Different years I think - mine is a 2000 and doesn't have them either
from their website:
Quote:
WHAT ARE THE MODEL NUMBER/NAME AND SPEC CHANGES FOR EUROPE SERIES NECK-THRU BASSES OVER THE YEARS?
Good question! Here is some overall info that should help.
First please note that since we started our Czech factory in late 1993 and delivering basses in 1994, these have been and continue to be true production versions of their USA handcrafted counterparts. That is why they started out with solid maple body wings, solid brass bridges, and 34" scale, just like the USA NS-4 and NS-5 at that time.
Over the years we have made some revisions and updates to these basses to improve them so now they are a little different than their USA counterparts, such as bridge material and EMG CS-TW pickups.
Most importantly, please note that a spec change did not always happen when the model name/number changed, and the reverse is true (model name/number change with no spec change).
1994
Czech made neck-thru basses start production.
First two years or so, no serial number.
Then a 4 digit serial number was added inside the control cavity.
After that the number moved the back of the headstock.
These are 4st and 5st, all 34" scale, SSD name and logo.
Model NUMBERS: NS-4CR, NS-5CR. "FM" was used at the end of the model number to indicate if solid figured maple body wings.
Neck: 3pc maple, graphite reinforced.
Fingerboard: rosewood, 24 frets, dot markers
Body Wings: solid maple
Bridge: solid brass, 'non shiny' matte gold finish
EMG pickups: P/J 4st, 40DC 5st
Active Tone Controls:
1994 short-lived Czech made circuit, copy of our USA 9v circuit.
1995-2001 EMG BT
1999 (Often called the "Transition Year")
In mid 1999 we switched to our famous original "SS" name and logo on our Czech basses, after purchasing our trademarks back from the Kramer era.
We added our USA style mother of pearl inlays to these fingerboards, made 5sts 35" scale, and made "FM" figured maple body wings standard.
We upgraded our USA neck-thru basses from mother of pearl to abalone inlays at this time to differentiate the inlay specs
Yes there are some 'transition' basses out there, with "SS" Spector name and logo but with dot fingerboard markers.
Also please note a small batch of dot fingerboard marker basses were made at this time with non figured maple body wings, passive pickups, and black hardware. This was to move thru the last of the dot neck fingerboards and produce a less expensive version.
2002
We used Aguilar OBP-1 active tone controls in this year, starting in late 2001.
We started the ReBop bolt-on Czech model, and started to rename the neck-thru model NUMBERS NS-4CR FM and NS-5CR FM to model Euro4, Euro5.
2003 - current
Spector TonePump starts. This original version does not have an internal trim pot like current version.
The Euro gold bridge changed from solid brass to a zinc brass alloy material which is lighter in weight but still has a brass tone. This material is gold plated and polished shiny like USA bridges. Very shortly after these bridges go into production we add the script Spector name engraved in the bridge.
2004
"LX" version begins. These are Euro4LX and Euro5LX with body wings with alder back, slice of walnut, USA figured maple top. This new 'version' instantly replaces solid maple wing version via customer and store orders!
2006
Euro6LX model is introduced.
2008
New version of TonePump begins, with internal output trim pot to allow more control over instrument output.
Due to many requests for single/dual coil pickup operation, we start to use EMG CS-TW pickups in Euro4LX TW, Euro5LX, and Euro6LX.
