"The Spector NS(the expensive one) sounds like an anvil with chains attached to it."
That's pretty acccurate.... I like it!
That's pretty acccurate.... I like it!
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Spector question
- Thread starter Ken R
- Start date
How do you know for sure it's an LX?
I owned a Czech NS5 that was a pre-LX with solid maple body wings.
To me, the Spector sound I loved hearing in the 80's thru 90's was the solid maple body basses that was typical of the time.
The three older Czech basses I had were also all maple. The few times I picked up an LX, *to me* sounded like they have less grunt with the softer body wings.
Honestly after owning and playing both the new euro 's with the pump sound more like US ns2's than the pre euro 's did ( Kramer era). The pre euro's were kind of hit or miss in the tone department. I don't know why ( regardless of the pre/ apples to apples). I heard that's why they went to the sandwich, to compliment the tone of the pump and consistency. I've played my dougie side by side with US ns2's and you'd be hard pressed to tell a difference. I may have just gotten a great one though.
Um, the Czech Euro's weren't Kramer era. Kramer was long gone by the time Stuart started back up. I'm talking about the SSD and SS NS4CR/NS4CRFM, NS5CR/NS5CRFM and such pre LX, not pre Euro.
If you thought I was talking about the old-old NS2A's, then yes I agree with you.
The Euro is a zinc-brass allow.
The Euros use US Rock maple. It's the alder that's European.
Says so right on the Website.
As for the NS-CR vs the Euro vs the Euro LX, there's very little difference in the tone from what I've seen. My preference is for the EuroLX.
No what I ment was the new sandwich euro's sound close to the Kramer era ns2's. The haz from those years was a bit more bitey and growly than pre or post Kramer years. I'm a big ns2a fan though too ( I have another on the way, lol)
I had 4 NSCR's 2 sounded great ( all with USA pre's) but 2 ( one a 4 and one a 5 ) just didn't have it. I couldn't tell ya why. The hi mid growl just wasn't there even with haz's. It was Wierd. Had to be the wood. But they made some people happy. Those basses were tanks too I swear my 5 strings were like 12 lbs lol.
FWIW I actually prefer the tone of my 2001 Euro 5 to my 2006 Euro 5LX. Granted the 01 has an EMG pre and the 06 hasan aguilar OBP-3 so there are differences in the electronics but I believe it really could have something to do with the solid maple body.
Everything about a Spector makes it sound like a Spector. The distinct growl. I've tried to describe the sound as being able to hear the outside of the notes.
Not a Spector expert here, just a user of their fine basses.
FWIW, I have three Spectors. All sound different but have an unmistakeable Spector tone about them.
IMHE here's the breakdown...
Spector Rex5 Pro (Spectorbird) - ultra deep, very dark, insanely loud, throaty grind like no other bass I own. Closest thing to it is a Warwick Thumb BO5 but the Warwick sounds more woody and less hifi. The Rex has a 3 piece rock maple neckthru design with solid maple wings and a EMG BT preamp with EMG humbuckers.
Spector Euro 4LX exotic wood option - very bright, even louder than the Rex, fantastic clarity on every note, up front and in your face gritty mid and upper mid grind. Makes every other non Spector bass I own sound like they are using dead flats by comparison. My Euro has a 3 piece rock maple neckthru design with alder wings and a poplar burl top. The electronics are non trim Tonepump with EMG P/J pickups.
Spector NS-2J Special Edition Woodstock USA Bolt On - very smooth creamy lows, driving mids with punch and grind, clear but not overly present highs. Think of it as a Fender Jazz on steroids. This one has a 3 piece rock maple bolt on neck with a solid walnut body and figured walnut top. The electronics are Aggie OBP-3 preamp and EMG Jazz pickups.
So there you have it, 3 completely different basses - neckthru vs bolt on, alder vs maple vs walnut, Spector vs EMG vs Aggie preamps, Humbuckers vs P/J vs Jazz pickups and they all have that that unmistakable Spector sound.
I don't know how Stewart does it but by God he does it right!
No pic, no bass, so here's the pic...
FWIW, I have three Spectors. All sound different but have an unmistakeable Spector tone about them.
IMHE here's the breakdown...
Spector Rex5 Pro (Spectorbird) - ultra deep, very dark, insanely loud, throaty grind like no other bass I own. Closest thing to it is a Warwick Thumb BO5 but the Warwick sounds more woody and less hifi. The Rex has a 3 piece rock maple neckthru design with solid maple wings and a EMG BT preamp with EMG humbuckers.
Spector Euro 4LX exotic wood option - very bright, even louder than the Rex, fantastic clarity on every note, up front and in your face gritty mid and upper mid grind. Makes every other non Spector bass I own sound like they are using dead flats by comparison. My Euro has a 3 piece rock maple neckthru design with alder wings and a poplar burl top. The electronics are non trim Tonepump with EMG P/J pickups.
Spector NS-2J Special Edition Woodstock USA Bolt On - very smooth creamy lows, driving mids with punch and grind, clear but not overly present highs. Think of it as a Fender Jazz on steroids. This one has a 3 piece rock maple bolt on neck with a solid walnut body and figured walnut top. The electronics are Aggie OBP-3 preamp and EMG Jazz pickups.
So there you have it, 3 completely different basses - neckthru vs bolt on, alder vs maple vs walnut, Spector vs EMG vs Aggie preamps, Humbuckers vs P/J vs Jazz pickups and they all have that that unmistakable Spector sound.
I don't know how Stewart does it but by God he does it right!
No pic, no bass, so here's the pic...
That said, having an active pre in the Performer would help capture some of that magic. The performers are all passive.
Agreed. My Performer, whilst a great playing bass, just seems weak in comparison to my jazz and precision with Bassmods Preamps.
Thanks for all your help!
2004 (using the date on the tone pots) EuroLX4
EMG preamp. Gnarly tone, great playability,pretty face. Everything a great bass needs!
Ken R
2004 (using the date on the tone pots) EuroLX4
EMG preamp. Gnarly tone, great playability,pretty face. Everything a great bass needs!
Ken R
