ISB Convention

KSB - Ken Smith · #1 06-07-2005, 08:41 AM

"THE" ISB Thread?.. Lets keep all the ISB stuff on here if we can agree....

I know it's ISB week. I can also tell because it's so quiet around here. I am sure most if not all Bass Luthiers are out there looking and showing their 'wares'. I wish I had the time to attend but I am swamped over here and can barely get out for Lunch. Maybe the 'attendees' can each post about the ISB and show us some pics.. tell us what's new in the Bass world.. Stuff like that.. Plz?.. thx..

Sticky for a month or so?.. Mods?

Jeff Bollbach · #2 06-07-2005, 11:01 PM

Good news from the front in Kalamazoo! Nickel won a tone award and Ahnold won one as well. In addition Arnold got an honerable mention in the convention favorite dept. I'm still crying in my beer cuz I couldn't make it. Don't have a full list but Mario Lamarre apparently took convention favorite with his elephant head. No one got the gold. More to come.

Ben Rose · #3 06-08-2005, 09:34 AM

Are there any pics of the new Ergonomic Bass from Ahnuld?

joe_sorren · #4 06-08-2005, 12:13 PM

Thanks for the update Jeff. I can't wait to hear more from the front.

I am so happy for Arnold (why do you all call him ahnold?). I know he worked very hard on completing his new instrument(s?) while trying to get orders for the new standards out, and ran himself pretty hard, it's nice to see the hard work pay off.

Congradulations Arnold!

Jeff, please let us know when you hear more, ok?

Ben Rose · #5 06-08-2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_sorren

I am so happy for Arnold (why do you all call him ahnold?).

Just got used to pronouncing it that way after the CA elections. No disrespect intended.

Marcus Johnson · #6 06-08-2005, 01:26 PM

You know, like Ahhhnold Shnitzeneggar. The Luthierator.

joe_sorren · #7 06-08-2005, 01:28 PM

I figured it was something like that. I knew it wasn't disrespect. I was just wondering, since it seems to be more or less a constant, I figured there was some history to it.

Sorry to slightly derail the ISB post, and looking forward to more news...

**Damon Rondeau** · #8 06-08-2005, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

Just got used to pronouncing it that way after the CA elections. No disrespect intended.

I think our Ahhnold has got a bigger positive balance at the Bank of Respect than anything the Caleefornia Ahhnold has put away over the years....

Ben Rose · #9 06-08-2005, 02:31 PM

So anyway, let's see some pics of basses

Jeff Bollbach · #10 06-08-2005, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Rose

So anyway, let's see some pics of basses

That's prolly gonna be a week or so. They are all offline in Michigas .

John Sprague · #11 06-08-2005, 08:21 PM

Reporting live from Bassapolooza, ISB 2005!

I got a chance to take a few snaps just to show you all what you're missing, so we'll get more of you to come out next time. All in all, the show is growing in leaps and bounds, with an incredible number of basses to check out. Also, the level of artistry in the competition room was just sick. It was mentioned here during the last competition that the level of bass luthieri is probably as high as at any point in histroy, and I really don't think anyone would doubt that after checking out what is here. There are also roving bands of very hip, slowly aging young people with mad chops playing all the instruments, so I'd say the bass artform is in pretty good shape.

Piccage:

First, representing the TB community, our two winners of Tone Certificates, Ahnold and Nnick:

Ahnold's bass (pardon the blur from my shaky old hands):

The pics don't do it justice, there are many details about this bass that I hope we'll find on Arnold's site soon.

Nnick's bass:

Nnick's bass was parked at the Cincinnati Bass Cellar booth, which is right by mine, so I listened to players ooh & aah about it all day. It really deserved that tone award.

Another TB stand-out is Brent Norton's Rooster bass. Talk about breaking the mold and turning some heads, everybody has gawked at this thing:

And here's a special performance by Nick, playing the Rooster. I don't know what was funnier, seeing Nick playing like this or seeing Brent's reaction. I think afterwards Brent had to go put on a clean pair of shorts:

Brent, Nnick, and Dr. Mike pecanic, chillin'.

Here are some shots of the two rooms, full of basses. The pics don't really convey the full effect. Most people spent the first day of the show just trying to believe it, it's like no matter where you stand you're in arms reach of a quarter of a million dollars worth of hand-picked inventory from the best shops in the country.

Anywho, it's a great show with alot of great people. Hanging out with these guys is too much fun. More to follow.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #12 06-08-2005, 09:52 PM

John - you effin' ROCK, man. Thanks for all the great pics and the update. The pic of Nnick with his leg being fondled by the crazed-looking little dude in glasses kinda scares me, but at least it looks like a good time is being had by all. Sid King called and asked if there was anything I wanted him to check in on while he's there, and I told him that I'd love to hear what Brian Bromberg and our own Stefano Sciascia sound like live tonewise, so if you have any thoughts on this, please share! Other than that just remember to eat too much, drink too much, and don't bend over to pick up the soap when Ahhnuld and/or Nnick are around.

I'm already scheming on how to make the next one in 2007.

Peter Ferretti · #13 06-08-2005, 09:57 PM

Thats great for Arnold and Nick, two of the best luthiers I have worked with, and I am glad they won it. Does anyone know how much Arnolds new basses would cost? Are the commision or is it a one time gig?
Thanks,
Peter

Jeff Bollbach · #14 06-08-2005, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Fitzgerald

John - you effin' ROCK, man. Thanks for all the great pics and the update. The pic of Nnick with his leg being fondled by the crazed-looking little dude in glasses kinda scares me,

That would be Ahnold, and he's six foot tall! It's all relative. Thanks Mr. Spragoo for the vicarious experience.

**Chris Fitzgerald** · #15 06-08-2005, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUD GOTYERBACK

That would be Ahnold, and he's six foot tall! It's all relative.

I was aware that it was Ahhnuld...just didn't know he was 6 feet. I was just commenting on how he makes Nnick look like a Ggiant! Congrats to both on their awards. Both basses are absolutely droolworthy, or in Paul's case...

...uh, nevermind.

JimmyM · #16 06-09-2005, 02:12 AM

Thanks for posting the pics, John! Nice to put a face to the names. Boy, how old is Brent? 16? I saw his rooster bass on www.rockabilly.com and was quite blown away by his artwork.

Arnold's and Nick's basses are pretty wild looking, too. Shows a lot of creativity. The round lower bout on Arnold's is a bit hard to take at first, but now that I've looked at it a couple times, it's growing on me.

Paul Warburton · #17 06-09-2005, 05:35 AM

Johno, thanks for the pics....I even love Nnicks Harpo Marx leg thing with Arnold. I came close to makin' it this year ( thanks for the personal invitation John ) next year for sure!
Wer'e all very proud.......
Your Family

KSB - Ken Smith · #18 06-09-2005, 07:17 AM

Yo Arnie....... That 'Lopsy-Lou' Won something?.. Go figure..lol..

BTW, where did you get that nice rib wood?

Congrats...

Don't let it go to your head Arnie, I have more work for you.. at pre-ISB prices hopefully...lol

Paul Warburton · #19 06-09-2005, 07:30 AM

Hey, in that second picture, under the boys doing the Harpo Marx bit with Nnick holding Arnolds leg....the pic of Arnolds Ergo, down, coming out of the back side of the tailpiece....what the hell is that??? I have a 1/4" female jack receptor for an Underwood pick-up similar to that. Is that what it is? or??
Just curious.
Any bets on who'll sell something first? Basses, I mean.....Mike, this doesn't count one of your Tailpieces, or something equally small in cost, like a tailpiece wire.

JTGale · #20 06-09-2005, 08:52 AM

The thingie sticking out the back of the tailpiece looks like a piece of the stand and its subsequent reflection on the bass. My Engles stand has a longer support leg like that one that falls in the same place if I took a pic from that angle.

And thanks, John, for all the great porn. I don't know how I missed this years gathering. Michigan is only a few miles from here ...