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Spector Club Pt. 5 (Insert Clever Title Here)

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#621
JLAEST said:
Hi Spector people,
I have been searching for a bass and I didn't even think about Spector, when I found the NS-2JA-R. It really got my attention, it seems a good price. But I couldn't find any good reviews, sound clips or videos of it. Can anyone provide me some feedback? Pros and cons, what is it good for, etc.
Click to expand...

First... you should always think about Spector first!!! LOL.

I have a NS-2JA-R... it's white. Acutally it's in some of the photo posts from eariler on the last page... in the images with the ARC6-B.

I love it. It's a jazz bass. Two J Pickups. Mine has a lot more mids than my NS-2 or my Euro. The JA-R doesn't really sound like the traditional Spector, but it plays and feels like one.

If you get it... you're either going to get the fever or hate it. There's not a lot of in-between with Spectors. I personally think the neck on the JA-R is more comfortable for my playing style than my other Spectors. And mine holds tune like you wouldn't believe. Slap, tap, pick or pluck and it holds tune.

They run under a grand these days... and they are really solid basses.

I say go for it. Join the fam and be one of our homies...
 
#623
Link Removed

Got her on Friday. She's an absolute beaut even for having so many miles on her. I haz more pics I just haven't uploaded them yet.

The string spacing I thought was going to be an issue, as the ones on my old NS5CRFM was pretty effing tight, but this is actually wider than on my NS2, which is just right. I'd heard that the USA 5'er necks were a lot more comfortable and easy to get around and they were for sure right! I had it setup and some new strings (DR DDT- DO NOT BUY), and it plays just awesome.

I'll be putting on a custom set of Skip's (Knuckle_head) strings after we get done recording as I'll need a new nut and gonna get the new Spector bridge(s) for when we start gigging this fall. Either way, this is probably the best 5'er I've ever played, including my ex MTD. Which isn't surprising, considering my '85 NS2 made me feel the exact same way about Spector 4's when I got that one in. Plus I seriously like the "SSD" logo than the "Spector S" one which is almost heresy, but it's the trut. :o
 
#624
rockstarbassist said:
Link Removed

Got her on Friday. She's an absolute beaut even for having so many miles on her. I haz more pics I just haven't uploaded them yet.

The string spacing I thought was going to be an issue, as the ones on my old NS5CRFM was pretty effing tight, but this is actually wider than on my NS2, which is just right. I'd heard that the USA 5'er necks were a lot more comfortable and easy to get around and they were for sure right! I had it setup and some new strings (DR DDT- DO NOT BUY), and it plays just awesome.

I'll be putting on a custom set of Skip's (Knuckle_head) strings after we get done recording as I'll need a new nut and gonna get the new Spector bridge(s) for when we start gigging this fall. Either way, this is probably the best 5'er I've ever played, including my ex MTD. Which isn't surprising, considering my '85 NS2 made me feel the exact same way about Spector 4's when I got that one in. Plus I seriously like the "SSD" logo than the "Spector S" one which is almost heresy, but it's the trut. :o
Click to expand...
Beautiful bass, but I think you'd better measure again. There's no way a standard USA NS5 has wider (string to string) spacing than your NS2. I own/owned both. The NS2 is about 19mm. The NS5 is about 17mm (just like your NS5CRFM, check the specs at Spector's site). The difference in neck dimensions is more about the shape and front to back thickness.

She's a beauty though.
(Better unplug her to save your battery :D)
 
#625
JPSBassist said:
First... you should always think about Spector first!!! LOL.

I have a NS-2JA-R... it's white. Acutally it's in some of the photo posts from eariler on the last page... in the images with the ARC6-B.

I love it. It's a jazz bass. Two J Pickups. Mine has a lot more mids than my NS-2 or my Euro. The JA-R doesn't really sound like the traditional Spector, but it plays and feels like one.

If you get it... you're either going to get the fever or hate it. There's not a lot of in-between with Spectors. I personally think the neck on the JA-R is more comfortable for my playing style than my other Spectors. And mine holds tune like you wouldn't believe. Slap, tap, pick or pluck and it holds tune.

They run under a grand these days... and they are really solid basses.

I say go for it. Join the fam and be one of our homies...
Click to expand...

LOL!

I really like the Jazz Pickups sound, so I guess I would like this one.

Probably I'll have to try it. However, if I don't find one of these to try, can you tell me which Spector feels (even if it doesn't sound) like this one?

One more thing, have you got any sound clips using it?

Thanks
 
#626
JLAEST said:
LOL!

I really like the Jazz Pickups sound, so I guess I would like this one.

Probably I'll have to try it. However, if I don't find one of these to try, can you tell me which Spector feels (even if it doesn't sound) like this one?

One more thing, have you got any sound clips using it?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Because it's a copy of the '83 model, and is a bolt-on, no Spector Neck-Through I've tried has the same feel overall.
 
#628
Thundar said:
+1 The NS2-JA-R doesn't feel the same but, to me, it feels closest to a Rebop...thinner/skinnier bolt-on neck like the Rebop...and Spector "Light" in tone.
Click to expand...

I would agree. The ReBop4 models have similar neck profiles. The NS-Body® bolt-ons have deep socket necks.

I found that my NS-2JA-R has a slightly wider neck at the 24th fret than my NS-2A and Euro4LX models. Of course the nut is slightly narrower... as is customary for Jazz basses.

So it will be slightly different than the ReBop. But you should be able to get an idea for the body/feel... And the ReBop is nothing like it in tone.

The NS-2JA-R also used the EMG tone-controls. Which are very different from the TonePumps. So I find it to be much less hot than my Euro.

Honestly I love it. The only down side for me is that it doesn't have the SPECTOR® Neck Inlays. Which is an aesthetic thing. I love them because they are uniquely SPECTOR-ish. That wouldn't keep me from buying another if something were to happen to the one I have.

To me... mine's a keeper.
 
#629
SPECTOR® approved.
I did this by looking at my Euro4LX's guts. It was done to help a luthier friend wire a new TonePump into an older Spector®. (OK... I'm waiting for someone to mention the ® )

:-)

Anyway. I'm working with PJ to develop similar schematics for every model as part of the tech section of the new website.

Please give me your feedback regarding what you think of this diagram.

Download your PDF version here:

Link Removed
 
#630
Here's my newer Spectorcore 5 fretless. I had a black and teal that i played into the ground. It has since been retired and replaced by this amber beauty. The quilting really shows up with the camera flash.

IMG_3270.jpg

IMG_3271.jpg


I have an EMG-SSD hanging around from a pickup swap of a Legend. Any thoughts on if it is a worthwhile upgrade from the EMG-HZ?
 
#631
KPJ said:
Here's my newer Spectorcore 5 fretless. I had a black and teal that i played into the ground. It has since been retired and replaced by this amber beauty. The quilting really shows up with the camera flash.
I have an EMG-SSD hanging around from a pickup swap of a Legend. Any thoughts on if it is a worthwhile upgrade from the EMG-HZ?
Click to expand...

I've been wondering something like that. I'm thinking of getting a Spectore 5 fretless, but I'm not a fan of EMG-HZ.

I'm wondering how a EMG 45DC would sound....

Also, what about a EMG Dual Coil with the volume pull-pot
switch for single or double coil........
 
#632
I don't have too much of a problem with the HZ, I think the Spectorcore sounds great and the Fishman bridge is nicely integrated. I have not seen a good explanation of the difference between the HZ and the SSD. If there is a broader tonal range, I would definitely make the swap to the SSD. I'm not sure what putting an active pickup in the Spectorcore would entail, as there is the necessity to integrate the Fishman bridge in with the system.

Also, you would want an EMG40DC, the 45 is for 6 string spacing. (40= 4", 45=4.5")
 
#635
I bought this SSD from fellow TBer, Justin Beck and gigged with it for the first time last night. I ran it through my SVT 4 Pro and a Carvin 410 cab and it absolutely killed! The midrange growl is tremendous and with the bass rolled almost completely up, it brings the thunder!

DSCF0632.jpg


P3170874.jpg
 
#637
JPSBassist said:
SPECTOR® approved.
I did this by looking at my Euro4LX's guts. It was done to help a luthier friend wire a new TonePump into an older Spector®. (OK... I'm waiting for someone to mention the ® )

:-)

Anyway. I'm working with PJ to develop similar schematics for every model as part of the tech section of the new website.

Please give me your feedback regarding what you think of this diagram.

Download your PDF version here:

Link Removed
Click to expand...

Thanks brother.
This is right on time for me, having just bought a Tonepump from Phatbasstard. I'm actually replacing a BTS that came on a CRFM that I got recently. I know most of you think I'm nuts.:) What can I tell you? I love the huge rumble. The diagram looks fantastic. Very user friendly. Very clean. Even a Knucklehead like me can follow it.
 
#639
JLAEST said:
Hi Spector people,

I have been searching for a bass and I didn't even think about Spector, when I found the NS-2JA-R. It really got my attention, it seems a good price. But I couldn't find any good reviews, sound clips or videos of it. Can anyone provide me some feedback? Pros and cons, what is it good for, etc.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I've played since the '60s but put it away for a long time. Got back into it regularly again and decided I needed to have an active bass. The NS-2 caught my attention so I got an NS-2-JA-R as my introduction to Spector. The price was right and it has the NS body even if it's not a classic Spector P/J.

It's taken me a while to get used to it since only having my Tele all these years but I'm very happy with it. Obviously it's brighter and has more mids than a passive single coil Fender but I can get a fairly warm tone from it through a solid state Ampeg SVT/810 rig or my PJB practice set-up. Or I can EQ it through the roof.

I'll say it's great value for the money. I believe Sam Ash has the lowest price on new ones out there at $899. I had to give it a proper set-up after they supposedly did it so count on that. I've only seen a couple used ones for sale.

As to tone, it's modern. That's all I can say because it's so subjective. Amps and strings will change what you can wring from it.

As to playability, it's fast, fairly light and has that great NS curved body. An NS-2 or Forte4 will now be my next Spector.

One other thing ... it wasn't holding tune very long but it seems to have settled in and is now much better. Maybe it was the season's weather difference as I got it last November. I also play it hours each day so the tone has also opened up since it was new.

Mine is gloss black. It looks great with its Pau Ferro fingerboard and black headstock.
 
#640
SpectorDetector said:
Donno? I just hope there is nothing wrong with the bass or nothing shady happened...

It seems fine to me, great deal and it sounds fine.
Click to expand...

I found out why the white NS2 JA-R w/hazlab was potentially traded in, seems that the neck has a slight bump in the bass side. I never noticed it and it doesn't really seem to affect playability, but I know it's there now :( and the action can't be as low as it could be.

I love the bass and it seems ok to me, I just hate knowing the neck is bad.
 
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