wintoid

I've seen the Synapse, which I think is wooden. Also the NS Designs CR4 or 5 could be a possibility, but it's getting bulky for me.

A very good question. This all started (20+ years ago) with wanting something really compact, and having always wanted a Steinberger. I'd had a Warwick Thumb NT and frankly hated it. I have kept my Hohner B2A for decades because it was cheap and compact, but I don't really like it that much. In some ways the bass I've enjoyed the most was my old Westone (?) Rail. I'm very much interested in stuff that works and keeps working. Something like a Precision would appeal on the basis that you can keep those things running forever because you can always change the parts, but the Precision doesn't really sound how I like it. The Steinberger appeals because if the neck is straight, the neck should stay straight, and if they're still working since the late 80s, they will probably keep working. The Status appeals because the company is around to help, and is in the UK. The Kubicki gives me the willies slightly because it's weird and might be hard to keep alive for decades. I only really want to do this once. I confess I am seduced by the futuristic looks of Steinberger, Status and Kubicki, and I like headless for that reason. I do still want it compact, and I really like that sustained sound, which to me seems to come from graphite. However, the Kubicki is the best sounding bass I've heard, at least based on the various youtube things I've found. So I guess headless comes first, sustainy pianoish tones comes next, and graphite in third place. Compact is a nice to have. On the Kubicki I read that the thing to look at is whether it's 9V or 18V. There's one available at the moment, pre-fender, but over 2k. I guess if a nice XL2 came along for under 2k, I'd struggle to resist.

I believe his son still makes them. I have enquired, but I'm expecting it to be out of my price range.

Do you think how unique the Kubicki is, the parts might be a bit of a problem in the future? I know the Steinbergers have this issue with the string claws, but it seems like someone has solved that. I imagine the Kubicki is less common than the Steinberger. Terrible gas here! I will only buy one bass, and would hope to keep it for a long time. I really do love the sound I've heard from the Kubicki, but a nice Steinberger feels like it might be easier to maintain. Needless to say, I've been rather put off the Status idea due to the reports of various issues.

Hey Ash, welcome along. I'm new here myself but the natives are friendly

Just back to the Kubicki for a moment, and showing my ignorance, but it's not a graphite neck is it? It still seems to have that piano-ish sound I associate with graphite.

Apart from Basschat and eBay, where would people look for a nice XL2 or Kubicki?

I'm definitely being swayed towards a Steinberger, but then I've been down the 80s rabbithole the last few days, and found some videos of people playing the Kubicki Ex Factor, which is a bass I always fancied. Wow that thing has the best sound I've heard. But yeah, probably an XL2 if one comes up at a good price.

Thanks very much. I'd be interested to hear from anyone else who has had problems with delaminating fretboards or cracking lacquer. Not just with Streamlines, I guess, but with any Status bass.

Beyond the sound, I'd be interested to hear the sorts of niggles a Streamline might have.

Thank you, that's incredibly kind of you. Thanks also for the wealth of information in your post.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!!!

I seem to be very consistent in conforming with whatever is out of fashion. A privilege of being an old fart I suppose Oh really! That IS interesting.

What neck shape does the Hohner have?

Ah interesting, so the streamline must be extremely light then. Time to go look up stats

I've returned to bass playing after decades away, and am using my little Hohner B2A for now. Of course, I always wanted a Steinberger. Who didn't? But proper Steinbergers aren't made any more, not from graphite, and supposedly it would be impossible for Gibson to make money from Ned's design because it's so difficult to manufacture. So how come Status can make the Streamline and make a profit? Is there something I'm missing here? I know the Streamline has a truss rod too, which I don't understand if the neck isn't pliable.

Awesome, I enjoyed that on many levels. Such a moving song too.

Oh wow, I had no idea such a thing was possible. Thanks!

Hi! Thanks for the friendly welcomes. No, unfortunately it doesn't have the XLR out, that sounds like a nice feature. Mine has the detuner on the E string to drop it down to a D, which I never use. I think the trim pot only adjusts the active volume, not the passive. It's loud enough when the active circuitry is engaged, but about half as loud in passive mode. Tell me about this string clamp business as I'm not familiar with this. What is the purpose? I put some very light strings on from Status but I think the action has gone a bit low and I'm not sure I'm up for fiddling with truss rods etc. I have some regular gauge strings on order from Status now. It was all getting a bit rattly. Cheers, Simon

That's a lot to live up to

I've got a similar story. Probably around 1987 ish, there was a week long JRSM Jazz Rock Studio Music course run at the Guildhall School of music "in association with Rockschool". A bunch of us signed up and Henry was the bass teacher. A room full of bassists, and the first thing he did was to ask each of us to play a bit. A nervous chill went round the room, and someone volunteered to go first. Well this "student" was a pretty awesome player, and I remember thinking "wow what's Henry going to be able to teach this guy?". After the bloke finished his little bit, Henry asked him to play it again, and then delivered a fantastic improvised bass solo over the top of the guy's playing. I was in heaven. I don't remember how my own audition went, but I would probably have been in the middle of the pack.

Hi all, I actually joined a while back but have been more of a browser than a contributor. I thought I should say hello properly. I'm a 52 year old guy who grew up obsessed with the bass from a fairly early age. Jaco, Mark King and all that. I started playing at around 13 years old, maybe earlier, on borrowed instruments at first. My first bass was a Westone (?) Rail, which just looked like the future to me! I'm a computer guy, and that ended up being how I made my living, but as soon as I was earning, I wanted to get myself a really nice bass. I wanted a Wal. However, at the time I was able to find credit from a music shop that did not have Wals but had Warwicks, so I ended up with a 4 string Warwick through-neck which took me 2 years to pay off. Over a few years I accumulated a nice little collection of analog synths and studio gear, but when we had kids, I sold most of it. Needs must. I downgraded my bass at that time from the Warwick to a Hohner B2A, which I still have. It has lain unplayed for nearly 2 decades now as I have been consumed with bringing up my kids. During lockdown, I've found myself interested in music as a hobby again, and have been playing with Bitwig as a DAW. I've got a reasonable soundcard now, so fished out the Hohner and had a go at recording it. I need new strings! Don't like the sound recorded with the active circuitry engaged, and it's a bit quiet in passive mode, but it's passable for now. I still want a Wal! Anyway, I'm here, and grateful for this resource and all you nice people. Thought I should say hi! Cheers, Simon