Any experts on Spector basses?

[Angel]

Every so often I wistfully recall the bass that got away. I also give myself a firm kick up the b*tt for not actually knowing exactly what it was!

 

My fave ever bass, I found it secondhand at the Bass gallery in Camden. As a very rough guess about 12-15 years ago.

 

It’s slightly weird though as I don’t actually remember if it was 4 or 5 string. I have had times over the years where I’ve flipped between using 4 or 5 strings and I honestly don’t recall where I was at this time in terms of preference. I guess that sounds a bit mad.

 

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about it again recently, and I’d love to work out what it actually was. My initial looking around on the internet did not find exactly the same thing so I thought I’d try asking you lot – which may well come to nothing!

 

So, what can I say about it.  Well, it was a Spector bass, and at the time was going for I think £1,800 secondhand. I went and played it a couple of times and it felt sublime, but there was no way I could afford it. A painful experience!

 

I’m pretty sure it was an NS bass, and looked extremely similar to the example below, same basic body look/inlays/fretboard – but there was one critical difference – The neck was a dark wood with a very ‘textured’ grainy feel to it. I particularly loved that feel. I’ve never seen another bass with a neck like it. No clue what wood it was!

 

Any idea what specific bass that would have been? And if it was available as both 5 and 4 string or not?

 

 

 

[Lozz196]

Calling @cetera

[Mudpup]

Dumb question but.....

 

Are you sure it wasn't a Warwick Streamer?

 

You know, curved body, looks like  a Spector but with a wenge neck

 

Only asking as you couldn't remember how many strings it had and if you're about the same age as me then I can't remember where I was last Tuesday 😂

[Mudpup]

Ah hang on, you mentioned inlays....

Maybe scratch my dumb question then 

[cetera]

At that price and period of time, it sounds like it would have been a US Made Spector NS bass. The US custom shop made many variations on the theme of the NS shape, with different woods, finishes, fingerboards etc and in 4,5 and 6 string versions.

Edited 6 hours ago by cetera

[Angel]

1 hour ago, Mudpup said:

Dumb question but.....

 

Are you sure it wasn't a Warwick Streamer?

 

You know, curved body, looks like  a Spector but with a wenge neck

 

Only asking as you couldn't remember how many strings it had and if you're about the same age as me then I can't remember where I was last Tuesday 😂

 

Totally a Spector! 

 

I wanted to love Warwicks, but every one I tried I thought nah, not for me. 

[Angel]

1 hour ago, cetera said:

At that price and period of time, it sounds like it would have been a US Made Spector NS bass. The US custom shop many variations on the theme of the NS shape, with different woods, finishes, fingerboards etc and in 4,5 and 6 string versions.

 

Ahh, so I'll probably never find one like it again. Oh well, thanks for the info. 

[Sean]

7 minutes ago, Angel said:

 

Ahh, so I'll probably never find one like it again. Oh well, thanks for the info. 

 

The good news is that Spector basses are very consistent, even if many different variants exist. 

 

I “lost” an NS5-XL (natural, oiled finish, stunning thing) years ago and then when I found it, it had been completely refinished (clear gloss) and just wasn’t what I had loved. I then went on to find another one that I love just as much. 

 

There might be one out there for you, keep looking. But make sure you play one standing up on a strap. 

[Kiwi]

3 hours ago, Angel said:

Every so often I wistfully recall the bass that got away. I also give myself a firm kick up the b*tt for not actually knowing exactly what it was!

 

My fave ever bass, I found it secondhand at the Bass gallery in Camden. As a very rough guess about 12-15 years ago.

 

It’s slightly weird though as I don’t actually remember if it was 4 or 5 string. I have had times over the years where I’ve flipped between using 4 or 5 strings and I honestly don’t recall where I was at this time in terms of preference. I guess that sounds a bit mad.

 

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about it again recently, and I’d love to work out what it actually was. My initial looking around on the internet did not find exactly the same thing so I thought I’d try asking you lot – which may well come to nothing!

 

So, what can I say about it.  Well, it was a Spector bass, and at the time was going for I think £1,800 secondhand. I went and played it a couple of times and it felt sublime, but there was no way I could afford it. A painful experience!

 

I’m pretty sure it was an NS bass, and looked extremely similar to the example below, same basic body look/inlays/fretboard – but there was one critical difference – The neck was a dark wood with a very ‘textured’ grainy feel to it. I particularly loved that feel. I’ve never seen another bass with a neck like it. No clue what wood it was!

 

Any idea what specific bass that would have been? And if it was available as both 5 and 4 string or not?

 

 

 

I remember that one being up for sale for a very long time and the price was reasonable.  I was slightly tempted.  It's a USA built NS5, not much else to add as it was from a time before Spector started pumping out so many different models and styles.