Surprising #1

[Kiwi]

7 hours ago, Bagman said:

I had a go on both your Spector's here in Otautahi but i can't remember what year that was sorry - nice instruments

 

My #1 is a MTD Grendel 5 which is the least $ spent but really is a top instrument 

Check out the Czech's I think... 

2013/14-ish, I still have the photo somewhere.

[Sean]

On 10/02/2025 at 13:36, Kiwi said:

Yes! 

 

The best sounding bass I have ever owned and close to the best sounding double humbucker  bass I have ever heard.  It was a Basschat mule for a while, had multiple owners over the course of four years.  I played it at a BC bash and had an 'aha' moment, then missed out on it when it came up for sale.  Then 9 months three years later it came up for sale again and I jumped on it for 600 quid.  It made three Smith basses redundant.  

There were minor neck warp issues but Jon Shuker steamed the neck back into shape and now it has all the qualities of a Smith bass but with extra definition.  Super tight and authorative B string, loads of midrange growl and the top end is sweet and bell like.  Absolute killer bass and a keeper - so I installed flat response Wizard humbuckers, coil splits and switches.  Wouldn't mind trying some multi coils and a DLPF out in it at some point.

 

At one point I had a slightly earlier NS5CR as well, with a thicker dot neck and 34"scale length.  It was also a nice bass but more of a tenor in timbre whereas this one is a baritone.

Is it a Euro LX 5? 35"?

[dudewheresmybass]

This bass only cost me £100 on ebay, but it plays wonderfully and sounds great. It's my main home bass.

Gigging wise I use my Riches, Aria SB700, Squier 51P, Thunderbird, Dean Demonator, Fender Modern player Jag - All dependant on the particular band I'm playing with.

For Recordings, the Blue Aria has had some use along with the Thunderbird and an old Kramer, but my first call is my 04 Usa P

 

[Rayman]

6 hours ago, dudewheresmybass said:

This bass only cost me £100 on ebay, but it plays wonderfully and sounds great. It's my main home bass.

Gigging wise I use my Riches, Aria SB700, Squier 51P, Thunderbird, Dean Demonator, Fender Modern player Jag - All dependant on the particular band I'm playing with.

For Recordings, the Blue Aria has had some use along with the Thunderbird and an old Kramer, but my first call is my 04 Usa P

 

Aria IGB 50? I have an IGB68 5er, great bass.

[dudewheresmybass]

It’s an igb std from their newer range. 

[Kiwi]

On 14/02/2025 at 20:18, Sean said:

Is it a Euro LX 5? 35"?

This is a transition model NS5CR. It has the 35"scale, fingerboard linlays and slimmer neck profile of the LX not the 34" scale, dot inlays and chunky neck of the first edition NS5CR.  Otherwise it's similar to the US made NS5XL in having brass hardware and all maple construction.  But it has four controls instead of stacked eq and a rosewood fingerboard instead of pau ferro...which isn't much of a compromise TBH.

[la bam]

My Harley benton mm84a. 

 

Still amazes me what different tones you can get out of it.