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  • Lane And The Black Spector

    Check out this amazing post Lane made on the Spector Bass Nation Facebook Page.



    So... PJ Rubal put up a SWEET trio of vintage Spectors. I commented a few times there, and I almost commented about my own piece of Spector history: The Voice, my SSD-era NS-6. It's been my main bass since 1995, so 21 years old and finally drinking legal!

    PJ himself helped me get this beauty, and I was lucky enough to get one of only nine SSD units that included the elusive fiber optic neck marker option, and the ONLY 6 to get it. Just that one thing is enough to make it pretty special. But WAIT! That's not all, because it also features:

    First translucent black finish and first lack hardware. And Poor Stuart about died when he learned my choices.

    The bass was ready for color and Stuart called me, because he didn't have the color option on his info sheet. So, it was like this:

    SS: Hi, Lane, it's Stuart Spector.

    LB: I'M NOT WORTHY! I'M NOT WORTHY! I'M NO--

    SS: Lane, calm down, OK? You can't kiss the ring through the phone.

    LB: Oh, yeah. Right. Anyway... how are you?

    SS: I'm good, and I've got great news. Your bass is ready for finish, so I needed to confirm your color choice.

    LB: Translucent black.

    THUD!

    SS: Sorry. I dropped the phone. I thought you said trans-black.

    LB: That's right.

    SS: Oh, man. I thought for sure you'd want a nice honey or something.

    LB: Well, yeah, that's a very nice finish, but I only play black basses.

    SS: But, but...

    On it went for a few more minutes, which I'm sure Stuart felt were hours. But he finally relented and let me have my color. Then, on to hardware:

    SS: OK, so do you want gold hardware?

    LB: No. Black, please.

    SS: What?

    LB: Black please...

    THUD!

    SS: Sorry. Phone again. But, I can't get the bridge in black.

    LB: Bummer. OK, silver.

    So... we chat for a few minutes and hang up. I immediately call the bridge manufacturer, and guess what?? They've got four six-string bridges with the PU system right there on the shelf. Next to the 5-string models, which are next to the 4-string models.

    LB: Cool. Can you hold just a minute?

    Ring-Ring-Ring-Ring-Ring-Ri--

    SS: Hello?

    LB: Hi, Stuart. It's Lane again. Hey, hold on just a sec...

    (And I conference the two calls together)

    LB: Hey, Joe? I've got Stuart Spector on the call now. Stuart, this is Joe at BRIDGE COMPANY. He says he's got a black 6-string bridge in stock, so could set up an order with him? I think he can ship it today, right Joe?

    JOE: Sure, we can do that.

    SILENCE... LOOOONG SILENCE...

    SS: OK, fine. Joe let me get you a PO number...

    So, I got my black hardware on trans-black finish. Yay, me! Fifty Cool Points and 50 joi.... never mind.

    The funniest part looking back, however, is how pissed Mr. BigDeal got when he saw it for the first time. See... BD, or EgoBoy as some might call him, got four or five of the basses on this run, some 4s and some 5s. He had wanted black as well, but was talked out of it due his highly corrosive sweat, which would mess up the finish he wanted. But then, when he stopped by the factory, he walked past mine and did a double take because he noticed the fiber system. And he went OFF!

    Who's this Lane Effin' Baldwin dude? How come he gets an M-effin black bass and I don't? I play in MEGABAND, the biggest effin band in the world! Who's this MF play for, huh? WTF IS THIS GUY? What kind of effin name is Lane anyway?

    So, this little temper tantrum goes on for a while and finally, just to shut EgoBoy up, they agreed to do it his way....

    AND I WANT EFFIN FLAT BLACK! MINE HAVE TO BLACKER THAN THAT MFs!!

    M-Kay...

    And they did his flat black finish so his would be blacker than mine. And he took them out on tour, and within weeks he had worn a spot through every bass he'd gotten. LOL - I don't know about you, but this re-affirms that should listen to the expert. Because, you know: EXPERT! From what I understand, Mr. BigDeal was so upset -- not with himself, of course -- that he ended up destroying all of his basses. Because: spoiled brat. Which makes mine rarer still. Thanks, Bro!

    So... now we were discussing Cool Points on that other thread... and that was actually the reason I was going to put The Voice up. 'Cause I'm here to tell you, this baby is worth some serious points, OK? Let's take a look:

    OK... it's US built NS body style. That's 50 points right off the bat. Then we have ten points for each extra string = 20 points. First trans-black is worth 25, and black hardware, 10. The bridge system is another 25, and the fiber optic is another cool 50. So...

    We have a total of 180 Cool Points! But don't order yet! Because we also have Vintage Cool Points to add! The first decade is worth ZERO points. But the second decade nets you 5 points each year. Since The Voice is 21 years old that's another 50 points. Third decade is ten per year, so that's another 10. So NOW...

    We have a total of 240 Cool Points! BUT! Hold the phone!! Because this bass is from a Cool Era... the SSD era. And you get another 10 points for that. OK... NOW we can add it all up for the final, FINAL Grand Total of 250 Cool Points!!!

    Go, Me!!!

    And it's a one-of-kind, one-of-two in the marketplace, two firsts, and an exceedingly gorgeous slab of Quilt-of-Life grade maple. Like I said: a piece of history, yes?

    Disclaimer: This bass is NOT for sale. If you think I'm crazy enough to sell it, please show up at my door with $25,000 CASH. In small, non-sequential bills. Minimum of 50% in twenties, and nothing larger than a 50. In a black suitcase. No address given. Figure it out for yourself. Knock three times and ask for Phil.



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