andytoad Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 A rather lovely Status 5 string on Bass Direct at the moment... http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Status_S2_5.html Having 5 string / Status GAS at the moment, this especially ticks boxes with simple eq. Not sure I can do headless though, surely a Status needs LEDs too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I had a 1987 or 88 Series II 4 string a few years ago. It was a delight. Knockout tone and effortless action. A truly marvellous instrument. This one looks like a real winner too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 That is a nice example. It has both the original Steinberger style bridge and the contoured neck/ body joint with the graphite going all the way, none of which you would get on a new Status. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I have a 4-string one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I borrowed a headed 5 string S2 Classic for a few days. Lovely instrument would consider buying one in future. Felt like absolute quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1491428871' post='3273052'] I had a 1987 or 88 Series II 4 string a few years ago. It was a delight. Knockout tone and effortless action. A truly marvellous instrument. This one looks like a real winner too. [/quote] Indeed. I eventually parted with my 1986 series II, but I do miss the stability, sustain and general clarity of tone. Anyone who says these instruments are "sterile" is missing the point. They are hugely versatile and can growl like anything else (and yes, I've played/owned Spector and G&L basses!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 Oooooooooohhhh I want to sell the Warwick SS2 now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E sharp Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I sold one exactly like this around 15-20 years ago , for £600 I think (that should be a tale for the other thread) . Stunning bass , but couldn't get used to the very narrow bridge spacing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Just had a look at the bass in question. What a beauty! Almost identical to my old four string. But isn't 1985 very early for a five string bass? I remember attending the Bass weekend in 1987, and that was the first time I'd really seen or hear fivers. They were pretty unusual even then... So who made the first five string bass? And when? I'm intrigued now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 Would this be a nice fast, slim neck? I'm not a baseball bat type of guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
police squad Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 looks just like me 4 string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 (edited) [quote name='andytoad' timestamp='1491477814' post='3273327'] Would this be a nice fast, slim neck? I'm not a baseball bat type of guy. [/quote] If it is anything like my old four string, very shallow (front to back) but quite wide (top to bottom). As viewed from a playing position, that is. Very flat radius. Extremely easy to set and maintain a very low action (if that is what you want). Graphite can feel a bit cold in the winter though - and even get condensation forming on it if you bring the bass from a cold car into a hot sweaty gig! Edited April 6, 2017 by Conan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1491480005' post='3273362'] If it is anything like my old four string, very shallow (front to back) but quite wide (top to bottom). As viewed from a playing position, that is. Very flat radius. Extremely easy to set and maintain a very low action (if that is what you want). Graphite can feel a bit cold in the winter though - and even get condensation forming on it if you bring the bass from a cold car into a hot sweaty gig! [/quote] Ahh cool, the string spacing is quite small though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 I'd go try it if I were closer, although I could pay a visit and spend the day trying different basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='andytoad' timestamp='1491481499' post='3273378'] Ahh cool, the string spacing is quite small though? [/quote] Crikey, yes - 15mm! My four string version was 18mm, so maybe the neck on the five isn't that much wider than the four? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
visog Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1491473359' post='3273273'] So who made the first five string bass? And when? I'm intrigued now... [/quote] Not sure it was the very first but Fender had a production Bass V in 1965. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 [quote name='visog' timestamp='1491502014' post='3273603'] Not sure it was the very first but Fender had a production Bass V in 1965. [/quote] That had a high C though didn't it? I wonder who made the first BEADG tuned bass and when? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 this looks beautiful but a bit later than '85 I'd say - the script logo is missing (my SII 4 is '85 and has some slightly different features - brass plates, active indicator light, script logo on the tuner cover). As Conan suggests, the neck is slender - a sort of D profile with straight shoulders then quite flat at the back. Very shallow radius too. I've started to use my SII again after maybe 25 years. It's unbelievably good - real quality build and the tone is fantastically versatile. Price in BD is very reasonable in my view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Once you go headless on a Status all other basses feel clumsy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Wiki: The earliest five string was created by Fender in 1965. The Fender Bass V used the E-A-D-G-C tuning, but was unpopular and discontinued in 1970. The common low B five string was created by Jimmy Johnson as a custom instrument in 1975. He bought an E-A-D-G-C 5-string Alembic bass, replaced the nut, and used a new, thick low B string from GHS to accommodate the instrument accordingly. Steinberger made a 5-string headless instrument called the L-2/5 in 1982, and later Yamaha offered the first production model as the BB5000 in 1984. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman68 Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 Like Three, I'd dispute the '85 year for this bass & reading the spec from BD it would not have a 3 band eq. Looks a nice tidy example for its era though & even the price doesn't seem too inflated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 I'm still mulling over it, I fancy giving it a try, but I think I will be unlikely to get my money back if I want to sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andytoad Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 (edited) Ok, it's gone... so who had it??? In a way I'm glad at my procrastination, i could have recieved a bass that I really didn't 'feel'..... that's what I'm telling myself anyway. If the new owner is on here, fancy a NBD review? 😀 Edited April 15, 2017 by andytoad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I was in on Thursday and it wasn't there but didn't ask. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted April 16, 2017 Share Posted April 16, 2017 I always wondered why Rob moved from a full carbon fibre 'cricket bat' on the earlier Series II instruments to a bolt on effort on the S2. I know the neck on the S2 goes further down than the appearance suggests but I have always found that the Series II sounded a bit brighter and a bit more articulate. I can imagine the S2 setup was cheaper, but then isn't the flagship supposed to spare no expense? Or perhaps Rob consciously wanted to move away from the classic Series II tone somewhat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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