Spector USA NS-5 XL 5-String Bass, Pau Ferro Fretboard, Super Faded Black

Player’s Perspective

We’re very proud to be Spector dealers, and we’re even more so to carry the most top-of-the-line basses in the lineup straight from their shop in Brooklyn, New York! We really let our imagination run wild with this absolutely stunning NS-5 XL and the result is absolutely phenomenal.

Dressed in a sleek but earthy Super Faded Black, this axe looks awesome and sounds thunderous. The top features some gorgeously matched curly maple, which resembles tiger stripes under the finish color. It complements the pau ferro fretboard beautifully and looks absolutely badass juxtaposed with the black hardware. The back looks stunning as well, with the neck-through construction of the 3-piece maple neck creating a two-tone look with the reclaimed redwood body. This is up there with one of the nicest instruments to have rolled into the shop, without a doubt.

The neck-through design, 35″ scale, and tonewoods meld with the EMG pickups and the HAZ preamp to serve up some absolutely killer tone. The extended scale length makes for a tight and punchy B-string that lets you even drop-tune it to an A without any problems. The fretwork is perfect, and everything simply feels precise and meticulous. If you like low action on a bass, this is it.

The EMG 40DCX pickups bring such a powerful variety of sounds to the table. Between isolating the neck pickup, isolating the bridge pickup, and combining the two with the volume balance knob, this bass can achieve so many different sounds without even touching the preamp. Add the HAZ 18v preamp to the mix and you’ve got everything you need, and nothing that you don’t. It’s powerful, has loads of headroom, and can really add some character to the tone. A simple 2-band EQ is easy to work with and impacts just the right frequencies.

This bass sings with overdrive and will sound great hitting your amp hard, but slap-bass players will also love it because the clarity and articulation is absolutely watertight. The bottom end is defined while being extremely powerful. If you need to tone down either the high or low frequencies a bit, you can, but this bass is definitely made for those that aren’t afraid to be noticed. What an absolute beast! Best of all, this instrument is extremely comfortable to play and well-balanced.

Manufacturer’s Description

A true modern classic – First introduced in 1977, Spector NS basses have set the industry standard for modern, neck-thru body electric basses. The original NS instrument was designed by Stuart Spector and Ned Steinberger in Brooklyn, NY. Since then, the NS has taken on a life of its own. The distinct, unmistakable curves have attracted professional bass players the world over to these exquisite instruments. Beyond its world-class design elements, the neck-thru construction of these instruments provides players with unprecedented levels of stability and sustain, bringing a level of definition to bass never before heard. All of this natural tone is then enhanced with our proprietary active circuitry. The coveted HAZ pre-amp is the source of the sound, providing the famous “Spector growl” when paired with your favorite amplifier and effects. 

Spector NS instruments are individually built by a small team of builders in Woodstock, NY from the finest source materials, including hand-selected tonewoods from the most fertile regions of the world. Our choices for body woods include premium 5A grade Quilted and Flamed Maple, exotic varieties of Spalted Maple, Walnut Burl, Buckeye Burl, reclaimed old-growth California Redwood, select Swamp Ash, and many, many more. Each 3-piece neck is carved from tempered North American Maple and can be paired with Pau Ferro, Birdseye Maple, or Ebony. Each instrument is outfitted with custom, professional-grade hardware including our hi-mass locking bridge, Dunlop strap locks, and Gotoh tuners. Your options continue from there with a choice of inlays, hardware color, and of course stains and finishes. Our NS instruments are also available with our Helium package, which includes weight-relieved body wings and lightweight hardware. The sound and feel of a true USA Spector instrument is second-to-none. No collection is complete without at least one!

Specifications

Body

• Model: USA NS-5 XL
• Color: Super Faded Black
• Top Wood: Curly (Flame) Maple
• Body Wood: Reclaimed Redwood

Neck

• Construction: Neck-Thru
• Neck Wood: 3-Piece Maple
• Neck Finish: High Gloss
• Fretboard: Pau Ferro
• Number Of Frets: 24
• Inlays: Abalone Crowns
• Nut: Brass
• Nut Width: 1.81″
• Scale: 35″

Electronics

• Pickups: EMG 40DCX Set
• Controls: Master Volume, Pickup Balance, Bass, Treble
• Preamp System: Spector HAZ 18v

Hardware

• Finish: Black
• Bridge: Spector Lightweight Aluminum
• Tuners: Spector

Miscellaneous

• Case: Hardshell
• Instrument Weight: 9.8 lbs
• Serial #: H569

Overall Condition

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for Spector USA. This NS-5 XL is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer’s warranty. Photos are of the exact bass you’ll receive.

Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.