"It was My Dad’s." A bassplayer's story

[unbasslichkeit]

This really happened, though I probably read more into it than I should. Wottheheck.

A few years ago (maybe more than a few) I was walking up the steps of our local Community Center where there was a teenage Battle of the Bands going on inside. A bunch of kids - one of the groups - was sitting around the steps, half warming up acoustically and half just hanging out.

I particularly noticed how one of the kids in the band really stood out in two ways. First, he appeared to be quieter more reserved than the rest, older in some kinda way - in other words, just about the the kind of guy you’d want as a bass player in your band. A singer should have Elvis - the way he held the bass, just warming up, this kid had Entwistle. Even though he wasn't playing much, he was good - you could tell.

Second, he was holding a vintage Fender Jazz Bass, probably from about 1965-66. Lake Placid Blue, matching headstock. Dead, dead mint. The kind of axe that would make George Gruhn raise one eyebrow and smile and any other vintage dealer grow fangs.

I nodded to him, and said "That’s a really nice bass." (Yeah, I admit it - serious case of bass envy.)

He replied, "Thanks. It was my Dad’s."

Whoa.

I said something to him like "Cool, Good luck", and walked on, amazed.

Note that he didn’t say that his Dad sold it to him, nor that he’d borrowed it from his Dad. Not even that his dad had given the bass to him for a present, though I got the definite feeling that it sorta worked out that way.

It was his Dad's, and now it's his. A legacy - that you do not mess with.

I hope that bass player did his Dad proud. I hope I see him gigging round town someday.

I also kinda hope my daughter learns to play someday, and maybe gets to use that line when some guy trying to hit on her asks her about that stack-pot Jazz Bass she's working out on.

"Thanks. It was my Dad’s." Five words which contained all the meaning they needed to, just like a perfect bass line ought.

Happy Eastertide, y'all.

[Kitsapbass]

cool anecdote, brother.

[jsingles]

thats very cool

[Dbassboarder]

makes me jealous, my family's musical legacy is just starting with my generation, though I did get a sick armstrong tenor sax from an uncle who hadn't touched it in 30 years (when he bought it )

[pedroims]

Great story, That is the future of my basses, I will pass them to my kid, not plan for sale any of them, that is the same reason I do not buy any bass.

[ExaltBass]

Thanks for sharing - cool...

[GeneralElectric]

Most of my guitars are my father's since he doesn't play anymore he gave them all to me. To him, they're just old guitars.

[Basshole]

[kevteop]

I don't have kids, and have no intention of having kids, but my sister's little boy (now 4) is very musically-inclined. I've already told her that if I get hit by a bus, he can have my Warwick.

He can't play it yet, but if he asks me to play something and I get a bum note, he gives me this stern look. When I correct it he says "That's better". Little bastard.

[sedan_dad]

My daughter has been playing drums for a few years now.(she 17)
A couple of months ago she decided she was going to play bass in a church band.
So I told her go pick one out and she grabbed my '77 Musicmaster. So I guess it's hers now.
I don't mind at all .I told her ,just as long as she uses the hard shell case.
NO GIG BAGS.
I just so glad she's digging playing the bass.
I'm trying to give her an amp but she says they have one at the church.
I want to get her a Ampeg combo. Maybe a BA300/115.
I hope she sticks with it.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

Most of my guitars are my father's since he doesn't play anymore he gave them all to me. To him, they're just old guitars.

That reminds me of an old Syd Barrett story, apparently throughout his life people had tried to track him down and interview him about Piper and the early days of Pink Floyd. Apparently Syd didn't really understand why there was all the fuss about an album he'd recorded twenty, thirty years ago.

As for the thread, that's fantastic.

[Dave Muscato]

Nice story, but I have to say, I hate it when people say "dead mint" when something's not. Mint means mint - 100%, no excuses perfect. If it's *ever* been played, it's no longer mint. Mint means stickers, tags, and no finish checking whatsoever. An unplayed, stickered & tagged 43-year-old instrument is almost certainly not mint unless it's been kept in a climate-controlled, vacuum-sealed room...

Sorry to rant; I'm just tired of seeing "Mint Condition - Only used twice, one small ding near the bridge" on eBay - um, that would be USED!

For example, George Gruhn calls this '66 Strat "Excellent Condition" - that is, three grades below mint (Mint, Near-Mint, Exceptionally Fine, and then finally Excellent):



Seriously, though, cool story.

[BassXgirl]

Originally Posted by sedan_dad

So I told her go pick one out and she grabbed my '77 Musicmaster. So I guess it's hers now.

I started playing bass at 17 and my first bass was also a used '78 Musicmaster. awww memories Sounds like she's got in her genes.

To the OP...
That's a sweet story.

I don't think we had any bassists in our family, but we do have many musicians going back 4 generations that I'm aware of. When my grandfather moved on up to that cool jazz club in the sky, his (now collectable) Leonardo Nunes ukulele was passed down to me. It's not a bass, but it does have four strings!

[gweimer]

Reminds me of the story I read about Berry Oakley, Jr. taking his dad's old bass out touring. Everywhere. At some point, he decided to get it appraised, and when he found what dad's old bass , aka The Tractor, was worth, he decided to rethink taking it out. That may have been where Fender CS came and did the replica.

[Nikoubis]

My dad's legacy is a strat about 20 years older than me, with which he still gigs from time to time.

[NoobBassist]

the story just motivated me with more GAS pains as now im going out to look for a hand me downable bass guitar which my kids can inherit when they start playing bass... *counting money and trying to figure out the total value of all my basses and the amp*

[Diggler]

Sounds like my story... a 1967 sunburst Precision given to me by my dad that he played in his bands.

[Chebass88]

My 1978 Fender Precision was my father's. He made a lot of money on that bass in the late 70's & early 80's. He let me use it all through HS & gave it to me as a HS graduation present. I hope to pass it on to my kids someday so they can use it & say "This bass was my grandpop's & dad's bass for the past 50 years".

The graduation present also included a 1960's Ampeg B-15N Portaflex & half of an upright bass (half of the cost, not half of a bass!)

Thanks for the story!

imp.

[Fazed]

My 1st guitar... yes, guitar, was my dad's. Nothing special, a Bentley acoustic that he picked up around 30 years ago. He gave it to me when I moved out. It's not worth much monetarily, but the sentimental value is priceless. It actually sounds very nice for a cheap guitar. My son has picked it up a few times, but prefers his Strat. He will inherit the Bentley from me eventually. To his credit, he can also knock out a pretty solid beat on my drums, and has recently expressed interest in my basses. He even has picked out the one he wants. He is a pretty musical kid, and of course I encourage him in that direction. He has asked me to get him a beater bass so he can learn, and then wants one of mine. I imagine he will get them all someday... hopefully later than sooner.

MattO

[mjolnir]

Groovy story.