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gregduboc
Senior Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 450
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 9:40 am:   Edit Post

Ok, I know some of you don't like Status basses, or even anything not Alembic, but I do (and I've ordered one that should be done by the end of this month, aka my birthday) and I saw this bass on the Status Forum and man, is it beautiful!
I decided to share, maybe it serves as an inspiration for one's future project (it will serve for me)!




Greg
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1195
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 9:45 am:   Edit Post

Nice
mario_farufyno
Senior Member
Username: mario_farufyno

Post Number: 463
Registered: 9-2008
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 3:07 pm:   Edit Post

To me it looks as nice as a Jazz can be... Happy birthday in advance!
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1286
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 3:30 pm:   Edit Post

A beautiful bass is a beautiful bass. Should be a really pleasure to own and play. Pay no mind to the haters behind the curtain.
I just ordered a Kingbass 5 Black Beauty bendwell with side leds in red. Now I really have to sell some basses! Congrats on a great instrument.4 str version
gregduboc
Senior Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 451
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 3:45 pm:   Edit Post

Congrats Danno!
I've got a B2 fully black with a carbon top and side leds in red in the oven... I'm really anxious...!
I never had a bass custom built for me.
Kingbass and the 10-string monster on the way? Awesome!

Greg
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1287
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 6:51 pm:   Edit Post

I wonder how much sanity I really possess but life is too short not to enjoy what it has to offer. I've always been intrigued by these since the early 80's and I took the plunge.

Enjoy your new and soon to be bass as well as the rest of your stable. Now to get down to some serious waiting!
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 1459
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 11:37 pm:   Edit Post

Bendwell ? ? ?

J o e y
bassilisk
Member
Username: bassilisk

Post Number: 78
Registered: 4-2009
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 6:19 am:   Edit Post

Status makes some amazing basses - I like them a lot. I had a Kingbass Std and it was an excellent instrument, superb build quality. The only thing about it that finally made me flip it was the balance issue (very much like the Alembic MK ). The short bouts made it difficult to comfortably position it. I'd love to get a Streamline though, or at the very least, put one of their necks on a Jazz bass.

Meanwhile I have a '95 Trace T-Bass made by Status, super early (#0XX), that I was lucky enough to get as NOS. An absolutely killer jazz bass, one of my favorites. Status has begun making them again with graphite necks. Yow!

Enjoy your new beauty, I'm sure you'll love it.
gregduboc
Senior Member
Username: gregduboc

Post Number: 453
Registered: 11-2008
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 6:28 am:   Edit Post

Joey, Bendwell is a feature you can have on a Status headless bass. It gives you the ability to bend the string when played open, like you do on the headstock of a "normal" bass, by pressing the string before the nut. Here is a picture in case I'm too confusing:



Greg

(Message edited by gregduboc on August 06, 2010)
terryc
Senior Member
Username: terryc

Post Number: 1310
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 7:04 am:   Edit Post

A friend of mine has two early Series Status basses, from about 1983-84, just as the company was taking off with the help of Level 42, Duran Duran and all those 80's bands.
I had one of the old catalogues but threw it away(groan!!)
Along with JD, they were the british version of high end basses
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1243
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 10:28 pm:   Edit Post

I just couldn't afford to buy the ready made Status retro-Fender style, so I went with a Status J neck, Warmoth P body and Villex PJ pickups. It's one of my three bass rotation (Status, Zon Sonus and Brown Bass).
Status PJ

The Status neck is pleasure - warm sound, even tone, beautifully made - physically a work of art.
sonicus
Senior Member
Username: sonicus

Post Number: 1201
Registered: 5-2009
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 10:48 pm:   Edit Post

What would you say about the Zon ?
2400wattman
Senior Member
Username: 2400wattman

Post Number: 816
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, August 06, 2010 - 10:53 pm:   Edit Post

Bill, I have two Modulus VJ basses loaded with the Villex system and p/ups which is THE most versatile passive electronics I've ever used. Glad to see someone around here is savvy to this unsung company's bright offerings.
elwoodblue
Senior Member
Username: elwoodblue

Post Number: 1070
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2010 - 12:21 am:   Edit Post

My MusicMan/Status bass is one of my faves,
just like bassman said...warm and even...and super comfortable.



bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1244
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2010 - 6:01 am:   Edit Post

"What would you say about the Zon ?"
Not enough adjectives to describe how sweet and comfy the Sonus is, Sonicus. It's as beautiful and light a piece of swamp ash as I've ever seen (abolutely flawless trans red burst finish). Ultra light -- an honest 7 lb. The Zon neck is a delight to play, slim, nice radius (11" I think). The preamp is straight forward and easy, but the bass is very responsive to amp settings. The tone from the swamp ash/graphite combo ranges anywhere you want between raspy/aggressive and creamy/smooth/pillowy.

"I have two Modulus VJ basses loaded with the Villex system and p/ups which is THE most versatile passive electronics I've ever used. "
It was the Modulus VJs and Genesis offering Villex that aroused my curiosity about Villex. Than I found a significant cadre of Villex fans who all wanted to talk about their setups. I found Bill Villex to be great guy to talk to and very accomodating when I went looking to buy the parts. The Villex is truly unique - fully passive, but very versatile (the separate mid boost is something every passive Fender should have). The only thing I'm not wild over is the passive 4 position boost. It does what you'd think, but I've recently found a greater facility to find sweet tone if I don't use the boost at all and at the same time, moderate the midboost. The Villex range of sounds is hard to describe - sort of vintage and modern combined - amazingly articulate with very nicely sorted out harmonics.

"My MusicMan/Status bass is one of my faves, just like bassman said...warm and even...and super comfortable."
That's a nice looking Ray, Elwood. I am amazed at how organic-sounding space age composites can sound. I'll bet the Status neck takes it up a big notch.

Not to be overlooked, my Alembic is the anchor among my go-to basses. I love the combination of all that mahogany (incl the neck), Rock of Gibraltar neck, bridge, overall feel and Alembic sound flexibility. Still my preference to bring the BB, but the graphites are nicer to bring to a bar gig involving a dodgier environ.

I've been through a LOT of different basses looking for different things. But I can tell these three basses will keep me intrigued and satisfied for a long while. The Status/Villex is sort of a passive wonderhorse - alder body - many more traditional tones. The Zon is more of a swamp ash, active "Super J" bass (but with the flexibility to do more traditional sounds too). And the Brown Bass is like an old friend, warm, woody but very, very smart (Smart?). Sorry, I wax poetic. But I do think I'll be unloading a few other basses that don't seem likely to get played any time soon (to fuel my amp GAS, of course!).
Bill
bigredbass
Senior Member
Username: bigredbass

Post Number: 1461
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Saturday, August 07, 2010 - 6:31 am:   Edit Post

So that's a bendwell . . . So do these 'headless' Status use double-ball strings, or do they clamp the unwound end at the tail/bridge? And do they still build that double-cutaway style headless axes I used to see in the 80's videos?

J o e y
dfung60
Senior Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 438
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Friday, August 13, 2010 - 8:30 pm:   Edit Post

Status headless basses use Steinberger-spec double ball strings (34" scale with the Steinberger specs beyond the nut and bridge). The models with the Bendwell are 32" scale, with the other two inches over the dip.

The Status basses with a headstock are both 34" and 35" scale.

David Fung
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 150
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 3:02 am:   Edit Post

I hate to throw stones, but I love the distinct, and original sounds -- wood necks offer, and I love how wood necks gives a bass, it's own personality and distinctions from all other basses.

On the other hand, graphite necks are as generic, synthetic, accurate and sterile which makes them perfect for some people who are more "hands off" and for the most part, someone who wants the same model(s), sounding exactly alike. Frankly, graphite necks all sound basically same, and the main solution: "not requiring neck adjustments" is frankly, not worth the generic sounds they produce. I'll keep right on adjusting my neck, to keep my sound original.

As a owner of a graphite guitar, I just thought I'd share my experience and point of view.

PS, does anyone know if graphite necks bio-degrades?

Peace and Love,

Hal-



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 14, 2010)
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 151
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 4:26 am:   Edit Post

My graphite guitar... I hardly ever play it.

I would even consider selling it...



Peace and Love,

Hal-
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1247
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 4:55 am:   Edit Post

I have little experience ABing graphite necks from the same manufacturer against one another - I suspect they sound virtually the same as each other. But comparing Status to Zon to Modulus - nothing generic about graphite itself. Processes vary, electronics vary, etc - so sound varies. Frankly, the unique and individual sounds produced by particular wood necks are somewhat overrated. Life's short. My graphite necks and my Alembic necks all sound great and do the jobs I need from them. I went through a LOT of wood neck basses before finding what my graphite necks deliver. To each his own. If I didn't dislike the look of headless geetars (and if I could afford to), I'd probably make you an offer on your Steinie guitar, Hal.
Bill
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 152
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 9:40 am:   Edit Post

There's nothing unique about my Steinberger, compared to it's exact copy. I'd came to the age facing the music, and the bottom line is: I purchased a "clone guitar". However, at the time I purchased it, (over 20 years ago) to this point now, my values had changed considerably after playing many of them. You know, there are just some things -- synthetics objects, just can't replace for me.

So, if unique is considered over rated, then I could see why you, and other people would go out and buy guitars with synthetic necks.

From a complete utility, and manufacturing perspective -- building clone object(s), are extremely efficient and cost effective for the manufactures therefore, I would expect to pay a generic price. Oh, but the marketing and communications departments will gets in on the act, and sells me on the durability factors of never having to worry about termites, weather, and all this other stuff about how durable they are with their newly improved patented formulas and special resins...

At my point in time, it's just a plastic neck with cool, fancy, shining - industrial reflectors from the nylon.

(At least, my mind was open -- to try them...)


Peace and Love,

Hal-



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 14, 2010)
dannobasso
Senior Member
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 1291
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 10:59 am:   Edit Post

Hal, what were you looking for for the guitar. I have an Alembic set of pups that would fit that perfectly.
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 153
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post

I will email you a price...

Godin Artisan ST (used by the late P-FUNK Garry Shider) runs circles around my Steinberger.


Peace and Love,

Hal-
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 154
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 1:43 pm:   Edit Post

There it is... (The Replacement).

Don't get me wrong, I do own a "Deep-sea" Graphite fishing pole.

As for my Godin -- One Hundred Percent Wood, and I never needed neck adjustments ever... 10 years and counting, because I take good care of things, and I treat it like a baby. I am totally a hands on kind of guy... and I don't mind an expiration date object(s). I don't plan on living forever.:-)



P.S. The best foods for me to eat, spoils the fastest. The key to happiness is eating the food, before it does...

Peace and Love,

Hal-


(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 14, 2010)
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1248
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Saturday, August 14, 2010 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post

Hl - I misspoke - I meant to say that peoples' estimation of the supposed uniqueness of individual wood necks is overstated and just as often exaggerated by their desire to believe in that uniqueness. Sorry you don't like graphite, but it sounds like the idea might be as offensive to you as the sound. Doesn't bother me. Like I said earlier - to each his own (sound preferences and point of view).
Bill
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 155
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 3:32 am:   Edit Post

Ok Bill, if this this true: -- about wood uniqueness of individual
wood necks is overstated,
and just as often exaggerated
(as you put this...)

Let me share something with you...

I love baseball enough to
play the actual game. So in
the beginning (like when I
first started playing baseball
as a child) at an early age,
I learned: the best way to
know which bats were best
for me, was to simply try
them all... then choose
the best.

Without going through the details
of my bat preferences -- I assure
you, my favorite bat for hitting
baseballs was never founded nor
supported on the premise of an under
or, over exaggeration(s).

Just in case you didn't know,
I don't believe it's my place
to judge you or anyone on whether
or not, something is exaggerated.

If someone like/dislikes something,
I believe the person basically rest
in their own merits.

Therefore, if people are holding
a very honest conversion about
"only" speaking greatness of
something, somebody somewhere, somehow
will not entirely agree, and
hopefully, she/he explains their merits
as well.

Ultimately, I agree with you, for
it does come down to each her/his own,
but keep in mind, 20 years ago,
information (like over the Internet)
forums was not assessable, nor opinions
were understood -- as there are now.
Also, I find it interesting and
delightful to know others like
yourselves, are happy with Graphite
necks, when I found them undesirable.
But, I still respect your views, and
I think people should be honest when
it comes to their preferences for
choosing the right neck for the
music played.

Peace and Love,

Hal-



(Message edited by toma_hawk01 on August 15, 2010)
bassman10096
Senior Member
Username: bassman10096

Post Number: 1249
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 6:50 am:   Edit Post

Well said, Hal. I couldn't be more pleased that we each seemed to have discovered things about what we like and (I hope) found things about what work for us.
I would be less than candid if I didn't explain one more thing about my regard for graphite as a neck material: I do believe graphite has the propensities to sound "sterile" or (as I would put it) "clanky". And I'd be uninterested in a bass that didn't turn in a far greater tonal quality than that. Therefore, I'm always very concerned that a graphite neck be paired with body wood and electronics that complement, rather than exacerbate the less attractive qualities of the neck. I think alder and Villex was a nice find for me and Zon was very successful in pairing up its electronics with a wonderful, light swamp ash. Also - all "graphite" necks are not created equal. Manufacturing and engineering processes vary significantly, with different signature results - much the same as the varyied reinforcement mechanisms used in wood necks do.
Finally, your new bass is a honey. Peace and Love back at you.
Bill
Finally,
toma_hawk01
Intermediate Member
Username: toma_hawk01

Post Number: 156
Registered: 9-2009
Posted on Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 8:50 am:   Edit Post

Cool daddy, cool -- Cat-Daddy Bill.
Thanks for the kind words.

And Greg, Happy Birthday Brotherman.

Peace and Love,

Hal-

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