Clarky Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 I met Mr_Bassman (Keith) a week or so back and we did a trade which involved my Eminence EUB going his way and his 1960s Ampeg Baby Bass and Kolstein Busetto travel bass coming my way - the second one was a bit of a surprise as Keith had only brought it along to show me .. but I fell in love with the tone and sheer beauty of the bass. Mind you, I don't think Keith expected to be going home with the Eminence either! Dangerous, these dodgy car park meet-ups The Baby Bass is in amazing condition for its age, looks fabulously retro and is about as feedback-proof as a DB gets so this will be my regular gigging bass for Rattlin Bone. The Kolstein will (for now, at least) stay at home while I enjoy playing it and the sheer gorgeousness of its tone. I intend to use this for gigs which are more intimate, with lower volumes. Anyway, at the risk of annoying the mods with a large picture (2Mb) here they are and there are a few more pics if you click on the 'porn pics' link in my signature below. [attachment=83893:P1040316.JPG] Quote
Old Horse Murphy Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Nice one (or two) mate. Where does that leave your old Zeller? Quote
Clarky Posted July 2, 2011 Author Posted July 2, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Old Horse Murphy' post='1290407' date='Jul 2 2011, 07:36 PM']Nice one (or two) mate. Where does that leave your old Zeller?[/quote] Sat a bit sadly in the corner. I am not allowed to move it on though as it has sentimental associations (I used it in lessons about 10-15 years ago with this lovely old jazzer, Phil Bates [played with Grapelli and Tubby Hayes], who sadly passed away a couple of years ago and the bass reminds Mrs C of him) Edit: hmmm, Mrs C seems more amenable to be moving this on as three double basses are taking up too much of the sitting room! Edited July 2, 2011 by Clarky Quote
PTB Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Two beauties - and rare too. You're a lucky fella, Clarky. Quote
lanark Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 (edited) That Baby Bass would be ideal for me, it's exactly what all the salsa bands used in the 60s and 70s. I'm using flats and foam to get somewhere close to the sound, but I'm not fooling anyone. Enjoy it. Edited July 2, 2011 by lanark Quote
BassBod Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Well, what a result! I'm very impressed with the Kolstein - I'm assuming they are pricey? I'm doing up a Zeller at the moment with the intention of "going acoustic whenver practical" .....but that's got me thinking! Quote
geoffbassist Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 Great stuff Clarky, thats an amazing couple of instruments! Ive played the kolstein ands it's got a great tone! Enjoy :-) BYW I bet you and Keith must have made an unusual sight at the car park mini bass bash! Quote
Mr Bassman Posted July 2, 2011 Posted July 2, 2011 (edited) [quote]BYW I bet you and Keith must have made an unusual sight at the car park mini bass bash![/quote] I did try and put up a fight but Clarky got the better of me Edited July 2, 2011 by Mr Bassman Quote
Blademan_98 Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 They look fantastic! I really am GASing for a DB Quote
thisnameistaken Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 I would absolutely love a baby bass, I played one in a music shop in Howell NJ back in the '90s but I couldn't afford it. How much did you pay for it if you don't mind me asking? I've no idea what market value is these days. Quote
ficelles Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Love the baby bass... heard one being used recently with some impressive cello-sounding bowing down the tricky end of the fingerboard. Just wondering though, what do you use the skull for? ficelles Quote
Clarky Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 [quote name='ficelles' post='1292420' date='Jul 4 2011, 04:53 PM']Just wondering though, what do you use the skull for?[/quote] I am surprised noone spotted that before! I have wedged the (plastic) skull on the headstock of my double bass at our last couple of gigs - fits with the zombie/voodoo vibe! Quote
thisnameistaken Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 I had a tone skull for a while, really improved the timbre of my bass, turned it around for £5000 in a hi-fi shop. Quote
Clarky Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='1292758' date='Jul 4 2011, 09:41 PM']I had a tone skull for a while, really improved the timbre of my bass, turned it around for £5000 in a hi-fi shop.[/quote] Fodera offer it as a £15,000 option so 5k was a bargain Quote
thisnameistaken Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Ah but mine wasn't made out of virgins' m*nges like the Fodera ones are. Quote
grumble Posted July 11, 2011 Posted July 11, 2011 What a fool I've been ! A Tone Skull is just what I need to transform my playing from 'seriously incompetent' to 'can plod on roots at 20bpm' Anyone got an Ebay link ? Actually I doubt there is any magic powerful enough for that tranformation Quote
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