Leo Gets His Barker!

Leogoff · #1 07-17-2006, 12:10 AM

I've got a Barker Bass on the way...should arrive in a few days. I'm very excited, and curious. I play mainly Blues & R&B, in Memphis, Tn. I'll post to the forum my experiences when it arrives! Can't wait! Leo Goff

Lorenzini · #2 07-20-2006, 05:54 PM

Sweet! Fretted or fretless?

Leogoff · #3 07-23-2006, 07:37 PM

Fretted, and it arrived Friday afternoon. Look for a future post on my initial impressions. Leo

Leogoff · #4 07-23-2006, 09:08 PM

After meandering around with DHL for a few days, the Barker arrived about 4:30 Friday afternoon, just in time for a 7 PM Friday night Beale St. gig. I would be working a show with Johnny Holiday that evening. Johnny’s shows are all Blues, and this show presented a good opportunity to get my feet wet with the Barker. (Johnny Holiday portrayed Carl Perkins in the movie “Walk the Line”, and is a phenomenal Blues guitarist and vocalist) Upon unboxing the Barker, and finally viewing this amazing instrument for the first time, I stood there in total awe of the quality, design, finish, and feel of my new bass. After reviewing the instruction manual, and setting up the stand, I had only enough time to play around with it for only a few minutes, acoustically, without an amp, before I had to get ready to make it to the show. I have a philosophy regarding basses…if they do not sound good acoustically, they probably won’t sound any better amplified…and this bass sounded nothing short of amazing un-amplified. Anyway… off to the show, excited like a 7 year old kid the night before Christmas, for my first gig with the Barker. Backstage, everyone was giving the Barker a lot of attention. Johnny came up saw it, and asked “What is that, and where did you get it?” I filled him in on the details, and he asked if I had spent any time working with it. I told him it had only arrived less than 3 hours ago, and I had only played it for about 4 minutes before I had to get ready for the show. I usually play my old 1959 Fender P-Bass on his shows, but I didn’t even bring it along. Anyway, we kicked off the show, and it took about 8 bars into the first song to get a feel for the Barker. It only got better as the show progressed, and after the 6th song in the show, Johnny threw me about a 3 minute bass solo. I felt good on the Barker, and no one threw anything at me, and Johnny was smiling, so all was well. After finishing out the show, I felt as if I had been playing the Barker for years. So, that is my first experience with my new Barker. I’ll do a more in depth review as I get to know it even better, but as for now, this has been one of my best instrument experiences in my 44 years of playing. Let me say a few things about Lee Barker, who makes this bass. I initially emailed Lee, with the usual questions I sure he gets daily. He responded quickly, answered my questions, and addressed my concerns. We discussed the concept of his design, along with the way he constructs the bass and the tone and playability I could expect. In communicating with Lee via email, and later over the phone, I got the feel of Lee’s passion for his instrument, along with the ingenuity, creativity, and forthright thinking that is so apparent when you view and put your hands on the instrument in person. Lee understated every aspect of the bass, and greatly over delivered in every respect. So, thanks Lee… for a wonderful Bass!

IotaNet · #5 07-23-2006, 10:29 PM

Leo -

I'm really glad you like your new Barker and I'm happy to see that it made it in (the proverbial "nick of") time for your gig.

Thanks for the kind comments -- we really appreciate it!

**yodedude2** · #6 07-24-2006, 07:26 AM

thanks for the neat story! i have experienced some of what you're describing--the first time i played a barker, i immediately felt at home. 'why aren't all basses designed this way?' i wondered (and still do). i suppose there'll always be a market for basses with which one can jump around all over the place (like the guitar players they were originally designed for)....but not for me. i like barkers!

ditto on the words about lee--he's a super nice guy, intelligent and considerate with a sense of humor. later, ron

Kenny Allyn · #7 07-30-2006, 08:00 AM

What Leo ... another new toy ...

Leogoff · #8 07-30-2006, 10:29 AM

Kenny....come to the jam Tuesday night...you won't believe this bass. You'll probably have to have one. Leo

Kenny Allyn · #9 07-30-2006, 05:23 PM

I'm gonna try to make it ... I just got back from Nashville ... did you know they play "country music" there? ... What a difference 200 miles makes. Yeah I heard about the new bass ... I met Slim, Dan and Kevin Eddy at the Flying Saucer and I think Slim told me or maybe Dan. Looks pretty cool ...

Kenny Allyn · #10 08-02-2006, 12:07 AM

OK ... I played it ... it's way cool ...

Leogoff · #11 08-04-2006, 12:09 AM

Glad you liked it. If you're down on Beale Friday night, I be with the Blues Healers, 9 to 1, @ King's Palace. Stop by and play it some more if you get a chance. Leo

Leogoff · #12 08-30-2006, 01:58 AM

Now that I've worked and lived with my Barker, I'm working up a review of my thoughts, and what I've discovered working with my Barker Bass. I'll post it in the next few days, so stay tuned.....Leo

IotaNet · #13 08-31-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leogoff

Now that I've worked and lived with my Barker, I'm working up a review of my thoughts, and what I've discovered working with my Barker Bass. I'll post it in the next few days, so stay tuned.....Leo

Leo -

We're looking forward to seeing your review!

(Especially now that I know that you're an "Air-Head"

)

ElBajista · #14 08-31-2006, 09:24 AM

Congrats on the Barker! Ever since I've heard of these, I've been GASing like nothing else for one.

Leogoff · #15 09-01-2006, 07:31 AM

Go ahead and take the plunge...I have 22 basses in my "arsenal". I usually carry two basses to the shows. Since I got the Barker, It's the only bass I have played...both on stage and in the studio. Don't make the mistake this bass is not versatile. It is capable of delivering just about anything you ask it to do. Contrary to what some comments have been, Slapping and popping does not require any drastic changes in technique. On the first show I used the Barker on, (only several hours after receiving the Barker) I was thrown a solo during the 6th song in the set. At that time, I probably had less than 1 hour total time on the Barker. During the solo, I managed some slapping riffs...I surprised myself how they came off. I don't use a pick, and I think the Barker would not lend itself well to using one. But with the tone and note articulation the Barker produces, I can't imagine anyone needing to use a pick. Anyway, I hope a Barker is in your future, and thanks for the congrats! Leo

Leogoff · #16 09-01-2006, 07:36 AM

UH-OH

I meant to say in the last post " Don't make the mistake thinking this bass is not versatile" Sorry for any confusion. (Guess I should read my own posts before submitting)