Spector NS2 5 STRING Icon Series

Q1: What is the NS Icon Bolt-On 4 and how does it differ from other Spector models?
A1: The NS Icon Bolt-On 4 is a 4-string electric bass from Spector’s NS (neck/body style) line, featuring a bolt-on 3-piece rock maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and a fully curved alder body (with a quilted maple top on some stain finishes). It differs from Spector’s neck-through NS models by using a bolt-on neck construction, which can deliver a slightly different feel and tone (often a bit more snappy attack and easy servicing) compared to neck-through. 

Q2: What are the key specifications of the NS Icon Bolt-On 4?
A2: Key specifications include:

• Body: Alder back wood; top wood is quilted maple (on Black Cherry & Black Stain models) 

• Neck: 3-piece maple, bolt-on construction 

• Fingerboard: Rosewood 

• Nut width: 1.62″ (≈ 41.15 mm) 

• Scale length: 34″ (standard)

• Frets: 24 frets, size 6150 standard jumbo. 

• Hardware: Gold hardware (fully intonating locking bridge, high-precision tuners, polished brass nut)

• Electronics: Aguilar DCB pickups (custom-voiced for Spector) and Aguilar OBP-2 preamp; pickup configuration for 4-string: Reverse P / J combo.

• Other: High gloss finish; strings nickel round wound .045-.105 

Q3: What tonal character can I expect from this bass?
A3: The NS Icon Bolt-On 4 is built to deliver the signature Spector sound: deep, punchy lows with clear, articulate highs, thanks to the alder + quilted maple top body, the locking hardware and brass nut (which aids sustain and brightness) and the Aguilar electronics.  Because of the bolt-on maple neck, one can expect a bit more attack and brightness  but the high-quality woods and electronics still preserve warmth and fullness. The high-precision hardware also helps stable tuning and sustain, which supports consistent tonal performance.

Q4: What kinds of players or musical styles is this bass well suited for?
A4: This bass is very versatile but leaning toward players who value strong low-end presence, clarity when playing fast runs or complex parts, and a premium build. It fits well in rock, metal, funk, fusion, studio work or live gigs where tone clarity and articulation matter. Given Spector’s heritage in high-performance basses, it is equally at home in technical, heavy or groove-driven styles. The electronics and the body/neck specs provide a good platform for both fingerstyle and pick style. Indeed the model page itself shows demo tracks for “fingerstyle”, “pickstyle” and “thump”.

Q5: What is the heritage of the Spector brand and why is it significant?
A5: Spector was founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1976 by Stuart Spector and Alan Charney, both of whom came from the Brooklyn Woodworkers Co-op. Early models included the G-1 electric guitar and SB-1 basses. The iconic NS design (for “Ned Steinberger” / “NS”) was developed with the furniture designer and luthier Ned Steinberger, who applied the ethos “form follows function” to create the ergonomically-curved NS-1 in 1977. 
Spector gained mainstream recognition when a white NS-2 bass was featured on the tour of Sting and The Police for their 1983 Synchronicity tour. Over decades the brand has become known for premium bass guitars with distinctive build quality, sustain, low-end punch and ergonomic body shapes.

Q6: Which notable bass players have used Spector basses and why is that relevant?
A6: A number of influential bassists have used Spector instruments, which underlines the brand’s professional-level status. For example:

• Alex Webster (of Cannibal Corpse) uses Spector basses. 

• Rex Brown (of Pantera) has used Spector basses: “Spector has been a staple of my sound since ‘93! I’ve been fortunate enough to play ’em and beat the hell out of ’em for all of these years.” 

• There are many others listed in the Spector Artist list (including Aaron Mills, Alejandra Villarreal, Guy Pratt, etc.).
  This matters because it shows the instrument is trusted by high-level professionals, especially in demanding live or studio environments.

Q9: What makes the Spector sound unique or characteristic?
A9: Key attributes of the Spector tone include:

• A strong, focused low end (“grunt” or “growl”) that remains tight under heavy playing. Many users refer to a “Spector growl”. 

• Clear articulation in the mids and highs so that when playing fast passages or complex lines the notes don’t “mush” together. The use of high-quality hardware (brass nut, locking bridge) and the maple neck help with this.

• Sustain and clarity: The brass nut and the overall build quality help the notes to ring and remain well defined.

• Versatility: Although perceived as aggressive/rock-oriented, Spector basses are also capable of more subtle work; the NS Icon Bolt-On’s blend of P/J pickups and preamp allow for adjusting tone from mellow to punchy.
  In short: if you want an instrument that can deliver punchy, articulate low-end with professional build and feel, the Spector sound is where many players gravitate.

Q10: How does the bolt-on design of the NS Icon compare to neck-through Spector models in feel and tone?
A10: Traditionally, neck-through designs are said to yield more sustain and a slightly smoother transition of tone through the neck-body joint (as the neck wood continues through the body). Bolt-on designs often yield a bit more attack, sharper initial transient and sometimes a “snappier” response. In the case of the NS Icon Bolt-On, Spector has brought many of the premium appointments (custom shop neck profile, brass nut, high-grade electronics) to the bolt-on version, meaning you’re getting a hybrid of bolt-on responsiveness and high-end construction. The choice therefore comes down to personal feel and preference: if you value attack/edge and easier servicing (neck removal, etc.), a bolt-on might be appealing; if you prefer ultra-sustained, seamless tone you might lean toward a neck-through version.

Q11: What maintenance or setup tips are especially relevant for this model?
A11: Some suggestions:Locking bridge and high-precision hardware: these need occasional checks for screw tension and intonation stability. Especially if you change string gauges or tunings.

• Electronics: The Aguilar OBP-2 preamp has active components; if the bass hasn’t been used in a while, check battery health (if required) and ensure clean contacts in the battery compartment and input jack.

• Neck-body joint (bolt-on): Ensure screws/bolts are secure and the joint interface is flush; any gap could affect resonance and tone.

• Wood and finish: Keep the gloss finish clean, and avoid extremes of climate which could affect the maple neck or alder body. Rosewood fingerboard should be treated occasionally with appropriate fretboard conditioner (in dry climates like Melbourne this is often beneficial).

• Setup: Because of the 24-fret wide range and premium hardware, proper setup (action height, truss rod, intonation) will maximise the playability and tone. Consider a professional setup every 6 months or when the weather changes

Q13: Is this a good value compared to other basses in the Spector lineup?
A13: Considering the premium specs (3-piece maple neck, brass nut, premium electronics, high-grade woods) the NS Icon Bolt-On 4 offers high value within Spector’s hierarchy. It brings many “flagship” features at (presumably) a more accessible price than the highest-tier Custom Shop neck-through models. 

Q14: What colours/finishes are offered, and does the finish or top wood affect the tone significantly?
A14: Finishes offered included solid gloss finishes (Black and White) and stain finishes (Black Cherry and Black Stain) which feature highly-figured quilted maple tops.  In terms of tone: while differences due to finish and figured top wood (quilted maple) are subtle, many players believe a maple top adds some “snap” and visual aesthetic appeal. The core body wood (alder) and electronics/neck construction have more influential impact on tone than the finish alone. So finish is often more about aesthetics than major tone shift.