VBTC/BOVINE/EBMM NEWS AKA As The World Turns

[Big Poppa]

Because any dissolution of a business relationship is real touchy where you still want to be pals I will post Steve's post from the Dudepit explaining Jack's resignaton from VBTC and VBTC's plans for a non EB/MM future.

Steve is refering all of his leads to Bass Northwest. THis is his idea, we cannot and will not single out any dealer to replace VBTC. There are many on the dealer locater and many that post here.

Bottom line is that all three of us sincerely wish the best fo all parties involved.

Here is it courtesy of the Dudpit:

It was a 3-way joint decision between myself, Jack and Sterling and that's all that needs to be said on this or any other public forum really. I won't speak for the other two but I will say that I wish all parties involved (or no longer involved as the case may be) my very best and heartfelt wishes in all of their future endeavors.

I will continue processing all existing EBMM orders that VBTC has on the books including the Dargie Delights due out of SLO sometime in February or March 2007 but will suspend accepting any new EBMM orders from this point forward or until further notice.

Will keep you up to date but that's all the news that is news at this stage ok?

I am referring all my EBMM clients....(edited by me)

 

[bovinehost]

From Camp Bovine: For me, it was simply too much to keep all those balls in the air at once.

I've been doing a metric boat-load of contract linguist work and am right now, in fact, far behind where I should be. I had to concentrate on what was most likely to pay the cable bill on time.

Jack

 

[jeffrey]

Oi.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Success can be a bitch. I'm glad everyone is still pals.

 

[Morrow]

I am sad to hear this and hope things will work out for all involved . I always thought Jack and Steve made a great albeit somewhat wacky team .

Jack do love those basses you've been making BP and I expect him to continue spreading the love around even if he is no longer actively selling them.

 

[maddog]

While I got Steve-o to poke on occasion up there in Phoenix I am going to miss him as my EBMM dealer. He knows how to treat his customers right.

 

[jeffrey]

Ya know.. I'd thought many times about opening a lil' store all my own....

 

[shamus63]

Wow...didn't see this coming!

One of those relationships you take for granted, I guess.

Good luck to Steve...you did right by me in our transactions!

Will there be grief counseling...?

 

[syciprider]

Now this is how everyone should end business relationships. With CLASS!

Hats off to the VBTC troika!

 

[high mileage]

Bummer. Well - if it's best for all parties involved, then I guess it's a good thing. I just bought a LE Bongo from VBTC and was planning on doing the same thing again (especially Blue Dawn!) because he's a great guy to deal with. I wish the best to all involved.

 

[NorM]

I'm gonna take everything I have to say on this issue and synopsize it into....

Thank You!​

I still love everyone and I didn't say anything about cat poop.

 

[Mobay45]

I'm really sorry this didn't work out. It was kind of nice dealing with people that I know and like from the top on down. All I can do at this point is wish everyone involved good luck with whatever direction they decide to take in the future.

 

[Musicman Nut]

From Camp Bovine: For me, it was simply too much to keep all those balls in the air at once.

I've been doing a metric boat-load of contract linguist work and am right now, in fact, far behind where I should be. I had to concentrate on what was most likely to pay the cable bill on time.

Jack

OHHHHHHHHHHH Jack

 

[fresnorich]

It's the end of an era - sweet while it lasted.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Well, it was good doing business with you guys, I hope everyhing is cool.

 

[Colin]

wow......

 

[mrpackerguy]

It was an absolute pleasure doing EBMM business with you both. Two guys who lived and breathed EBMM, knew what the heck they were talking about and treated and still treat their customers with respect, urgency and attention to detail. As I said on DP, I've had a "loss of innocence" moment.

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

Dude's Busride to Insanity - Extended Version EP

For me it was a lot like driving an old hippie school bus down a mountain road and merging onto the Autobahn and trying to keep up with Porsche's and other sports cars. VBTC is really just me in a corner of a garage with pretzel crumbs and crumpled packs of Marlboro Reds strewn about.

It was the combination of a lot of different things but those of you who saw me at School of Bass know that "something" was killing me and kiling me quick. I really didn't have more than a few months to live if that at the stage I was at and that's not being a drama queen, simple fact...I was sick as a dog...dope sick ok? (nuff said on a public forum?) Just too many irons in my fire and I could no longer keep up and my physical health was at severe risk and by the time SOB rolled around I was reduced to a blithering idiot with ashen grey complection and tipping the scales at only105 lbs having lost 22% of my total body weight in about 60 days, having my hair falling out in clumps, double pink eye and waking up urinating blood...I was quite literally down to a life or death situation and everyone saw it but me. The first time Jack and Ray saw me they both screamed like little girls and ran and hid bhind Tiff and started sucking their thumbs!

Who's got a pic?...it's ok...you can post it now. I know one of you bastids took a pic of me that afternoon I kept nodding off at the registration table mid-sentance!

For those of you who do not know my operation I'll explain a bit. VBTC is for the most part a one person (Moi) operation, in a converted 360 square foot garage in the desert. Even if it was just all the diferent aspects of VBTC (Sales, S&R, AR, AP) pulling at me for attention every day toss on top of that being the 24/7 caregivier for my folks...that never takes a break, never and I've been doing it alone now for four years...day in, day out and I guess I was ok even at that level for a few years as things continued to hum along down the road...at least it was managable to some degree but the paper piles were beginning to rise. I had great suppport form a lot of friends and a promising future with my then new lady Karen Volpe whom many of you met at NAMM in January and then this new association with Biff and all the folks at EBMM. The first major speed bump I took at full speed was almost a year ago now when there was a very emotional and downright bitter split occured between myself and my longtime very best friends on the planet, Peter and Karen Dapello which left me kind of lost in space and feeling really alone out there ya know? I still haven't even come to terms with that one yet really.

So, then after comes along The School of Bass and me as "executive producer" which is a great title that transales into "He who gets to do all the little nit picky stuff nobody else will do while also assuming 100% of the financial risk"...the bus kept on humming down the road though even still with my time now split about 50/50 between SOB & VBTC.....then Dale Cruise resigns as my Lakland sales rep and website manager....oh oh...one tire blows out but she still keeps on rolling on down the hill although VBTC's Lakland sales plummet after the 30 DPLEII vBasses get shipped out to customers to generally positive but not stellar reviews...flat tire #2 (End of Chapter 1 of Saga TBC)

 

[HornetAMX]

You've always been a great friend for these past 6 years Dude. Even though I've never met you, I feel like I have. It always is a pleasure talking to you on the phone and I am looking forward to continuing doing business with you. Take care of yourself and eat a few of those Meatloaf Sammiches for me. Diana made some Meatloaf last week because the thought of those sammiches made me hungry for it!

 

[maddog]

Steve-o,

Will be calling shortly. We need to nail down specifics for Saturday. Got to get my chores done first. In the meantime, prepare to bring that bass and your appetite. Everything else will be taken care of.