian Hill model about an hour's drive from me. Has anybody played one of these? I'm wondering about the thinner neck vs. a standard Euro.
 
#202
iceboxbass said:
Okay guys...you'll have to put up with my unprofessional pics for now. The pro pics are on my laptop until I can get to a wifi to upload. My new NS-95!!! Plays like a dream...so powerful, full, beautiful mids...the tone is so very simular to my NS-2A...the neck feels so close to my NS-2A except wider across of course, I definitely like the neck feel, speed & action a whole lot better than my former Rebop 5, worlds better! I love the tone better than the Rebop...it just seems to speak clearer, warmer & more full sounding. It's just incredible! Normally when I switch from my 4 to the 5 it takes some adjusting...not with this NS-95. :D if I had ten thumbs I'd give it 10 thumbs up! Best Euro 5 I've played to date! :D
Click to expand...

I am floored every time I pick up my NS-95. You are absolutely right about the neck, it is so smooth that you don't feel the frets. The tone is very deep, warm, and full of character. I like the longer upper horn also. The balance is perfect.
 
#203
superdick2112 said:
The USA Rex also has the flat back, and as for not being able to see the strings, use those side dots (that's what they are there for). Besides, you are supposed to be looking at the audience, not your bass!

:bassist:
Click to expand...

This is my first 5 string, so the string spacing is taking some getting used to, and not being able to see the fretboard is slowing me down a bit. It's not horrible or anything, but it just sits kind of funny, and it means I have to reach out further than normal with my left arm.

After playing it some more today I see that it has everything to do with the placement of the strap button on the back of the body. Going from my Fender Jazz to this has been a bit of a shock, but I'm loving it. :bassist::D
 
#204
steamthief said:
Thanks, I've already been to the Spector dealer locator. I'm assuming most Sam Ash stores won't actually have a Euro on the floor, though. I'm just wondering if anybody knows where the Euros are in stock, to save me 20+ phone calls.

Thanks, just the info I sought. Growlier + lower? LX FTW!

I do know there's an Ian Hill model about an hour's drive from me. Has anybody played one of these? I'm wondering about the thinner neck vs. a standard Euro.
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, the Sunset Sam Ash store used to stock (I haven't been there in a few years) many high end basses such as Fodera's on down. Much more so than any other Sam Ash store I've ever been to. I would say Euro's and even a USA might be possible at that location.
 
#207
A Pic of my babys with my hartke 2x15 and HA4000 i had a spector legend to but this was stolen at a gig :(
SAM_0457.jpg
 
#208
Rick Blanc said:
I did just sell my 20th Anniversary HH SR5 to fund my Spector. I think I'm going to go with the Euro 5LX TW. If someone here has made the switch from an SR5 to a Euro 5LX I'd like to hear your thoughts and experience.
Click to expand...

My Stingray just sits around now not getting any play on it. I played it at church because my Spector is tuned to drop C for my bands, but now that i just bought an NS-2000/4....i never play my Stingray. I'm 99.9% sure that i am going to sell it or put it up for trade towards a Euro 5LX in the near future.
 
#214
Tracebassplayer said:
JPS, how come the original NS-2J has dot inlays (like a Legend) and the NS-2J-AR has crowns?
What's the difference in the two basses?
Click to expand...

The NS-2JA-R doesn't have crowns... there are a few photos of my white NS-2JA-R floating around with what appears to be abalone crown inlays... those are aftermarket stickers.

I'd been seeing them on Ebay and decided it'd be with the $ to buy a set and see how they work.

The first set looked amazing, but because the guy who makes them put too much pigment in them they wouldn't stick. So he re-formulated and sent another set.

My thoughts on them are:

1) if you ask for two extra full-size stickers you can cut them together to get a slightly larger but single 12th fret inlay on the NS-2JA-R because it has smaller than normal pearl dots. I thought that looked better than the two smaller broken stickers at the 12th. Which is what freaked everyone out, BTW, about my NS-2JA-R... it didn't appear to have stickers because that 12th fret looked "normal".

2) They don't affect the paying or sound any.

3) They are very durable. I had mine on for about 6 months and they showed no signs of lifting or wearing.

4) They were easy to remove and surprisingly didn't leave any residue behind. NOTE: I'm very careful to never expose my basses to full sunlight. I can see where if I had, the sun might have bleached the fingerboard some and the fingerboard underneath the stickers would be darker. But that didn't happen to mine. Just putting that out there.

In all... they are pretty cool. I'd played with shipping the neck to Stuart and seeing if he'd be willing to actually put crown inlays into it... but it's not really worth doing from a cost standpoint.

I've decided that after I get my new NS-2 paid for I'm going to save up and get a USA NS-2J... a Neck-thru USA NS-2 with a J/J setup and the 1.5" nut. I'm also going to go with a skinnier neck on that one. These are pretty rare: the NS-2J models... it's a special order deal. I think at that point I'll retire the NS-2JA-R. I'm really a fan of the SPECTOR neck-thru basses.
 
#216
Tracebassplayer said:
I see. I was wondering about the stickers...
Neck thru NS-2J ?? Aren't they all bolt-ons?
What changed in the NS-2J and the NS-2JA-R
Click to expand...

I believe he's saying that you can order an NS-style 4 string in the J/J configuration. Same bass, body, etc. as the regular NS-2 but instead of P/J you can have J/J now.

The NS-2JA-R's were a limited run of 83 basses that were Euro-made that I think came out in late 09 or early 10, one of the two. I had a white one for about a month but had to sell it and I TOTALLY regret doing it now. It's an awesome take on the classic NS-2. I don't like it as much as my bro J.P.S. to necessarily get a US model made, but I do keep eyes open for a good deal on the Euro reissues. The punchiness of the J/J combo with the lightning fast neck was/is an extreme treat to play.
:bassist:
 
#217
Tracebassplayer said:
I see. I was wondering about the stickers...
Neck thru NS-2J ?? Aren't they all bolt-ons?
What changed in the NS-2J and the NS-2JA-R
Click to expand...

There have been three generations of NS-2J/NS-2JA models.

First, these models have always been traditionally a bolt-on, deep pocket neck insert/pearl-dot neck NS-Body design.

When I said I wanted to order a neck-thru, I meant I'd be ordering an NS-2 but instead of a P/J config with the Haz USA 9v it'd be a J/J with the Haz. The Haz is really sort of the key to making those dual J's sound wicked. When you look at Graham Maby's red NS-5J (there's a video from Australia with him playing it circa 1991-1992 with Joe Jackson... "I'm the Man" is the song), you'll understand the punchy tonal quality that makes this combo sound really cool.

Back to the "traditional" models. Back in 1983 Stuart made the first bolt-on NS-Body basses. They were (to spec) the same as the NS-2JA-R (thus the R for Reissue). They came in natural, gloss black or gloss white. Which is why the Reissues were limited to 83 in each of those colors.

The reissues were made in the Czech factory. And to be honest represented one of the best Spector bang for the buck deals in history.

Here was a fully carved, NS-Body Spector with the newer Jazz Leo Quan bridge, active EMG 9v circuit and dual EMG active J pups.

I got mine for free... OK... not really. I traded a first generation Euro4LX in matte natural stain to Beaver Felton for it... even. No cash exchanged hands and honestly, I had a brand new Euro4LX with the upgraded/newer TonePump (a birthday gift from my wife) so I didn't need the older one. Which I'd got in a trade for an Ibanez SRX-470 and $200.

It was an awesome deal for me. And seriously, the necks on the NS-2JA-R... they're sick. My favorite neck yet. As a matter of fact if I do order a neck-thru dual J USA model I'll want Stuart to try and match this neck... I love it.

The other third, less known and very rare NS-2JA model was born in the early 2000's. It too was a USA model. Same specs but with a hipshot bridge. I'm pretty sure they were all natural maple finished and they all had pearl-dot necks. They had all black hardware and the USA 9v Haz circuit. They sound amazing.

It was messing with those that got Stuart thinking about the 1983 reissue models.

The only one I've ever seen belongs to PJ Rubal. And currently Carlton Armstrong has it. He's borrowed it for some recording stuff. He told me he'd buy it from PJ in a heartbeat, but it's not for sale.

Here's a video of Carlton jamming with it. This is a 2000's model USA NS-2JA.

YouTube - Vibe "Do I?" 2010

The Haz is the key. Listen to how dirty/punchy/growly this bass sounds.

I've got to have one of these in a neck-thru. :bassist:
 
#219
rockstarbassist said:
I believe he's saying that you can order an NS-style 4 string in the J/J configuration. Same bass, body, etc. as the regular NS-2 but instead of P/J you can have J/J now.
Click to expand...

Yes! And actually the J/J option has always been something Stuart will and can do with the NS-2. He just doesn't get many requests for it. He's done a dozen or so since the early 1980's.

rockstarbassist said:
The NS-2JA-R's were a limited run of 83 basses that were Euro-made that I think came out in late 09 or early 10, one of the two. I had a white one for about a month but had to sell it and I TOTALLY regret doing it now. It's an awesome take on the classic NS-2.
Click to expand...
Yes. It is a nice bass for the $$$ if you can find them now.

rockstarbassist said:
I don't like it as much as my bro J.P.S. to necessarily get a US model made, but I do keep eyes open for a good deal on the Euro reissues. The punchiness of the J/J combo with the lightning fast neck was/is an extreme treat to play.
Click to expand...

I love my NS2-JA-R because it does have a punchy sound and the neck is hands-down my favorite Spector neck thus far... but I think the JA-R is a little cleaner than what you'd expect sound wise when compared to the USA models. The EMG 9v circuit in it is great. Strong and balanced. But it doesn't really have that classic growly sound.

So my thoughts are that a USA models with the Haz would be sick... and then listening to Carlton's video that I attached in the post above... Man is that a mean sound coming from that bass. Got to have one of those. :D
 
#220
You know what, now that I'm thinking back to how good that J/J sounded with just a "plain" EMG setup in it, what the 9V Spector circuit could do with that tone... Wow.
Dangit!! Now you have me wanting my next USA model just like yours! :p ;)

Let me know how you fare as far as reproducing the neck from the Euro reissue on your US version because if Stuart could get even close, that would be a game changer for me and I'd have to have one at that point.
 
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