Paulhauser

But that's the point really - with the 40 housing you can pretty much do any format, DC, TW, JJ, PJ, PP or whatever suits you. But truth be told you are right in that I would love to have a classic looking PJ 5 string. Or a 5 string version of my Euro1977. That thing is a monster and find myself playing it almost everyday. That must be a custom shop thingy though and I'm not ready to pay to dollar for that.....

Well it is easy. But there is a story to tell even if it isn’t very exciting. And as English is not my first language at least I get some practice time:-) I love Spectors. Started out with an Ibanez SR and quite liked the sleek body and neck. My first mid category bass was a Czech made Spector which was an unbelievable upgrade for me both in terms of sound and ergonomics. A couple of Czech Spectors later I quit playing for a short while and in the process I sold much of my stuff, Spectors included. When I started again a year later I made it a point to try as many different basses as possible to gain experience about what is out there and what fits me sound and ergonomy-wise. Long story short a couple of dozens basses lates I got another Spector, a Czech one again and I came to the conclusion that there are so much great basses on the market that it’s unbelievable but Spector is where I feel at home. Around that time I have seen a picture of a US made Spector NS-5XL with an marvelous and exquisite buckeye burl top and while I have seen some great combination of these specs this was the best for me ever. Having a pro photographer taking the pics didn’t help the case either. I felt there is a forbidden yet very real love affair taking off so guess what was the locking screen photo on my phone for a year or two? Some time passed after this and much to my surprise and utter disbelief this very bass came up for sale. Let’s just say that I have never before and after paid this much for a bass nor for any bass have I driven a roundtrip of over 2000kms. But I had it in my possession after all. This Spector NS-5XL turned out not only as much beautiful in person as it was on the pic but it proved itself to be my best sounding one, too. For all my recordings in the last three years this is the one that ended up getting used because it has a great combination of clarity, sound and dinamics all over the board and in lower tunings, too. It just works really well for the music I play. I am fortunate to have tried and currently own a selection of instruments from some of the best makers in the industry and I have basses that are close to me for the history we have shared on and off stage but if I were to keep only one this would be it. Spector NS-5XL buckeye/walnut with EMG X series DC pu’s and Hazlab preamp. Now enough of my ramblings let’s get to the best part! Thanks for reading this far🙂

No it does not. The spacing is 17mm from string to string at the bridge.

Yes! Now it is vol/vol setup insted of the original vol/balance with both volume pots being push-pull ones for coil tap. Thanks for the compliment, all the glory goes to Stuart Spector and crew 🙂

Have 7 Spectors at the moment, still I would buy this back in a heartbeat.

This is the only one I think that I miss. It's called Jade Dragon, a pre-LX Spector Euro 5 with full maple wings with an emerald green finish (of which not many Specors were produced) I was giving up bass playing at the time and sold most of my related possessions including this one. Fortunately I'm still in contact with the buyer and if he ever wants to sell I'm the first in line.

Thank you for your time, I'ld love to hear your opinion once you'll get around listening to the tracks. Our approach to build our band and brand is professional but given the current state of music industry (pre-covid included) all of us have other jobs and I don't see this changing soon. So its rather a serious sideline for the time being. (tbh I'm very happy with it as it is. It gives us creative freedom)

Thank you for the interest @Al Krow This was the final bass session for the next LP of my band 'Divided'. We do original songs and have a style that is a mix of '80s rock, modern heavy music, electronica and so on. These songs that I have linked below are a kind of preview of said record so you can get the idea (I played the NS-5XL pictured above on all of the tracks) These are not the final mixed, more like demo versions that we released. But you'll get the idea. The record - called Behind your neon eyes- is going to be released in one month by Nail records.

These are killer tops and yes the inferno red can be very nice as well. I think the complexity of the buckeye burl goes very well with the NS shape, I have two NS-5Xl with buckeye, they are really different but both very beautiful.

Thank you. All the glory goes to Stuart Spector and co. It has nothing to do with me other than being a lucky man to own it. 🙂

Not at all! 🙂 Spectors do rule, at least for me. I have some other great basses from other makers which I enjoy but I'll always get back to square one. This pic was taken this morning after finishing a long recording session yesterday. Ever since I got this NS-5XL a few years back this is my main recording bass ( I'm too protective to take for most of my gigs)

See what you did there? 🙂 @cetera

Please share if you'll get the answer from PJ. Awesome man he is, the best customer service I have ever experienced in the muisc biz. Kind of miss him from Spector since the Korg buyout.

I also have a 1977 and enjoy it so much that contemplating buying a 1979, too. Even if I don't use 4 string basses much but this is such a fun bass to play.

Keep it like it is for the time being if you enjoy the sounds you get from it. I recorded and played loads of gigs with my Euro5 with the original TWs in it and they ARE great! The P ads a different vibe, not better but different. Really you should have another Spector and do the mods with that - I did so and enjoy having a number of options.

Very nice! Where did you get this? One of the best finish a Spector can have.....

I think it's time for you to finally get some Spectors....that's the theme I sense 😄

I'm very much happy with what I have so these 3 are not really a GAS list, more like basses that I keep getting back at. 1. Spector Euro 4 LE 1979. I already have the 1977 limited edition and its one of the best Spectors I own (US models included) The quality is unreal and I'm sure it is the case with this 1979, too. 2. Though it seems like marmite but I happen to love the MusicMan Bongo's design. This one has great specs and a stellar finish. 3. I have always been a fan of Japaneese workmanship and quality and i'm sure this Momose has it all plus a stunning look. Really don't needanother jazz but this really is a masterpiece.

I'm super sensitive to neck dive but none of my Spector Euro5's have any. So don't let that put you off.

I'm not sure I get your point as P's are not splitable. The TW is basically two J's parallel to each other and if you use the coil tap only one of them is working. I have a 40P5 /40J in one of my Spectors and that nails the classic Spector PJ sound. If you keep the TW at the bridge and split it you will get close to that. The only problem can be matching the volumes as the P has a strong signal and the coil tapped TW is already lower in volume so might be tricky. (on my 40P5/40J the J is much closer to the strings to get the same volume output)

Update: I have replaced the EMG 45DCs with EMG 45TWX's. While I liked the DCs I think the TWX has a slightly rounder sound that works well with the ebony board and ash/maple setup. The sound became less brittle in the upper registers, the low end slightly less the strong mids remained and became even more pronounced. Also one of my observations is that the Aguilar OBP seems to work better or more effective with this pickup, especially the lows. As I use the TWX's in my other Spectors I pretty much knew what the swap would do but still I'm happy how this turned out.

I have a couple of Euro/US 5 string Spectors either with the DC or the TW (and have one with 40 housing P/J) I like the X series DC in my main recording bass, crisp, wide and very powerful and works well with the HAZ preamp. I happen to like my other one with the two TWX in it. In my experience the TWX is a big step from the TW as the volume drop is lot less when using the coil tap and the wholes sound is wider and more alive. So I would not worry much if the new models only come with the DC, replacing them with the TWX is not a big deal, it is fairly easy to drop in, hook up with the tonepump, the only thing to be aware of that the push-pull pots need wider holes so better take it to a luthier / skilled tech with appropriate tools.

While I don't play, gig or record much fretless bass but those occasions do come up so I tend to keep one in my arsenal as when I need / have to / want to use it is very handy to have one which is suitable and set up for my preferences. How much you would use it is up to you - you might end up liking it a lot and trying to play everything on it for months in the end - I did it and was a lot of fun and great learning. Or you won't use it much. Mine is a lined 5 string fretless and depending on how much and how often I use it I can get around it pretty easily, sometimes I look at my fretting hand for positioning exactly where it should be, sometimes its muscle memory. If you can afford I think it is good to have one and the Sire is certainly not a huge invesment but a great value ( so I heard) Alternatively you can order online, use the return period for deciding what you think of all the above so you have a safety net. Have fun!