Spector

I bought this bass without even knowing what a Spector is... Pure chance, among a series of used bass guitars. Not even the seller seemed to know what it was, so I was lucky to get it for a third of its normal used price – let alone the fact it actually has the active tone setting option! I’ve tried a bunch of basses, Warwicks to Fender to many Ibanez, Rickenbaker, Cort and many more. This is THE ONE which suited me. A real crush!! No wonder, this bas sis a beast !!! The neck is just perfect – round, thick but not too much, regular, slightly lacqueredto make it slide without leaving sweat marks… And there’s ground for sweating, this bass will allow just everything – absolutely everything. Impressive! Both the covered EMG jazz pickups are awesome with their warm and powerful sounds, while retaining incredible subtlety and sound color. Nothing seems to get lost with them! All for a very clear and powerful sound! The (optional) active tone control is also wonderful, upgrading the whole with a great clarity – and how great it is to work on your sound!! From a big, slappy sound clearer than anything for slap, to a low, heavy sound with maximal growl, plus clear-sounding arpeggios in the lower neck, so congrats to Aguilar for this OBP-3!! Lows and highs are provided with a very wide midrange, allowing to work on them as you please on the preamp or through amps/pedals. It’s a bass you have to live up to as it’s really full of punch. Don’t go after sounds that will gently bounce, and I really love Jazz Basses (both for their touch a nd sound – a US-made American Standard Jazz Bass I mean, of course), but the Spector sounds “fuller”, more straight-to-the-point, harder sometimes but still precise. It provides a big sound, round and still less versatile and fat compared with an American Standard JB, it provides attack, low end, highs and lots of mids!!! Just what you need to put your groove, once you’ve tamed it soundwise. On a small combo (a 35W, neighbour-friendly model), it already shows its rich and diverse tones compared with other common basses, but when used with a 200/300W amp such as a Markbass… well, just HANG ON TO WHATEVER YOU CAN! I personally play in almost all styles, with a large preference for everything groovy – funk, disco but also rock, jazz and even classical and baroque, even a little pop, you know, you don’t always do what you like in a band (lol!). Its sound capacities are such that every style works. Quick and precise left hand play are more than possible, and the instrument’s sustain il quite interesting. Now, the preamp: an Aguilar OBP-3 It comes with 4 pots that feel sturdy and heavy, made of metal and no easily-breakable plastic things that will break, unsolder, cause loose wires or other such problems as with many basses: - Master - Bass cut/boost - High Medium boost / Low Medium Boost - High cut/boost The bass is a real lightweight, much lighter than, say, Ibanez’s SR1600. What I most like with it’s ergonomy is its curved body shape which perfectly fits your hip and/or belly, depending on everyone’s morphology. Perfectly wedged and light – in for a good time. The body is un-lacquered and very small, hence fragile and everything is likely to leave a stain on it, especially when slapping… Even well-cut nails will slowly leave traces. But hey, an instrument is supposed to be alive, ain’t it? No need to retune it except if you transport it with too little care – tuning won’t move, even when you play it daily. But its biggest asset is its fingerboard… Almost straight, barely curved, it’s wonderfully precise! You can play heavy or fat but also lightly and subtly, anything goes. The neck’s width is perfectly suited to the fingerboard, with fingers finding naturally their place above the strings. By the way, the string-neck alignment excels everywhere even at the lowest setting, with incurved areas here and there where they’re needed. I’d say the E is 2 to 3mm away from the fingerboard with no fretbuzz. Welcome quickness – and precision too! The bridge is made of steel (or is it brass?), it’s heavy and sturdy, it won’t ever move, vibrate, buzz or anything. The brass saddle is made of brass, and is sturdy too. The massive, closed-type tuners can be set to feel more or less “hard” and won’t move either if you don’t want them to. All this was made to last for a very, very long time! This bass is already 18 years old, and in perfect shape (yeah, agewise it’s reached its majority now, but I still won’t let it go out alone ;-) ). Of course, everything was hand-made and assembled. Each piece is unique. For the record, mine is a US model that came out from Stuart Spector’s famed shop in Woodstock, NYC. It sports the #60 and was made on november 11th, 1998 (handsigned on the back of the head by luthier/builder Stuart Spector, with number and date, even the address is on it!). In case you’d have an opportunity to get a US Spector… Give it a try!!!! And I’m sure you’ll buy it. Plus, there are plenty of Fenders everywhere, you can still buy one in the future, one or even ten years from now. Fact is – I’ll never sell my Spector. Never, ever!!!! That’s one less on the market… Mine is from a very limited series of NS-2J (with the J standing for “jazz”), with only 80 to 100 ever produced worldwide. And them being so rare comes from the fact that once you get one, you keep it!!! If the Spector NS-2J Limited Edition was an animal, it would be a lion: powerful, strong and warm! Now, choose your side! :-p PS: I’m adding a few things to my original review after going through “surprising” discussions with a few, rare guitar professionals. There are a certain number of clichés going round about those rare bass models, and I wanted to straighten some of these points through reliable information so that no lucky owner of such great instruments get swindled out of it for a low price: - “NS2s were made in the Czech Republic then assembled in the US”: FALSE!! Mine for instance was made before the European factories even opened… Go to the official website, everything’s written for all dates: http://www.spectorbass.com/NSBoltOnSeries - - "I’ll give you 1,100 euros for it, it’s not worth more than that” -> Ahah!! A look at Ebay and you’ll know better: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xspector+ns2+usa.TRS0&_nkw=spector+ns2+usa&_sacat=0 But it’s not only ebay (which ain’t that much of a reliable source, i know, I’ve promised better;-) ), on other sites you’ll have plenty to choose from, but not under the 3 to 4k€ mark for a US NS2: http://www.basscentral.com/spector/usa_th.shtml http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Spector_NS4_Satin_black.html This one is 2,600£ – which is approximately 3,500 euros. - Another cliché: "Spector ain’t for funk"... -> FALSE!!! It sure provides a radical – well, “typical” let’s say – sound, but just have a look at the biography of a man named Bernard Edwards (no less : who can claim to be funkier?) shows us he actually has played Spector NSs: http://grooveshark.im/artist/Bernard-Edwards Even Wikipedia mentions it...: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Edwards And so on : I haven’t gone through every website there is but I’ve heard such things… I couldn’t help it and put things back into place. Don’t forget that this site’s blue book value seems oddly out of touch, which after all seems normal considering how difficult it is to find and estimate such a bass, with all US models being customized from the start – including the wood, neck/top, pickups, color, lacquer and various options (detailed at spectorbass.com), with so many series, models and so on. So all these basses are basically different from any other, hence unique! This blue book value is also only based on the last years on this very website, so it includes many European series (LX, Legend, Forte…) Spector basses, which quality differs largely from US models. A bit like Fender, which Mexican versions vs US Custom shop ones. For the record, also note that NS2-Js (for EMG Jazz) are the same except for different pickups compared with the NS4(+H2 for humbuckers, e.g.). I don’t want to be a preacher, but I insist on being fait to this manufacturer and his work with such wonderful basses – plus it’s hard for me not to say anything when I feel like I’m being made a fool of. Hopefully, these details will help you not being duped on the real quality of what tou own! Hereby included is a pic of Spector’s 2010 catalog, and you’ll see the price range ain’t the same either – which is quite normal, considering the quality… ;-)

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(Originally written by astroperenoel/translated from Audiofanzine FR) 34" scale. Made in Korea: "Precision crafted in Korea under license from Stuart Spector designs ltd." The finish is ok except for some details. Don't expect the same quality as an instrument made in Europe or the US. 24 frets, Precision-like neck pickup and Jazz-Bass-like bridge pickup from EMG (passive HZ). 9-volt active electronics with EMG B30 EQ (the 3-band EQ also works with 18 volts, thanks to a modification I did by myself). Special Spector-like bridge. A bit disconcerting in the beginning and in the end it turns out to be nothing exceptional! Strange but effective settings: 2 x volume and 3-band EQ with dual control (down/lows and up/highs). Rather narrow 3-ply maple neck with dual setting (concave/convex); rosewood fingerboard, average-quality frets, 5-point bolt-on neck. Typical Spector carved body shape using 3-ply limewood. Plastic nut. (I replaced it with an adjustable brass nut). Good overall quality except for the electronics and the mechanical parts. UTILIZATION Very pleasant and fast neck. Easy upper frets access thanks to the large cutaway, like on a Warwick Streamer, which was also designed by Ned Steinberger. Excellent ergonomics and finish (mine has a turquoise flamed finish). Very modern sound: wide, sharp and brilliant. The low-end is good, highs are brilliant, and the mids are a bit hollow. Since the sound is not very round, the 3-band EMG EQ is a good and effective solution. It gives the bass a modern touch. But it is very heavy!!! SOUNDS Very good bass guitar for modern playing. Slapping and fast walking parts sound very good. It is easy to play almost every style. The preamp allows you to make important sound variations thanks to its active 3-band EMG EQ. From very dark to crystal-clear. And without additional noise. The electronics are good but once you open it you'll see that the work was done very fast: wood chips, bad compartment isolation , no isolation in the pickup cavities !... But the bass guitar sounds good and even better after some customization! The volume knob is not well-balanced: the first third of the way produces strong volume variations but beyond that the volume doesn't change anymore... That's what happens when you chooselousy resistors! It's an additional customization reason... It may be right that Korean products are getting better, but they must still be customized to be perfect! OVERALL OPINION I've been using it for 2 years and I'm quite satisfied. It's not a great instrument when it comes to sound... The tone is not perfect... nor the finish! Even the rosewood fingerboard has some defects (which I removed with abrasive paper, but it's still unacceptable!!!) Average but reliable machine heads (it stays in tune). The price is a bit too high for an imperfect Korean instrument although the overall finish and sound are ok. It's worth to be customized... (nut, isolation with graphite lacquer, better grounding, increasing the preamp working voltage to 18 volts, better volume potentiometers...). If you are a customization freak or want a perfect instrument, you'll have a lot of work to do!

I have been playing bass for about five years now. I play mostly hard rock and metal music. I like rock, blues and funk music in general. Bought this online and paid US 260.00 Love the look, sound and feel of this bass. Quilted maple top, maple neck and EMG HZ pickups (passive with bass boost). Input jack is a dud and you will have to change it eventually. Not a big deal. Korean made to Spector's specs ( couldn't resist the pun). Very light and solid feel to this bass. I didn't have the cash for a US made Spector so I settled for the Q4 Pro. In my opinion, one of the most underrated production basses around. The model is discontinued and you can get these used for a song. A really great looking, playing and sounding bass. I also own a Fender Jazz but the Spector is getting played the most nowadays. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

$460 at a Guitar Center, used with some visible wear but no problems. I have no need or or use for neck through designs, and I'm very fond of my other bolt-on Spector. This one feels the same but sounds very different with different PUs, body wood and pre-amp. I can play this with a very low action and a nearly flat neck, even with a touch of fret wear. It's a really effortless player. Tone is phenominal. I use a GK, or sometimes a tube Bassman, an Ampeg cab with horn, and so the bass has to be pretty clean as there's some dirt from the amps at most settings. I also use a very clean AI head, yet this ax is very smooth, super smooth, on a clean rig, no clanks or honks. There is always a punch to the attack, but gloved, not bare knuckled, and the rest of the tone is pretty much up to the player, as even with minimal controls you can dial up about any electric tone. There's no 'acoustic' sounds in there. UI had to finish almost every fret end myself, using a small grinder, as they were really annoying, and so they were quite a distraction. You have to open the cavity to get at the 9v battery. It has two vol pots instead of a fader set up. A midrange control would be useful but it's not a major problem as it seems the bass/treble ranges have a wide spread to each of them. The neck PU could be closer to the neck for my tastes. The 3 tuning keys on one side of the head are too close together but that can be easily altered. String spacing at the bridge is a bit narrow for me, but not a deal breaker. Other than having to finish all the fret ends, I'd say the fingerboard wood looks a little tacky, as does the black finish on the bridge, but those are minor things. The neck and body finish are minimal, which I like, and everything else in the woodwork seems perfectly fitted. The bolt-on neck uses a deep-inset desigh to maximize contact area and strength, and this seems to work as designed. Neck looks to be 3 piece. The bridge has a lock-up screw for the saddles, but when unlocked they are held in place only by a string. You almost need 3 hands to adjust the intonation. The saddles are soft metal and I expect roundwound users will need to de-burr them occasionally. The tone is the real deal here, and if you gotta have it, you won't be happy without a Euro or US Spector. Both Aguilar and Spector pre-amps are similar although you may prefer one or the other. These things are $900 new, and I've seen plenty of $300 Korean basses without the protruding fret ends. Maybe only some of these have the problem. Other than that, you can easily spend $900 or more on lesser basses, and you can spend way over $900 and wonder what the difference is delivering beyond eye candy. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this guitar through Musician's Friend for about $800. At the time, I wanted a 5-string guitar that looked a bit different, yet was still affordable (I had been previously playing a Fender MR-5). I liked the tone and the fact that this is one tough bass that really stays in shape. I take it to have a pro-setup done once-a-year, and over the past 2 years, only a minor adjustments to the truss-rod in the 2nd year was necessary (and this bass gets alot of use). My only complaint is that after 3 or 4 hours, the weight of the bass can really start to be felt in my back. It is a HEAVY bass (maple body). The construction is very solid. I have not had a single problem with it in the 2 and 1/2 years I have owned it (nothing coming loose, none of the electronics giving out, etc.). The quality is AAA for a 5-string bass under a grand. Getting the Spector Rex5 was definitely a better purchase decision than the Fender MR-5 I also have. Since I am only getting older, the weight factor is really going to play into the purchase decision of my next bass. But unless you have back problems, and if you want something that looks a little different, this Spector is worth the purchase price. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this bass from guitar center recently for 1350. It lists for 2000 and goes for abou 1400. This bass is the best 4 string slapper for under 2000 hands down. it hass a 3 piece rock maple through neck, solid flame maple body "AAA" and emg active P/J pickups. To get a natual oil finish you have to pay a 10% surcharge. But you do get a higher grade flamed maple. Extreamly well built and crafted in the Czech Republic. For slap, this bass beats out Fender, warwick, ken smith, and just about everyone else, still for only 1400. This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I purchased this instrument from Mars Music in Indianapolis. I payed around $800 for this bass. First off an active 5 string neck through for $800 is AMAZING. So i bought it and found that not only is it a great price it is a great bass. it has a nice asymetrical neck that allows good reach and the neck isn't to thick but not too small that your fingers get cramped ala a Ibanez SR series bass. This is a beautiful looking bass with a great maple top. The major downfall of this bass is the electronics. The EMG-HZ pickups are decent but they kind of leave you wanting a little more. I don't have a problem because of the head i run through but others might be looking for more mids or fuller high end that you wouldn't get from these pickups. This bass is solid. There aren't any noticable physical marks or warps. Hardware is all mounted properly. Great quality. A 5 string neck through under a $1000 which plays great and sounds good. Can't beat it This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com