  A confining, Goldstone theorem preserving, separable Ansatz for the ladder
kernel of the two-body Bethe-Salpeter equation is constructed from
phenomenologically efficacious $u$, $d$ and $s$ dressed-quark propagators. The
simplicity of the approach is its merit. It provides a good description of the
ground-state isovector-pseudoscalar, vector and axial-vector meson spectrum;
facilitates an exploration of the relative importance of various components of
the two-body Bethe-Salpeter amplitudes, showing that sub-leading Dirac
components are quantitatively important in the isovector-pseudoscalar meson
channels; and allows a scrutiny of the domain of applicability of ladder
truncation studies. A colour-antitriplet diquark spectrum is obtained.
Shortcomings of separable Ans\"atze and the ladder kernel are highlighted.
