Bass is under represented at NAMM Museum

[Ukiah Bass]

Just toured NAMM's Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, California. Lots of instruments on display, but mainly guitars, harmonicas and the like. I saw one old electric upright, a 65 Fender P, a lefty Hofner, a Steinberger electric upright, an upright from the 40s, and a Ric. That's it. Pretty lousy representation of the low end. Bass manufacturers need to step up our presence! As usual, we're invisible in the pop music consciousness.

[nortonrider]

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

I saw one old electric upright, a 65 Fender P, a lefty Hofner, a Steinberger electric upright, an upright from the 40s, and a Ric.

That seems like a pretty good representation to me.
What basses do you think should have been included?

[BassOfSpades]

bass always has and always will be under represented. just gotta get used to it.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

Bass manufacturers need to step up our presence!

It's definitely not the manufacturers fault.

[Dirk Diggler]

A California museum without Alembic?

Dirk

[Old Joe]

I tried to imagine all the basses that should be there but aren't. Then realized most of those old workhorses are still out there kicking it, and smiled.

[baba]

I'm sure they will gladly take donations.

[Ukiah Bass]

A sign stated Ned Steinberger donated the white electric upright.

My point is that the museum did nothing to help visitors understand the role of bass in popular music. Guitar -- eh, everyone gets that instrument. Piano was very prominent. So we're brass instruments. And in terms of shear volume, bass was almost invisible.

Frankly, NAMM should be ashamed of this shortsighted ode to music. The museum is really an ode to guitars and harmonicas.