Favorite eb/mm story

[brewer]

I thought that I would start a thread where everyone tells there favorite moment that has to do w/ eb/mm.

For me, I learned to play in church. I was the drummer and I was ten years old. My father was the pastor of the church. I used to go w/ him when he would go study during the week and I would play around w/ the bass players guitar. He had, and still does, a 70's early 80's sunburst stingray4 w/ a maple neck. I loved that guitar. Since then, I've offered the owner $3000+ and he will not part with it. I don't really blame him. I still play it from time to time on a few sessions. He keeps old flats on it that are probably 5 years old. Man I love that guitar.

And by the way, if this has been done to death, i'm sorry. I'm new to the forum and i'm hooked. Thanks ernie ball.

brewer

 

[prickly_pete]

When I was about 13 years old (1983) I went to a used musical instrument shop with a friend and his dad. At that time I was playing a kingston short scale bass, but I really wanted a Fender Precision. Anyway there was the strangest looking bass on the wall I'd ever seen: a natural, maple fingerboard Stingray (probably late 70s). The owner of the shop let me play that bass through an old SVT and WOW! From that day forward all I wanted was a Stingray. By the late 80s I was able to finally afford a Musicman and I got my first Stingray5. btw, that old Stingray on the wall in the shop was $300.00

 

[TSanders]

My favorite EBMM story was when I was 18. I walked into GC, and the sparkle finishes had just been discontinued. There hung a white sparkle Sterling. I fell in love with it instanly, and the salesman told me it was clearance priced due to the fact that the sparkle finishes were discontinued. I walked out with a brand new Sterling and case for about half of what a stock Sterling sells for.

 

[skabassist13]

i went to a local gc to mess around a picked up a stingray with a maple fretboard. the first thing i noticed was the neck. that thing was SMOOTH. like a babies bottom smooth. it was insane, i fell in love instantly. played around with it through an svt and couldnt get my sound(not patient enough) so i walked over to my current amp (ampeg ba-210sp) set it to my current settings for my squier and was amazied at how strong it was. it had so much bottom end. i feel in love with that on the spot. if i woulda spent a minute tweaking the amps eq to my liking i might have never left.

 

[Moondog]

Prior to a gig some time ago, I was backstage w/my band and 4 other bands and pulled out my bass to tune up. When I pulled out my Black/ BirdseyeMaple/ Tort '96 Sterling it was like I had drugs; the other bassists & a small crowd gathered around, asked questions, and commented on its beauty.

I owned lotsa other basses and have equally beautiful MusicMen but this bass is my "Liz Hurley"
I'm so proud <sniff, sniff>

 

[stretch80]

I'm a recent convert, and so this is a recent story.

I'm a long time player -- my main basses were a Peavey Cirrus 5 and a 76 P-bass, both great instruments.

I wandered into a guitar shop on a Friday to play a few basses, but with no thought that I'd walk out with one. Saw a used (but mint) 2002 trans gold Stingray 5, and thought I'd try it -- had never played one, but had recently seen Richard Thompson's band, and his bassist had 2 - fretted and fretless.

Sooo.....the stingray sounds great - growly bottom, clear ringing top..., my senses leave me and out I go with a new bass. I get home, say to myself "what have I done??", but...decide to keep it long enough to audition it at band rehearsal.

My band (the Space Heaters) is a 7 piece, rock and r&b outfit with drums, percussion, piano, 2 guitars.... getting a bass to provide the right bottom and cut through is not easy. So, I start with the Ray, then switch back and forth, and by the end of the rehearsal the whole band is saying "The new bass stays!"

I had no choice. Or so I told my wife.

 

[tkarter]

Mine is a recent story as well. I walked into Mass Street Music see the SR 5 I now own on the hanger there. My wife was as taken with the looks as I was. I did not play it I just figured that will be my bass.

Started listening to more country music than I used to and started hearing the SR 5 sound.

Along comes my birthday and the wife buys me the SR 5. Life is good!!

tk

 

[bass thumper]

Mine is a recent story as well. I walked into Mass Street Music see the SR 5 I now own on the hanger there. My wife was as taken with the looks as I was. I did not play it I just figured that will be my bass.

Started listening to more country music than I used to and started hearing the SR 5 sound.

Along comes my birthday and the wife buys me the SR 5. Life is good!!

tk

Will your wife talk to my wife?

 

[tkarter]

She probably would. Got your SR 5 picked out do you?


tk

 

[bass thumper]

My birthday is a week from this Saturday(29 th.) and she has given me the green light!! Life is good! Bless God!

 

[tkarter]

Wives can be wonderful creatures. Guitar players may get the girls but, us bass players usually snag the cream of the crop.

Of course IMHO


tk

 

[bass thumper]

Amen, bro!

 

[TSanders]

Wives can be wonderful creatures. Guitar players may get the girls but, us bass players usually snag the cream of the crop.

Of course IMHO


tk

I agree 100%.

 

[cgworkman]

I wanted to get into playing a 5 string - I was told/and read that the SR5 was "the" 5 string bass to get in almost every aspect.

So I ordered one sight unseen - Been loving it ever since.

 

[Moondog]

Wives can be wonderful creatures. Guitar players may get the girls but, us bass players usually snag the cream of the crop.
tk

The divorce rate among guitarists is so much higher . . .

 

[stretch80]

Wives can be wonderful creatures. Guitar players may get the girls but, us bass players usually snag the cream of the crop.

Of course IMHO


tk

amen. speaking for male bass-players anyway.

We're confident (don't need the limelight)
We got rhythm.
Nothing we play ever goes "wheedly-wheedly"

Women bass players are so cool they can get whatever they want!

 

[SteveB]

Nothing we play ever goes "wheedly-wheedly"

I must speak up as a guitarist and say that the correct sound is "reen-toon-tee-too-tee" or something like what Ike Willis sings in "Outside Now" by Frank Zappa (Joe's Garage or Broadway the Hard Way).

 

[stretch80]

I must speak up as a guitarist and say that the correct sound is "reen-toon-tee-too-tee" or something like what Ike Willis sings in "Outside Now" by Frank Zappa (Joe's Garage or Broadway the Hard Way).

I defer to your expertise!

 

[Psychicpet]

My fave SR5 experience was when I got a call to do a one day singer/songwriter session at a studio that I had only a little bit of experience in and my last time in there (with 2 custom made basses) was horrible and I ended up uisng a Fender active Jazz...anywho, this time 'round I walked into my local L&M music shop the day before and grabbed their only SR5 off the wall, took it to the session and as soon as i pulled it out of the gig bag the producer went "wow, nice MusicMan, I love these basses" ... session went great!
2 fave Bongo stories:
[1] day after i got my Bongo took it into aforementioned studio and used it for the entire project!! looks of dismay at first but the MusicMan name pulled through.
[2] just this week-end had a person at a gig come up to me and go "did I see you play with so and so a few months back?" reply"yep" response"I thought it was you and as soon as I saw that bass [Desert Gold Bongo5] I knew it was you!"


what fun!
thnx Ernie for starting it and thnx Sterling for keepin' on keepin' on !!!!!

 

[TheDirtyMoocher]

i walked into gc to try out the bongo about a year ago and they had two, a desert gold 5er and a lava pearl 4 string...i played both of them and fell in love (even though i had about 300 bucks and no hope of getting one) and then about a month later i went to a Streetlight Manifesto show and their bassist was playing the 5 string that i had played a month before...and then i met the whole band and complimented josh (the bassist) on his fine choice

...but he quit so you wont be able to see him playing it unless you want the video i have