A factory tour with world class bass builder legend Stuart Spector

In May 2016 I met Stuart in Saugerties, NY where he showed me his workshop, but also his favourite fishing places and restaurants. Here is a video of the factory tour we made. Stuart showed all the steps of a bass building process ending with his final thoughts about bass building. Damn good day. Thanks Stuart!
In the meanwhile Stuart sold Spector Bass Guitars and founded Esopus Guitars together with his good friend PJ Rubal. Visit their website esopusguitars.com!

[@angie99656]

I bought a Spector in 2000. A Korean NS20004. It was ordered, and didn't arrive, and didn't arrive, and then I get a phone call at my desk, at work. It's THIS GUY, apologizing for having 'taken' my bass for a show. He said he was having another one sent to me, and I seriously wish I still had it because it was simply gorgeous. I'm on my 5th Spector bass, and I'm a life-long lover of these gorgeous basses.

[@PeeJayBrownJr]

Used to work for Spector back in the 80s fresh out of high school in Neptune NJ. One of the best jobs I ever had.

[@InsaneDeathMachine]

US made Spector is my fav instrument of all time.

[@olivierjacquet]

I agree! Haven't heard anything as cool as a US Spector!

[@dapashouk]

What a wonderful tour with a man who loves his work. I could practically smell the workshop - a place where craft meets art to make beautiful music.

[@lucyfuir6386]

Thank you Stuart. I own 3 of your basses. Once I owned a Spector I bought 2 more. Only bass I want to play is a Spector.

[@zengroove16]

Stu is a Legend to us 🫡

[@keithmcduffie7182]

What A GENIUS & GENTLEMAN!!! What MASTERFUL Craftsmen & Visionaries!!! I Stand In AWE!!! GOD BLESS Mr. SPECTOR!!!

[@mikechecka292]

Best basses made by the best people. I have a Korean Spector and Stu and PJ have been as gracious as if I had bought a custom USA model.

[@mrbungle7586]

Great video showcasing a great man's processes of creating an instrument. To the guys doing the sanding, a lot of patience and attention to detail is required. Much respect. Thanks for posting and lucky you to get a tour. Fell in love with Stings Spector bass on the Synchronicity tour.

[@markplews3340]

thank you for posting this video, and introducing me to Mr Spector, i'm sitting next to on of my two Spectors now. i love them and i love that man, the amount of amazing bass lines played on his bassas would take years to listen to.

[@CC-hg9un]

I recently bought a 2004 Euro4, natural, satin finish. It is absolutely amazing, both sound and looks.

[@chasing_dragons]

3:53 and 7:22 Did Spector stop putting Graphite Reinforcement Rods in their necks after Stuart left?

[@playbassken]

Love, love, love my Spector basses! Thank you, PJ and Stu!

[@jmartin67]

I absolutely LOVE my Spector.

[@salottin]

I don't know why I never really liked Spector basses THAAAT MUCH.. But I love them as each day passes by... I gotta get one!

[@salottin]

That man has passion!

[@jamesmichaelfrank]

What an honor ..what a bass !

[@Rickrockit6109]

I met Stewart back in 2017 when he was building my custom USA. At the time he only had the 2 body wings. Turned out amazing.

[@RICKRATT1]

Great basses and a great video from a great bass maker.

[@adamjohnson-yf8jh]

I'm a beginner Bass player and got a Spector performer series 4 string in blue it's a very beautiful instrument love learning on it someday like to own a Spector euro model

[@rosskrause3926]

After playing guitar for 35 years I finally ordered my first bass today..one of the Performers as well..then when I get good enough or save up enough it will be a USA model.

[@BOMBPHONICS]

Someday I'll get one of these beautiful instruments. I fell in love with them way back in the 80's from the sound and later in the 90's when I saw one in a music store for the first time.

[@sideparting6845]

Very Interesting! I didn’t know they produce only 1 bass a day. Great basses, thanks

[@richardrichard5409]

They don't, 5 day week, 47 week year👍

[@mrodelabass]

Soo cool! Bless Stuart Spector. Thank you for producing and posting this video.

[@swangonzalez4797]

I love Shaggy Spector . The Dog. Only a kind hearted man would have a dog in his shop.

[@headknocker8999]

Thanks for the tour Stewart.. Your basses are awesome!!

[@tattooeditalian2895]

That was a great video!

[@gustavo201986]

This gentleman has something special, I don’t know why but, it would be an honnor having some of his Instruments. Greetings.

[@jorgecoelho4051]

What a pleasure... :)

[@oil_can]

Wow! What a painstakingly slow process. No wonder their instruments are so amazing.

[@jemsar2]

Wonderful video. Lots of excellent craftsmen working with Stuart. Thank you for your instruments!

[@muntopher]

Currently saving for one!! Cannot wait to buy one :)

[@nancyleekellyproductions1616]

BOY WHAT FUN WATCHING YOUR COVE OF GUITAR MAKING ! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@Belman5]

Absolutely amazing finishes on these basses. Just beautiful.

[@TheOmei]

Love my pre Brooklyn ns2, I have no doubt it was completely hand made

[@michibassdeva]

The voice of Mr. Spector sounds like the Windows Narrator voice, haha. Great video, great basses!

[@SweatHog]

I love the Tool Length Offset sticky note lol! Don't forget!

[@AKLowEnd]

Great video, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've had my Spector bass for almost twenty years. Best bass I've ever owned. It's me with my bass on my profile pic there. Cheers! :)

[@BrianMasek]

Wow... what an operation!

[@scottwatelet5769]

Just ordered a new Spector today... can’t wait

[@palebass7]

Making left handed!?! Awesome! I was excited to hear that

[@ssssomniferum]

That left-handed green one in the begining is mine. Awesome. :)

[@johnmoser2689]

Super cool video I build machinery for custom applications like that simple fret wire machine and much more complex.... this was a very well explained tour Stuart Spector is a smart fellow and interesting character

[@JohnWolfrik]

amazing video! I own a Spector bass since 2012, and after seeing this video I am thinking of ordering another one!

[@victorimanpandiwidjaja1600]

amazing instrument, made by passion. Thanks for sharing video

[@frunshi]

Wonderfull tour. Great instruments

[@germarhoffmeister2752]

Love this guy.

[@zeinselzer2897]

I see a guy that really loves what he does, thanks for sharing.

[@supasoul20]

Beautiful, true craftsmanship

[@RobMLyon]

Ty for sharing!!

[@icenicaow1337]

He reminds me of Lee Sklar, but he makes the basses instead of playing them. Lovely place I would love to work there.

[@patson187]

oh boy. such beatiful instruments. its a shame i dont own one!

[@RafaelSantos-zd9hm]

Spector Bass 💪 Queria muito o novo Bass da série ! #Brasil ✌

[@MichaelGuy]

Stuart is amazing!

[@treituusscavenger7289]

god bless you stuart

[@michelevalletta3966]

My dream job is to work at a workshop like this.

[@iplaybass6690]

I am waiting for Spector to come out with a headless bass, I have an NS dimension multiscale, and I love it, but I feel like it would benefit greatly from a lack of headstock, it has a bit of neck dive, I switched out the tuners for some lightweight hipshots, and that helped, lost about 100 grams from the head, but I think chopping it off would make it even better...those Fishman fluence pick ups though!!! damn that bass sounds good!

[@jackhammer4720]

Yup,I've owned a buck eye burr base for about 10 years,and really love it,play it through a messa boogie 750 big block,man it's good.thank you Stuart,question please,is it possible you can supply a fretless neck for this base,or is it a major to match, ? I live in nz,thanks.Fred Hammer.

[@lilacmiro]

This is so cool wow

[@theshepster901]

Dearest Santa, May I please have something slap-tastic this year?! I've been a very good boy Ole Saint spect

[@richardrichard5409]

Even the made in Korea models are fantastic, especially if you can find a Q Pro series😎

[@bonifacpope5282]

I like the rock-solid construction of Spector basses. Did I hear that they put 4 graphite bars in one neck? I thought 2 are enough on both sides of the truss rod. I love the idea of using these materials in wooden bass necks but 4?

[@richardrichard5409]

The graphite is not for neck strength, it's to help with dead spots on the fretboard😉

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Now I know where Santa is hiding!

[@steven-jn3vu]

Ur the man!!

[@warburgaby]

One of the greatest bass luthiers of the all fukin world

[@BioStuff415]

nice...

[@casual.bassist]

Please post video of 2024 Mannheim guitar summit 🙏

[@N8oRMusic]

What brand mic was used to record the audio in this video?

[@fendtsfinest]

It was a Rode NTG2

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

What about Indonesian-made Spectors, are they made by Cort factory or Samick?

[@메탈고픈베이스]

스펙터 최고!!

[@TheTabarnack]

i want one of these.........and i f***ing will.....

[@tmr626]

Never really been a bass guy,. However, if you love your bass guitars, you might want to check out the vid 'Warwick HQ & Production Tour - Markneukirchen, Germany (posted by: Andy Irvine) You'll find some really nice stuff here too. Enjoy guy's!

[@tmr626]

I forgot to add two more vids to go with my above comment. Also, check out 'Warwick's Custom Shop Wood Collection Part 1/2 (posted by: Framus & Warwick). These vids show the nicest wood that they use in their custom bass guitars.

[@michaelblaney4461]

Like to get one but very expensive .

[@stevenvalenti3722]

I thought the high end Spector basses was made in the Czech republic. And the cheaper ones are made in the Philippines. I didn't know that they was making them in the U.S.A. also. 🤔🙂

[@inevitablecraftslab]

of course they are US made?! The cheaper ones are made in czech republic.

[@justsomedude5727]

U.S.A are custom shop super high end, made to order I believe. Euro is like high end production line

[@johnkrakenski325]

Santa Claus makes bassguitars..?!? :D

[@jan-a26]

They use rhino for the cnc. I could get hired there, haha

[@cybrunel1016]

Ore-gone and graph-eet ? Ouch!

[@SuperEric717]

Spector Legend 4 made in Korea, sold for over $1200! Fender American Jazz $1200! Made in the good ol' US of A! I'm buying USA!

[@chrislestermusic]

Eric Garcia I am just bringing this up for clarity and not to be argumentative. Spector makes basses in the USA as well and Fender makes basses in Korea so it's not like Fender is the true blue American company out of the two. Sounds like it comes down to price more than where it was made. Also, I haven't found quality of instruments to be determined by where they are made. I have played Mexican Fenders that stomped all over the USA ones. But, I am all for keeping jobs here whenever possible. They are definitely two different beasts and both great, in my opinion.

[@chrishanna4566]

Eric Garcia I have a Spector NS2. Was told by seller it was a 1978 model made in Korea.Was told by seller Korean models had no numbers. Mine has none.Any known truth to this?

[@f.y.d.1956]

Chris Hanna, if your bass is made in Korea it definitely wasn't made in 1978 as Spector made basses in America in 1978, they didn't start also making basses in Korea until 1986. Most likely the guy meant 1988 & your bass if it has the P/J pickups & has a contoured back that would make it a NS-2A. If the back is flat it would be a NS-2B. If it is a bolt-on it would be a NS-2C. The early NS-2A's did not have serial #'s, after that they were on the back of the control plate. They late ones had the serial #'s on the back of the headstock. Side note: Play American Made or European line Spector's & you will never play a Fender or any other bass for that matter again!

[@WrkBassShredder]

Spector euro xl 5.like 3 grand..got my preamp fried by a lutheir had it replaced with an agular preamp and I'm not happy about it..cost me 500 for the repair..I'm putting a darkglass in it if al else fails I'm putting the original preamp in it

[@RafaelSantos-zd9hm]

Spector Bass 💪 Queria muito o novo Bass da série ! #Brasil ✌