Who got you hooked on MM basses?

[rowyco]

I might get some heat for my answer, but I'm just responding to the thread truthfully.

Mark Hoppus

The first time I saw the music video for "Josie" I thought, what kind of bass is he playing. I hadn't seen anything like it before and it was love at first sight (that oval pickguard and 3+1 headstock design, beautiful). But it did take many years for me to hear one in person. And after that, I was hooked.

 

[Randracula]

Dunno, don't care as his agent had me searching for that bass (with the help of Aussie Bill Bolton) for the better end of a month and we got stiffed. He paid $8,500 for it about 5 years ago IIRC. I personally hopes he trips over it and bends his sock.

That Sucks!I hope he does trip over it!

 

[Tony Renaud SR5]

I just got a copy of the latest Bass Guitar Magazine - only because Will Lee's in it - and noticed a new Gallien-Krueger ad with Flea. He's pictured with that same J in the ad - nice shot, nice bass.

I've seen one or two endorsement agreements that high-profile acquaintances of mine had. Usually, the company requires the endorsee to appear in print and in public performances with the equipment in question. I'd imagine it's probable that Flea's arrangement with Modulus is at an end.

My concern for Flea's career, playing, or endorsement deals could fill a thimble and still have room left over for another thimble, but I still find this stuff amusing.

 

[Psychicpet]

$8500 for that J ........ hmmm...... tooo much time and tooo much money on his hands huh?
crappy about the "stiffing" though, I always had hoped Fela was more Karmically aware

oh well, he'll probably play a 30th 'Ray and get all misty eyed and be callin' BP

 

[bovinehost]

I'm glad to see that I've been a small part of why some of you are playing these basses.

My story, well, I've told it before, but my roommate at the time sold vintage gear to big famous guys way back in the late 70s. I'd come home and there in the living room, we'd have - just as one example - Nazareth, sipping tea and playing some of Bill's guitars.

So Bill was on the road a lot and one day he left me a Stingray with a note. "Play this and let me know what you think." This would have been 77, so the bass in question was either a 76 or a 77. I thought it looked weird (and how funny is that, all things considered?) and it sat around for a while before I eventually took it to rehearsal, where it commenced to kicking my butt most seriously.

Been playing SRs and SR5s and now Bongos ever since.

It had nothing to do with famous guys playing them, because I didn't know of any famous guys playing them back then. And here we are, nearly 30 years down the road, and Sterling calls me - and talks to my wife. My four year old left Sterling a message the other day, in fact. (Did you get that one?)

Life is weird. And sometimes very, very cool.

Jack

 

[Father Gino]

It's all my wife's fault, though she's unaware of it. She was shopping at the Christmas Tree Store and I couldn't stand it anymore. So I walked over to GC next door. There were a bunch of basses on the wall in the uber secret bass room with 3/1 tuners on their headstocks. "I remember those!" says I. They still make them? One of them was a fretless Sterling. I noodled with it and was very impressed. A month or two later there was one for sale on ebay. I casually bid on it, but didn't crack the reserve. It didn't sell., but I was the highest bidder. The seller e-mailed me and sold it to me for my bid which was a great deal for me. He drove up from NJ and because I wouldn't send him money outside of ebay's auspices. He claimed he was an EB endorsed artist. He gave me a CD. I thought the CD was horrible, but I still love that bass. So much so that I then bought a fretless SR5 & Sabre. The Sterling is still my favorite and it seemed destined to belong to me.

 

[phatduckk]

i wanted a Sterling before i ever knew what it was called and way before i ever played one ...

So about 12 years ago 5 was at the grocery store with my mom. Id just started playing the bass and saw bass player magazine and asked my mom if i could get it. so i got this issue of bass player and it had Rob Truijillo on the cover playing an SR5 (a blue one - and i think he was playing on the beach or something).

I thought this was the coolest looking bass id ever seen. Later i found out it was called a StingRay 5 and started looking at magazines etc to see what the 4 string looked like. I finally caught a glimpse and LOVED how it looked. After buying more magazines etc i found out that there was this StringRay Looking thing that was smaller and had a pup selector thinggy and a strange name. Being a small dude and loving the pup switch I decided that I want this smaller Stingray thing. I must have one some day!

Years later I had a real job and a band and thought it was time for a propper bass. Started looking online and found this place called the Dude Pit. I posted asking if these Sterling things would work with punk rock ... and got some thumbs ups from some dudes ... one of which called himself BovineHost (this is about 2000 maybe 2001 - before i knew this forum existed).

A week later I cruised by the san jose GC on my way home from work. On my way I thought "if they have a blue dawn sterling w/ black pg and maple board im gonna buy it" .... i walk thrun the door and there it is, staring at me. I played it, fell in love, baught it and have never looked back.

It was really meant to be ... the Sterling is the bass i saw in a picture when i was a kid and now im all grown up and "know" about basses and its still my fav. Ive never played a better one. And now I know that walking into a store and seeing an EBMM in the exact color combo i want (a sparkley at that) is pretty rare. it was just supposed to be this way

 

[Steve Dude Barr]

I always had hoped Fela was more Karmically aware

In all fairness to him I never spoke to him personally about that bass so he probably doesn't even know about how hard Bill Bolton and I worked to find him that bass. I'm sure his agent took all the credit and possibly a kickback from Brody.

I met him once at a Blaster's, "X" & Mary's Danish benefit concert for Barbara Boxer at the Hollywood Palladium in the mens room at adjacent urinals when his hair was dyed green and he was a cool mofo.

 

[Colin]

Did anyone ask BP about flea at the open house? here's a quote from BP
Kids
Flea is a nice person. I always had a good relationship with him. I didn't have a good relationship with his attorney.....

If Flea and I sat down I will tell you that he might be surprised.

I will tell more at the open house but if it gets spread your dead\

He used Stingrays on almost all of the rhcp....where did you get that bull****?

was it a quote after he left for modulous?

 

[bovinehost]

Flea is a nice person. I always had a good relationship with him. I didn't have a good relationship with his attorney.....

I tell you, boys, and most of you who have the exposure to BP will know what I'm talking about....when in doubt, trust BP.

Right, Steebo?

Jack

 

[Colin]

I'll let you know when I get back from Iceland

Long way to go to drop off a pickguard?

 

[Colin]

I still love me some Biff and Jackson though ....good eggs both of em.

Coupla Poopenheimers for sure!!

You'll get no arguement from me on that one

 

[Colin]

As soon as I can get the spelling of humor and color right, I'll introduce the word Poopenheimer into my repertoire

 

[strummer]

While Tony Levin, Cliff Williams and Pino Palladino to me made magic with Stingrays, and I sometimes owned a SR or two, I guess I should answer Big Poppa, because seeing a Bongo for the first time I just knew it was my bass. Happily, the tone was just as great as the look, and that's why I play Bongos.

 

[Colin]

hey strummer ,what's the idea with getting this thread back on topic?

 

[strummer]

hey strummer ,what's the idea with getting this thread back on topic?

terribly sorry

Now, was it Iceland? Eggs? Poopenheimers?

I'm putting in a new floor today in the hall, and since last night I finally got my aduio system on line again, Hightway To Hell is blasting! Man I love my Energy Veritas

I placed an ad yesterday about trading a *****y F*nder Jazz 1975 for a SR5 or something funner than a jazz, and I get answers already. Not interesting ones, but still...

Off topic enough?

 

[Colin]

Off topic enough?

perfect, and with the right blend of sarcasms and wit. I wanted to write the word 'humour' but that's how we got off topic in the first place. Now back to Who got you hooked on MM basses?

 

[strummer]

perfect, and with the right blend of sarcasms and wit. I wanted to write the word 'humour' but that's how we got off topic in the first place. Now back to Who got you hooked on MM basses?

You know, the reason I broke the rules and strayed on topic was that i didn't read the thread through before answering. That said, I think someone said Dudley Gimpel was the man in designing the Bongo. I can't really see BP staying out of it though, so Ill say this: Bp, Dudley, the rest of the EBMM players who provided input, and that car design team made it for me!

How about you?

 

[tiffles]

Grant Norsworthy. all of you will say wha? but he was the bassist for the Paul Colman Trio and even though they are no longer, i still love them so so so so much. they are the only band i get 'teen girlish' about.

anyway grant played a honey burst sr5 and it was the most beautiful thing

so the original plan was save for one of these....until i saw a bongo, thanks jack.

anyway saw grant at a music festival about a year ago and told him i was buying a bonger, he was stoked and we talked bass for a while. i swooned a little. the guy did teach me how to play 500 before a concert once. hes fantastic.

 

[tommyindelaware]

[

Except when I dream of Wizzard of Oz monkey's in little bellman's suits in the trees outside my bedroom window....those fuggers creep me out!![/QUOTE]

if u stop eating spicey chiniese food just before u go to bed.....they won't come........