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Spector Club Pt. 3 (Insert Clever Title Here)
- Thread starter Captain_Arrrg
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It's just everyday workingman's terminology. They were certainly not logged or re-branded something different just because of a (similar to similar) pre-amp change.
Now, changing from solid body wings to laminated tops (i.e. NSCR > Euro LX)? Neck thru to bolt on? PJ to Dual soapbars? Passive pre to Active? Now that's a model change.
After zooming his pic, I think that is a NSCR(FM) from '98 (no earlier as it has the Spector, not SSD logo) that somewhere along the line had either it's whole guts changed or, at least, a different control knob/pot configuration wired in. Just because there are no center detents doesn't mean those pots are neccessarily boost only. A V/B config can easily be re-potted and wired to V/V and back.
Just those numbers? No "NB22xx" or similar?
Does it have the "....made in the Czech Republic....." statement on the back of the headstock.
If the bass is standing upright, is the serial number horizontal (parallel with the floor) or vertical like the bass' neck?
I think we need an internal photo
I can still recognise a Tone Pump I think
Peter
Yes.
And a photo of the back of the headstock would help greatly.
FWIW, the box on my particular OPB-1 is more flat, like the Tone Pump, rather than the more cubed style of what you would get today if purchased.
If you saw it at the wrong angle, and couldn't see the Aguilar emblem, you'd think it was a Tone Pump.
Plus it's only 9vt. I think OPB-1's are typically 18vt.
I've read this is something they did special for Spector and that there's an internal voltage doubler, but I can't confirm any of this.
Nope, just the 4 numbers and they were in the control cavity, parallel to the neck. Nothing on the outside of the bass that I could find. Where are they typically located?
Here are some more pics from the auction.
The preamp module is approximately 1 1/2" lg X 3/4" w X 3/8" thick with no markings of any kind that I can see. One edge has a round "melt", not deep enough to get inside, like the tip of a soldering pencil got it.
What did I make that up? Jeesh.
Here's one email I got from PJ that may clear this up...
From PJ:
(serial number) 32xx sounds like an NS-4CR or Euro4...remember the model number became a model name over the years, and also we changed a few specs but not always at the time of name change...!?!?!
Really, only a few things changed over the years: dot vs crowns, preamps, and all maple vs.
maple top (generally) /walnut/alder.
PJ even said the Euros have a 'consistent sound sound over all wood types. So, the only significant difference in sound will be with the pre's.
PJ couldn't even nail down the exact model I have for the 2 I inquired about.
A couple more. The control plate is not countersunk into the wood but sits on top.
P.S. The extra holes on the back of the headstock are from an aborted attempt to put different machines on it.
I am very curious as to what you guys make of this bass. I'll try to get a good cavity shot tonight. The module was soldered in on edge with minimal wire length so I can't really pull it out all the way to see the other side. However I can see the top and it's plain.
This is definitely not an Aggy - I've got both OBP-2 and 3's in other basses. I also have an EMG BTC. I have never seen a TonePump so I have no frame of reference.
P.S. The extra holes on the back of the headstock are from an aborted attempt to put different machines on it.
I am very curious as to what you guys make of this bass. I'll try to get a good cavity shot tonight. The module was soldered in on edge with minimal wire length so I can't really pull it out all the way to see the other side. However I can see the top and it's plain.
This is definitely not an Aggy - I've got both OBP-2 and 3's in other basses. I also have an EMG BTC. I have never seen a TonePump so I have no frame of reference.
Didn't mean to say you did (did I?). It's just terminology (see: bottom paragraph
).BTW, serial number is "22xx" not "32xx". Are you sure you got/posed the right info?
The headstock photo clears up a lot, although the serial number being in the control cavity on that particular model is a head scratcher. Maybe they moved it to the headstock at the same time they went with the added inlays and 35" scale on the 5's.
Not sure what PJ means by "Euro4" inplace of a CR. Unless Spector had a short lived transition model between the CR's & Euro LX's that I never saw, nor is listed in their history page on their site.
Short of an actual "Euro 4" model showing up, That's an NS2CR (I know...NS4CR. See the Stuart article about the whole naming snaffu of this particular model).
This doesn't completely surprise me as I remember talking to several people (probably PJ at some point), including Stuart himself, about some stuff back in the late 90's/early 2000's and getting some rather incoherent info/responses.
It made me wonder how people that made such a wonderfull piece of gear could be so unknowing about their own product sometimes.
This is very interesting.
The clues are there.
4 single control knobs, no centre detent, rolled edge bridge:
Externally filled control plate:
Signature style:
But then there's the dot markers.
I wonder if this was perhaps an early Euro or a US made bass exploring the concept? What make are the tuners?
Doh, just enlarged the rear of the headstock, as it's Czech made doesn't that make it an early Euro, not an NS and likely to be TonePumped?
Mine of course has the 9v HazLab pre but you wouldn't know by looking at it.
People write books on Fenders. Spector's would be much more interesting.
Peter
The clues are there.
4 single control knobs, no centre detent, rolled edge bridge:
Externally filled control plate:
Signature style:
But then there's the dot markers.
I wonder if this was perhaps an early Euro or a US made bass exploring the concept? What make are the tuners?
Doh, just enlarged the rear of the headstock, as it's Czech made doesn't that make it an early Euro, not an NS and likely to be TonePumped?
Mine of course has the 9v HazLab pre but you wouldn't know by looking at it.
People write books on Fenders. Spector's would be much more interesting.
Peter
But then there's the dot markers.
I wonder if this was perhaps an early Euro or a US made bass exploring the concept? What make are the tuners?
Doh, just enlarged the rear of the headstock, as it's Czech made doesn't that make it an early Euro, not an NS and likely to be TonePumped?
Mine of course has the 9v HazLab pre but you wouldn't know by looking at it.
People write books on Fenders. Spector's would be much more interesting.
Peter
I'll bet real money, given the evidence, as stated in my previous posts, that's a '98 NS-CR (Post SSD logo, pre inlays, pre serial numbered headstock) that either had just the pots or the whole entire system changed out...regardless of the previous owner's statement of originality.
The NS-CR(FM)'s have been refered to, generically, for years as "Euro's". Spector themselve's have the Euro "series", but not a Euro "model" other than the Euro LX. I've still yet to see from anybody (including Spector) this missing link Euro "model".
I'd love to see a Spector book....but who'd write it?
Should have a Rebop 5-DLX coming in soon which I plan on refinishing the body white and adding Nordstrand big singles and an Aggie OBP-1 w/a push-pull for active/passive.
That joins my NS4CRFM, which I'll be keeping...sorry phat basstard.
In regards to the NS stuff above, wraithwrider, NS simply indicated the Ned Steinberger body design. Next is the number which indicates how many strings are on it, and then CR which means Czech Republic, and if it is labelled "FM" that means it has a figured maple body. There's a lot of grey area though between basses as Spector used up stock instead of throwing it out so you'll find a few basses with parts from both older and more recent models.
That joins my NS4CRFM, which I'll be keeping...sorry phat basstard.
In regards to the NS stuff above, wraithwrider, NS simply indicated the Ned Steinberger body design. Next is the number which indicates how many strings are on it, and then CR which means Czech Republic, and if it is labelled "FM" that means it has a figured maple body. There's a lot of grey area though between basses as Spector used up stock instead of throwing it out so you'll find a few basses with parts from both older and more recent models.
Thank you for that. My white Euro 5 LX supposedly has alder wings. Bass central was the original supplier so this bass has more air miles than me as I bought it from Finland.
It's very good but not as nice as my NS5XL which is no surprise considering the cost of a Ltd Ed water cured rosewood NS. I'd consider selling the upgraded 9v HazLabs pre some time and installing a John East U-Retro. I'd probably want to put an 18v battery box in and look at the 4EQ idea that Joel is using so it's for when time and money are more plentiful. That would be 4 ganged knobs and perhaps the two switches brought out front.
I need to use it in anger at a gig 1st to see how it performs, got a Tech21 VT Bass today that needs the same
I'm a lucky guy discovering Spector.
It's very good but not as nice as my NS5XL which is no surprise considering the cost of a Ltd Ed water cured rosewood NS. I'd consider selling the upgraded 9v HazLabs pre some time and installing a John East U-Retro. I'd probably want to put an 18v battery box in and look at the 4EQ idea that Joel is using so it's for when time and money are more plentiful. That would be 4 ganged knobs and perhaps the two switches brought out front.
I need to use it in anger at a gig 1st to see how it performs, got a Tech21 VT Bass today that needs the same
I'm a lucky guy discovering Spector.
Im thinking the 2 mid controls would be very useful in finding the sweet spots of the basses and help bring out all that natural growl and punch that these basses are known for.
Hence why Im taking that approach.
We ALL are
Didn't mean to say you did (did I?). It's just terminology (see: bottom paragraph
BTW, serial number is "22xx" not "32xx". Are you sure you got/posed the right info?
My bass is (was) 32xx. That's what I was asking PJ about. I obviously didn't know about 22xx until it was posted here.
Bottom line is all the Czech made ones are fairly similiar, so I'll quote myself
Just today got this Rebop 5 DLX that I'm thinking about painting white and joining my NS4CRFM and.....hey?!?Should have a Rebop 5-DLX coming in soon which I plan on refinishing the body white and adding Nordstrand big singles and an Aggie OBP-1 w/a push-pull for active/passive.
That joins my NS4CRFM, which I'll be keeping...sorry phat basstard.
WOULD YOU PLEASE GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!
I don't remember my old NS2 having only two strings on it.
A picture of the old obp-1 is attached. I also have the NS4CRM with dot inlays. It came the EMG pre in it, but I had a rebop at one time that had the old style Aggie OBP-1 in it.
That's pretty standard for all but the USA models.
Rebop's are a more recent Spector designation/development.
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