[RUMBLEKAT]

I went to the London Music Show on Saturday but there were no Gibsons! It seems since Rosetti are no longer the UK distributor Gibson have wittled down the number of UK dealers and they obviously thought they didn't need to attend the UK's largest trade show............

However all was not lost as I got to try out a Hofner (a first for me), Marshall's VBA bass head (which is awesome) and the Hartke HA3500 (which I liked) but the star of the show for me had to be the Warwick Starbass http://www.warwickbass.com/basses/Star%20Bass%20II.html

Quite a pricy bass (at RRP of £1700) but the build quality and feel is awesome. It has a good range of tones and I think it's a nice modern version of an EB-2. It's not as beefy or muddy sounding as the old EB basses but is a superb contender soundwise to say the Les Paul Standard or SG Reissue. Has anyone else tried one?

G

www.motherlodeonline.co.uk

[jules]

Thats a really nice looking bass. Did it come in other finishes? It does look good like that though.

Surprised there were no Gibsons there... no Epiphones either?

[donnervogel]

I heard that Gibson have given the hatchet to all European distributors and are now planning do it themselves which will mean lower prices and hopefully more product prevalence as that was less then great at least with the German distributor who seemed to concentrate on Epis.

That Warwick Star Bass II is nice, I played one at the fair, but unplugged. It felt good. Neck is not set, but bolt-on, but hidden in a way it appears as set.

Uwe

[RUMBLEKAT]

It seems to come in two finishes, one clear laquered and the other a satin finish but the same colour woods for both finishes.

They did a good job on the neck joint as it fooled me although I do remember looking at the neck joint twice but just thought it was set. Did you go to the Frankfurt show Uwe?

With regard to the dealers in the UK they are expected by Gibson to carry "the full range" so I heard.

G

www.motherlodeonline.co.uk

[Redbird]

Both basses then?

[santi]

The body silhouette is like the Aria TAB60.

I wish to ear these pickups.

Nice bass.

[eb2]

It looks like a fairly nice take on the EB2, maybe even a tinge of Starfire bass as well in the finish. Odd that they say it is inspired by the Framus Star bass, which it has almost nothing in common with. I would like a modern interpretation of the old Framus too.

[donnervogel]

Yup, I was in Frankfurt. Those Star II basses are lovingly made. Thank God it's passive. It received a favourable review in Gitarre & Bass but then so do all Warwicks there - it helps when half the advertisements are from Warwick or show Warwick distributed products!

I feel temptation rising to get one. Help!!!

[Chris P]

I Like that Warwick too. Warwick has a custom shop and I guess you can order that Star bass as you want it to be.


I heard rumours Warwick owns that magazine? they do a lot of ads in it, but they also do a loot of good stuff for our Dutch bass magazine. Mr. Wilfer's very nice and he supports us very well. And he knows we just test and review the things we like!

[Chris P]

According to Warwick, the bass has a set neck, Uwe.