GreeneKing

I'd be willing to bet that even if 'selected' woods are used then the cutting is still done using CNC machines. So the skills involved in 'every so masterfullike' assembling the simple construction CNC'd items compared to say a real builder cutting and shaping the complete body and neck by hand, fitting body facings, headstock facings and shaping neck pockets etc is like comparing Picasso to a painter and decorator. AND then they go and charge so much more for it. Big 'F', a license to print money?

Nice tale, I'd love to see a photo of your original bass. Bear in mind also that one piece of wood even from the same tree will have a different structure in terms of density and grain and will interact differently from another piece of wood with the same name.

I'm in Kendal if you're passing through Worth travelling for imo. Peter

The MM IV is indeed Japanese made with the V made in the US. If this 'Masterbuilt' (there's been opinions voiced before whether this means built by one 'master builder' or a master builder overseeing some guys) has the standard pre I'd have some reservations however well it's made, especially for £4,600

Hijacked? Or usefully diversified?

Manchester, Sunday.

Yep, as you say Sean, very different. Much as you'd expect too. Are you in Manchester on Sunday? My Spector will likely be on the East stand, the Euro.

Hi I'm Peter and I posted a polite reply about my experience with EMG and John East pre-amps on your TalkBass thread that you rather pointedly ignored Welcome

MrThumb has one (Paul). I've a 500 and interestingly it hasn't got the oomph of my RH450. Cleaner sounding though, less warmth although it has a multitude of variables. Peter

Brilliant, the buzz is great at any age, my 1st gig was in the Summer, about 2 weeks before my 55th - Hehe

I can't access those Sean. Peter

Yes it's not easy. The basses are different but not by a huge amount. The white Euro has I believe alder wings yes. Just caught your edit Sean and you are indeed the wrong way around, 1st NS 2nd Euro. So the U-Retro has indeed become a leveller Peter

Spot that tune? The same line repeated on the NS5XL and the Euro 5 LX. Both basses fitted with a U-Retro with identical settings. Recorded direct into an Edirol R-09HR and saved as a .wav file. Guess which is which? [url="http://www.plunder.com/Spector-Comparison-download-790b8f7a65.htm"]http://www.plunder.com/Spector-Comparison-...-790b8f7a65.htm[/url] Peter

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

[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.

[quote name='Mr.T' post='657863' date='Nov 18 2009, 09:51 AM']Hmmmm... Anyone fancy a quick game of 'Let's stereotype the Biker'?[/quote] Me too on the tongue in cheek, biker for over 35 years.

Sounds similar to recent events with myself. It is a great buzz and highly addictive, all the best and enjoy. If (when?) you make a mistake don't do a knowing smile or grimace and no one will notice.

[quote name='niceguyhomer' post='657823' date='Nov 18 2009, 08:56 AM']I was asked to do a dep gig on Friday night - playing 'classic rock' (yawn) at a biker's do. We rehearsed last night and it was absolutely dreadful - we were all over the place and the noise was excrutiating. We'll go down like whaleshit. Never again [/quote] All the best with it Al, you never know. What's the worst that can happen? (you could end up a 25 stone hairy bikers 'bitch' ) Got me thinking, seems my band are qualified for biker gigs

Have you been watching the Victor Wooten DVD by any chance ? Peter In A

Dislexia rules KO

I recorded them via Audacity and did it in mono. I should have combined the two tracks somehow. I'll investigate.

Okay, I can, probably just as well I'll investigate.

I've already replaced the 2EQ 18v Hazlabs cut and boost pre-amp in my Spector NS5XL. I have to own up to using a pre to get my tone to a greater extent. It works for me. I like the low mids to be emphasised and seldom use bass or treble boost so the Euro was always vulnerable for some similar surgery. The standard U-Retro fitted the 3 hole NS and I tucked the two switches away into the cavity (it'll only be used in active mode anyway). I got John to combine the separate volume and blend on the U-Retro Deluxe 5 knob to give me 4 knobs to fit the Euro and to include a passive/active pull on the added passive tone control (effectively a Sadowsky VTC). So I now have vol/blend, mid cut and boost with sweep, treble cut and boost with bass boost and treble bright 'pull', passive tone with passive only pull (passive tone works in active too. Here's some photos of the switch done today: The box: U-Retro: The very neat purpose build HazLabs 9v circuit, $500 dollars worth of upgrade. The U-Retro connected and checked for functionality, as usual a 1st time is right occurence: And ready to be tucked away. Not as neat but solid and it works: Done: Please forgive my awful playing but before and after: [url="http://www.plunder.com/Haz2-download-03bfccdf23.htm"]http://www.plunder.com/Haz2-download-03bfccdf23.htm[/url] [url="http://www.plunder.com/East2-download-42d3946447.htm"]http://www.plunder.com/East2-download-42d3946447.htm[/url]