Billy Apple

I don't know if this is a genuine colour or a refin, but the neck, tuners, bridge and LX look genuine to me. Don't think the knobs are tho.Would help if there were pics of the neck pocket, pup and rout.

I've always used [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories-c2/guitar-care-c56/gibson-pump-polish-p3264"]this[/url] on nitro finished basses with good results.

[size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]What you might gather from this thread is everyone has an opinion and the only real answer is to get out to the shops any try a few makes out. However, from the amps mentioned for sale here, some are very reasonably priced and anything you buy, if it was not for you, you could always move it on.[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Anyway, my opinion FWIW ..[/font][/size] [size=4][font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I've run a series of top-name valve amps and I'm always impressed with the Gallien Kreuger tone. I find it warm, punchy and with plenty of body. However you won't go wrong with Genz or Aguilar either.[/font][/size] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif] [/font][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]If your Drummist wants you to have valve gear, then you could always buy my Ampeg SVT Pro II and get him to carry it for you [/font]

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1420257707' post='2647296'] [1] It's not "Squire", no matter how many times you dullards try to spell it like that. You really should have it tattooed in mirror writing on your foreheads. [/quote] Pardon me, Squire?

[quote name='cetera' timestamp='1420236937' post='2647130'] STUNNING bass! Fantastic purchase - congratulations! [/quote] Thanks for the advise along the way

[quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1420159192' post='2646339'] It will be very interesting if you & discreet get to try your US & his Euro together & report the sims/differences to those of us looking at Spectors! [/quote] Hope fully Discreet and I will sort this, I was very impressed with his Euro and that went into the decision pot for making my mind up to buy the NS2. [quote name='Sonic_Groove' timestamp='1420159192' post='2646339'] I don't suppose you got to try the [color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][size=3]Helium [/size][/font][/color][color=#000000][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Forte at BD when you [/font][/color][font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif][color=#000000]tried yours for a comparison/report??[/color][/font] [/quote] I handled it, but did not plug it in. It was a very similar weight to mine, probably pretty identical apart from aspects of the finish and the Super Singles. Had it had the EMG PJ's and Spector pre-amp I would've been interested, but it's all Aguilar and I was after the quintessential Spector sound. Very nice looking and feeling though and a keener price than the non-Fortes. [quote name='7string' timestamp='1420216433' post='2646765'] How did you find the guys at Bass Direct? I went there recently and wasn't that impressed. I wanted to ask your opinion. [/quote] I'm sorry that you did not have a good experience with Bass Direct. All I can say is that I didn't just pitch up and buy the NS2. My first call to Mark at BD started at the end of November. Mark was very helpful and he promised to get back to me with the information I was after. About a week later I received an email from him with various options and prices. After that we had a back and forth with my questions which amounted to about 30 emails. All I can say is that they were all answered promptly and helpfully. When it comes to me being a customer I can be very detailed, to the point of being finicky and fussy and can test the patience of a Saint. Bass Direct were fine in their replies. In my mind I had decided to order an NS2 from the States, which would've been a 7 month wait. I didn't really like the look of the NS2 in stock and was wanting a gloss finish. I visited the store almost to make my mind up that I would not take the stock NS2, but put an order in. I'd not phoned ahead to say I was coming and arrived in a foul mood having done 10mph from High Wycombe to Warwick! All I was asked was if I needed help by an assistant, I said if I needed help I would ask. There were two other customers in. Me and the Lady were left alone to peruse the basses. I asked if I could handle the Helium and it was taken down and given to me, again I was left alone just to get the feel of it. I asked if I could plug the bass in and was given the option of playing it through headphones as another customer was slapping away. Again I was left alone just to get on with it. Mark finished with a customer and I introduced myself and he was very friendly. By this time I'd pretty much made my mind up to buy the bass. Mark's assistant asked me what kind of stuff I was playing and said the NS2 would be ideal. I was also given the option of trying the Forte and a bass with a slim neck as a comparison. Maybe I've been quite detailed here, but it's just to show that I could not fault Bass Directs customer service and attitude at all. I was left alone, which I like, offered alternatives and not pushed into anything. Compare this with my visit to the Gallery when I was asked if I really wanted to buy the Wal I'd asked to try as it was 3K! So, that was my experience

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1420156084' post='2646300'] All this talk of technology is making my head swim. I will relax by listening to some of Hitler's speeches recorded on wax cylinder. [/quote] Always knew you were a Waxi

Greg at Guitar Aid, Fulham

The weight must be a mistake. My TBird was about 8.3lbs

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1419943882' post='2644142'] I think they're finger-holes to make the removal and replacement of the cover very easy. No screws, clips or latches... this is how battery covers should be, imho! [/quote] A-Ha! Mystery solved

[quote name='Iain' timestamp='1419896588' post='2643862'] It is indeed - 2 x PP9s! [/quote] So are those two round dimples in the cover magnets?

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1419940277' post='2644088'] The 9V two-band USA circuit was designed by Stuart Spector back in the 70s and made in the USA. It hasn't changed since then. Apparently the TonePump was commissioned as a cheaper alternative for non-USA Spectors in 2002 and is made by Michalik of the Czech Republic. It is known there as the BP-4 Circuit. The TonePump is more aggressive-sounding and is a bit Marmite by all accounts... I love mine, however - it shakes the floor and growls until next Tuesday. No other FX, disto or tone shaper is necessary and all adjustments are available right from the bass... my 2002 Euro was one of the first to have the TonePump fitted as standard, previously the Euro4 had either an Aguilar OBP-1 or an EMG BT circuit fitted. [/quote] I honestly thought it was HAZ Labs who made the US pre-amp. I know they make stuff for Steinberger http://www.steinbergerworld.com/hazlabs.htm

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1419806455' post='2642914'] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ooh. Is that the Active Two-band 9V [color=#000000]Spector® USA Tone Circuit™ by any chance..? [/color][/font] [/quote] Do you know, is it made by Spector or HAZ Labs?

[quote name='jazzyvee' timestamp='1419889807' post='2643739'] On a slightly different note, about 12 yrs ago I bought a high end electric guitar from cash converters. It was in immaculate as new condition including a deluxe case. I paid good money for it but about 1/3rd of the retail price ,(£1300),at the time. Anyway I contacted the manufacturer via email sending the serial number and asked for some details about the guitar. By return of email I got the reply that the guitar belongs to them and that it is a pre-release guitar they had loaned to the guitarist of a famous rock band, whom he named but I won't mention, and that I should return the guitar to them. Concerned that I may have inadvertently bought a stolen instrument, I contacted cash converters who would not release the details of the seller of the guitar and then took legal advice. I was advised that I should contact the police to try to establish if it has been reported stolen. It hadn't. then if it had not been reported stolen then I should contact the manufacturer explaining that I had bought the guitar in good faith from a store and paid a fair price for a used instrument stressing that it has not been reported stolen and if they felt that the guitar was their property them they should contact the police and resolve the matter of owner ship through the courts. The police did advise me not to sell the guitar before I establish if the company is intending to pursue the matter legally. I didn't get an acknowledgement of my email and even contacted them a couple of times in intervening years and got no reply. I still get stuff through on their email list when they have new stuff and their site forum. I often wonder if they got in touch with the guitarist they loaned it to. It's a superb guitar though. [/quote] So the cheeky rock-star sold on the freebie and trousered the cash?

Stunning finish, very beautiful. I know zero about Dingwalls, what is the oval plate for on the top/rear?

I sat down at 4pm today and four and a half hours have flown by playing this awesome bass. It's so effortless and comfy, just a joy all round. Hopefully Discreet and I will meet in the NY and do a bit of A-B'ing with the Euro. Hey, 3000th anniversary post!

Welcome! If your P copy is good you might find some LX upgrades in our marketplace that would save you on a complete new bass

I don't think it looks ugly, but I think it looks rather plain. I always find Foderas aesthetically unpleasing, the bodies seem too wide and flat in relation to the skinny horns.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1419807263' post='2642927'] Wow, really? Are you not getting that thunderous, brash, epic, controversial and totally exhilarating sound you get from a TonePump, then..? [/quote] No, not at all, I jest! We need a tone-off. A pre-amp battle royal, if you will.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1419806455' post='2642914'] [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Ooh. Is that the Active Two-band 9V [color=#000000]Spector® USA Tone Circuit™ by any chance..? [/color][/font] [/quote] Aye. I'm thinking about ripping it our for a Tone Pump, tho but.

Amp guts..

[quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1419794733' post='2642768'] Fab looking bass Sean, tactile like Discreet's. Those inlays are particularly lovely [/quote] Cheers! The abalone is something else. All manner of shimmering colours that set the bass off lovely. And of course it improves the tone no end

[quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1419755123' post='2642374'] Why not go for a Spector Forte X? It's Thunderbird shaped, in a similar finish. They're veeeeery nice. [/quote] If you'd asked me about Spectors a year ago there would've been no way I'd gone near them, let alone splurge my biggest outlay on a bass ever. But after my (somewhat extensive) research the NS2 shape has grown on me so much I find myself at this point. I absolutely love the shape of this bass! It's so incredibly comfortable to play, it's compact, it balances beautifully, the neck is just right and there are no sharp edges anywhere to scuff, dig or wear any part of your body. Not only does it manage to achieve its ergonomics, but it does it while looking great.. I can't stop looking at it! I was thinking about you yesterday, but alas when I got home! I should tried the ML JAX T4 and reported back. But, we had a rotten trip up the M40 and may as well walked from High Wycombe to Warwick, so when we got there I just had my Spector specs on. I remember seeing the ML T4 and T5, which stood out due to their gorgeousness. I only picked one bass up in the shop and that was the one I came home with. I must give props to the Lady Bones who made the decision for me to buy the bass. I was doing a whole lot of justifying, but she cut through it, said it looked lovely and that was that. None of the pictures do it justice, it really is subtle, understated and beautiful.