lozbass

Thanks Sean! Just a gentle bump and edit of original description. Following application of a miniscule amount of lemon oil, the tiny lacquer blemish on the underside of the neck has almost disappeared.

Lovely looking bass (and I'm not the greatest fan of Smith shapes!) Can you tell us more about the string spacing (nut and bridge) and the scale length?

Following a couple of enquiries (and I really should have included this earlier), string spacing is around 9.5-10mm at the nut and 16.5mm at the bridge. All measurements centre to centre. The nut itself is 45mm. The bass weighs about 10.6lbs on digital bathroom scales (this is about as accurate as I can get).

I've seen this and it's gorgeous - any potential purchaser will be thrilled!

[quote name='Netballman' post='991035' date='Oct 17 2010, 12:48 PM']Why can you never find a dead relative with an inheritance for you when you need one... ![/quote] I probably shouldn't laugh but this made me guffaw. It also gave me an opportunity to arrange a gentle bump.

Thanks to Netballman for the questions (perfectly reasonable ones) and to Nobody's Prefect for some extremely thoughtful and nuanced responses: thanks too to NP for the access to some high quality images - far preferable to my quick snaps! I think that there are many reasons that the bass hasn't yet 'stuck' - NP nails a lot of the most important issues and his comments based on gigging the bass have a very high level of qualification and credibility. Just to pick up a few issues (rapidly - an extremely busy day!): 1. Hot output - the hottest I've seen! Not a problem if you're using the bass as a sole instrument at gigs and can set levels to suit for backline and at the desk. More problematic if you're using multiple basses. I got around it by using both channels on an Epifani UL502 - no real issues at all, just judicious use of gain and eq (and insistence on post eq at DI...the engineer should understand or will do after the soundcheck) 2. Action - the bass is certainly capable of (usable) super-low action. At set-up, I kept the action as it arrived - beautifully fast, even and smooth but possibly too low for some players (I'm sure it goes up without any problem at all) 3. Expense - this is a very high-end bass and has the associated price tag: I suspect that some previous owners have needed the cash more than the bass (no reflection on the quality of the bass) 4. Finish - the bass is an exquisite example of its type with a stunning, limited edition, super-figured top: the instrument remains unmarked and is probably just as beautiful as the day it was completed. I suspect that some previous owners didn't want to gig it and risk any scratches, dents, dings etc. 5. Ergonomics - these are phenomenal and the Spector lives up to everything for which the marque is justifiably famous - the NS5 is supremely comfortable with curved front and back, narrow spacing, compact design and intuitive layout: the effort that has been applied to design and ergonomics is highly evident. However, the bass has five strings and at least two previous owners have required one more or one less! For me the issues are scale length and number of strings - I only really play 4s and even then, mainly super skinny necked short scales (Alembics - tiny things that don't balance at all well and one wonders if ergonomics were any kind of concern down in Santa Rosa). I hope this helps - just my take on why the bass hasn't yet had a longer stay. If you're looking for a high-end, beautifully finished, super-playable five with staggering output and tone, then this could be the one. Play at home and save the finish, or play out with some of the best tone available (and at a very reasonable price ) Thanks again to all for the inputs (and finally to Rayman - I couldn't really ask for greater endorsement!)

On the issue of a permanent home, it appears that during its short life this bass has been owned by the following Basschatters: Greyparrot Voxpop Molan Greeneking Nobody's Prefect Me If you look around, it's also been coveted by many others Some of the previous sales threads can be found at: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=97570&hl=spector+ns5"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=spector+ns5[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=85203&hl=spector+ns5"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=spector+ns5[/url] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=39917&hl=spector+ns5"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...;hl=spector+ns5[/url] I'm sure that all who have owned and played the bass will concur that it really is a very special instrument indeed. It would be lovely to see the bass go to a good home where it will be cherished and used as intended

Thanks to Peter for confirmation with respect to the circuit. I couldn't agree more - this bass really should find a permanent home - it could undoubtedly be somebody's main recording and performing bass (alas not mine given the scale length and it's a 5). Thanks to Andy too - tenner's in the post

Thanks to all for the very kind comments - the bass really looks spectacular in the flesh. My partner - who's seen a few half decent basses...and must be bored rigid by my enthusiasm - reckons that the Spector has the most beautiful top she's seen...genuinely even nicer than the chestnut burl Fodera MG5 (yikes!) Anybody interested will notice that I've dropped the price - £1625 has to be a bit of a bargain

Absolutely lovely basses and an incredible bargain at this price. The electronics alone make it worth a punt - the new DS5 power supply is $425 alone on pre-order ($525 when in full production). This bass is a fantastic introduction to the world of higher-end Alembics. If I didn't have a Series 1 already, I'd be taking this

The bass is now sold - thanks to all for the enquiries and very kind and helpful comments EDIT: price dropped to £1625 cash on collection or £1650 inc. UK shipping. After consulting with a couple of knowledgeable Spector people, and given market conditions, I've reduced the price a little (the bass really is a something of a bargain at £1625 and this really is the minimum amount I can accept). For sale (no trades thanks - other than high-end Alembics) - a remarkably beautiful Spector NS5 XL. I picked this up in a trade a few months ago and haven't really used it: though it sits very comfortably into the body and feels like a standard long-scale, I'm more accustomed to short-scales. The bass was built in NY and bears the date 10th April 2008 (with Stuart Spector's signature). It is one of special run of water-cured burl redwood basses (apparently, sufficient 100 year old timber was recovered from a stream to produce 24 instruments). The bass in my possession is numbered 15 and I have the signed letter of authenticity from Stuart. It is almost impossible to photograph the figuring and grain in the redwood - it is truly gorgeous (a few previous owners on here can attest I'm sure). The body wings are very lovely walnut, neck is maple three-piece and the fingerboard is Pau Ferro (I think) with abalone crowns. The bass has a very high gloss poly finish. It represents the highest end of Spector's work. The bass has a pro set-up and plays beautifully - the action is super low (and I mean that - it's unbelievably low with no buzz). Pickups are EMGs and are the hottest I've ever heard. The bass has the classic Spector tone in spades - it really is lovely. The circuit was upgraded to an East 3 band (from the standard Spector 2) and as far as I know, the circuit was custom built for this bass. Knobs are gold and black and look very classy against the burl redwood. The bass could probably pass for new - the only evidence that it is not entirely unused is: (1) some minor tarnishing to the plating on the top edge of the bridge, (2) a few almost invisible fingernail scuffs under the G at the neck/body join on the front - probably caused by slapping (these would polish/buff out in minutes - they're so incredibly minor I couldn't be bothered); and, (3) some very minor wear to the lacquer around the third fret at the edge of the underside of the fingerboard (about 2mm x 3mm) - again, inconsequential and a £10 fix if you can be bothered (it took me a few weeks to even find it). I should emphasise that any wear is extremely minor and not at all evident unless you know where it is and go over the bass with an incredibly critical eye - I've included the details for full disclosure. I didn't polish the bass before taking photographs - any apparent marks are simply dust, grease (or cat hair) - also, the tarnishing to the bridge looks considerably worse in the images than it is in reality. The bass will be supplied with its original Spector case. This is in excellent structural condition and good cosmetic condition - it's been used but shows little evidence. Gold straplocks are also included. Price is a firm £1650 (down from £1715) including shipping in the UK. Collection in central Manchester is great and I can reduce the price to £1625 (down from £1685). I will ship overseas following clearance of funds (bank transfer). You'll see that this bass has been owned by two or three others on BC - I'm sure that they can advise on just what a beautiful instrument this is - tone, playability and looks are all superb. It's a shame to see the bass go but it's really of no use to me (other than as a rather lovely ornament). Any questions, please just let me know. I'm available to talk by 'phone - just PM for details. Now the photographs - my apologies - my talent for photography matches that for playing bass.

One of the JDs is currently on ebay (I think)

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