Chris2112

This is what I'm GAS'ing over at the moment, this beautiful ACG Skelf singlecut: I've emailed Alan to see if he can build me something similar.

That daft, bloated headstock has always looked naff too.

[quote name='4 candles' post='1213197' date='Apr 27 2011, 09:40 PM']I very much doubt that the greatest bass player of modern day has paid for any of the fodera collection! I think fodera benefit more from wooten, than wooten benefits from fodera.[/quote] I think he probably has, why don't you email Fodera and ask them? As for the show, it's a shame he has had to play a Marcus Miller jazz bass. At least he should have his Fodera back soon.

[quote name='Machines' post='1212863' date='Apr 27 2011, 05:07 PM']I think he'd have to cancel rather than be seen with another make of instrument, I bet his endorsement deal has serious T&Cs.[/quote] I don't about that, I think he has paid for most of the basses he's had. I think he got one free once that had a fault or a problem with the neck, that was the black bass that he throws about at live shows. Otherwise, I think he can play what he wants. Afterall, he has played a few other basses live over the past few years; Compitos, Steinbergers etc etc. However, it is an insult to Victor to even suggest that he should play a show with some rubbish old Fender when he should be knocking out his tunes of top spec custom basses! It's be like going to watch Miki Biasion do a rally master class and seeing him driving round in a Kia.

Geddy Lee and Jonas Hellborg made Wal basses for me. I spent years searching for that Geddy Lee Wal sound, funnily enough I found it by chance when I bought an ACG!

[quote name='Bobby K' post='1212961' date='Apr 27 2011, 06:31 PM']While we're on the subject, somebody just sent me this, check it out.... YYZ with the bass isolated [url="http://www.musicintheabstract.org/rush-oddities/audio/yyz-rhythm.mp3"]YYZ bass[/url] It was posted on Rushisaband.com, along with other goodies Find them here: [url="http://www.rushisaband.com/blog/2011/04/26/2593/New-Rush-audio-odditiesrarities-from-MitA"]Rush oddities[/url][/quote] It's when you break down Geddy's playing that it becomes clear what a master he is. As good as it gets!

[quote name='RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE' post='1211215' date='Apr 25 2011, 09:00 PM']Could try a Wasburn Status , but they're only 4 strings. Very Bright tho'[/quote] They never sounded authentic to me, with that wooden neck. Nice basses but definitely not the graphite sound.

I hear they're playing The Camera Eye live too, awesome!

Or alternatively, another nice bass to put in his hands and see what happens with it?

Yes. Going to see them at Newcastle arena with seats near the front, like last time!

I was just watching that Derren Brown Faith Healer show earlier today and at the live show at the end of the episode the band's bassist is using a 7 string Conklin Groove Tools bass. There are a few good closeup shots of it too.

Of all the incredibly talented bassists to be playing the park that day, amazing it was Victor Wooten! Would have loved to have seen the show.

My favourite bass advert was the one with Mark King playing the headless Status bass, it was an advert for some strings but I can't remember the brand. I'm sure I got it as a paper insert with my Live at Wembley DVD!

I think you could do a lot better for your money if you shop around. The same budget could see you getting fantastic used kit through places like Basschat.

[quote name='Wil' post='1211726' date='Apr 26 2011, 03:11 PM']All the things you mention though are rather subjective. I'd rather an S2 sound warm than crisp, for instance. I do prefer the looks of the early ones, but it's all a matter of taste really.[/quote] And therein lies the rub - I've never thought of Status as being a particularly warm or organic sounding basses. Both my Stealth and Matrix basses were crisp and clear. The Stealth was particularly stunning. I love bright tones, but on the other hand I also love burpy, organic sounds. ACG and Wal do that for me. So in my current dilemma, I wonder; do I chase a headless slap machine (of which it would share a role with my Kubicki as my Kubicki is fantastic at this sort of thing) or do I go for a fretless ACG bass? Or even a fretless Wal? Hmm...

[quote name='BassBus' post='1211635' date='Apr 26 2011, 01:13 PM']When you refer to this as "frisk" I think you're being a little unfair here. Rob's basses have evolved through the years as they should. Life cannot stand still. Your feelings seem to be in the minority judging by the increase in the waiting time over the last few years. Status basses are custom instruments and as such are available with almost any custom option Rob can provide. The anniversary bass is being produced to celibrate the 30th anniversary of the company. If you want a bass in this form they do come up for sale from time to time. Indeed there was a very nice example that sold very recently.[/quote] Yes, the basses have evolved through the years. A Stealth bass would have been unimaginable years ago. The Kingbass mk1 is the best design Rob has done IMO. But I don't believe the S2 has 'evolved' and gotten better. Sure, a modern S2 is a great bass but the old ones are so much better. I preferred the look the of the full graphite paddle with the wooden wings attached. They sounded better too, far crisper and more aggressive. The two piece bridge was a better item than the monorails. The old square neck profile was unique and I really enjoyed it. The basses might have been a bit heavier but the pros outweighed the cons. You say Status are a custom builder and this is of course true, but for a faithful recreation of the old S2 here we are seeing a massive price tag and I doubt it'll be offered as a standard model. The new S2 sales would take a hit, I am sure of it. But I reckon if Rob retired the 'new' S2 and brought back this classic model S2 sales would increase. And it's not a step back, because the older model was better. Sure, it might have been a bit heavier and more expensive to produce but the old S2's are some of my favourite basses of all time, the new S2's are just really good. As for the Wal thing, I'd probably want an 80's/early 90's model. I'm looking into that as an option for consolidating my collection.

Greetings from another Geordie forum user here!

Yes, I cannot stress how much I love the old S2 basses. They are great. I would be on the phone to Rob today ordering a new one if they were made like this. I love the touches like the GMT pickups, the two piece bridge etc etc. The new ones are great basses but they aren't a patch on the old ones. I could do without the slightly tacky looking script above the neck pickup and I'd prefer plastic controls too. If only Rob would bring these back properly.

[quote name='guyl' post='1211294' date='Apr 25 2011, 10:54 PM']Bill Conklin is a pleasure to speak with. I had the impression he really cares. I wonder why he has problems with his "value" range. Overwater seem to be making the effort to control the quality of theirs....[/quote] I don't think it's a lack of effort on Bill Conklin's part. Remember that the Groove Tools operation was far, far bigger than Overwater's venture into a buget range. At their peak, Groove Tools basses were selling very well in America and were being carried by major stores like Guitar Centre. So many Groove Tools basses were sold that Overwater couldn't even dream of matching those figures. At the same time, Bill Conklin was cresting a wave as Talkbass seemed caught in an ERB frenzy a few years ago. A Conklin was the bass to have, and with Bill being the main man in the US for building a bass like that, as well as doing guitars and his EUB thing they were extremely busy. Surely, more busy than Overwater's shop has ever been (no disrespect). So, you're one of the most sought after luthiers in the country (and not forgetting how massive America is...), in a period of particular interest and your name is also appearing on large numbers of basses produced in Asia to be sold as 'buget' instruments. Surely something has to give somewhere! In fact though, it appears that quality control was never a massive issue for Conklin. I recall Bill saying he was very pleased with the Groove Tools project when it initially closed. Groove Tools basses have always been well spoken of, as an accessible means to a 7 string bass or just as a well made 4 or 5 string bass. I think the biggest problem Bill had was managing relations with the builder/supplier and eventually it went south or the contract ended and was not renewed. This was the era when GT basses were referred to as discontinued, although Bill spoke tenatively at the time of bringing back a buget range of instruments. Since they came back to the market there seems to have been some quality control issues, but again this would be a difficult thing for Bill to tackle directly. He'd have to go to Westheimer with his concerns and hope they can fix it. However, he is running his shop day to day so I expect these issues are just a fly in the ointment right now as his main concern is no doubt knocking out top quality handmade instruments.

Now, this is what is known as a 'frisk'... I present to you one of the most stunning looking basses Status have made in ages. Now, the big shame here is that this is how Status basses should be made. Rob would sell thousands of these things if this was how he made them. Proper paddle through neck, old skool looks, old skool vibe. If he was knocking these out as a standard item I'd place an order for a new one right now. But I'm not about to pay over the odds for 'special editions'. I've been thinking of buying a Wal bass if I can't find a Status Kingbass, or ordering a fretless ACG - so we are talking about basses of serious quality here. I'd love if it Status would make their S2 basses like this again but as it stands I don't really love the new S2 basses like I love other Status items.

I think my 1989 Kubicki basses are as close as I'll get!

[quote name='janmaat' post='1211280' date='Apr 25 2011, 10:35 PM']close contender [/quote] Yeah, why engineer some of the best cars in the world when you could be looking at pictures of sturdy women holding Esh basses?

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='1210514' date='Apr 24 2011, 11:38 PM']ACG are closer...[/quote] No distance is too far for an ACG. They are the best, and so worth whatever effort it takes to get your hands on one.