OutToPlayJazz

Not in Colchester, mate! I'm planning to be down there about 30th/31st Oct.

Not sure. It seems there isn't going to be a headless version...

It's not often we get to talk about a brand new Status model, and rumours of this one have been circulating for a few months while the two prototypes toured with Level 42. Here're a couple of the official pictures from the website. More pics and full info on the "Get your STATUS-GRAPHITE basses out!" thread in the Gear Porn section.

There was a Yamaha BB614 on the basses for sale forum the other week. £150. Best bass you'll get for that kind of money! Rich.

Nothing more than a vice, some emery cloth & a set of small round metal files from B&Q They charge something like £20 extra for the slotted ones.

Just waiting on a call-back from Dawn & I'll put the basic prices up on here...

Thumb position, mate. Thumb position, LOL!

Here's the text from Rob & Dawn... The original KingBass was designed and first introduced in 2001. Since then, with Mark's help, we have extended the range to include the Artist, Standard, Black Beauty, Graphite, Princess and Retroglide models. After sitting down with Mark and discussing the options we decided to go for a more radical departure. The KingBass Mk-II is the result. The overall look and feel is obviously a continuation of the original headless KingBass models but one major changes include a more "old school" look of the headed neck. Combined with the Status 'J' style pickups and slightly larger body shape the overall result is a stunning new bass that Mark described as " ... the best bass Status ever made". The original Status EQ has been retained " ... still sounds perfect". A woven graphite through-neck with a 34" scale, 24 fret phenolic fingerboard is standard. The body has the classic arch-top contouring with a book-matched facing set on a 2-piece solid hardwood back. Having a slightly wider, thinner body compared to the previous KingBass, the feel is very comfortable no matter what your playing style. The bass is available as both four and five string models and has many custom options available, including, string spacing, woods, LED's, hardware etc. Note that the lower strap buttons have been set wider apart. This helps with the balance and playability of the bass. The lay-back head-stock has a shallow recess moulded between the top-nut and the tuners. This replaces the "BendWell" fitted to some of the original headless KingBasses and lets you produce string bending and vibrato effects. The top-nut has hardened steel ball-bearings which help the string glide easily when bending notes. This also means that the top-nut will be very durable. The woven graphite neck is set into the body and has a wide recess to aid playing on the higher frets. Mono-rail bridge units are fitted. These help isolate each strings frequencies and increase sustain and clarity. The phenolic fingerboard has a "slap-ramp" between the 24th fret and the end of the board. This makes "slapping" and hard finger-style playing more comfortable.

It's here, these are the official pictures of the new KingBass Mk II...

Good wide string spacing, a thin neck (thumb to fingers) & a three band preamp. Nice woods too! In addition, I mentioned the nice woods as with such a wood-intensive 'ironing board' of a bass, you want the bass relying on the wood more than the electronics. Ie., try comparing a TRB-6 to the newer TRB 1006 & you'll hear what I mean

The most I've ever spent on an electric bass was £1900 for my KingBass. That was a very special case, as it was built to order for me, so it was worth the amount. The dream? A Wooten signature Fodera at $9200 is where it'd be at, but I don't have (and nor am I likely to have) that sort of money! I also need to justify the cost against how much money it's going to earn me back. Obviously a lot of my earnings come from playing, but it's got to balance out in the end. So to answer your original question, I'd say if you've got it & you know you're going to love it & use it professionally for years to come, the sky's the limit. Rich.

[quote]Electro were once my main suppliers of all things porn - Dave is a true gent! Must tek a trip oop ther![/quote] Make sure you drop by f't cuppa tea on the way, bro! Rich.

I've never suffered neckdive, but that's possibly due to the fact that I always use wide leather straps with the suede backing. Never any slippage at all. Rich.

LOL! I thought I was strange, but I'm very much like you. I'll put on things I want to listen to on CD's or my iPod, but I listen to a lot of Radio 4 in the car. I suppose it's a bi-product of living, eating & breathing music for a job that makes you want a rest from it. I find that after teaching it all day (and at times all evening as well) and performing all evening, I don't want to hear any music. I find my mind analysing it all the time, so that's when R4 comes in handy! (Apart from the theme to the Archers which makes me want to scream!!!) Rich.

I used to be a Derby dweller & Foulds supplied my first cello with hard case & also my first electric bass way back in the mid 80's. I don't know who's working there these days, but the sheet music department has always been excellent. James Foulds (Chas' son) has always been a shrewd operator & they do always seem ready to cut a deal. 30 mins away in Nottingham there's The Music Inn. Bev & Carol are nice people & they'll always treat returning customers very well. An hour's trip away is Electro Muisc in Doncaster. Dave Ryan will always cut a better deal than practically everyone else. Excellent store! Rich.

That's really nice - And by the sounds of it, extremely rare as well!

That looks really great! I'm planning something similar with my Mexican Precision, but it's going to be more sound-based than cosmetic. I particularly like the tuners with the longer shafts. Very 70's look about those

LOL, I'm the other one I bet! Sounds as if you're looking in the right places so one will turn up sooner or later

LOL! Sounds as if the 'special relationship' is good as ever! Is the KB2 being unveilled on the website this weekend as rumoured?

We're waiting with bated breath for the official release of the KingBass Mk2...... Any day now!

GOOD: Able to sightread just about anything. Excellent music theory knowledge (and so I bloody well should have!) Excellent technique. Able to solo. Excellent ear. Good improviser/Able to jam. Great groove/feel. Inventive fills. Excellent tone, no matter what I'm playing. Totally happy with my various sounds for different situations. Able to "lock in" with a good drummer & other musicians. Sensitive to other musicians' musical input. Able to slap with different methods & sounds. Can fill the "gap" in a trio. THE NOT SO GOOD: I'd like to be more original with slapping - Too reliant on developing snippets from famous players. Would like to be able to solo more freely & faster with greater variation. Anally retentive about good technique. (I suppose a teacher has to be!) Classic rock bores me (playing-wise) but it pays well! I'm not as good as Victor Wooten. Still working on it...