Earthwood Bass

[spectorbassguy]

I don't think either one of us would be able to use one. The strings would be further away than our arms could reach!

Amen!

 

[rahock]

Here's a few pics.
The bass, a shot of the bridge , and a shot of some old fat guy (oops that's me )with the bass.
Rick

 

[Evil_Ernie_Ball]

Hey Evil Ernie,
What is the dark finish around the sound hole? Is that an inlay or a pick guard of some sort? Mine doesn't have that . Mine is all light finish, like the one posted on Ebay.
It looks great! I see you have it mike'd in one shot. I had a tough time getting a mike to work very well. I experieced some pretty interesting feedback the first time I tried that
It made some growly, howly sounds that were downright spooky .
I finally got it to the OK point, but it was no big deal in that I never gigged with it. It spends most of it's time hanging around the house.BTW what's your Serial number? You got me fired up Evil Ernie. Finding another Earthwood guy is like finding out I've got a long lost brother Seriously, in the 32 years I've had this thing, I've seen 2 others and had a chance to talk with one of the owners.

erm... Thats not my bass and thats not me
just found this pics on the net

 

[Bassplyr]

That thing is humongo! Would look great in a Mariachi band though!

 

[rahock]

Evil Ernie,
Aw shucks, I thought I found another Earthwood guy
Lucky for you though, I would probably be bugging you with all sorts of questions .

As to the humungo factor, I tried to post a couple of pics of the Earthwood standing next to a standard size acoustic guitar (my Guild D25), but this thread must be running out of space... it wouldn't let me post them.

Rick

 

[bholder]

Sorry for dredging up an old dead thread, but I just found it - can anyone provide a relatively complete set of measurements or specs for these, and the woods too? Or at least the general dimensions, scale length, body length, depth, and width at upper bout, waist, and lower bout? I'm seriously considering using it as a basis for a "build my own" project.

Thanks!

 

[khanson]

I'm a new guy to this forum and a the proud owner of an Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic bass(serial#657), bought in 1972. I also have a Fender Precision , bought in 1970 and a Hagstrom 8 string, purchased about the same time.
I've owned several others over the years, but these are the keepers .

I'm hoping to find a few other Earthwood players here. I know there aren't too many of us out there ( only about 800 of these things in existence).
I did a search before posting and found a fairly recent thread that posted some pics. I've seen/ played several of the newer acoustics including a Martin that I really liked, Epihone, Fender and several names I can't even remember. The new versions have some nice features like an open cutaway and necks that are a lot more "at the octive friendly". All that I've seen also have on board electronics that the Earthwood lacks. But Nothin', I repeat.....NOTHIN' comes close to the Earthwood sound. I absolutely love this thing. It sounded great when it was new, but now that it has passed the magic 30 year mark, where all acoustics just seem to age into a richer/ fuller sound, it sounds soooooo sweet.

I recently had it in a local music store that handles the Taylor line (didn't have a Taylor bass in stock though). I was just trying to fit it for a guitar stand, which is pretty difficult due to it's size, and everyone in the place flipped out over it.
The Taylor guys in particular were in awe. About a half dozen people played it and everyone else in the place(employees and customers) kept requesting me to play some more. I knew I was crazy in love with this thing , but I was a bit suprised that so many others were too.

I know you're no longer with us Ernie, but thanks for the "White Elephant"( it's huge, it's white and it has a giant "E" on the head piece , so that's her name).

Any other Earthwood folks out there???
BTW, I'm still looking for a stand to fit this big ole thing.
Rick

Hi,
I too have an ernie ball earthwood acoustic.

Have you any thoughts on the right way to amplify this bass?
I've tried a K and K with a Fishman Preamp and it isn't really working too well.

Thanks,

Ken

 

[Dr Stankface]

So, what's one of these puppies worth?

 

[Big Poppa]

OK the one evil posted was the original that was deeper and had rosewood pickguards on both sides of the sound holes. IT was also very deep. The concept was seventies hip all wood. the binding was maple and then rosewood. All Earthwood instruments started at serial number 500. THe first series was designed by George fullerton and there arent many that have survived due to the funky bridge.
The one without the pickguard that was posted with the after market saddle was the next version that was shallower and didnt have the sound crippling rosewood and once again we started at serial number 500...yours was the 167th one made of the series two. The series two were designed by Dan Norton Ron saul and me.

 

[Dargin]

So BP, when do I get my Earthwood???? I have wanted one forever!

 

[bovinehost]

Think about the production schedule, Dargin, just keep thinking about the production schedule!

(But if Dan N is out back carving up an Earthwood, tell him it's just as easy to do two.)

Plus, don't you have the pygmy Earthwood guitar?

 

[Dargin]

Jack, yes I do. Dan N built one for each grandkid. i have the the Red backed one.

 

[Big Poppa]

dargie maybe when you are thirty...maybe 35

 

[CW Zing]

Since Brian Ritchie was in a recent issue of Bass Player touting these old beauts...

"One came up on eBay and I bought it about five seconds later. Not a week goes by when I don’t get asked if I want to sell one. It’s a shame they’re so hard to find, because they’re really the best acoustic bass guitars.”

That's great word-of-mouth, BP!

 

[Hiram Glyphics]

If you want to see an earthwood in action go to The Official Dead Milkmen Website and then go to their videos page. Watch the video for the puking song. The one that was on MTV. The bass player uses one (and used a musicman for all recordings and most videos) pitty he commited sucide about a year back.

I was watching that video this weekend not knowing what kind of bass that was and thinking "wow that is one nice sounding, good looking bass".

Plus, the dead milkmen just rock.

Dave Blood was the first Musicman player (circa 86) that got me hooked on the Sterling. Found this post from an Earthwood Google search. Full circle with MM!