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I want a Status B1 (Warwick Buzzard). How do I get one?

Ds1

Ds1

Commercial User
Dec 3, 2008
556
51
Syracuse, NY
ish.guitars
Disclosures
Owner: Ish Guitars, Inc. Owner: Ish Case, Inc
#1
I happen to love one of the most rediculous basses of all time - John Entwistle's Warwick Buzzard. More specifically, the later version of the bass built by Status and eventually called the B1 after a lawsuit.

I have seen a couple that have been for sale used recently which sold before I realized they were for sale, I also heard it might be possible to get Status to build me one if I contact them directly... Any ideas? And experience from anyone finding one of this weird and rare basses?

I really ONLY want a Status, not the Warwick.
 
#3
Contact Status: status-graphite.com . They seem to be fairly willing to build older models like the Hellborg, and they're still building the B-2.

Ds1 said:
I happen to love one of the most rediculous basses of all time - John Entwistle's Warwick Buzzard. More specifically, the later version of the bass built by Status and eventually called the B1 after a lawsuit.

I have seen a couple that have been for sale used recently which sold before I realized they were for sale, I also heard it might be possible to get Status to build me one if I contact them directly... Any ideas? And experience from anyone finding one of this weird and rare basses?

I really ONLY want a Status, not the Warwick.
Click to expand...
 
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#4
Status still make the B-2. Other than the different body shape, it's got the same electronics as the B-1, the same neck, and most of the same appointments (roman numeral inlays, etc).

Not sure they're still going to have the graphite moulds to make a proper B-1, but it might be worth asking Rob, especially if you wave a suitably large cheque under his nose. :D
 
#8
Status is not alowed to make more B1 basses. Warwick holds the rights for the design.
I belive Status only made 40-45 B1 basses befor they had to stop.
Warwick are the only ones Building basses with orignal Buzzard shape.

I saw people asking more then 10k Doller for a used Status B1.
Your better of asking Rob if he can make you a full carbon B2 so at least you get the sound and kind of the feel. Or a Status Stealh with the B2 preamp and neck.
 
#9
Status cannot and will not make a Buzzard again. Rob Greene confirmed years ago that he had destroyed the molds for the Buzzard on the orders of Warwick. He doesn't have the capacity to make a Buzzard, nor does he have the inclination and as I understand it, even if he wanted to the cost of getting a new mold would be prohibitive.

This is in spite of his resistance to the idea, I recall that he tried to come to an agreement with Warwick over the Buzzard since he's a small volume builder. I recall he even had the backing of the Entwistle family but it made no difference in the end and he was defeated by the threat of legal action. Warwick have deep pockets, after all.
 
#11
ltsal said:
Warwick is the worst Company ever. They treat they owen works bad and it would t hurt them let Rob build the bass as part of a license. That would get them probably a lot of money but no.
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This

+ they copy designs and some of their " unique" designs can be credited to others... (NS/Spector, Gibson, Alembic fi)
They feel and sound great imho, but luckily there are others out there. Not for me solely due to leadership bigotry...

Good luck trying to find a B-1, the ones I've seen for sale were all $10K + at least one for $14K...
HPW should really reconsider, I bet it hurts his business more than he would win...
Though apparently the damage has been done, I would not blame Rob Green if he doesn't want to rebuild those molds...
 
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#14
Go to Status' website, and check out their message board...Statii, or something like that. They have a "for sale" section with basses, yes, like the B1, that have been up for grabs.

There's a guy from Belgium, "Luc", who always seems to sell super-nice ones (he was a seller of a B1).
 
#16
ltsal said:
I saw people asking more then 10k Doller for a used Status B1.
Your better of asking Rob if he can make you a full carbon B2 so at least you get the sound and kind of the feel. Or a Status Stealh with the B2 preamp and neck.
Click to expand...

They used to cost about that much new anyway. I think they listed for about £7000 when Status still made them.

Status are open to custom designs if you are willing to pay for it. If you wanted an Entwistle-type bass, you could suggest they build their version of a 'Fenderbird' or an Explorer/Exploiter-type shape, and get them to fit it with the B1 electronics. They might be amenable to that.
 
#17
Have you played one? I held a B2 just day before yesterday. It was ridiculously skinny. The inlays were weird. The electronics were weird. The ergonomics were weird.

I have played a zillion basses. I worked at a dealer that took trade ins.

That B2 was just the oddest bass I have ever played.... and not in a good way.

Please tell me you've played one if you're in the market for a buzzard one at ten grand.

I get "different strokes". And I'm not saying "I'm right and you're wrong".

But you need to love that bass to spend that kind of coin on it. And I found it impossible to like, much less love.
 
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#18
two fingers said:
Have you played one? I held a B2 just day before yesterday. It was ridiculously skinny. The inlays were weird. The electronics were weird. The ergonomics were weird.

I have played a zillion basses. I worked at a dealer that took trade ins.

That B2 was just the oddest bass I have ever played.... and not in a good way.

Please tell me you've played one if you're in the market for a buzzard one at ten grand.

I get "different strokes". And I'm not saying "I'm right and you're wrong".

But you need to love that bass to spend that kind of coin on it. And I found it impossible to like, much less love.
Click to expand...

I played a B-1 back when they first came out. I agree with everything you say. Felt solid and surprisingly light, but the balance is strange, not neck-heavy as such, just weirdly proportioned, and impossible to play without a strap. The neck feels way too long. The controls are odd, with the extra knobs on the top "horn" (I think that was the pickup blend) and the bottom horn (I think that was the volume). The case it came in was enormous too, practically the size of a coffin (if a lot thinner).

Sounded great with everything turned up though. Big and extremely bright. I wish I'd had a good compressor to run it through.
 
#19
I think the beauty to these basses is the weirdness of everything about them. Its like driving a quirky old car. I've had a couple Buzzards over the years and currently own a 1986 actually played by Entwistle. I definitely like it, lol.
 

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