I've been an admirer of Status basses for over 25 years but was never in a position to try one and was always reluctant to order one without actually getting my hands on one to at least sample.
Well, the opportunity presented itself last week. I was on a work trip in Seattle and knew that Bass Northwest had an older Status 6 string in inventory.
I managed to get to the store, was helped by the fantastic staff there (truly fantastic guys), and plugged in through a GK MB800 (set the the Bass Gear Magazine recommended flat setting) and a Bergantino CN212.
Wow...just wow. Even thought the bass was up there in years and didn't have the latest and greatest electronics, it sounded absolutely superb. The build quality of the bass was also just magnificent. The overall tone was (as you would expect) crystal clear, defined and not shrill or harsh at all. I was genuinely concerned (being a devout Roscoe aficionado) that the Status would sound too cold and sterile for my tastes. In so many of the sample recordings I've heard, there was always this kind of "metallic" overtone or "clank" (for lack of a better expression) that I was sure would present itself. I was very pleasantly surprised by how natural and full range the tone of the bass was with everything set flat. I know the tone would not appeal to the "vintage" crowd but to my "hi-fi, modern" ears, this bass was incredibly consistent from top to bottom, absolutely no dead spots anywhere and demonstrated sustain like I've never heard. After a good bit of playing, I slowed down and played a few notes, let them ring out and had a laugh with the guys in the store as I looked around and waited for the notes to die out. They simply seemed to go on forever.
The electronics weren't my all time favorite but the overall tone, dead quiet operation and flexibility of the preamp was pretty darn good. I'm sure the newer systems are much improved.
So, bottom line...any doubt I had about ordering a Status has been totally removed. What a great instrument and I'm sure the newest models, especially the Series 3, are seriously fantastic.
Additionally, I learned that the guys at Bass Northwest are some truly great people.
Even though I'm a die hard Roscoe lover, I can definitely see me ordering a Series 3 five string in the near future!
Well, the opportunity presented itself last week. I was on a work trip in Seattle and knew that Bass Northwest had an older Status 6 string in inventory.
I managed to get to the store, was helped by the fantastic staff there (truly fantastic guys), and plugged in through a GK MB800 (set the the Bass Gear Magazine recommended flat setting) and a Bergantino CN212.
Wow...just wow. Even thought the bass was up there in years and didn't have the latest and greatest electronics, it sounded absolutely superb. The build quality of the bass was also just magnificent. The overall tone was (as you would expect) crystal clear, defined and not shrill or harsh at all. I was genuinely concerned (being a devout Roscoe aficionado) that the Status would sound too cold and sterile for my tastes. In so many of the sample recordings I've heard, there was always this kind of "metallic" overtone or "clank" (for lack of a better expression) that I was sure would present itself. I was very pleasantly surprised by how natural and full range the tone of the bass was with everything set flat. I know the tone would not appeal to the "vintage" crowd but to my "hi-fi, modern" ears, this bass was incredibly consistent from top to bottom, absolutely no dead spots anywhere and demonstrated sustain like I've never heard. After a good bit of playing, I slowed down and played a few notes, let them ring out and had a laugh with the guys in the store as I looked around and waited for the notes to die out. They simply seemed to go on forever.
The electronics weren't my all time favorite but the overall tone, dead quiet operation and flexibility of the preamp was pretty darn good. I'm sure the newer systems are much improved.
So, bottom line...any doubt I had about ordering a Status has been totally removed. What a great instrument and I'm sure the newest models, especially the Series 3, are seriously fantastic.
Additionally, I learned that the guys at Bass Northwest are some truly great people.
Even though I'm a die hard Roscoe lover, I can definitely see me ordering a Series 3 five string in the near future!
