Spector Club Pt. 3 (Insert Clever Title Here)

[JEDI BASS]

Holy crap guys... did the set w/ my trusty Lakland custom at reheasal earlier, then did it w/ the Spector. The Spector is the first bass since getting my first Lakie, to get the OK from the band!! I was loving it too! And, just so u know, I've went thru 2 Dingwalls, Fenders, a Ric (needed another string too ) and I'm digging that body shape! I may relocate the bridge strap button just cause it messes w/ my wireless transmitter's placement. And the action was hurting my left hand a bit due to the nut.

 

[PhatBasstard]

I...am ashamed.
I once played Spectors exclusively. Thought no other bass could make me wander.

But then, other basses started to sneak into my life. G&L, Sadowsky, Ric, Cirrus, Warmoth, Laklands, Vintage Fenders, Pulcinella and Carvin.

In 2003, my Spectors we're gone....
My original Spector. A Kramer era (89 or 90) NS2:

My NS5CRFM (w/ then 2 year old, now 11, Son):

My fretless converted and premium EMG J's added NS2A:

...so about a month ago I had an epiphany (no, not the cabs).
Every single one of those "other" basses had at least one thing lacking that made me think: "Y'know, my Spectors never had that problem!"

Sooooooooooooooo.........I'm BACK!
And couldn't be happier, starting with this:

NS2CR. Older model with Aguilar OPB-1 pre.

Body shot.

That's right! Solid flame body wings.

The OPB-1 sounds real good flat, but I may switch it out for a pre that also cuts as well as boosts.

I'm also looking for a 6. I was going to hold out for a Euro LX, but the Legends are getting such good reviews I may give one of them a shot.

I also managed to track down my old Red NS2 pictured above. I may be re-purchasing that also.

Don't care about a number. Just feels good to be back.

 

[CH Design]

Sooooooooooooooo.........I'm BACK!
And couldn't be happier, starting with this:

NS2CR. Older model with Aguilar OPB-1 pre.

Hey, nice bass! I'm glad it's in a good home. How did your old NS2a sound as a fretless? I've been thinking about trying that out as well.

 

[PhatBasstard]

How did your old NS2a sound as a fretless? I've been thinking about trying that out as well.

It was OK, but not great. The guy that did it was cheap and actually replaced the whole board (that's why there are no lines) with a slab of ebony. It was a little dead after that. I think it may have worked better with just the frets removed.

 

[JEDI BASS]

I...am ashamed.
I once played Spectors exclusively. Thought no other bass could make me wander.

But then, other basses started to sneak into my life. G&L, Sadowsky, Ric, Cirrus, Warmoth, Laklands, Vintage Fenders, Pulcinella and Carvin.

In 2003, my Spectors we're gone....
My original Spector. A Kramer era (89 or 90) NS2:

My NS5CRFM (w/ then 2 year old, now 11, Son):

My fretless converted and premium EMG J's added NS2A:

...so about a month ago I had an epiphany (no, not the cabs).
Every single one of those "other" basses had at least one thing lacking that made me think: "Y'know, my Spectors never had that problem!"

Sooooooooooooooo.........I'm BACK!
And couldn't be happier, starting with this:

NS2CR. Older model with Aguilar OPB-1 pre.

Body shot.

That's right! Solid flame body wings.

The OPB-1 sounds real good flat, but I may switch it out for a pre that also cuts as well as boosts.

I'm also looking for a 6. I was going to hold out for a Euro LX, but the Legends are getting such good reviews I may give one of them a shot.

I also managed to track down my old Red NS2 pictured above. I may be re-purchasing that also.

Don't care about a number. Just feels good to be back.

Congrats man! Just got a Euro 6er, my first Spector and BAM!!! I'm in love! I'll never stop being a total Lakland FREAK!!! But, now I'm a polygamist hehehe. My 6er is UNREAL both tonewise and looks.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Oh, and those solid flame wings are pure SICKNESS!!!

 

[PhatBasstard]

I'll never stop being a total Lakland FREAK!!!

Yeah, I blame the Laklands I had most for making me veer (temporarily) off course. They definately are great basses. I just realized I was most happy when I had the Spectors, and that they were overall the best basses for me.

 

[bobunit]

Yeah, I blame the Laklands I had most for making me veer (temporarily) off course. They definately are great basses. I just realized I was most happy when I had the Spectors, and that they were overall the best basses for me.

Welcome home!

 

[PhatBasstard]

Welcome home!

Thank you....(sniff)

 

[EagleMoon]

I played an old used Kramer era NS2 at GC tonight. Been beat to heck but had an awesome neck on it. They also had an older Euro with the dot inlays. That one was nice too, but didn't sound as good as the NS2.

 

[NS2A]

I played an old used Kramer era NS2 at GC tonight. Been beat to heck but had an awesome neck on it. They also had an older Euro with the dot inlays. That one was nice too, but didn't sound as good as the NS2.

How much were they asking for the Kramer?

 

[EagleMoon]

How much were they asking for the Kramer?

$599

Here's the pic from the used section.

 

[NS2A]

$599

Here's the pic from the used section.

That's a Korean made NS2A

Nice bass though.

 

[EagleMoon]

That's a Korean made NS2A

Nice bass though.

Oh really? How can you tell? It had the NS numbers on the battery compartment cover. That's what I was going by. Guess I don't know my Spectors as well as I thought. They also have the other one, but it's a 5 string.

It actually has Bartolini pickups in it. Sounded pretty decent too.

 

[NS2A]

Oh really? How can you tell? It had the NS numbers on the battery compartment cover. That's what I was going by. Guess I don't know my Spectors as well as I thought. They also have the other one, but it's a 5 string.

An American NS2 would have the serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, not on the control cover.

It would also have gold hardware and not have dot inlays.

The EMG's are a common aftermarket upgrade as the pre is active, but the factory "Spector" pickups are not.

GC has its faults, but they'd never sell a NS2 for $599 nor would the $300 they gave the guy on trade ever take that little.

 

[gjbassist]

You guys are killing me with all these nice Spectors! I wish I had never sold my zebra wood Rebop! It was the nicest looking and most comfortable bass I have ever owned! I will have another Spector some day.

 

[EagleMoon]

An American NS2 would have the serial number stamped on the back of the headstock, not on the control cover.

It would also have gold hardware and not have dot inlays.

The EMG's are a common aftermarket upgrade as the pre is active, but the factory "Spector" pickups are not.

GC has its faults, but they'd never sell a NS2 for $599 nor would the $300 they gave the guy on trade ever take that little.

Never say never. I've seen some pretty mismarked basses in there before.

What about the red bass? Is that correct?

 

[bobunit]

Never say never. I've seen some pretty mismarked basses in there before.

Very true! I found a US NS6 XL with the piezo option at GC for $1500.00!!! It was almost mine.

 

[havuk]

Besides being bolt on/neck through whats the difference in quality of the bolt on USA Spectors and the Euro? I ordered a real nice (IMO) US bolt on NS4-H2 but noticed I could get a Euro model for a few hundred less.

 

[Ian Perge]

Thanks Ian, I typically prefer taperwound B strings but didn't have any available yesterday. Any suggestions on brands? I'm currently REALLY digging MTD stainless, and DR longnecks. Longnecks only work on string-thru-body apps though.

I'm very much a fan of the "piano chime" of Stainless Steel strings as well, so take that with a grain of salt. My favorite strings for my fretted basses are D'addario ProSteels - wonderful "chime" but not at the expense of other areas. IMO they've got strong low-mids and low-end but not enough to overwhelm and be "boomy". Same with the high-end, present but certainly not enough to "take over". I'm also a fan of the "feel" of the strings - they're not "finger-rippers", but jut enough "grip" to keep your fingers from sliding off, and the perfect amount of string tension to keep my low B & E nice and tight without having to use heavy-gauge sets.

I also like Spector's own Steels, but honestly need to spend more time playing them before I can give an honest assessment about them - they're going on at the next string-change on my fretted 5-string.

Besides being bolt on/neck through whats the difference in quality of the bolt on USA Spectors and the Euro? I ordered a real nice (IMO) US bolt on NS4-H2 but noticed I could get a Euro model for a few hundred less.

Obviously there's the USA vs Czech Republic Quality argument, but from a purely practical POV, the ReBop DLXs (Euro Bolt-on) have an Alder back and Figured Maple (FM) or Zebrawood (on the "EX" Exotic Top models) front compared to the USA's Mahogany back and [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] depending on what Stuart's made up - typically the "standard" is Figured Maple for the "FM" models and Spalted Maple on the "EX". Body-wise I've found the US bolt-ons to not have quite the curvature/concave bodies that the NS design is known for - they're a little "flat" for lack of a better term, whereas the ReBop's have the standard fully curved NS body shape. The ReBops have the Classic Spector Locking bridge with aluminum base plate and Gotoh tuners in black, while the USA has a custom Hupshot bridge based off their A-style also with an aluminum base plate and brass saddles, along with Hipshot Ultralight tuners. Both have the 24-fret Spector neck/fretboard with Crown inlays in Mother-Of-Pearl, Rosewood on the ReBop, Pau Ferro on the USA. To my ears the ReBops are a mix of the classic Spector tone combined with a good-quality Jazz Bass, due to the bolt-on nature of the construction and body woods, where the Mahogany in the USA version gives it a more "midrange" tone - I hear Mahogany as a very "middy" tone wood that needs a bright top to "even out" the sound. Still, I'd like to pick up a USA bolt-on one day to compare the differences...

I'd say the biggest difference is the electronics packages currently. The ReBops come equipped with EMG-HZ Passive Pickups and the Spector OEM TonePump 2 boost-only preamp, while the USA bolt-ons come standard with EMG-CSTW pickups (Dual/Single-Coil switchable) along with an Aguilar OBP-3 3-band active preamp. That's a pretty big jump in electronics, and as much as I love my ReBops (EX Zebrawood-topped 4-string, Flame Maple 5-string fretted and lined fretless) I'm currently having 3 sets of Nordstrand Big Single pickups custom-wound to be installed with Aguilar OBP-3 preamps, which added a significant amount to what I've spent (even though I purchased mine about 2 years ago before a major price increase on Spector's part).

...and now I've just re-read your post wanting a comparison between the USA bolt-on and the Euro... I ASSumed the "Euro bolt-on". Someone can take over from here, but this is a pretty good comparison between the two bolt-on models. Dammit... Short Version: differences in body woods and construction. I think the biggest issue is whether you're a fan of bolt-on or neck-through construction. I myself am not, so if/when I do decide to upgrade to USA Spectors, it will be to the USA bolt-on models.