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Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass Review

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A review of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass…

First off, I love doing reviews, but this one in particular is going to be difficult! Why you ask? Well, it’s really hard to put a great bass down long enough to talk about it, especially the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass. Spector, as far as I know, has always been known as the ultimate bass for rock, progressive, and metal bassists, and I am here to tell you, that it’s not just for that. I know this for a fact, because I used it at a few church gigs, on a classic country gig, and even at a fall festival playing non-other than, wait for it… polkas!!! The Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass is well rounded for any type of musical genre and the compliments were many. Matter of fact, I was told that I have to play the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass at another gig for an event in December. Why? They heard it and I was told that is the bass they want for their performances.

I want to mention, that many bassists have strings that they like to use and prefer, and while it is quite uncommon for me to do this, only for my most recent church gig, I did change the strings to a lighter gauge, which I prefer. There were no needed changes that had to be made, either with intonation or neck adjustment. The strings that do come with the bass are nickel extra long scale, so if you are going to change strings, make sure you get the extra long scale.

Getting into the nitty-gritty of this review, first off is that it is a multi-scale bass. At first, I was a little concerned, but that went away immediately as soon as I started playing it. For myself, the multi-scale neck was instantaneous in getting used to, not even really noticing that it was multi-scale. Secondly, I set the EQ on my preamp and bass amp flat as it does the work for you. It has an exquisite preamp that is going to be hard to beat. Tones are abundant and I think you will find the many tones, even deep dark rich tones that you can get with the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass to your liking. Gigging and recording with it has made it one of my top go-to basses.

Getting into the specifications of the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass, it is a 3-piece maple neck-through construction with solid alder wings. The fretboard is ebony along with 24 frets, offset dots and the 12th fret Spector logo inlay with a scale of 34-37” and a graphite nut. The electronics consist of EMG 45DC Humbucker pickups, a Darkglass Tone Capsule preamp which consists of +-12dB @70Hz for Bass, +-12dB @500Hz for Mids, and +-12dB @2.8kHz for Hi Mids. Controls consist of Master Volume, Blend, Bass, Mid, and Hi Mid controls. The bridge is individual brass saddles and the tuners are Sealed Die-Cast. All of the hardware is black. It is available in 4 different finishes, White Sparkle Gloss, Gunmetal Gloss, Plum Crazy Gloss & Black Gloss. The bass also comes with a very nice and well-padded gig bag.

Check out the Spector NS Dimension HP 5 Bass at a Spector Music Retailer today near you or online at spectorbass.com/product/ns-dimension-hp-5/

Bass Videos

Artist Update With Bassist Derek Frank

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Artist Update With Bassist Derek Frank

Bassist Derek Frank…

Many of you will remember the last time I chatted with Derek Frank was back in 2017. The main thing that impressed me was how busy Derek was and how he juggled playing with many huge acts.

Now, I am happy to hear that Derek launched a new album last March titled “Origin Story” where he digs deep into his roots and pays homage to Pittsburg.

Join me as we get caught up after all these years and hear the details about the new album, how Derek gets his sound, and his plans for the future.

Photo, Stephen Bradley

Visit Online:

www.derekfrank.com
www.instagram.com/derekfrankbass
www.youtube.com/derekfrankbass
www.facebook.com/derekfrankbass

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Bass Videos

String Instrument Humidifiers

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String Instrument Humidifiers

String Instrument Humidifiers

After living in some very humid parts of the country for decades, we moved to a dryer, much sunnier location. As a result, I started noticing some fret sprout on my string instruments and recently did a video on fret sprout correction.

It occurred to me that I should take a more preventative approach to string instrument humidification. Of course, I turned to my instrument maintenance experts, Music Nomad Equipment Care, for a solution and they suggested their Humitar series. (Note: They sent two press samples and I purchased the remainder online.)

Join me as I look at these useful tools for keeping my string instruments in tip-top condition.

The Humitar series is available online at Music Nomad Equipment Care, as well as Amazon.com

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Bass Videos

Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush

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Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush

Bassist Graham Stanush…

Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.

Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.

Visit Online:

linktr.ee/returntodust
instagram.com/returntodustband/
twitter.com/Returntodustbnd
youtube.com/@returntodustband
tiktok.com/@returntodustband

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Bass Videos

Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks

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Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks

CrystalBright Rombo Picks

PR Sample

Playing bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.

Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.

For more info check out @rombopicks

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Bass Player Health

Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz

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Dr Randal Kertz - Bass Player Health - Oct 2022

Preparing for Performance…

This month we discuss how to prepare for a performance and easy strategies that go a long way.

Dr. Randall Kertz is the author of The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health. Click here to get your copy today!

The Bassist’s Complete Guide to Injury Management, Prevention & Better Health

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