Spector NS-5XL

[TBFUS]

Just bought a 2008 Stuart Spector NS-5XL bass guitar and I love the way it plays but when I go to slap it sounds like the bass has a governor on it...It actually loses volume...Curious if anyone else has had that problem...fingerstyle is sharp and definite but when I go to slap it's totally different..for this expensive of bass you'd think it would be quite the opposite...Thanks for all opinions!

Just ordered some EMG 40J5's...Hope this does the trick....if it doesn't?????

[Sean]

I have East U-Retros in all my Spectors and they suit the EMGs beautifully. My NS-5XL is slightly quieter than Euros (maple vs. maple/alder and maple/poplar) but I don't have an issue with volume when slapping though if it's a solid maple one you will find that the wood has a natural compression effect to it.

I wasn't over the moon with the original pre in the NS-5XL and I swapped it out after only one gig and rehearsal and the U-Retro is a panacea that I wouldn't be without.

I'd suggest that it isn't the pickups but the preamp. Lots of stuff on fitting East preamps to Spectors on here if you do the search.

[GreeneKing]

Yes I have a U-Retro in my NS5 too and one incoming for my Euro LX 5.

I'd probably have gone for the ACG01 but they can't be bought without buying an ACG.

My new ACG of course will have one

[Kiwi]

As Sean says, the all maple instruments do have a compressed response when popping. I like that personally. I have custom made Wizards in both mine to pump up the warmth, sweeten the attack and supply coil splitting. The single coil response is really nice too, a bit more definition in the mids.

I have a customised u-retro in one which sounds great with the pickups but I'm getting customised 3 band parametric eqs for both eventually so I have maximum flexiblity.

What are you listening to your bass through? Is there likely to be anything in the signal chain that is causing a compressive effect? Some wireless headphones have a signal limiter built into them.

[Sean]

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='652281' date='Nov 12 2009, 08:56 AM']As Sean says, the all maple instruments do have a compressed response when popping. I like that personally. I have custom made Wizards in both mine to pump up the warmth, sweeten the attack and supply coil splitting. The single coil response is really nice too, a bit more definition in the mids.[/quote]

Are you using toggles to do the coil splitting or what? I'm seriously thinking about using the splittable EMGs in place of the existing ones but don't want to spoil the look with mini-toggles.

Just a thought on this slapping volume issue... If the Hazlab preamp is running flat out or high you may be getting clipping in the amp which will cause a loss in output. Is it a Spector/Hazlab unit or is one of the other preamps that they fit? Like an Aguilar?

[Toasted]

I didn't know we had so many NS-5XL owners here. Maybe some of you could post some pics for me to look at?

[GreeneKing]

Well you've seen mine Joe but I could start a NS5 thread

[Toasted]

I don't need reminding about yours! :'(!

[Sean]

[quote name='Toasted' post='652328' date='Nov 12 2009, 09:53 AM']I didn't know we had so many NS-5XL owners here. Maybe some of you could post some pics for me to look at? [/quote]

Click on the link in my sig for mine.

[TBFUS]

I've got a hamer impact 5 string bass that i bought in 1995 on an endorsement that is incredible in the studio and live...I bought the Spector NS-5Xl just because I wanted to play something else and try and better what I had, but I tell you the finger style on the Spector is great but the slapping tone, wood or not, and it's burlwood, doesn't contend with my Hamer...i have EMG 35j's in my Hamer and the tone on both styles is unbelievable..it's amazing how the 2 basses look so much alike and have the same treble-bass boost, etc and shape...I thought I could get similar results with the Spector and it's just not happening...I've got a 6 10 ampeg cab and a Eden WT800 head that smokes and when I play both basses, the Hamer overall sounds better...It's a shame because I love the way the Spector neck feels..its a little wider but its a fast neck...I just bought EMG 40J5'S and replaced the EMG 40DC's inn the Spector...I hope it'll make a difference...I may try and find out what preamp I have in my Hamer and maybe that would make a difference..I don't know...I spent a lot of money on this Spector to have to try so hard to get it to sound like I need it to..Sound man and other guys in the band notice the difference when I go to take a solo and start slapping...the volume decreases, like the harder I play, the more it pulls back....I've lowered the pickups, raised the pickups and now have switched pickups so we'll see...here is a pic of my Hamer...maybe I should leave well enough alone...

[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/1neck.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/1neck.jpg[/url]
[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00253.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00253.jpg[/url]
[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00254.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00254.jpg[/url]

[Platypus]

I picked up a new one in August last year in the great Sound Control/Reverb sale. Never really felt the love tbh and moved it on last month. Couple of pics here anyway

Edited November 12, 2009 by Platypus

[Musicman20]

I love the wood on most Spector basses, looks so classy.

Ive tried looking for good demos with their 5 strings, and its just loads of metalheads playing thrash....which is ok if you want to play that, but Id rather steer clear of them for a true demo of their sound.

[Kiwi]

[quote name='Sean' post='652316' date='Nov 12 2009, 10:39 AM']Are you using toggles to do the coil splitting or what? I'm seriously thinking about using the splittable EMGs in place of the existing ones but don't want to spoil the look with mini-toggles.[/quote]

I have the NS5CR forum whore bass which I've fitted with toggle switches because I don't intend to sell it, ever and there wasn't really any other feasible and cost effective alternative to getting the options I wanted with the U-Retro. There are some early Spectors out there with toggle switches fitted at the factory as well so its not completely out of character.

I find the attack of EMG pickups is too brittle. The pickups I've fitted give it the sweetness of an Alembic but they're more susceptible to hum than the EMG's as well because they're not active. I've got a second NS5CR in sunburst which is an earlier SSD version so has a slightly squarer neck profile but I'm modifying it in the same way. It sounds slightly brighter acoustically but is deader electronically because I haven't yet fitted a buffered pre.

[molan]

I have an all maple NS5XL and I can't say I've noticed any drop in volume when playing hard although the Euro I had for a while was definitely considerably higher output & could easily overload my amp which would ahve lead to some natural compression.

pics of mine here:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24492&hl=ns5xl"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=24492&hl=ns5xl[/url]

[Toasted]

Please can you stop posting pictures of these? Ta.

Greeneking's has a gloss coated body+neck, and many of these others look satin finished. What's the score there?

[Sean]

[quote name='Toasted' post='653603' date='Nov 13 2009, 01:59 PM']Greeneking's has a gloss coated body+neck, and many of these others look satin finished. What's the score there?[/quote]

Some have a "high gloss" finish and some are oiled. Mine's oiled. I reckon there's a difference in tone between the two finishes but never done a direct A/B comparison of two instruments identical except for the finish.

[Sean]

I'm going to put some Wizard Gems in my NS-5XL just to see what they're like and how they get on with the U-Retro. I'm really intrigued by some of the reports I'm getting from CK and being a fettler I just have to have a go. There might be toggles on this bass yet, who knows

I'll document the transplant for all to see and do some before and after sound files too. I don't know when the Wizards are arriving so please be patient.

[TBFUS]

Finally figured out what i need to do to my Spector to get it close to sounding like My Hamer Impact 5 string bass I bought in 1994.....They said it was a EMG BTC system in the Hamer and the bass I had was rare and only a few made...So I'm going to try that with my new EMG J5's in my Spector and see if it's close...The Spector preamp was really driving me crazy not being able to get the slapping sound I wanted...I've never played a bass that played so easy but yet felt like the more you bore down on it the more it pulled back...I swear it sounded like someone would reach in and turn the volume down...Anyway, thanks for all the input...Stay tuned!!

[GreeneKing]

[quote name='Sean' post='655550' date='Nov 15 2009, 11:02 PM']I'm going to put some Wizard Gems in my NS-5XL just to see what they're like and how they get on with the U-Retro. I'm really intrigued by some of the reports I'm getting from CK and being a fettler I just have to have a go. There might be toggles on this bass yet, who knows

I'll document the transplant for all to see and do some before and after sound files too. I don't know when the Wizards are arriving so please be patient.[/quote]

I'll watch this one with interest Sean.

I'm loving the tone of the EMGs myself. Not at all harsh.

Modded U-Retro Deluxe arriving tomorrow.

Peter

[cetera]

[quote name='TBFUS' post='653108' date='Nov 12 2009, 09:54 PM']I've got a hamer impact 5 string bass that i bought in 1995 on an endorsement that is incredible in the studio and live...I

[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/1neck.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/1neck.jpg[/url]
[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00253.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00253.jpg[/url]
[url="http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00254.jpg"]http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w177/tufbrzr/DVC00254.jpg[/url][/quote]


Wow!!
That's a beauty! I have a four string one of these in Porsche Red and it's a stunner!

You're right... they are as rare as rocking horse sh*t....
Enjoy it!....and if you ever feel the need to move it along - let me know

Edited November 18, 2009 by cetera

[Toasted]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/spector-NS-5XL-Water-Cured-Redwood-Walnut-Bass-NEW_W0QQitemZ230393918429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item35a48c33dd"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/spector-NS-5XL-Water...=item35a48c33dd[/url]

*drool*

[GreeneKing]

[quote name='Toasted' post='657992' date='Nov 18 2009, 12:23 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/spector-NS-5XL-Water-Cured-Redwood-Walnut-Bass-NEW_W0QQitemZ230393918429QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item35a48c33dd"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/spector-NS-5XL-Water...=item35a48c33dd[/url]

*drool*[/quote]

Definitely rather nice

I put the U-Retro Deluxe into the Euro yesterday and it's totally transformed it as a bass bringing it closer to the NS5XL.

Edited November 18, 2009 by GreeneKing

[Sean]

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='658078' date='Nov 18 2009, 01:44 PM']I put the U-Retro Deluxe into the Euro yesterday and it's totally transformed it as a bass bringing it closer to the NS5XL.[/quote]

Interesting, Peter. My NS5 (solid maple) and Euro 5 (poplar/walnut/alder sandwich) are hugely different in tone even though they have the same pups and preamp. Some people say that 90% of the sound of a bass comes from the pups and pre but I am now absolutely convinced beyond doubt that the wood plays a huge part. My Euro 4 (maple/walnut/alder) sounds very different again but there are more obvious differences like scale length and pick ups.

Wizards haven't arrived yet but I can feel some before and after sound samples coming on...

[GreeneKing]

Definitely a great idea Sean.

I've found that the Euro has added 'depth' to the tone now. I will back to back the two basses later to see what I think, record them too perhaps for comparison.

With my low standard of playing I get a little embarrassed putting up sound clips, but I still do it knowing that being a bad bassist doesn't make me a bad person

Peter

[Sean]

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='658366' date='Nov 18 2009, 06:03 PM']being a bad bassist doesn't make me a bad person [/quote]

No, very true. In the same way, me being a bad person is totally unrelated to my bad bass-playing, just a coincidence