BassBus

I haven't bought a huge number of CDs this year but the most recent was Dave Holland's latest sextet offering 'Pass It On'. Lovely raw feel to it with Holland's usual understated playing.

Rumple, I'm always intregued what it is about headless basses people don't like. Better balance, easier and more stable tuning, easier and quicker string change. What are your reasons for not liking headless? Just interested.

I don't have any experience with the pickup you have but I use the Shadow SH950 which is very similar to the Underwood, ie it slides between the wings of the bridge. It did not fit tightly on one side when I put it on so I just used some card and I get a great sound from it now. I used the Realist before that and it stopped working properly so I switched to the Shadow. I have used the Fishman as well and as BassBod said it is very trebly. Some pickups work better on one bass than an other so it can sometimes be a case of experimenting. My Fishman sounded a whole lot better on my Stentor than it did on my first DB which was crap. The set-up price you have been quoted sounds about right from the prices I've heard. That can make a big difference to the sound of the bass. Lowering the action will also make the bass much easier to play but might reduce the acoustic volume slightly. Hope you enjoy playing the instrument. If you can put up with the hassle of carting it around you should have great fun. Be prepared for all the usual jokes that go with it, 'that's a big guitar', 'you'll have trouble getting that under your chin'.

Good combination, Stentor and Status. Two makes of bass you really can't go wrong with.

It surprises me that they are going for those kind of prices. They weren't bad basses but fetching £400 ain't bad for a bass that age. Just shows you if there is someone willing to pay what you want, it's just finding that person. I bet there are a lot of people selling houses who would like to meet that person right now.

I bought an amp from Overwater about three years ago and tried one of their basses through it. All I remember about the bass was how easy it was to play. There was nothing else that really remained in my memory so it's interesting to hear Rich saying he found them a bit dissapointing. I've always liked the look of Overwaters though. Back in 1987 I tried a Status Series 2000 and never forgot the shape of the neck, the sound and the general feel. This year I bought an S2 fretless from them and it has everything I remembered, bar the frets of course. I don't know what the moral is to that... Graham

On a recent visit to London I naturally had a scout around the music shops in Tottenham Court Road and Denmark Street. I think it was in Macari's window I spied a Fender Musicmaster bass. To my utter amazement it was priced at £795! I bought one of these around 1980 and sold it on probably two or three years later. I paid about £125 at that time. My query is this, are these really collectable enough to command that kind of price or is this a music shop having a laugh? I certainly would not pay anything near that price. I mean you could buy a Squire VM of some sort and probably get a bass that is as good or better.

Have you tried asking at The Violin Shop, they might be able to point you in the right direction. [url="http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/"]http://www.theviolinshop-glasgow.co.uk/[/url] Graham

It's all very well saying great intonation comes from good technique but that leaves the question 'how do you get good technique if you don't know where the notes are'? Todd Phillips recommended making marks with a pencil on the side of the finger board. These can be placed at the harmonic points, ie. 3rd, 5th, 7th 'frets' etc. Given time your hand will develop good muscle memory and you will quite naturally not need to look at the fingerboard for reference. The pencil marks will also wear away and you'll forget about them because you don't need them anymore.

You can post as many pics of Rob Allen basses as you like. They are all beautiful and that is no exception.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='309944' date='Oct 19 2008, 05:48 PM']LOL Graham! With Status there's always a next one - These basses should be added to the government's class A illegal drugs list![/quote] You're not joking Rich! [quote name='Johngh' post='310009' date='Oct 19 2008, 08:02 PM']Here is a pic of my S2 6er. Its brilliant, I have better pics somewhere but can't find em' [attachment=14964:status_6_body_3.JPG][/quote] That's a nice one johngh. What's the facing wood?

Unfortunately not, Rich. It was ready too early and I'm going to be near Leicester next weekend too so I had planned on going down there. Best laid plans and all that. There's always the next one??? Graham

Thanks Nick, signature changed. Marcus, who says I can play fretless well? There are a few other fretted instruments too but thay don't get used so much these days. Someone once said to me 'never sell an instrument, you'll always regret it', so I just keep to that principle.

Her's the latest addition. An S2 Classic with a quilted maple face and fretless neck with dark grey lines. Usual great sound and feel as on any Status bass and everything I've ever wanted on an electric.

What a pity that gorgeous piece of wood has to be hidden round the back.

Oh, gee. Thanks for contributing to everyone's gas problem. But seriously, well done and I bet you'll have a good time with that.

[quote name='BigBadBass' post='293337' date='Sep 27 2008, 11:09 AM']sounds really stupid but make sure your disributing weight evenly on both feet, that really makes a difference. if you putting more weight on one foot you spine isnt straight.[/quote] This is not stupid at all. Very wise advice. A lot of the advice here might sound a bit boring but face it what's more boring that or being a cripple. No joking. I have had a lot of trouble with my back over the last two years all due to bad posture and working practice. Now an ostiopath checks it over every two months and releases any spasm. Playing the double bass for any length of time was causing real pain now that has gone. As you are new to the bass persevere for a while and if the problem continues then consider an osteopath. Often pain like you describe can come from bits of the body being out of balance due to bad habits we all develop throughout life.

I really didn't need to see that.

[quote name='benwhiteuk' post='287655' date='Sep 19 2008, 08:46 PM']amazing looking instruments...where are the pickups?![/quote] The pickup is in the bridge, piezo. It gives an acousticy type sound. Here's one of the Youtube links. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6oApthi3VQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6oApthi3VQ[/url] Solo at 2.10

That looks just great with the black neck. Lucky boy.

I was just listening to L42 "Live at the Apollo" yesterday and I was struck by just how good MK's sound was on his Kingbass. I'm awaiting delivery of an S2 and I like the idea of the variable mid range control which, I'm sure, would be very useful for you in funk and jazz. Just being able to select two different settings from the bass seems a great idea. Why not visit [url="http://www.statii.com/forum/news.php"]http://www.statii.com/forum/news.php[/url] for any help on Status basses. And here's a Kingbass sounding quite different to the usual. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYkRj7FEHQ4&eurl=http://www.statii.com/forum/viewpage.php?page_id=19"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYkRj7FEHQ4....php?page_id=19[/url]

This reminds me of the Jeff Berlin interview in BGM when he said "There's some people who can't play a four string bass, but now - with the added string which is becoming very popular today - they can't play five string either".

What is the height of the strings above the end of the neck? My NS has about 10mm space between string and fingerboard at the bottom end of the neck. What is the space at the nut? You should be able to fit no more than a credit card under the strings at the nut. My DB has less than that. The bridge appears to be adjustable so you should be able to raise or lower the action quite easily yourself. You shouldn't need to do anything else to it for now. DB action is better to be higher than EB as it allows you to dig in when playing.

Sounds Live in Newcastle seem to have one in stock. Good place to deal with. [url="http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Stagg-EDB3-4-Electronic-Double-Bass~ID~7296.asp"]http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~S...ass~ID~7296.asp[/url]