Spector Club

[Captain_Arrrg]

Oh, gosh, Captain! I feel your pain. Do you want us all to go all Mission: Impossible and help you break it out?

Thanks for the offer, but that never goes as planned. Someone's always a mole, and most of the team gets killed. It is a nice bass, but that would leave too many other basses orphaned.

I did call to see if I could pick it up and was told: "That's against regulations."

 

[of4strings]

over three years old now and seen more gigs and rehearsals than i can remember. By Far my favorite bass.

 

[Kwesi]

And here's my "new" ReBop 4 I really dig... well everything about it, lol. It's a little worn but the wear add character ;p

I finally (after about an hour of messing with onboard eq and the amp controls) found a tone that i love but i have new pickups (EMG35P and an EMG35J) and a new pre (EMG BQC system) that i want to drop in and try out to see if i can get even closer to my ideal sound. If that doesn't pan out i think try some EMG CS's. Now, if only i could find some Gold Hardware.

 

[Ian Perge]

Chris slightly beat me to it, but I wanted to point out that the back of Ben's new one is nicer than the front of 95% of basses out there.

A general question for all: I've spent some time this weekend trying to install a Hipshot GB-7 (because as great as everyone @ Spector is, I refuse to pay $150 for one installed by them in general principle when others do it under or at cost ) first on my Zebop and then my 5-strings but they've been just a tiny bit larger than the standard GB-7 route. Paranoid much, but am I crazy enough to think Spector would route the tiniest amount and then use a press/other industrial machine to install the GB-7 and push the "buy it from us" angle? It's killing me because a) it's hard to believe they'd spend their time doing this to their Euro-level basses, and b) the GB-7 fit just fine on my early model ReBop? Anybody else with Hipshot installation troubles?

 

[isky]

Let me join the club.
Here's my Euro Rebop.

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

So my bass DID arrive yesterday, I like to think that Fedex feared possible covert tactics by members of this forum.

The flaming is really nice, it sort of dances between 3D and 2D. Here it is:

And my bass area:

 

[aikakone]

Hey, Captain, that's beautiful!

What kind of tuners do you have on it? I can *almost* read the imprint, but not quite.

 

[Ian Perge]

aikakone, they look like standard Hipshot HB6Y Ultralites to me - both my Mike Lulls have them and look the same visually.

 

[tom once dead]

this is ultimate GAS thread.

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

Yeah, they're Hipshots. Accurate and sturdy, but don't throw off the balance of the bass.

The quality of it really is amazing. It's so easy to get the tone I'm looking for out of it- It practically plays it's self. A quality instrument really does make a difference.

 

[4 stringed fury]

this is ultimate GAS thread.

Thats why I hate coming to this thread... Oh oh oh God, I'm here again after I said I wouldn't.

But Hey, I love me some Spector.

 

[marshmallow83]

I'm considering buying a Spector as my next bass, and I have a favor to ask. Does anyone have any sound clips of a Spector with the jazz pickup at the neck and humbucker at the bridge? (I can't remember the model name). Also, what are the necks like on the five string Spectors?

 

[p0k]

I'm considering buying a Spector as my next bass, and I have a favor to ask. Does anyone have any sound clips of a Spector with the jazz pickup at the neck and humbucker at the bridge? (I can't remember the model name). Also, what are the necks like on the five string Spectors?

the spector NS-JH5 is an amazing bass...i have no sound clips, but definitely grab one if you get the chance.

 

[benthughes]

The brown truck brought me my USA Spector today. It's a 5 String neck through with Buckeye burl top, flamed maple core and walnut back all wrapped up in a sexy high gloss finish. EMG DC pickups and Haz-Labs preamp.

The first thing I've got to mention is that this bass is gorgeous. It's the most beautiful bass I've ever held and up there with the nicest basses I've ever seen. It's solid and weighs right around 10 lbs. I can't see a single finish flaw on this thing. The fret work is flawless and the action and setup is perfect (for me). The neck is quite beefy. U-shaped ( I believe) so narrow spacing but wide from front to back. I prefer this over wide spacing and flat.

So how's it sound? Well....really good! The EMG's give it a sparkly and defined tone with authorative lows that aren't boomy, even with the bass boosted. I'm curious what the Low Freq is set at. This bass, unlike my all maple euro, has a barky low mid push to it. Almost vocal in quality and more pronounced with aggressive playing and even moreso when favoring the bridge pickup. I'll have to re-evaluate when I get new strings on it but I can't imagine it suffering.

Heres where my curiosity took over. How does it sound compared to an all maple Spector Euro 5er?. The Euro has an EMG DC neck and EMG TW bridge pickup and and EMG BQC preamp. The euro has had a fret job done by Lakland so it plays like a breeze and is very close to the USA Spector in that respect. There are some sonic differences ( of course). The USA has less snap to the highs and that forward lowmid push while the Euro is overall tighter and more compressed sounding. The Euro is a bit more aggressive with alot of high-mid snarl and bite while the USA is more "pushy" with a better bottom and overall more open sound.

Is the USA worth triple the price for the sound? I don't think so in any way. If you want a Spector that's tonally different, get the USA B.O. Is the USA Spector an investment that will appreciate over time? I believe so. All in all it's a fantastic instrument and I don't regret buying it in the least. I do prefer the overall tone of the Euro believe it or not. Get the USA if you want something to pass on to the kids.

Sorry about the washed out looking pics, it's pretty sunny out, I'll try again later.

 

[Spector_Ray]

Whoah....a Hazlabs preamp? Does Spector have a NOS supply of these.....or is there something sinister going on here?!?

The brown truck brought me my USA Spector today. It's a 5 String neck through with Buckeye burl top, flamed maple core and walnut back all wrapped up in a sexy high gloss finish. EMG DC pickups and Haz-Labs preamp.

The first thing I've got to mention is that this bass is gorgeous. It's the most beautiful bass I've ever held and up there with the nicest basses I've ever seen. It's solid and weighs right around 10 lbs. I can't see a single finish flaw on this thing. The fret work is flawless and the action and setup is perfect (for me). The neck is quite beefy. U-shaped ( I believe) so narrow spacing but wide from front to back. I prefer this over wide spacing and flat.

So how's it sound? Well....really good! The EMG's give it a sparkly and defined tone with authorative lows that aren't boomy, even with the bass boosted. I'm curious what the Low Freq is set at. This bass, unlike my all maple euro, has a barky low mid push to it. Almost vocal in quality and more pronounced with aggressive playing and even moreso when favoring the bridge pickup. I'll have to re-evaluate when I get new strings on it but I can't imagine it suffering.

Heres where my curiosity took over. How does it sound compared to an all maple Spector Euro 5er?. The Euro has an EMG DC neck and EMG TW bridge pickup and and EMG BQC preamp. The euro has had a fret job done by Lakland so it plays like a breeze and is very close to the USA Spector in that respect. There are some sonic differences ( of course). The USA has less snap to the highs and that forward lowmid push while the Euro is overall tighter and more compressed sounding. The Euro is a bit more aggressive with alot of high-mid snarl and bite while the USA is more "pushy" with a better bottom and overall more open sound.

Is the USA worth triple the price for the sound? I don't think so in any way. If you want a Spector that's tonally different, get the USA B.O. Is the USA Spector an investment that will appreciate over time? I believe so. All in all it's a fantastic instrument and I don't regret buying it in the least. I do prefer the overall tone of the Euro believe it or not. Get the USA if you want something to pass on to the kids.

Sorry about the washed out looking pics, it's pretty sunny out, I'll try again later.

 

[benthughes]

Sorry.. It's a 2004 bass. It's def not a tonepump as the B/T controls have a center detent. That and the preamp sounds good . I'll take pics of the preamp if you'd like. It's a circuit board with no brand name as far as I can tell.

 

[Captain_Arrrg]

Sorry.. It's a 2004 bass. It's def not a tonepump as the B/T controls have a center detent. That and the preamp sounds good . I'll take pics of the preamp if you'd like. It's a circuit board with no brand name as far as I can tell.

Does anybody know why the USA BO have a 3 band EQ and the NT have a 2 band? Are the NT so awesomely awesome they don't need sweepable mids?

 

[Spector_Ray]

Sorry.. It's a 2004 bass. It's def not a tonepump as the B/T controls have a center detent. That and the preamp sounds good . I'll take pics of the preamp if you'd like. It's a circuit board with no brand name as far as I can tell.

Yes, snap some pics of the control cavity. I'm really interested in seeing that board.

 

[cheezewiz]

Does anybody know why the USA BO have a 3 band EQ and the NT have a 2 band? Are the NT so awesomely awesome they don't need sweepable mids?

My US bolt on has a two band and that's what it comes with stock (That is, until I get around to changing the tone pump for a EMG BQC system I just bought)

 

[Buskman]

For all of you in the market for a Spector (and who isn't, right? ) - just found this online:

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/details.cfm?listId=103890609

Looks nice. Good price, too!