Back in the late Eighties or early Nineties, a shop let me take one of these home for the weekend. It’s flight case was like a tank and the bass was beautiful.
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Status Graphite
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Back in the late Eighties or early Nineties, a shop let me take one of these home for the weekend. It’s flight case was like a tank and the bass was beautiful.
I always liked the design of the Status Series II and its derivatives. The images of Mark King using them in the '80s definitely had an impact, and there was some mystery surrounding Status as they were quite difficult to find where I live. I'd still love a red S2000 like the one MK had back in the day.
I had an S2 classic like 20
Years ago. Should never have sold it.
Years ago. Should never have sold it.
Sadly, Status (along with many other overseas builders) is not shipping to the USA due to certain economic policies happening here.
I heard something about that but didn't know if it was fact or rumor. Bummer.
I heard something about that but didn't know if it was fact or rumor. Bummer.
I had an Empathy 4 string many years ago and sold it as I really only play 5ers now. Absolutely fantastic bass.
I have owned most of the Graphite necked basses out there and one point or another (Steinberger, Status, Zon, Modulus, Moses, etc etc) and the Status basses are my favorites.
At this point I have 2 Status basses, a Tbass (based on the design they did for Trace Elliot) and a Stealth. Both phenomenal basses.
I definitely would not object to finding a really nice Empathy 5 in the future as well.
I have owned most of the Graphite necked basses out there and one point or another (Steinberger, Status, Zon, Modulus, Moses, etc etc) and the Status basses are my favorites.
At this point I have 2 Status basses, a Tbass (based on the design they did for Trace Elliot) and a Stealth. Both phenomenal basses.
I definitely would not object to finding a really nice Empathy 5 in the future as well.
I’ve always wanted a fretless S2 and I dragged my feet and missed the boat on them and on their great replacement necks, too. Procrastination has its consequences.
I accompanied my wife on a business trip to London years ago and one of the Denmark St shops - Wunjo, I think - had a used Status fiver that was just fantastic. I can’t remember the model but it was the headed version and it just killed. They were asking a very fair price (around $1,500 USD) and I didn’t want the hassle of trying to fly home with it, nor did I want to deal with shipping. Big mistake. If I had known that Status would cease production of their graphite necked basses I wouldn’t have let that bass get away.
Oh, well…. hindsight is 20/20.
I accompanied my wife on a business trip to London years ago and one of the Denmark St shops - Wunjo, I think - had a used Status fiver that was just fantastic. I can’t remember the model but it was the headed version and it just killed. They were asking a very fair price (around $1,500 USD) and I didn’t want the hassle of trying to fly home with it, nor did I want to deal with shipping. Big mistake. If I had known that Status would cease production of their graphite necked basses I wouldn’t have let that bass get away.
Oh, well…. hindsight is 20/20.
I love my early S2000 but it gets no playing time but it has a lot of sentimental value, so I think I'll post it on Reverb in the new year sometime. These are such brilliant basses but mine is just gathering dust (metaphorically as it's in a case) and it should be played.
Pity Status isn't still around or I'd order a new Stealth 6 and be a very happy bunny.
Pity Status isn't still around or I'd order a new Stealth 6 and be a very happy bunny.
I've always liked Status basses. Never played one but I remember somehow coming across their website probably because John Entwistle played them for a while and at the time I was absolutely diehard into The Who back in the mid/late 90's. I saw the B-2 and the first incarnation of his Buzzard design and so badly wanted either one of them... until I saw the prices. 
I feel like the unofficial slogans of Status Graphite are, "I should have kept it" or "I never should have sold it."
Personally, I've been lucky enough to own a few in my days (both stock builds, as well as neck upgrades) and every single one of them was a joy. But I'd get distracted by something else and convince myself to sell it.
After they stopped doing graphite necks, I regretted each of those moments exponentially more.
When they were still doing it just a few years back, I'd shop a custom build frequently and despite some saying "they are too expensive," compared to what other customs were out there AND what you were getting? It was practically a steal! Spending $4k with them on exactly what you wanted, versus quite a few other brands being up to $8-12k for something not even as custom made, it was just an unfair market as far as I saw it.
These are always gonna be my top bass brand of desire.
Personally, I've been lucky enough to own a few in my days (both stock builds, as well as neck upgrades) and every single one of them was a joy. But I'd get distracted by something else and convince myself to sell it.
After they stopped doing graphite necks, I regretted each of those moments exponentially more.
When they were still doing it just a few years back, I'd shop a custom build frequently and despite some saying "they are too expensive," compared to what other customs were out there AND what you were getting? It was practically a steal! Spending $4k with them on exactly what you wanted, versus quite a few other brands being up to $8-12k for something not even as custom made, it was just an unfair market as far as I saw it.
These are always gonna be my top bass brand of desire.
I consider myself very fortunate to own two of the last Series III, full graphite, neck through basses from Status Graphite. They are superb in every way and every time I pick them up, I am so thankful that I was able to get them before they stopped producing them.
They are both "keeping them until I can no longer physically play bass" instruments!
They are both "keeping them until I can no longer physically play bass" instruments!
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