Bass-Thing

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1341644160' post='1722153'] here's a nice distraction: [media]http://youtu.be/tx6pSnq9EvI[/media] [/quote] Brilliant. Shame he wasn't playing a Buzzard

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1341648522' post='1722188'] but thats not on a warwick.... [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5C9AEqaqRw[/media] [/quote] Great playing!

[quote name='Johngh' timestamp='1341597310' post='1721688'] I was lucky enough to play one of John's Status Buzzards at the Status factory, Rob was delivering it to John the next day. It was jaw droppingly brilliant. If there is any regret I've had bass playing wise, it's not buying a Status Buzzard while they were still being made. Can we have this as the last word on the Status/Warwick episode please. Thanks [/quote] Wow! Deeply envious! A perfect way to draw a line under the whole episode. Thanks for sharing Johngh (and sorry about the other business too)

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1341569787' post='1721033'] He did not bite your head off, Garey's been helpful and answered a lot of questions, so be polite, he's a useful source for us Warwick players, and potential Warwick players. The Entwistle stuff is all bollocks anyway, it's not Garey's place to answer any questions about that tiny piece of history, and JE, had he still been still around, probably would have ended up with a series of different manufacturers trying to build him the perfect bass anyway. If Fender had got their act together early on and protected their body shapes aswell as their headstock designs, they would have made more cash licensing them and the bass and guitar landscape would probably look a lot different than it does today, with many fewer boring F clone instruments out there. If you think it's unfair on Rob Green, well, that's just the way business works sometimes, you have to protect your own company's interests within the law. And anyway, the two times I have contacted Status about buying a Steamline and a Kingbass, I was told they would let me know when they are available. They never did (twice), so I stuck with Warwick, and I'm glad about that. [/quote] Nice avatar. Looks like my dad. Regarding your comments, I think the politest thing I can say is that I feel the same way about them, as you do about 'the Entwistle stuff'. It seems highly unlikely we are going to agree on much so I suggest we leave it there and move on. All the best to you and Garey

[quote name='Warwick_Official' timestamp='1341530200' post='1720709'] Hey guys, with all due respect...this isn't my argument. I'm here for customer support and to share in the forum...hope you understand. Thanks! [/quote] Fair enough, but you did bite my head off somewhat when I raised the issue. I'm happy to leave it alone but it would be nice if the possibility of a collaboration between Warwick and Status-Graphite were considered. All the best

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1341521187' post='1720558'] If a court ordered the moulds destroyed, they'd have to be broken up. After all, it would likely declare the rights to the design as the sole property of Warwick, therefore you would not be able to own a means of making a copy. I'm not sure there was ever any legal action though, Warwick could sue Rob Green into bankruptcy ten times over with money down the back of the bait room sofa and they could threaten as such with little effort. [/quote] OK if a court orders you you to do something you actually have to do Jack sh*t! This is why billions of £$€ a year are written off because if you lend money to the destitute you might as well burn it and why people who have been told by a judge to pay me what they owe me haven't! If you had said here's the video, I'd be pretty depressed right now but I'm not because you haven't and Rob Green isn't soft! I notice the Warwick bloke has suddenly gone very quiet. [quote name='GeeCee' timestamp='1341522195' post='1720576'] Oh, I'm pretty sure Fender would if it could. Think of all the royalties/licensing fees they have had to pass on over the years because they didn't adequately protect their designs in the past (unlike it seems HPW). [/quote] We have ended up with fender Japan which in my humble opinion wee wees on Fender USA from a great height. Nothing can touch the neck on a Geddy Lee (and now the 70s RI P-Bass which is basically the same neck). Fender are still considered the original and the best and are doing very well from what I can tell. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery after all and the greatest bass I have ever played was a prototype Fender Jazz Bass. This was probably made by Mexicans who's descendants now work in the mexican factory, but whatever...

[quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1341498087' post='1720074'] Likely the rights to the the Buzzard bass include the right to any means of producing an exact copy. The fact that Rob was forced to destroy the moulds has sometimes been presented as though it was an assurance for Warwick that he would not make any more, at other times it has been presented as just Warwick being spiteful because they had the financial means to bury Status Graphite and were determined to have their way. [/quote] Ok thanks for that Chris. I understand what you mean but do you know HOW he was forced? IE Did somebody put a gun to his head and give him a sledgehammer or was it just a court order which he has said he complied with? I would have thought also that regardless of rights to any means of production, you can't destroy or have somebody destroy their own property without compensating them financially. Of course if Rob did accept any such compensation, it probably means he hasn't just buried them under the patio after all . I wonder if HP Wilfer has a video of the moulds being broken, that he uses to cheer himself up occasionally. You don't fancy asking him personally do you?

[quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1341342340' post='1717450'] And Rob had to destroy the moulds, so I doubt these basses will ever be built again. Shame. Maybe a Warwick/Status collaboration? [/quote] [quote name='Chris2112' timestamp='1341346657' post='1717570'] Rob has stated that even if he was allowed to make the Buzzard again he could not afford the tooling costs for the moulds. So there will never be another Status Buzzard, but no doubt a few more Warwick ones that never seemed as good. Got an email back about my Streamer, addressed from H.P Wilfer (though I doubt he had anything to do with the email). It thanked me for sending me the pics and linked me to a 1989 Ltd Edition Streamer Stage one that looked nothing like my bass, I assume they don't have any images of the 1990 Ltd Edition to link me to. [/quote] I'm curious to know what happened here. Why did Rob have to destroy the moulds? Doesn't make sense.

Wow you guys have had a rough time! Well I hope your arrival on the forum heralds a new era of good times and good music and the new job could mean you don't end up having to sell anything. Very best to you!

Great pics. I won't tell him I promise. Times are pretty hard at the moment but I do believe that things are starting to turn round a bit now. It's extraordinary how theraputic playing music is and I'm sure he'd feel better about things and more optimistic if he did start playing again. Funnily enough i have found that just being on this forum is a great way of getting enthused and focussed on playing. I'd say leave it to fate and if it sells it sells but if not he'll still have it. I still want to buy it though!

Oh NOOOOOO! I'm already thinking what I might sell to be able to buy this utterly beautiful bass..... I don't suppose you'd consider a stroppy 11 year old girl in part exchange would you? (only kidding!). Why on earth would you want to sell this? I'm already having fantasies about adding a mirror scratchplate (which if your guy did he would probably decide to keep it). Thank you so much for sharing.

[quote name='MysticGuitar' timestamp='1341392757' post='1718060'] Thank you very much! I do have some of his basses pictured on my website if anyone wants to see them. You have to click on all the guitar links under his photo at [url="http://www.tigereeks.com"]http://www.tigereeks.com[/url] [/quote] Wow that is an awesome collection. Would I be right in thinking that the Cutlass has a carbon graphite neck? It's gorgeous. Deepley envious of all those basses.

[quote name='Warwick_Official' timestamp='1341341376' post='1717427'] The Buzzard was thought up in a meeting between John Entwistle and Hans-Peter Wilfer, sketched on a napkin! 80% of the design was created by HPW in the weeks following that meeting, as proven in a court of law. As such, Warwick was the originator of the instrument and will be the sole producer of it. Thanks for your comments! [/quote] Wow that's telling me! It would appear I have touched a raw nerve and you haven't actually answered my question. Let me put it another way. Is there any chance that Warwick, a Global company with a turnover of many many £$€1,000,000s and factories and distribution all over the World, might consider getting over itself and allowing a small British boutique instrument builder to continue making John Entwistle's first choice of bass? If he was still alive, both you and Rob Green would still be selling Buzzards and everybody would be happy. It's obviously a deeply personal issue for Hans Peter but my question is, is this not something that can be resolved between you? How can a tiny company like Status hurt your business? You don't hear about Alembic or Jaydee trying to stop them building Kingbasses, nor do you see Fender bothering anymore to try and stop jazz and p bass copies. They are all confident enough in the strength of their own brands and so should Warwick. Another post has suggested a collaboration between the two companies which is a great idea. How about a Warwick Buzzard with a Status Graphite neck as an option? Both companies would benefit from this. I know I'd buy one.