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The Status Register - Official Status Graphite Club

#366
Hi all, Contemplating adding another bass to the herd. Either a 5er or a fretless. I think learning a 5 string fretless might be a bit much to learn.

Also have a desire for a travel companion. My ibanez prestige is full size and hard to travel with.

Looking at a status streamline. Thoughts, comments? How is the sustain? I assume you can get flatwounds for it.

Thanks all
 
#367
pecBass said:
Hi all, Contemplating adding another bass to the herd. Either a 5er or a fretless. I think learning a 5 string fretless might be a bit much to learn.

Also have a desire for a travel companion. My ibanez prestige is full size and hard to travel with.

Looking at a status streamline. Thoughts, comments? How is the sustain? I assume you can get flatwounds for it.

Thanks all
Click to expand...
I'm using a fretless 5 Streamline.

Hands down my favorite bass. It's kinda cured my GAS - not that I don't want other basses, but I can't realistically imagine playing other basses because it combines convenience with a pretty good tone. Initially it seems like it might be a bit sterile or unable to get the low/lowmid punch that comes easily from a P, but I find that careful adjustment of the on board EQ gets you in the right place. The neck is very easy to play, unlike some other premium basses where I find I have to fight the bass to get some notes to happen.

Sustain is good IMO but I don't know what your yardstick is. But it's not a dead or muted sounding bass if that's your worry.

As for flats, I think the Status branded double balls are currently out of stock. I'm waiting for it to be back
 
#368
pecBass said:
Hi all, Contemplating adding another bass to the herd. Either a 5er or a fretless. I think learning a 5 string fretless might be a bit much to learn.

Also have a desire for a travel companion. My ibanez prestige is full size and hard to travel with.

Looking at a status streamline. Thoughts, comments? How is the sustain? I assume you can get flatwounds for it...
Click to expand...
I bought my Steinberger XL2A second-hand, after they were fashionable but before hey became collectors' items, specifically because I needed something I could travel with. I came to prefer it as my gigging bass, and when I started working with a band that did a lot of Drop-D tunings, I wanted a 5-string. But as the handful of XL25Ws out there all seem to be in the hands of Japanese collectors, I started researching and discovered Ron, Status, and the Streamline.

Because of concerns about the ergonomics of a Streamline-style bass without the Steinberger pivot plate system, my first Status was in fact a Stealth 5 - travel was no longer an issue, i just love the sustain, stability, and neutrality of a headless graphite bass. But after a few years, I bought a Streamline 5er as well.

Sustain on any monococque graphite bass is incredible, and the Streamline is no exception. If you want it, the Streamline's got it. If you don't, then run away - or have Rob invent a mute for you. Comparing the Stealth and the Streamline, I've had several guys I play with comment that they prefer the tone I get on the Streamline. While I miss being able to do the dramatic flip up/down choreography that the Steinberger pivot plate allows, the strap system on the Streamline works just fine.

The one area where the Streamline is compromised relative to the Stealth is playing up above the 17th fret. The Stealth neck and traditional cutaway make that at least as easy as any other modern bass. The Streamline has channels on the back of the body that make it easier to retain consistent control of position, but by the time you're well up into the second octave, the additional width of reach imposed by the lower part of the "body" makes it a little awkward and fatiguing to work the lower strings. It's extremely rare that I actually need to get up high enough were that matters. I've never noticed an issue playing normal rock set material. But for extended solo passages way up in the guitar register, the Streamline would not be my preference.

Both basses are "keepers". Absolutely amazing design and quality.
 
#369
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Collected my new S3 from Colchester today. So in love with this guitar.
 
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#371
This arrived today! It would have been here sooner but Fedex got the paperwork wrong which caused a delay at customs clearance.

It is a neck through S3 5 string with J and MM pickups in the Stingray HS locations. I always wanted a Stingray set up like this but i am not a fan of the Stingray neck dimensions so asked Rob to build this.

it sounds fantastic. There is a great solid punch to all the notes in everywhere and a clarity and evenness to all the notes. All 3 pick up selections have their own great sound. It joins 2 other S3's (one with hyperactive pickups and another with semi parametric tone controls - see avatar). There is plenty of room between the J pickup and the neck to snap the G and D strings (something I was worried about).

Rob was very helpful while we were working out where the pickups should go.

Did I say it sounded wonderful??

Cheers
Neil

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#372
Would any of you kind Statii owners mind shooting me a PM on what yo expect as to fees when taking reception of one of these in the US. From what info I can find, duties would be 5% of cost (around $82 for a basic S2 classic b/o headless 4) but I'm mot sire what other fees to look for and / or expect.

The exchange rate is pretty sweet right now not to get in on a Status (been dreaming for awhile).

I spoke with Rob this AM in email and it took like 20 minutes to get a response (I was amazed), he confirmed the 5% but was unable to elaborate on any other fees.

I want to get an idea of what to expect all in.

Any insight would be greatly appreciative.

I looked at the dutys and customs pages but wasn't sure what to make of those pages.

Thanks a ton.
 
#373
Saetia said:
Would any of you kind Statii owners mind shooting me a PM on what yo expect as to fees when taking reception of one of these in the US. From what info I can find, duties would be 5% of cost (around $82 for a basic S2 classic b/o headless 4) but I'm mot sire what other fees to look for and / or expect.
Click to expand...
I've ordered two basses from Rob, a Stealth and a Streamline. In both cases, I was exempted of VAT because the instruments were exported to the US from the UK. Import duties were calculated and billed by FedEx, who sent me a bill a week or two after I received each bass. I'd have to dig around to find the exact amounts, but IIRC it was a little over 5%, but less than 10%. Note that duties get applied to shipping charges as well (seems silly, but that, apparently, is the law).
 
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#374
Sid Fang said:
I've ordered two basses from Rob, a Stealth and a Streamline. In both cases, I was exempted of VAT because the instruments were exported to the US from the UK. Import duties were calculated and billed by FedEx, who sent me a bill a week or two after I received each bass. I'd have to dig around to find the exact amounts, but IIRC it was a little over 5%, but less than 10%. Note that duties get applied to shipping charges as well (seems silly, but that, apparently, is the law).
Click to expand...

Thanks a ton. I really appreciate
 
#375
Sid Fang said:
I've ordered two basses from Rob, a Stealth and a Streamline. In both cases, I was exempted of VAT because the instruments were exported to the US from the UK. Import duties were calculated and billed by FedEx, who sent me a bill a week or two after I received each bass. I'd have to dig around to find the exact amounts, but IIRC it was a little over 5%, but less than 10%. Note that duties get applied to shipping charges as well (seems silly, but that, apparently, is the law).
Click to expand...

I bought two Status basses that were shipped to me in the US. I concur with the previous posters comments on import duty payment. I also got hit with sales taxes. It took Michigan about 6 months to find me the first time: I was charged local sales tax plus a penalty. For the second bass, I was living in Maryland and it took them about 18 months to find me: I had to pay sales tax, about $300, but no penalty. It appears they were obtained information from the sales from some post 9/11 import lists provided to state revenue auhorities.
 
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#376
BluesWalker said:
I bought two Status basses that were shipped to me in the US. I concur with the previous posters comments on import duty payment. I also got hit with sales taxes. It took Michigan about 6 months to find me the first time: I was charged local sales tax plus a penalty. For the second bass, I was living in Maryland and it took them about 18 months to find me: I had to pay sales tax, about $300, but no penalty. It appears they were obtained information from the sales from some post 9/11 import lists provided to state revenue auhorities.
Click to expand...

My state is 5.5% so only about $95 bucks.

Who would I contact to find out prior to being late or potentially penalized. Haha don't want any suprises :)

Thank you.
 
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#377
pecBass said:
Hi all, Contemplating adding another bass to the herd. Either a 5er or a fretless. I think learning a 5 string fretless might be a bit much to learn.

Also have a desire for a travel companion. My ibanez prestige is full size and hard to travel with.

Looking at a status streamline. Thoughts, comments? How is the sustain? I assume you can get flatwounds for it.

Thanks all
Click to expand...
When I had a Streamline, I had Status nylon coated strings on it to lessen the higher frequencies/overtones.
 

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