Paulhauser

Yeah, now I seem to remember to paulownia... Cracking looking bass nonetheless and if you like the sound then you have a great package. Speaking of the 77, that is one of the best Spectors I ever laid my hands upon, Czech or US included. Can't believe how much fun I get playing that thing and I even don't use a normal tuned 4 string in my gig (I now use a 5 string Pre LX Euro and mainly a AEAD tuned Euro 435) So I play the 77 mostly at home having fun with '80's rock, funk and whatever doesn't require anything below standard E. Are you sure to part with a Forte? Surely you are going to regret it.... or if you haven't bonded much then it's ok. One can only play one bass at a time (unless you are Michael Manring 🙂 )

Cool bass, congratulations. Not much info on the net about this one, what is the top wood? Back seems like it is ash... Interesting comment about the neck, I love my 1977, too but the two recent Euro 435 that I have/had slim necks, too. Not as much as the '77, but almost. How do you like the pickups? How much of a departure from the classic PJ sound?

The way I use three fingers for plucking is like this for exaple a 16th note pattern (3 ring, 2 middle, 1 index) 321321321321 (bold is where one is) The two things to work on when practicing is avoiding galopping and make sure you accent every 'one' Start on one string without string skipping. 3212 is basicall the same as 2121 in that the middle finger still makes the same work (playing every second note) The patter above divides the work equally between the fingers but requires some time for the fingers and the brain to adjust.

So far I had only one custom bass made for me. Most probably I will not do another custom since I have a selection of basses that are matrching my preferences and I don't feel that I miss anything that only a custom made instrument would solve. Anyway, when my custom MLP bass was built I choose 5 strings as the B string was (is) essential to most of the music I play at gigs and also did not want to loose the G string (as in a 4 string BEAD setup) Even today I own "only" two 4 string basses, one is a 35" Spector tuned to BEAD and is my main gigging bass for my band and the other is another Spector 1977 which is tuned EADG and is super fun to play those songs that don't require a low B.

Congratulations! I happen to own a Forte, too and I love it. As for the 35DC, I love the DC's in my 5 string Spectors. My '77 has a single P (as you know it well) and my Euro435 a PJ so never tried a DC in 4 string settings but based on the 40DC it must be killer.... too much oomph? 🙂

@cetera I summon thee 4 string Spector master I myself have experience mostly with 5-6 string Spectors and my favorite combo is X series EMG pus with Hazlab preamps. 4 string pjs are somewhat different, I have one Euro 435 with EMG X series PJ with Aguilar obp which I like and a 1977 le which I love.

Never thought about it until i've seen your comment @Draxbut I do my rack the same way facing left. Just seemed normal to me. Am I a maniac? Now that I come to think of it..... 😄

Hey, I thank you for taking the time to listen and giving me feedback, I appreciate it! We've just submitted the record yesterday and will come out in mid-July. The style is pretty much like these songs, rock, metal, electronica etc mixed and all with clean vocals. I'll share it once available. Thanks again!

That and the white 5 string classic, too. And a 1979LE I really don't need any more Spectors.

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.