"In short, I find Wishbone Ash to straddle hard rock and prog, but just sitting a wee bit out of each genre."
True! They always fell a little between both chairs, but otoh you could play them to both your heavy rock friends and to your prog ones and both wouldn't mind. Even to girlfriends, having adolescent mock sex to Cat Stevens albums (or Floyd's Wish You Were Here) only
does grate after a while, you know.
That's a Ric on Argus, not a TBird, all the way through. I have no idea which remaster you have, sounds a bit like you have the original MCA CD release which was incredibly flat and hissy. There was a 2002 remaster and then a 2007 one supervised by Martin Turner (where he also doctored the backing vocals of the original as he found them a little flat). Quality got increasingly better, but they are all put to shame by this one here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Argus-Wishbone-Ash/dp/B00W9JQ9I2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438880685&sr=8-1&keywords=wishbone+ash+argus+ltd+editionfrom Culture Factory
http://www.culturefactoryusa.com/a French label specializing in ltd no (so you should be quick to get one) mock paper sleeve releases and their own style of remastering
http://www.culturefactoryusa.com/component/content/article/8-information/6-remasteringwhich some people hate (too overcooked) and some people love (finally some balls). I say: They do wonders for recordings that initially sound a little flat, and Argus was one of those (never mind how the beauty of the music still saved and elevated it) as Derek Lawrence was hardly a dramatic or dynamic producer. The Culture Factory remaster has given Argus a kick in the butt (also as regards the bass frequencies, but not just that: there is more detail everywhere) and you now have Wishbone Ash playing Argus in your living room, the experience is that stark ... I tend to play my Argus versions side by side to people who proclaim not to hear a dif in remasters and they cannot believe the - night and day - difference!
Funny, I never compared Martin Turner and Chris Squire, but I understand where you are coming from. Martin Turner is much more lyrical than the late Herr Squire who was a boisterous, upfront, even flashy player. Turner also hardly ever plays anything fast, he's a leisurely melodic player, but that fits into WA's musical landscape. Andy Powell has said that Martin's various bass successors have grounded the band more. That might be true - but Martin's more baritone guitar approach is beauty in itself, especially on Argus. He has said in interviews that in Wishbone Ash he did not even want the WA guitarists to tell him what chords they were playing as he felt that would inhibit his note choice - that is were all those thirds and fifths as well as sixths, sevenths and occasional seconds come from - anything
but the root note!
I love the man's playing and it has rubbed off a lot on me. When I hear a melody I immediately start to harmonize on bass.