Just got home after taking the Barker Bass to my groups rehearsal for the first time. Wowzers!!!! Stellar tone... this is the perfect axe for this gig. Talked to my son, an elementary school music teacher who is a wonderful bassist/guitarist in his own right...and after I got done gushing over this thing, he asked:
"So, dad - how does it feel to realize you own a 5000.00 Warrior Bass... and it's your BACKUP bass?" And we laughed. Folks, the Warrior is indeed a wonderful bass, but it now sits in 2nd chair to the Barker.
paige

Being a new Barker owner myself, I can really appreciate how you feel. While the B1 has not become my primary bass, it was perfect for the first set (usually a bit lighter while the dinner crowds are still munching :) ) of my two gigs this past weekend.

I, too, am in awe of the tone. Mine is tuned BEADG and the clarity of the B string is amazing, very deep yet at the same time clear and crisp. Incredible sustain ....

I see a long relationship in the making with the Barker ... :cool:

One thing that cracked us all up... on one tune I have an extended solo - pretty much written out, which takes me from low C up to Bb (10th fret on the C string). Hadn't had much time with Bob(My BArker's name, according to my students who name ALL my instruments and amps)yet. The une starts... everythings fine... get to my solo - it all starts well, everyone's smiling... wow - that BArker really sounds good... then when I make my first shift up the neck, I get off just a quarter tone or so... just enought to make you shiver a bit... make the next shift - at which point I just lose it entirely, and am laughing so hard while I try ever so desperately to reel the intonation back in, but to no avail... the song just kind of dies down, Brent (Lead singer), Dave (drummer) are just in tears they are laughing so hard...me? I am considering that wearing Depends might have been a good idea. Brent finally stops choking long enough to ask me if I need to get a GPS device installed so I can find out exactly where the key of Eb is on the Barker.... rehearsal was just shut down for about 5 minutes. Felt like I was part of a PDQ Bach performance.
Priceless stuff - this fretless business sometimes!
I have been playing fretless for years - and that is what made this so funny - haven't had the wheels come off like that for years
paige

I understand your feelings about your Barker being your primary Bass. I've used my Barker B1 as my primary Bass on just about every gig since I received it, back in July of 06'. I've acquired a lot of cool basses over the years, but so far, my B1 is what I've been using...and I gig at least 3 times a week. I did a big show New Years Eve with Keith Sykes and had on stage a Custom PRS Bass, and a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Signature Hollow Body, but that's the first time since I've had my B1 that I've even had another Bass on a gig with me. It's just hard to beat the Barker in my opinion. I'm glad you're enjoying yours. All the best, Leo

i'm with leo on this one. i keep thinking well, i'll take a strap-on to the gig, or i'll take another vertical bass (that i've been working on), but no--when it comes time to load up and go play the gig, i always take the B1. always. it plays best, sounds best, looks best. :cool: later, ron

I understand your feelings about your Barker being your primary Bass. I've used my Barker B1 as my primary Bass on just about every gig since I received it, back in July of 06'. I've acquired a lot of cool basses over the years, but so far, my B1 is what I've been using...and I gig at least 3 times a week. I did a big show New Years Eve with Keith Sykes and had on stage a Custom PRS Bass, and a 1973 Gibson Les Paul Signature Hollow Body, but that's the first time since I've had my B1 that I've even had another Bass on a gig with me. It's just hard to beat the Barker in my opinion. I'm glad you're enjoying yours. All the best, Leo