Trace Elliott T-Bass

[Czekli]

Hello bass brothers/botherers!

 

I have a real itch for a T-Bass but just missed one near me. 

The shop that was selling it (on commission) said it played nice but had some previous experience of some others being average or over-rated for the money.

I like the hyper jazz description and the fact that they are a bit different but would really like to play one for the feel....

Your opinions on what they are really worth currently (to keep looking) or if I'd be better off with something else that's similar 

[Happy Jack]

Check the weight before you buy!

[Hellzero]

I shouldn't have sold mine...

[HeadlessBassist]

The original T-Basses are still sought after by some. It's one of those cases of if you know, you know. They were built by Status-Graphite and designed by Mark Gooday & Rob Green, so the quality is always bang on, as every bass originally went through the hands of one man.

 

As for some sounding better than others, like all Status basses (and most others), they're sensitive to having clean strings and a good setup. If you find one that seems to be low on output, there's a "trim pot" on the preamp under the rear cover which should be turned to about half way, or just a little higher, but not turned up to the point of distorting the sound.  Pickup height should be around 3-4mm at the bridge and 6-7mm at the neck.

 

A very nice T-Bass 5-string I checked out earlier this year for an Irish BC Member fetched well over £1500. Relative scarcity keeps values pretty high.

Edited 12 hours ago by HeadlessBassist

[Czekli]

9 minutes ago, HeadlessBassist said:

The original T-Basses are still sought after by some. It's one of those cases of if you know, you know. They were built by Status-Graphite and designed by Rob Green, so the quality is always bang on, as every bass originally went through the hands of one man.

 

As for some sounding better than others, like all Status basses (and most others), they're sensitive to having clean strings and a good setup. If you find one that seems to be low on output, there's a "trim pot" on the preamp under the rear cover which should be turned to about half way, or just a little higher, but not turned up to the point of distorting the sound.  Pickup height should be around 3-4mm at the bridge and 6-7mm at the neck.

 

A very nice T-Bass 5-string I checked out earlier this year for an Irish BC Member fetched well over £1500. Relative scarcity keeps values pretty high.

 

[Czekli]

Thanks for the insight.

 

It might be a unicorn but I've always wanted one....

 

[HeadlessBassist]

Of course, the 2007 onwards graphite neck model Status T-Bass is even nicer  

 

There are a couple for sale on eBay at the moment if you have a look - both look to the USA-based, though. 

Edited October 11 by HeadlessBassist

[Misdee]

The T-Bass was a fine bass but certainly an acquired taste rather than just another active Jazz Bass. The four string had a fast skinny neck, and a very hot output with a modern hyped-up kind of tone. If a Sadowsky is a Jazz Bass on steroids then the T-Bass was a Jazz Bass on illegal steroids bought from some dodgy bloke at the gym.

 

The T-Bass wasn't necessarily a bass for typical.classic vintage Jazz Bass tones but it did have a sound of it's own that could be a lot of fun and really cut through the mix. I wouldn't pay over the odds for one but it's definitely a worthwhile bass to have. They could be pretty heavy though, so make sure your okay with the weight of any one you find to buy.

[LowB_FTW]

On 11/10/2025 at 09:27, HeadlessBassist said:

A very nice T-Bass 5-string I checked out earlier this year for an Irish BC Member fetched well over £1500. Relative scarcity keeps values pretty high.

I'm still very happy with the purchase.

 

On 11/10/2025 at 09:37, Czekli said:

It might be a unicorn but I've always wanted one....

 

A 'unicorn bass' is exactly how I described it too.

The pre-amp took a little bit of time to tame, but I am really happy with the bass.

As others have stated, they can be a bit on the weighty side, but I've mostly been playing mine sat down, so that's been a non-issue for me and mine.

 

Mark

[Czekli]

Reasonable price for 4 string as I doubt many will have been poorly cared for?

 

[HeadlessBassist]

In all honesty, they generally seem to be very well cared for and cherished. They're not an ordinary generic 'super jazz', more a full blown Status bass disguised as a Jazz bass. The preamps are seriously powerful and the build quality is stunning.

 

We were discussing the T-Bass the other evening, and the original 15 limited edition models (a friend of mine has one of the 15) were more curved and svelte, and the later full production models had more of a slab-like body, hence the increased weight.

Edited 12 hours ago by HeadlessBassist

[Misdee]

Status used essentially the same electronics package in an exotic wood body for the Barracuda bass, I seem to remember. That was one of the wooden necked basses, too.

 

Back in the mid-1990's the UK bass market wasn't flooded with super- Fender-style basses like it is now.The T-Bass was actually quite novel, not just in its quirky design but also as an available way for UK bass players to get their hands on an active souped-up Jazz Bass style instrument.I remember seeing the bass player out of Black Grape playing a black one with a tort plate at the time and it looked really good. I wanted to buy one just like that but never got round to it somehow. I had a Status Empathy  back in those days so I was very open to another Status-built bass at that time 

 

It feels pretty strange to me talking about the mid-1990's as if it was the old days, but I suppose it is now!

Edited 9 hours ago by Misdee

[HeadlessBassist]

2 minutes ago, Misdee said:

Status used essentially the same electronics package in an exotic wood body for the Barracuda bass, I seem to remember. That was one of the wooden necked basses, too.

 

Back in the mid-,1990's the UK bass market wasn't flooded with super- Fender-style basses like it is now.The T-Bass was actually quite novel, not just in its quirky design but also as an available way for UK bass players to get their hands on an active souped-up Jazz Bass style instrument.I remember seeing the bass player out of Black Grape playing a black one with a tort plate at the time and it looked really good. I wanted to buy one just like that but never got round to it somehow. I had a Status Empathy  back in those days so I was very open to another Status-built bass at that time 

 

It feels pretty strange to me talking about the mid-1990's as if it was the old days, but I suppose it is now!

 

Yes, it was thirty years ago now! 

 

I was looking at a Barracuda earlier this year. It's the one wooden Status I always wanted. Now I've got my eye on the full Status T-Bass up at Andy Baxter's. Might go and have a look at it in the next week or so, but it would mean sacrificing one of my Status basses... 🫣 

[LowB_FTW]

6 hours ago, HeadlessBassist said:

I've got my eye on the full Status T-Bass up at Andy Baxter's.

Bloody hell, £3k!

That one has 18v electrics, any idea why this would be? The Trace Elliot one I have and other Status ones I've seen only have the single 9v batteries.

 

Mark

[Czekli]

So would anything around the £1500 mark be high?

 

Would only be looking for a 90s one and not a graphite neck model.....

[HeadlessBassist]

1 hour ago, LowB_FTW said:

Bloody hell, £3k!

That one has 18v electrics, any idea why this would be? The Trace Elliot one I have and other Status ones I've seen only have the single 9v batteries.

 

Mark

Hey Mark, Rob always said that the 18V pre had more headroom.