RAM Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 (edited) I've been GASsing for a Status since 1995, and being in the US, I've rarely come across one, especially when the funds were ripe for the spending. Well, today that all changed, when a local guy had a Status Empathy up for sale at a killer price, so I had to take advantage. He also had a Stealth II, but I wasn't about to walk out with both basses, though it was certainly very tempting! I'm not one to say one bass or another is the best, as I firmly believe each has its own place, but this bass is really remarkable. The e-band eq is incredibly flexible, more so than most other basses I've played, and playing with the pickup blend really makes for dramatic changes in tone. In fact, that's what this bass does: everything is so dramatic, from its attack, to its rich fundamental, to the eq, etc, that it's impossible to describe. I'm in absolute heaven with this thing! It doesn't hurt that this is quite possibly the most fun I've ever had playing on a bass! When people talk about low action, they have to try a Status. I don't know what it is, but for some reason, I can get the action so much lower on this than any other bass I've ever owned or played, and do so with no buzzing! Rob Green is an absolute genius! Since it's all a lie without pix, here are a few...(not really sure why these aren't showing as pix...can anyone fix them?) FIXED Edited January 28, 2008 by RAM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolleydick Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 " Rob Green is an absolute genius! " Yes he is, isn't he? How much is a killer price these days in Chicago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Another cool Staus bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAM Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='woolleydick' post='129272' date='Jan 28 2008, 07:48 AM']" Rob Green is an absolute genius! " Yes he is, isn't he? How much is a killer price these days in Chicago[/quote] Well, considering Atlanta Bass Gallery has a nearly identical Empathy for $2,200, I thought I got a bargain for $1,350. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAM Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 [quote name='7string' post='129336' date='Jan 28 2008, 09:24 AM']Another cool Staus bass [/quote]Why, thankyouverymuch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-soar Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 It's not an Empathy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAM Posted January 29, 2008 Author Share Posted January 29, 2008 [quote name='steve-soar' post='129599' date='Jan 28 2008, 03:38 PM']It's not an Empathy.[/quote]What makes you think it's not an Empathy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanBassMeg Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hi there from a newby. I'd love to know if that is an Empathy or not as then I'd know for sure what mine is.... Sadly lacking any info on the head stock other than Status, Graphite, Made in England..... Lovely instrument had it for over 10 years from 2nd hand. Never needed setting up, just plays like a dream. [attachment=10970:Stacey_Small.JPG] [attachment=10971:Stacey__s_Head.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 [quote]Hi there from a newby. I'd love to know if that is an Empathy or not as then I'd know for sure what mine is.... Sadly lacking any info on the head stock other than Status, Graphite, Made in England..... Lovely instrument had it for over 10 years from 2nd hand. Never needed setting up, just plays like a dream.[/quote] Firstly, that definitely is an Empathy... It's got the early 3-band eq & the exotic woods. No doubt about it. Ian, your bass looks like either a Series I or an Energy with jj pickups. If I were a gambling man, I'd go for the Energy option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fullrangebass Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 OutToPlayJazz you are absolutely right. It's an Empathy (6 Status basses have joined my herd and I've been at Status headquarters more than a dozen of times) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 I know a lot about Status basses and being an expert (including being mentioned on the official Status site cos me and Mick C setup the original Yahoo Status club and having demoed Mark King's rosewood Kingbass on Aussie TV one week before he took delivery of it!), that is definitely an Empathy! Reason - front and rear facings! Nick * *modesty is my middle name Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 [quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='243161' date='Jul 19 2008, 01:01 AM']*modesty is my middle name[/quote] LOL - Mine, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 That seems very cheap for a bass like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Don't forget that even the pristine older models like my 1990 S2 fetch around £1000 over here, but yes that was an excellent price for an Empathy. Especially as they're usually more expensive in the US due to the rarity & cost of shipping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frusty Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Gorgeous bass - Status basses really are works of art. As well as sounding rather good too! I could never justify spending so much on a bass, but I had a Washburn Status for a couple of years, and I'd reccomend it to anyone who wants the status vibe on a budget. I really regret selling my Washburn Status! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 MB1. "Off with there Heads!...."Off with there Heads!". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 MB1. "Off with there Heads!...."Off with there Heads!". That's "Off with [b]their[/b] heads!", Martin. Now, go and stand in the corner and wear the pointy hat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee4 Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 OK all you Status experts,I own a Groove,in 3 tone sunburst,and it's the Dachshunds danglers! Low action,great tone,great neck. Anyone else got one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 (edited) I had a groove for a while, yes. It was a sunburst one, but I traded it in for a Corvette $$, which was in turn sold to a pupil to help fund this... Merton is the one to talk to about Grooves. He has two - One fretted and one fretless. And apologies to RAM for all us Status nuts hijacking his thread! Perhaps we ought to have a 'pinned' Status corner, Mods? Edited July 19, 2008 by OutToPlayJazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doctor_of_the_bass Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 Oooooh! Lovely Series II there! Being a huge expert (as already noted and very modest too!) your bass has the slimline neck moulding of course with the `narrow' central body graphite spine, which of course does not appear on the rear of the bass! I nearly bought one that year with a birdseye maple front - ah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted July 19, 2008 Share Posted July 19, 2008 [quote]Oooooh! Lovely Series II there! Being a huge expert (as already noted and very modest too!) your bass has the slimline neck moulding of course with the `narrow' central body graphite spine, which of course does not appear on the rear of the bass! I nearly bought one that year with a birdseye maple front - ah![/quote] Indeed it is. My original one (an '88 - which incidentally has just showed up on Statti for sale!) had the wider spine which was a seperate block to which the wooden wings were joined. At first I thought the narrower ones weren't as nice looking, but now I have three of them I think I prefer it. DOTB - I'm going to have to come and play at your bass-candy store at some point. Problem is, I'll never want to go home!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 [quote name='IanBassMeg' post='243033' date='Jul 18 2008, 08:33 PM']Hi there from a newby. I'd love to know if that is an Empathy or not as then I'd know for sure what mine is.... Sadly lacking any info on the head stock other than Status, Graphite, Made in England..... Lovely instrument had it for over 10 years from 2nd hand. Never needed setting up, just plays like a dream. [attachment=10970:Stacey_Small.JPG] [attachment=10971:Stacey__s_Head.JPG][/quote] To my eyes - this is an Energy. I had one for ages , and very nice it was too. Don't forget , everyone , that the real experts (not me) are likely to frequent www.statii.com They were very helpful in helping me be sure that my current Series 3000 wasn't another Energy - and the resources pages have a wealth of info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 [quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='243492' date='Jul 19 2008, 08:10 PM']And apologies to RAM for all us Status nuts hijacking his thread! Perhaps we ought to have a 'pinned' Status corner, Mods[/quote] Start your own in the basschat wiki - like I have for GB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I think a Status is probably the next bass I will pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted July 20, 2008 Share Posted July 20, 2008 I've had a couple of the headed empathy basses....... really nice, quite fancy getting one again ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.