Spector NS2 uncertainty

[Boz68]

Looking at this Spector NS2, which the owner claims to have purchased at a guitar show back in '99.

My concern is that there is no serial number visible - possible refinish? Over the serial number?
. . . and the weight. The owner says it weighs 11.4 lbs (bathroom scale). That seems really heavy.

I'd appreciate hearing what TB Spector experts' thoughts are? FYI - I have not seen it in person yet.

 

[dedpool1052]

I think the SN might be either under the TR cover, or control plate.

 

[mikeswals]

That certainly looks like the USA bridge, and those inlays are the USA ones (vs the euro ones).
Beauty for sure! But yeah, need to dig up the info to be sure. A US one would have had the serial handwritten on the back of the headstock by Stuart. Could be a refined since it's not there.
I think they also wrote the number in the bridge cavity during production.

 

[Boz68]

I think the SN might be either under the TR cover, or control plate.

The current owner said he checked there some time ago . . . but none found.

 

[Boz68]

That certainly looks like the USA bridge, and those inlays are the USA ones (vs the euro ones).
Beauty for sure! But yeah, need to dig up the info to be sure. A US one would have had the serial handwritten on the back of the headstock by Stuart. Could be a refined since it's not there.
I think they also wrote the number in the bridge cavity during production.

The owner states that this is a "brooklyn-era" spector . . . so not sure that Stuart was hand writing on the headstock back then. I thought they were stamped during that time? But if it was refinished, you think that you still be able to see the stamp (if there was one). You're right . . . I need to keep digging. I appreciate your time and input.

 

[mikeswals]

Ahh okay, Oh never mind that then! I thought I read be bought it new in '99, didn't see the fine print it was used. Sorry

I once looked at a white Kramer era 88/89, and the paint was so heavy on the back of the headstock it almost completely filled in the serial stamping. You really had to angle it in the light to read that it was there.

But you should check with the Spector club thread for any other locations a serial could be scribbled in at during the build process back then.

 

[direktor]

Owning two Brooklyn Spectors, this looks more like a Kramer Korean made NS-2A with replaced pickups and maybe inlay stickers...OR, one of the late Kramer NS-2A "Artist".

The story goes that the Korean bodies would go to the Kramer plant in NJ for last touches, and in the waning days of Kramer they took some unfinished Korean bodies, put inlays in them, an American HAZ, and sold them like a special edition.

The headstock shape is the biggest clue to me this is Korean, Americans are more round on the top edges. Also the Korean bridges were square like American's, but the outside edges were taller on the Koreans.

 

[Boz68]

Ahh okay, Oh never mind that then! I thought I read be bought it new in '99, didn't see the fine print it was used. Sorry

I once looked at a white Kramer era 88/89, and the paint was so heavy on the back of the headstock it almost completely filled in the serial stamping. You really had to angle it in the light to read that it was there.

But you should check with the Spector club thread for any other locations a serial could be scribbled in at during the build process back then.

Thank you.

 

[Boz68]

Owning two Brooklyn Spectors, this looks more like a Kramer Korean made NS-2A with replaced pickups and maybe inlay stickers...OR, one of the late Kramer NS-2A "Artist".

The story goes that the Korean bodies would go to the Kramer plant in NJ for last touches, and in the waning days of Kramer they took some unfinished Korean bodies, put inlays in them, an American HAZ, and sold them like a special edition.

The headstock shape is the biggest clue to me this is Korean, Americans are more round on the top edges. Also the Korean bridges were square like American's, but the outside edges were taller on the Koreans.

Thank you - I really appreciate your insight.

 

[Five or Six]

I'm thinking Spector. I looked at mine (5 string) and there are some similarities. Right down to the strap pin location.

 

[mikeswals]

SS headstock logo is way different on the 2A's

 

[SMG]

Go to the vintagespector.com cite and email PJ Rubal. As a close friend of Stuart's, and later (I think) co-owner of Spector, he is an encyclopedia of almost all things Spector related.

 

[alembicbones]

Unless this bass is being sold at a too hard to pass up price, I would think there are likely better specimens to choose from out there. My only experience with Spectors is my Coda 5 Tie Dye bass (which does have the SN signed by the crew who built it on the back of the headstock), so I don't know NS-2's that well. That said, you probably can find another with less baggage associated with it.

Bones

 

[VeryTallBassist]

All the hardware looks right and so does the neck heel and the inlays. BUT...... I don't see a volute. That would indicate it's an early NS2A, which incidentally did not have a serial numbers for the first couple of years. Could have been one of the Kramer leftovers, but I'm leaning towards a very good copy/refinish. If the price is right, go for it. An NS2A in this condition will run around $1500+. It's probably a great playing bass. But I think @SMG had it right when he said to check with PJ Rubal. He became partners with Stuart during the SSD era and is a virtual encyclopedia of Spector history. He'll know what's up.

 

[Boz68]

Go to the vintagespector.com cite and email PJ Rubal. As a close friend of Stuart's, and later (I think) co-owner of Spector, he is an encyclopedia of almost all things Spector related.

Will do . . . and will circle back with the results. Thank you.

 

[Boz68]

All the hardware looks right and so does the neck heel and the inlays. BUT...... I don't see a volute. That would indicate it's an early NS2A, which incidentally did not have a serial numbers for the first couple of years. Could have been one of the Kramer leftovers, but I'm leaning towards a very good copy/refinish. If the price is right, go for it. An NS2A in this condition will run around $1500+. It's probably a great playing bass. But I think @SMG had it right when he said to check with PJ Rubal. He became partners with Stuart during the SSD era and is a virtual encyclopedia of Spector history. He'll know what's up.

Thank you. Truly appreciate the help.

 

[SMG]

I am pretty sure I have seen Kramer era Spectors with no visible serial number. Have you looked in the control cavity as a lot of early Spectors have the serial number there, including the solid color Czech basses.

 

[beatdatthang]

All the hardware looks right and so does the neck heel and the inlays. BUT...... I don't see a volute. That would indicate it's an early NS2A, which incidentally did not have a serial numbers for the first couple of years. Could have been one of the Kramer leftovers, but I'm leaning towards a very good copy/refinish. If the price is right, go for it. An NS2A in this condition will run around $1500+. It's probably a great playing bass. But I think @SMG had it right when he said to check with PJ Rubal. He became partners with Stuart during the SSD era and is a virtual encyclopedia of Spector history. He'll know what's up.

NS-2As with actual crown inlays (those are obviously not decals) are extremely rare. I think I’ve seen one or two total in my lifetime. I don’t think that’s an NS-2A. It’s probably a Kramer or even Brooklyn era NS-2 that’s either been refinished or the serial number has just worn off. I’m pretty sure the Brooklyns just had an ink stamp in the back of the headstock.

 

[direktor]

I’m pretty sure the Brooklyns just had an ink stamp in the back of the headstock.

Brooklyns from about #170 to the end of Brooklyn (#1187), the serial is stamped physically. On my #692 somebody filled it in with ink or gunk, but usually they are just a stamp. Kramer moved to ink stamping that includes the Spector script logo.

This bass in question is def a refin.

 

[Boz68]

I am pretty sure I have seen Kramer era Spectors with no visible serial number. Have you looked in the control cavity as a lot of early Spectors have the serial number there, including the solid color Czech basses.

Unfortunately I haven't seen it in person yet. Its a 2 hour drive, and I needed to learn more from you fine fellas before I decide to make the trip. I will email the owner and ask him to remove the control plate and have another look. thank you.