Spector (bass)
Spector is a company that makes bass guitars. Founded in 1974 by self-taught luthier Stuart Spector, Spector's first few instruments were essentially crude experiments in instrument design and craftsmanship. Over the next few years, the design and manufacturing process was refined and in 1977, with the help of furniture designer Ned Steinberger, the company developed its most popular design, the NS.
With the success of the NS, the company grew rapidly and was eventually sold to Kramer Musical Instruments. Kramer produced bass guitars for five years under the Spector name until they were forced to file bankruptcy. After Kramer's failure, Stuart Spector was still building instruments under the name "Stewart Spector Design" and was actively fighting in court to regain the Spector trademark, which he finally won in 1998.
Prices of Spector bass guitars can range from $549 to about $6,300 with a high gloss finish. Prices also vary depending on the series of the bass guitar, whether it is the US Neck-Through series, the USA Bolt On series, the Europe series, the Professional series, or the Performance series (from most expensive to the least expensive).
Spector now unleashes their guitar series with their ARC6 guitars. The ARC6 guitars come in many different designs and colors including Black Cherry, Black and Blue, Green Stain, and many more designs. Price ranges are from about $699 to $2,899 with additional pickups to increase quality of the sound, which would include a price increase.
Currently, Spector produces their finest instruments in their Woodstock, New York shop, with less-expensive versions of the classic Spector instruments produced in Korea, China, the United States, and the Czech Republic.
The correct spelling of Stuart's company after the Kramer bankruptcy was Stuart Spector Designs (SSD).
Artists who use Spector basses
- Garry Tallent (Bruce Springsteen)
- Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Tackhead)
- Guy Pratt (Roxy Music, Pink Floyd, David Gilmour)
- Eddie Jackson (Queensrÿche)
- Rex Brown (Pantera), (Down (band))
- Sting (The Police)
- Nikki Sixx (Mötley Crüe)
- Gene Simmons (KISS)
- Micheal Todd (Coheed and Cambria)
- Mike Starr (ex-Alice in Chains)
- Mike Inez (Alice in Chains)
- Nick Seymour (Crowded House)
- Nigel Griggs (Split Enz)
- Graham Maby (Joe Jackson, Natalie Merchant, They Might Be Giants)
- Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse)
- Tim Coleman (Human Excoriation)
- Mike Kroeger (Nickleback)
- Robbie Merrill (Godsmack)
- Rachel Bolan (Skid Row)
- Peter Steele (Type O Negative)