I finally stepped up and bought my new bass yesterday. I have been talking to Jerry Fretwell and he has helped me all the way. Jerry has tremendous knowledge and offers great service and has great prices. OK.....I ordered the Englehart Swingmaster, the blonde beauty, from Jerry yesterday. I have been wanting the Swingmaster for a long time and it will be here soon.

Thanks Jerry for taking the time with me and making this possible.

Ron Siver
Dorothy Jane Siver & The Siver family
http://www.dorothyjanesiver.com

Congrats! - You won't be disappointed . . .

Jerry's "Tha (BG Bass) MAN" !

There's one up on Ventura Craigslist for a paltry $600. Wish I lived in the area, but alas I am on the east coast. Hope someone finds it a nice home. Congratulations, by the way. Enjoy!

I finally stepped up and bought my new bass yesterday. I have been talking to Jerry Fretwell and he has helped me all the way. Jerry has tremendous knowledge and offers great service and has great prices. .... [/url]

Good For You Ron & Family :D ! Yep .... Jerry is a straight-shooter !! My Pal-At-A-Great-Distance-Tex-Mex-Tejano (whom I've never met but still dearly luv ;) ) knows watt I'm talking about.

The more you play the Englehardt ... the looser it gets ... get after it. :D I have a '40 Kay that seems to be real happy to be played again after such a long-while of sitting around. Ron .... I know you have a fine upstanding family band with a most-excellent young lady daughter fiddler. I wish you the best and hope I can hear your band sometime. Have y'all had any luck finding a banjerist ? Gosh I wish I was closer by .... I'd love to hear your band. Good Luck and keep after it.

Bob,

We have good friends living just outside Billings, MT. If we ever make it out that way, I will be sure to let you know. Long trip, 4 day drive he tells me from Northern NY to Billings. Maybe this wonderful music will take us there someday. I can't wait to break that Swingmaster in. I bought the whole package: Swingmaster bass with 6 rounds bass pickup, heavy bag, Innovation Ultra Black strings, and last but not least......the Bass Cart (wheelbarrel) for festival "carrying". We are really working hard to make our music better, my fiddling daughter is getting smoother and faster everyday. She is only 11 yrs old and has been going thru some voice changes and she will go thru more I am sure. She just loves Bluegrass and Fiddle music. We are going to be recording soon, hope to have some music on the website when we finish recording. Take care.

.... We have good friends living just outside Billings, MT ....

Hmmm ... Sounds like it could be The Fred Buckley Family of awesome musicians from Roundup :D .

I hope you like your Swingmaster like I like mine! I got mine from Jerry as well. Jerry is the man!

Love my swingmaster that I got from Jerry

i did the same today also.......got the EC-1 and some other goodies. this will be my first DB....my band went on tour with a bluegrass band this past week and it totally made my itch for a DB too much to resist especially since the bassist in the bluegrass band let me play his DB.

Great news about your Swingmaster Ron! Don't forget to post a few pictures when it arrives, would love to see it.
I bought a '52 Kay with violin corners from Jerry a few years ago at Cabin Fever in Hampton, Va. and I just love it. As far as Jerry Fretwell goes you'd have to search far and wide to find a nicer more genuine fella. Good luck with the new bass and don't forget the pics.
Jim

"Maidens Crossing"
"Old Time" Bluegrass Music