Origins of my Earthwood acoustic bass guitar

[tmoleary]

I posted this question about my Earthwood acoustic bass in a TalkBass forum, and then it occurred to me that I should have posted it here, where people with more knowledge of Ernie Ball instruments are likely to see it:

I bought this bass about 40 years ago. According to this page it has right size and shape and is made out of the right woods with the right kind of tuners. But it doesn't have a sticker inside it, it just has the number 543 stamped where the sticker would have been, and also not "stamped on the assembly that houses the neck bolts inside the body" as it says it would be here.

The pictures of some Earthwood basses that I have seen on the internet have a big capital E logo on the headstock. Mine has a wooden oval made out of rosewood, like the pick guards. Does this mean it is older than them?

Anyway, I really like this bass, and I'd like to know more about its origins. Any suggestions about where to look or who to talk to for more information about Earthwood basses?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[bovinehost]

The two people involved in the birth of the Earthwood basses, Ernie Ball and Dan Norton, are no longer with us, sad to report. I'd imagine Big Poppa (Sterling Ball) will be the next-best thing to an original source on these and he'll probably be along after while.

 

[JayDawg]

Got any pics of the bass?

 

[tmoleary]

Here are some pictures. I had some modifications made to it, the main ones being that I had a cello end peg installed, a tailpiece and extra internal bracing installed and the bridge modified.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Man, I want one of these things so badly I can't stand it. I wanna know, too!

 

[Golem]

Man, I want one of these things so badly I can't
stand it. I wanna know, too!

Existing examples number in the dozens while
the seekers thereof number in the hundreds :-(

Myself not being very persistent about needles
hidden in haystacks, and not being wealthy, and
also not caring as much about "vintage vibe" as
just getting a tool for the job at hand, I've found
happiness with this thing:

Takamine Guitars :: product-details

It occupies every speck of space in a cello case,
so that tells you what size it really is better than
viewing the pix in the link. BTW they're FL only.

 

[T-bone]

Pretty freakin cool, Mike. 40 years ago? Was she new?? And I'm curious, why the cello end peg? Do you play it like a stand up?

Welcome to the forum. You've made one hell of an entrance.

tbone

 

[tmoleary]

It wasn't new when I bought it. I bought it used at a music store where I think it must have been traded in. It didn't come with a case, and it was already kind of dinged up, mostly with small blemishes in the finish. I took better care of it, at first carrying it around in a sleeping bag until my roommate's girlfriend made a case out of a blanket for it. When that started wearing out I got a real padded bag for it. Anyway, I had the cello end peg installed because I found myself playing in close quarters a lot, in small coffeehouses, friends' living rooms, etc., and playing it upright was a lot easier than playing it like a guitar. I play it like a cello, sitting down, and now that I have gotten used to it, I play it that way all the time.

 

[tmoleary]

If I was to sell this bass, what would be the best way to go about it?

 

[Golem]

If I was to sell this bass, what would be the best way to go about it?

You and it just truck on over to my place and I hand you the money

P.S.
I don't answer the door before noon ...


While you may think this is a dumb joke, you will get the same answer
from almost anyone. Then you will find out that there're only two kinds
of people in this world: Those with ready cash, and those without :-(

 

[bovinehost]

Get in touch with Brian Ritchie, bassist for the Violent Femmes. He's known to buy all he can find. He probably has a Facebook page.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Existing examples number in the dozens while
the seekers thereof number in the hundreds :-(

Myself not being very persistent about needles
hidden in haystacks, and not being wealthy, and
also not caring as much about "vintage vibe" as
just getting a tool for the job at hand, I've found
happiness with this thing:

I've been intrigued by those for a while, too, and truthfully the thing that makes me want an Earthwood is their unamplified volume/projection. A guy was playing one at a festival campground I was walking around in, and though certainly different tonally, it was as loud and effective as an upright with way less hassle. Is that TB10 pretty assertive, too, or does it suffer from 'acoustic bass guitar syndrome'? If it doesn't, that would be the most perfect thing for me. I only play old-time music for fun here and there, and with no other need for a loud acoustic can't justify the money/space for an upright. I have a more (less?) traditional fretted ABG for when I want an amplified 'unplugged' sound.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I realize that I'll almost definitely never find/be able to afford an Earthwood, but that doesn't make me want one less, haha!

 

[Golem]

I've been intrigued by those for a while, too, and truthfully the thing
that makes me want an Earthwood is their unamplified volume/projection.
A guy was playing one at a festival campground I was walking around in,
and though certainly different tonally, it was as loud and effective as an
upright with way less hassle. Is that TB10 pretty assertive, too, or does it
suffer from 'acoustic bass guitar syndrome'? If it doesn't, that would be
the most perfect thing for me. I only play old-time music for fun here and
there, and with no other need for a loud acoustic can't justify the money/
space for an upright. I have a more (less?) traditional fretted ABG for
when I want an amplified 'unplugged' sound.

It's laminated so it's plainly audible, but I would never call it "loud" :-(
I also have an Eminence compact upright, similar to the BSX if you're
familiar with those. The B-10 is of similar acoustic volume as the BSX
and Eminence ... meaning they have verrrry acoustic voicing but they
are intended to be amped for ensemble playing pizzo. Arco they are of
decent unplugged volume for a "coffee house" environment. Most full
size URBs are amped anywho, if there's a drummer and horns involved.
The only acoustic bass that really works outdoors is a sousaphone.