cetera

[quote name='icastle' post='1234181' date='May 17 2011, 12:29 PM']Ah. You got lulled into a false sense of security. I treat unreharsed dep sessions like I do other road users - only they know what they are doing, treat them with caution and be prepared to slam the brakes on... [/quote] Lol! Indeed, lesson learned.... Being given such strict & helpful upfront information made me think it was gonna be a high quality function act I would be working with.... I couldn't have been more wrong!

I was hired with one day's notice as a dep for a very posh do in a famous Knightsbridge department store last New Years Eve..... and I was told the following by the band's MD: 1) Here are the 3 sets in song order. 2) Here are the few songs that we play in different keys (& the new keys). 3) Arrangement-wise we play them just like the famous versions so that the audience are completely familar with them. I knew a few of the tracks and already had many written out, so I wrote out the rest that I didn't know/needed to transpose. The reality of the situation was very different, thus: 1) They changed the song order on a whim as they went along, leaving me scrambling for my cheatsheets from 3 separate piles of paper! 2) I'd explained beforehand that I needed to change to a detuned bass for a couple of songs so to give me 30 secs to do so. This they forgot/ignored, leaving me scrambling for a new bass & then back again as necessary... 3) They changed/jammed the arrangements on many songs on a whim...or to their 'usual' way of doing it (NOT like the famous versions) again leaving me fighting to keep up with where they were going. On top of this, the guitarist then took on endless 'widdly/tapping' guitar solos in EVERY song, even stuff like Soul Man!! Afterwards the keyboard player said "that's just how the guitarist/MD does it....it's not great but I try not to care", and the dep drummer told me he survived by the skin of his teeth & likely would not work with them again... All things considered, I actually played pretty well that night and my experience of jamming/listening closely to what was heppening around me got me through. All I can say is that I can't believe such an unprofessional, poorly executed & loose sounding outfit managed to get themselves such a prestigious gig.... and thank God I earnt handsomely for my efforts that night! They thanked me profusely afterwards and said I played great, but I for one will NEVER perform with them again! My trouble is I CARE about performance and hate something as seemingly straightforward and familiar as function band covers being turned into bad, loose jams with little thought for feel, arrangement or suitability of solos....

It does seem crazy not to make it compliant with the local requirements of all the biggest musical markets in the world.... very short sighted in my view... Still a VT bass pedal or two in front of decent poweramp should do the same....

Love the white one Mike! LUSH!!! The black one would make a nice sister to my Geddy one with gold hardware

The change to EMGs will make a difference but more change will be found through also swapping the preamp out for a Spector Tonepump...

[quote name='Bilbo' post='1227196' date='May 11 2011, 09:53 AM']'Strike a pose' :bleuch: Most stage antics/moves are as cliched as most of the music being played. If punters want that kind of thing, they won't be at my gigs.... A simple smile goes a long way.[/quote] Well that explains the low attendances at jazz performances then! ...and of course there's nothing like the cliche of a non-moving, serious looking jazz group is there?!

It's a Kay. I had one as my first bass too

White Spector NS2, crown inlays and gold hardware..... Good job I have 2!

Gorgeous basses one and all!

I like it, but it needs to be in black with white binding.....

Ni idea but I'll give you £50 for it....

[quote name='lee650' post='1219173' date='May 3 2011, 08:56 PM']Hey Gary while we're all picking your brains,ive been having another browse through your collection and you,ve a few euros, how would you compare the tone and build quality of the early all maple versions and the current alder/walnut/maple LX versions?, ive played a couple of Lx's breifly in the past and liked them, but not spent an amount of time to really get a feel for them. Cheers mate [/quote] Not a lot in it to my mind, but the earlier all-maple ones have maybe a touch more authenticity of the classic US NS2 about them.... Both models were/are excellent value for money and the build quality is NEVER less than superb...

You're both MORE than welcome chaps

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1214652' date='Apr 29 2011, 10:17 AM']Some questions for the Spector users here - probably cetera. I'm GASing for a 5-string T-Bird style bass and would be considering a Lull T-Bass except I'm not completely convinced by the Fender-style non-angled headstock or the bolt-on neck. So the Spector Rex bass has caught my attention... However having just spent a confusing half hour looking through all the different options on the [url="http://www.spectorbass.com/"]Spector site[/url], it appears that the Rex is only available in 5-string as part of the MIK Professional Series. The USA series Rex is 4-string only. Then I noticed the [url="http://www.spectorbass.com/usa/neck-thru/forte_5x.html"]Forte 5X[/url] in the USA series. Very nice and much more T-Bird shaped than the Rex. So how much better (and more expensive) are the USA models? I can find prices for the MIK Rex 5 easily enough, but the USA series appears to be made to order only. TBH I prefer the look of the Holoflash finish, but the headstock of the USA Forte is far more elegant (I think the MIK headstock is a bit too "Warwick paddle" for my tastes). From a quality PoV bear in mind that while I have plenty of cheaper basses that I enjoy playing, the ones I keep coming back to are my Gus G3s and Overwater Originals. So go for the bling and improved upper neck access of the MIK Rex 5 or the quality and elegance of the USA Forte 5X? Or are there more options that I've either missed or have been discontinued but available second hand?[/quote] This is almost impossible to answer.... but for value for money the MIK Rex basses are an excellent purchase. If they aren't quite traditional enough for you then check out Bass Central or similar for a deal on the US made Forte range (though these are stripped down i.e. without crown inlays etc... If Spector did a Legend 5X Classic you may have found the bass you want.... might be worth e-mailing them to see if they have any plans to do so? [url="http://www.spectorbass.com/professional/classic4x.html"]Spector Legend 4X Classic[/url] Then, of course, there is the holy grail - the new NS2X range of USA Thunderbird shaped basses.... [url="http://http://www.spectorbass.com/usa/neck-thru/ns-2.html"]Spector NS2X[/url] - again not sure if they do these as 5-string versions but, if they do, expect to pay in the region of £4K for one of the beauties.... It's all down to your budget and your personal requirements re: traditional looks etc really, but PJ at Spector will be more than willing to advise should you consider ordering. Good luck in your quest!

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1216565' date='May 1 2011, 02:27 PM']Here's my more modest contribution - a recent acquisition, my NS-2JR-A. It's a 2008 Czech reissue of the 1983 original, with 83 of each colour (black, White and Natural) available worldwide. Very happy to have mine, the active EMGs making for a nice super-Jazz, if not perhaps to traditional Spector specifications. Sorry they're a bit lop-sided. I bought the wife an iPad for anniversary - haven't mastered it!!! Bass/hound crossover! [/quote] VERY nice mate! Congrats As you know, I have a black AND a white one of these and I love them....

He has a hoop on the shoulder of his outfit that this strap goes through and the strap locks into...

Stunning mate! Congrats & welcome to the club!

[quote name='Axebassmurderer' post='1211673' date='Apr 26 2011, 02:11 PM']Hi All, Ok, I have recently bought a CORT version of the Axe Bass and I have to say it rocks. Would be looking to put EMG's in it soon but I wondered if anyone else has bought one and thought: 1 - This bass is 100% neck heavy to the point it's wearing out my index pinkie just holding it up. 2 - I like the pick ups but it struggles against the tones of my EMG's in my No.1 instrument 3 - Should I have bought a Punisher instead, Gene obviously prefers them for the reason 1 above. Anyway, has anyone else bought one of these and modified it in any way so the balance is better and perhaps put active pups in there? Surely I'm not the only one???[/quote] 1. Yep! But the Punisher isn't a lot better neck-dive wise! 2. I've upgraded mine to 18v active EMG P/J's and it ROARS! Do it!! 3. Nope, not 'instead'.... try 'as well' lol!

Just sold my Genz Benz 2x12 to Terry.... a nice easy transaction and a pleasure to deal with

[quote name='thebrig' post='1210629' date='Apr 25 2011, 09:01 AM']What is it with me? I have nine very nice basses, and yet as soon as I log onto this site, I head straight to the "Basses For Sale" section. How can I overcome this addiction?[/quote] You can't..... Welcome to my world

I love EW&F! My fave track has always been 'Fantasy'...