Why doesn't Spector improve their body design?

[wvbass]

The difference is quite stark when you look at them side by side like that. The older carve is definitely more aesthetically pleasing and flows with the body better. The new square carve and the horn being moved further away from the body seems to be something they've started after Kramer took over recently.

As for neck dive or ergonomics issues, I've never had any problems. I do wear my bass high and on a wide, padded leather strap, which given the curved body, seems to be what was intended when the bass was originally designed.

Kramer took over Spector? I didn't know he'd gone corporate!

 

[graphics1988]

I also had 3 of them....and 2 streamers.....all aggravated my carpal tunnel due to the nut reach.
I must also add, for me..the necks were all baseball bats...especially the spalted USA one I had.
Tones were all nice however. ...I have found many other brands with ergos that fit me far better.
I have never gassed again for them. Been there done that.

 

[31HZ]

This is another example of Talkbass making you think most bass players care about something like this.

I struggled with neck dive on my FNA5 for years, and on hundreds and hundreds of gigs, before I knew that it was an actual thing that other players experienced.

Just like I used to wonder why:

*my SM400S/Henry 8x8 rig lost steam during a gig (it needed a HPF);

*my little Alesis compressor didn't add much to my tone (there were much better ones out there for my use);

*some rooms were so boomy (I eventually swapped some gear for a Rane PE51 paraEQ and it was like a gift from the gods);

*turning up the bass on my amp didn't help me to be heard better (because mids are the secret to the tone recipe);

*etc., etc., etc.

Just because we talk about a problem here, doesn't mean that it's exaggerated -- or that it didn't exist before a gaggle of TB'ers "invented" it.

 

[Gorn]

I struggled with neck dive on my FNA5 for years, and on hundreds and hundreds of gigs, before I knew that it was an actual thing that other players experienced.

Just like I used to wonder why:

*my SM400S/Henry 8x8 rig lost steam during a gig (it needed a HPF);

*my little Alesis compressor didn't add much to my tone (there were much better ones out there for my use);

*some rooms were so boomy (I eventually swapped some gear for a Rane PE51 paraEQ and it was like a gift from the gods);

*turning up the bass on my amp didn't help me to be heard better (because mids are the secret to the tone recipe);

*etc., etc., etc.

Just because we talk about a problem here, doesn't mean that it's exaggerated -- or that it didn't exist before a gaggle of TB'ers "invented" it.

I didn’t say these problems don’t exist. They’re concentrated here. It’s a bass forum. There’s only so much to talk about. I haven’t taken a survey but I don’t think the majority of Spector bass players care about the size of the horns.

 

[31HZ]

I didn’t say these problems don’t exist. They’re concentrated here. It’s a bass forum. There’s only so much to talk about. I haven’t taken a survey but I don’t think the majority of Spector bass players care about the size of the horns.

And yet.

It can be cool to find the other bass players who aren't "most bass players" and talk about this stuff with folks to whom it does matter.

Be well, and thank you for the chance to clarify.

 

[DownUnder_Funk]

I've played and enjoyed Spectors for years and I've never experienced any neck dive with them. For some players it's just not an issue whereas other players seem to be plagued by it. I suspect it tends to afflict shorter players or ones who like the wear their bass slung low. If you look at the ergonomic carving that Ned did on the NS body when he designed it, it should be clear that it wasn't meant to be worn slung low. Ned specifically built it with an ergonomic mindset looking to get away from the flat, lead-slab body styles of old.

For reference, the very bottom of the Spector body should be around your belt area. Having it there or just slightly higher will mean that you won't experience the reach issues or neck dive that some players report. It's not a case of being a giant man either. Yoshihiro Naruse spent most of the late 80's and early 90's playing the absolute heck out of neck-thru Spector and he never seemed to have any issues with balance or reach despite being a relatively short guy of small stature.

+1. I wear my Euro quite high on a mild angle with a 4” Neotech strap and I get zero neck dive.

The scooped body sits very comfortably against my stomach and the bass feels great despite weighing 9.2lbs.

 

[Chickenwheels]

Note where the strap button is on this original NS1 prototype. This would completely alleviate the reach and balance issues of the design. Why they never kept this feature is very odd.

 

[spiral]

Not everyone has the same body ergonomics or style preference, get over it.

But everyone can usefully access 24th fret on their 5k Spector? Don't think so.

 

[spiral]

Exactly! Like Jerzy Drozd did (see my post above).
And then, you can get away with slightly enlarging the upper horn. And to improve high fret access when the neck is set further into the body: move the lower horn a bit back.

High fret access is crap already.

 

[spiral]

Well if they move the bridge back and everything else in relation to the bridge further into the body like I suggested the horn wouldn’t need to be longer, And I would definitely sacrifice any 24 Fret access issues compared the neck dive

If you look at the Warwick Streamer CV, this is basically what was done. The upper horn strap pin is at the 12th fret, and bridge moved back as far as it could go. The trade off is only having 21 frets vs a 24 fret, which I agree that I would be fine with 21 frets. To me, the neck dive isn't so much of an issue as the longer reach first position. Sure you could get used to it but maybe difficult for some.

I used to own a Warwick Streamer LX-5 so roughly the same body ergonomics. I tried a few things over the years in an attempt to improve the positioning. The last thing I did was to get some Dunlop strap locks. The upper horn pin was already closer to the 13th fret (maybe more between the 13th and 14th) but putting that larger straplock pin helped push the strap out a little further. The other strap pin, I was going to reposition it further up the end of the body similar to what Spector does (45 degree angle off the bridge), but after some research here I found another approach akin to what Dingwall does on some of their models. I placed the other strap pin on the back of the body but moved it further in. This worked in shifting the body somewhat to a more manageable 1st position reach when strapped up and ready to play.[/QUOTE]
24 Fret access is sacrificed already.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Yeah. Instead, 7ender comes out with 374 variants of those models.

Something for every one , surely one is bound to please.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Personally, I love the Spector NS ergonomics. Their sound and ergonomics is what drew me to the brand. -That, and seeing Jack Bruce in a Spector ad in a guitar magazine in the late 70’s/early 80’s.

Neither of my Euros have neck dive problems. I do agree that upper fret access is a bit tough.

I wear my Spectors right above my hip, and I typically “tuck” the body towards my hip joint. I guess this is why I don’t have any problems reaching the first fret.

 

[songwriter21]

I also sold my Spector Euros in favor of Schecter Stiletto Studio ergonomics.

Same. I have three, and they all crush with SICK action (if you change the bridge to a non-altering Schaller mod).

 

[wvbass]

I have no issues with Spector ergonomics. I wear my basses low. I can get away with that because the music I am play is not complicated. Wearing my bass low negates any reach issues, and tone + playability + looks + quality overrides all other factors.

I have 3 five string Spectors, and although not exactly according to plan, they are numbers 1, 2, and 3 in a 60+ bass arsenal. (My Dingwalls are in my top seven, with a 4-string Spector rounding out that list.)

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Spector has a very comfortable body design, the all rounded edges, belly scoop, etc. However, why don't they make the upper horn longer to prevent neck-dive? As well as the distance from the edge to the bridge, the bass will be more balanced if there's not a lot of space between the bridge and the strap peg(even tho the peg was already moved up a bit but it doesn't help a lot.)

I know Spector's body shape is based on Ned Steinberger's design but even Ned himself extended the upper horn for a whole lot on his NS-Design basses, why doesn't Spector do so?
View attachment 4396707
View attachment 4396710

I agree with you completely, but some people like them apparently. Why would they lose their customers? If you say Spector should make a FSO, then they already did. Check out their CODA basses.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

But everyone can usefully access 24th fret on their 5k Spector? Don't think so.

How much time do most bass players spend up around 24th fret anyway?

 

[frankie5string]

How much time do most bass players spend up around 24th fret anyway?

There's always thumb-position style for the upper frets...

 

[31HZ]

I'd buy one in a heartbeat if the top horn extended at least to the 13th fret.

 

[FRoss6788]

I'd buy one in a heartbeat if the top horn extended at least to the 13th fret.

Warwick Streamer comes close.
They augmented the borrowed design a little to improve ergo's.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

There's always thumb-position style for the upper frets...

Yes. Very true!!
Well, one of my Euros is a 6-string. So I can play some dangerously high notes on my C-string.