I really like the look of status basses but havent been able to play one yet. For complicated reasons, the only way I can get one is online without having played one first. I mainly play rock and metal, so what do you guys think?
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Anyone play a status?
- Thread starter Afandrewflanagan
- Start date
Status basses are very well made and I really like the feel of their necks. Having said that, I don't particularly care for the electronics Rob uses in his basses so that kind of kills it for me. I will admit, though, that I only have solid experience with one Status (an S2 that I owned) and it could be that I would have better luck with another S2 (as each bass sounds a bit different).
The one I am looking at is the Chris Wolstenholme signature but also interested in an S2 Classic.
I currently have 5 status basses and have previously owned another 3.
They are extremely well made and finshed. Playability is excellent as is the general ergonomics. (For reference i have owned several Smiths, a bunch of sadowskys', roscoes, and other high end basses - Status are at least as good as any of them).
Tone wise they vary from model to model. The standard pickup set is very modern and hifi. It will sound harsh if you play it through an amp & cab that is set right for a more traditional bass (jazz or precision etc). They are very versatile once you figure out how to use the tone controls and set up your amp to suit the Status and the tone you are looking for. It took me a long while to figure this out.
I have an S3 with the jazz style pickups and the paramatrix tone controls. Amazing versatility from j and p tones to modern tones and everything in between. It's really the only bass i need!
I 2 of the now discontinued Empathy models (5 and 6 string) and they have a voice of their own. Very clear fundamentals. The tone reminds me a human voice (eg an operatic tenor). The empathy's are something special.
The wolstholme model has the pickups in a different location. I dont know how it affects the sound.
Hope this helps.
Neil
They are extremely well made and finshed. Playability is excellent as is the general ergonomics. (For reference i have owned several Smiths, a bunch of sadowskys', roscoes, and other high end basses - Status are at least as good as any of them).
Tone wise they vary from model to model. The standard pickup set is very modern and hifi. It will sound harsh if you play it through an amp & cab that is set right for a more traditional bass (jazz or precision etc). They are very versatile once you figure out how to use the tone controls and set up your amp to suit the Status and the tone you are looking for. It took me a long while to figure this out.
I have an S3 with the jazz style pickups and the paramatrix tone controls. Amazing versatility from j and p tones to modern tones and everything in between. It's really the only bass i need!
I 2 of the now discontinued Empathy models (5 and 6 string) and they have a voice of their own. Very clear fundamentals. The tone reminds me a human voice (eg an operatic tenor). The empathy's are something special.
The wolstholme model has the pickups in a different location. I dont know how it affects the sound.
Hope this helps.
Neil
I have an Eclipse as of recently...it has a wood neck, with graphite rods in it. I'd say it is a very good bass for OP's playing needs, i.e. rock and metal. Namely, it has a fairly flexible sound sculpting capacity (Hyperactive pups), and due to the naturally trebly tone it sounds pretty good with overdrive/distortion effects. Then again, I can also find nice and round, warmer sound for the bluesy/jazzy needs, too. All in all, I like mine quite a lot.
I had a lovely Series II back in the mid '80s. Very oval-shaped neck. The circuit was a bit 'edgy' but I was running it through the mandatory Trace Elliot GP11/Ah250 at the time so that offered more tone shaping. It was a lovely bass but I fell out of love with it one day and sold it for a pittance.
