Jonny B's bass giveaway poll

Bassman7PM said:

Hey Jonny B, Thanks for posting this opportunity.

I don't really want the bass for myself as I'm quite happy with my Lakland 55-01. However my 12 year old son, Eric has been bitten by both the music bug and now the bass bug. He's going into the seventh grade and has been playing baritone horn and recently was inspired by his instructor to move to the tuba. He started playing in the school band while in fifth grade and at this point in time has totally completed the seventh grade mastery book on his own. He reads music probably better than me (but I won't let him know it), it's a father thing. Anyway, I play for our Praise and Worship band at church and after watching me play and being inspired by the youth band he's now begging me to teach him how to play bass. For you guys who aren't dads yet, it's hard to explain the feeling of having your son wanting to following in your footsteps. So, without having another bass for him to practice on I've got him doing finger exercises on my MIM Strat to get him use to the fingerboard.

Last week while I was stretched out on the couch watching TV after a long day at work and reheasals, my son grabs the guitar and starts playing the theme from MASH when the show started, and every show that came on afterwards he was able to pick out the melody line from hear. Even my wife was in awe. Yesterday he discovered my link to Talkbass and was totally blown away at the amount of information and types of basses out there. It's my dream to be able to get a decent bass for him but you know how the economy is with gas prices, groceries, mortgage, private school tuition, etc. Not tryng to sing a sad song but my ability to buy him a bass at this point in time is dampened by my 22 year old daughter, who still lives at home, now about to have her second child. Also, being the main bread winner, I also have the awesome responsibility of caring for my wife's sister who had a stroke 2 years ago leaving her paralyzed one on side and lives with us with limited Medicaid and no personal insurance.

But It's all good, win or lose I'll do whatever I can to get him a bass so that he can become what I envision, and that's being the next Victor or Jaco, or Marcus or dare i say it, Eric (Bassman7PM-II).

Peace

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SelenaBassGirl said:

Let's see, how do I convince someone to give me a bass? All I can say is that I have always been in love with the sound of the bass. As a teenager, I would use a yardstick and pretend I was John Taylor (um, I am a chick!). It wasn't until last year when I bought my first bass guitar at a flea market for $70. Then lost my job a month later (still out of job). It sat there because I had no idea how to play it nor could I afford a teacher. In October, I started playing around with it. I started learning to play song by song, by myself by ear. Then, in Jan.,I managed to scrape some money to buy myself a Fender Squier bass. Then won an Ibanez on eBay but got screwed on it. He didn't tell me it was missing a tuning key. Saddened that I couldn't afford to fix it up just yet, I sat it in her stand, only polishing it up now and then. I play my bass every single day. I think I did well for myself considering. I have started my collection of basses, and would love to own a 6 stringer-just to have more of a challenge. Not to mention that it is a beautiful bass! And I have a friend who plays one and I think it would tickle him knowing that I learned a six string one! haha!
I don't know what else to say to convince you to give it to me, but heck, if you are giving it away, think of me! :0)
I think I will look good with it!

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WashburnBasser said:

I'm a 16 year old high school student. I'm not currently in a band, but some of my friends and I are looking to start an experimental/progressive rock band. My friends and I all agree that a 6 string bass would help fill out the empty sonic space (with only one guitar) and is essentially needed to get the band started This is due to some of the ideas we have had involving all sorts of riffs that would necessitate a 6 string bass. The problem is, I have no job, despite looking for one very hard. I had a job almost guaranteed for the summer, but the guy canceled out on me last minute, so now that college kids are home there are really no jobs available. There may very well be others who are deserving of this bass, but believe me, if you choose to send the bass to me, it will be loved, cherished, and it will help advance music (as that is going to be our bands goal). Also, Jonny B, this is a great thing you are doing, and I hope whoever receives the bass will cherish it as much as I would!

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Rakie said:

Hello Johnny B.

Like most here, I am the "starving college student". I've given everything I had to get into the college I wanted and pursue my dream. I will be graduating next Saturday, I am very excited to be ushering in a new life style. However, my school has no dorms and driving 80 miles a day was still cheaper then moving across the street from the school... I've been paying about $500 a month on gas and parking.

I've sold my Lakland, my BTB6 string and a lot of other great toys from different hobbies (Aquariums, exotic fish, exotic animals, fishing equipment etc etc). I had to get rid of a lot of things to attend my school, all completely worth it, but at the moment I find myself in possession of an ampeg 410 and an Ashdown mag300, and no bass.

Thanks,
Tim.


Also, wanted to say. Good luck to all who apply. And nice keeping the love in the family Johnny B.

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mb17180116 said:

Im sure there are other people out there that deserve this bass more than me, but ill give it a go.

I started out playing 6 string guitar about ten or so years ago when i was around 12. Never had lessons, couldn't afford them. Played on an old Harmony electric that had about and inch high action. This started my love for music which has never stopped.

Age 20 I had my first kid, a boy. Greatest thing that ever happened to me, although now with a family to provide for, any time I used to practice music now went to work.

Fast forward about a year or so when I hear of this band called Primus, and I know that the bass guitar is what I want to play. So I buy my first bass, and off I go learning. I soon realize that if I take some lessons, I could learn faster. So I sign up for lessons with a great teacher. These lessons weren't cheap but I managed to gather enough money every week. I had about 5 lessons and then it happened. I lose my job due to the company going out of business (a warning would have been nice) and can't afford to support my family let alone pay for lessons.

I had plenty of time to practice now while my credit card bills were piling up while I searched for a job so that we could try and get back on top. During this time, I managed to get in as the bass player for this up and coming band who had a good following and was on the verge of being signed. I start practicing constantly with the band and about a month later i land a good job with the Postal Service.

Well now everything seems to be back in order. A couple of months later I get a call that the singer of my band has decided that I now work too much and don't have time for the band and i'm out. A few months later they get a manager and shortly after that they get a new bass player and sign with a label, and here I am, no band. But at least I can put food on the table.

Some time goes by and my daughter is born. Still working at my good job and still sitting in my living room, doing what I can with four strings, doing my best to learn bass without a teacher.

When my daughter got to be around 10 months we noticed that she didn't seem to be using her legs that well. She wasn't really sitting up or doing anything that babies normally do at that age. Our son developed a little late so we just hoped it was the same for her. 12 months come up and shes still not sitting up or using her legs so we have some tests done. The doctor says she has no muscle tone in her lower body and doesn't exactly know why. He sends us to the hospital to have CAT scans and all manner of tests done. They come back and show that she has brain atrophy and that she wont develop like other kids, and will take a lot longer to crawl and walk if ever. We've started her in physical therapy to do everything we can to help her catch up so she wont have to use a wheelchair. She sits up now but still doesn't crawl or walk at 18 months but shes catching up.

About two months ago, the new boss came at work and decided hes making lots of changes. Now my hours are getting cut from a 45 hour week down to 15 hours to save money. This isn't enough to cover my rent and other bills, let alone therapy bills. The debt is piling up. Im on the verge of being forced to sell my bass guitar and my amp and give up my love of bass to make it one more month and try and figure something out.

Through all of my problems, playing bass is the one thing thats managed to keep me smiling, and with a six string I may just be able to play some of that Primus that got me started in the first place.

Here is my daughter Emily playing in the yard.

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Mon Rominee said:

I have been playing bass guitar for close to 21 years. 5 years in I played a High School talent show where I, a Woody-Woodpecker haired gothy kid met the cute preppy rocker chick 3 years my junior (a real John Hughes-y type scenario, if you ask me) and luckily for me, we hit it off!

...and 4 years later I proposed to her. It was to be a lengthy engagement (we were young, and her fresh out of school). No rushing these things.

During these next 7 years was the whole courtship thing, then eventually we moved in together, and things were $tight$ but always awesome, and we enjoyed our little affectionately observed "milestones" as everyone does in the early years, like the "purchasing our own non hand-me-down tv" milestone, or the "finally, a decent car !" milestone...small triumphs!

A few years after we moved in together we were blessed with a baby girl ( the semi-scary, unexpected milestone...you know the one...), and now, very much in love with our new little family, we resolved to make our Wedding very special any way we could (let's just say plans were postponed due to our Daughter's arrival).

So during one of our wedding planning sessions She asked me what I would like as a wedding gift, if the sky was the limit...I half-jokingly said "a 6 string bass would be pretty awesome."

To which She replied "and how do you propose I pull that one off?" and we laughed, and inside I sighed. A selfish thought I know...

So we got married, and it was a wonderful day, thanks to our friends and family and her Mom's generosity...and in my new Bride's card to me was a mention of wishing she could've gotten me that 6 string bass. And she mentions it often these past 11 years with a bit of melancholy at it all (someday hon, someday)...as our money goes to the household and the kids first...and tho I'd love a 6er, I don't *need* it.

These days I play in a few bands to make money to pay the extra bills and keep the kids smiling with little day trips that otherwise would be impossible. And still I'd love a 6-er for my creative side, and still, she really wishes she could get me one.

My Wife Vicki & I share our 12th anniversary this July 6th. If I were to be so lucky to be chosen "winner", I'd love it if it could be addressed to my Wife, so she could genuinely surprise me. She has a screen name here, it's "Twinxkel". She'd be elated as She does so much and is never selfish and totally understanding & supportive of me.

So yeah, thanks for reading. I don't know if that sounds deserving, but I think it's my Wife that would be deserving of the opportunity. Just sayin.


This is an edited edition of a prior entry I deleted...my Missus said too much "personal" info. Please don't ask her about it.

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cheesemonkey said:

I believe that I deserve this bass because I am a dedicated bassist and because I am not very wealthy. I have not been playing bass for very long. I have played saxophone for three years and fell in love with music while doing so. Last year I discovered the bass and fell in love with the instrument and have been playing and practicing ever since. I practice hours a day and take lessons each week to help improve. I have reached a point where i would like to allow my bass playing to expand to a five string or six string bass. Though I would like buy my own five string or six string bass, I do not have the money for it. I am a teenager and do not make much money. I only make five dollars and hour and work shifts at a concession stand because it is the only job I can get at the moment. Most of the money that I make goes to supplies for my instruments like strings and reeds to keep my instruments playable. I would pick this essay and allow me a chance to get a six string bass and further my learning on the bass.

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BlueShox said:

I am 18 and just graduated high school, and am currently enrolled at Midlands Technical College in West Columbia, SC. I make pizzas at the local Papa Johns, and like most fast food workers, I am tremendously over worked and under paid. Even though I will soon be a shift manager, my salary will still be below minimum wage in many parts of the country. I have always loved playing extended range basses, and I played a Peavey Fury 5 string for many months. It was a gift from my father, and I loved all aspects of it, tonally and aesthetically.

Times got tough, my father passed away recently due to complications from a diabetic seizure, and I ended up selling the bass to pay for repairs to my car (a 92 Mercury Cougar, another gift of my father.)

Currently, I have a bass. I am not without gear, I have a Fender Deluxe P-bass, which is my first proper instrument (my father's gift to me Christmas 05.) I even purchased an Avatar 410 neo cab earlier this week. I am in no desperate need of instrument, and although money and resources are tight, I still have food, I still pay my bills (thankfully I still am in a position to live at home, so my bills are few), I have scholarships to pay for college, and maybe most importantly, I have an instrument to play and an amp to play through it. Pure and simple, I would just love to own another extended range bass.

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rokkitt said:

THIS IS THE STORY OF "THE TB JONNY B GIVEAWAY BASS!"


First, the bass shall be dubbed "THE JONNY B GIVEAWAY BASS"

Here is my part of the story....

I have been playing bass for a while. I am in a band now that plays in the studio for fun, and we really don't gig much. Just backyard parties, and these are at friends houses, or at other band members places, so we are playing for the "love of music". We all know what that means. Little or no cash. But, still very fun!

I have been auditioning for NYC gigging bands, but just don't have the chops to cut it. Not yet! I have been woodshedding, and I have been learning a lot about playing with a live drummer in the "studio band". Learning about not to be nervous about auditioning, and about learning new songs quickly.

I want to step up my playing, and get into a working cover/wedding band. To be able to play with great musicians, and to be a working "weekend warrior" musician myself. That is my goal.

There is an audition coming up with a full blown gigging cover band. This should happen sometime after the summer. They are working with a new drummer, and they don't want to be too loose by having two new members, drummer and bass. So, bass auditions will be sometime in the fall to give the drummer time to settle in.

There is a requirement for a 5 string bass. This bass, THE GIVEAWAY BASS, would fill this need and then some.



Here is what I propose. If chosen, I would.....

--woodshed like crazy to get in this band (don't wanna let TB down!)

--document my journey with a thread/photos at TB (why not? pics!)

--If I get in the band or not, I would REPEAT THE ABOVE CONTEST, WITH ONE EXTRA RULE.....WHOEVER WINS, HAS TO PROMISE TO "GIVE THE BASS AWAY" THROUGH THE SAME CONTEST, EVERY DECEMBER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON. (the giveaway bass lives forever!)



That way the bass would "be immortal" as the free six string bass, to be handed down every year on TB, for years to come.


There is another option, and that is to get "musician celebrity signatures" on the bass during its travels. That way, with different people from various locations owning the bass over the years, it would increase the chance of getting some great signatures!

During a preset time, say 10-20-30 years, the bass could be auctioned off, and the proceeds going to charity. We could make a sticky here at TB to track the history of the bass.

So, who knows? A whole musical community, of bass players no less , doing a pre-planned "charity event", to take place over a long period of time (say 10 years). In the end the proceeds going to a "music for kids" charity.

This second -charity plan- might be a stretch, so that would be optional.

Just the fact that the bass would get handed down every year, for free, to another lucky winner, would be really cool. (everyone gets a chance!)


So, vote for this entry, and it will happen! Thanks in advance for your support.

Lets all make "THE TB JONNY B GIVEWAY BASS" live on through TB history...

Allen Capaldi

aka

Rokkitt

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lowendmafia said:

As some of you may recall, I was rear-ended a few weeks ago by an Illegal immigrant carrying no insurance. The result of the accident was the destruction of my only 5 string bass and my only fretless bass. I have since purchased an SX 5 so I can continue with my 5 string bass student. I have more than enough money to fund my own bass purchases. But, I have a student who is not so lucky.

That being said, here is what I would do with this bass. My one and only 5 string student (Chris) has all the natural skills to become a great bass player, he practices everything I give him, he has a great ear, great timing he picks up technique very quickly. The one thing missing is that he does not actually have a bass. The reason that he plays 5 rather than 4 is because he has to borrow a bass from a family friend and return it when not using it. It has actually worked well for him and going down to a 4 might actually be difficult for him. I have spoken with his mother and, without going into too much detail, they are simply incapable of purchasing him a bass. Even Rondo is stretching for them. I have discounted the lessons to about half what I would normally charge simply because I like Chris so much. I have let him take my personal basses home just so he can practice, and I know that he will take care of them. I have given him old clothes of mine that no longer fit, I have even taken him to see a band that he likes a few times. The school where I teach has given him a "scholarship" to attend my rock & roll camp because his mother could not afford the $500 for it. Anyway, the point is that this kids DESERVES his own bass. I really think that he has earned it, but me buying him one would be overstepping my bounds a bit. So, if I were to win this contest, I would show the contest thread to his mother and explain that the bass was given to him by a community of Bass players that felt like he deserved to have his own bass.

Thanks

Tyler

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Stumbo said:

Thank you for giving us TB'rs the opportunity to compete for your bass. I'm sure that whoever receives the bass will give it a good home.

The home I have in mind is a local high school to which I would donate the bass. With all the educational cutbacks that have been handed down to the schools in the area (So. Cal.), allowing a school to have the bass would be a big boost to all the students who play it and the potential bass players who might be interested in playing it after seeing it on stage.

In this situation, it would be the gift that keeps on giving, long after we've all forgotten about it; giving the gift of music for years to come to the next generation!

If I should receive the bass, I would post pics of the school receiving the bass and gladly document the gift in whatever way would satisfy Mr. B.

Thanks for listening.
Stumbo

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fenderhutz said:

So, Jonny B, I don't know you and you don't know me. You have no reason what-so-ever to give me a 6 String Washburn bass. None what-so-ever. Who cares if I look like one of the Chubsters in the chubby dating banners ads combined with Matt "It's Metallica mixed with Color Me Badd" Pinfield. Who cares if you have an Avatar that in some countries would be considered family dinner. All I know is there is a free bass up for grabs, and I actually like Washburn basses due to the flat neck profile.

So, Jonny B, I don't know you and you don't know me. I am not going to ask for sympathy about how much money I don't make or how much some needy kid somewhere in Nebraska needs a bass that they will pawn in a month anyway either from lack of interest or their parents crack habit. I actually like Washburn basses, but never had a chance to own any kind of six string.

So, Jonny B, I don't know you and you don't know me. You have no reason what-so-ever to give me that bass. I am not going beat around the bush here, if you hadn't figured it out, I am gay.


(Not really, but I do like Washburn basses)

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TheSuzie said:

Hi,

Someone pointed me to this post. I have not read any of the other entries because I don't really want to compete on the sad sack scale but only to tell what happened to me.

A couple of years ago I suffered chemical and mold poisoning that left me with neurological damage and damage to multiple body systems. I was no longer able to live in my house. have been unable to work and lost most of my possessions. Clothes, books, records, videotapes, electronics, furnishings etc all went into a dumpster. Because I had nobody to help me with my things at the time and was living on peoples couches, all my instruments (some I had been playing since the 1960s), vintage amps, effects and studio gear were sold off to a dealer for pennies on the dollar to help deal with my expenses. Actually I do have one guitar that was in a friends basement. AFAIK it is still there, back in Boston

After couch surfing for a few months with a few friends who helped me to try and get my strength back, I rented someone's storage room and stayed on the floor there for ten months. During that time I received medical treatment and became a pincushion for lab tests (the results looked nasty and still do). I finally found a doctor who was able to help a bit and get me strong enough to travel in search of a home free of the pollutants that I have become hypersensitive to, some safe place where my face and neck don't swell up, where my throat stays open and where I can live without wearing a breathing mask most of the time.

I have lived in my car since the fall of 2007, mostly in remote corners of state parks or far out on BLM land to avoid campfires etc. I load up on provisions so don't have to run the car for 3-6 days at a time. I have been all over Arizona and some of NM, looking for a place that will work for me. I recently drove down from the high range near Snowflake, AZ where I was staying on a kind woman's far off grid land and now I'm staying in someones driveway in the foothills of Tucson which is why I finally have net access.

I had no income for a couple of years and burned through a lot of savings but I am now getting disability. I have a bunch of debt to eventually deal with. I won't claim to be as destitute as many people are in this world but I have lost a lot and been very painfully separated from m y long term friends and my family who are back in Boston.

Anyway I don't even know if I will be able to play any more as my coordination and other functions have been damaged. Still, I miss playing all the time and maybe it would be good therapy for me. I have improved in other areas so I am hopeful.

I do promise that If I am unable to use the bass for any reason, will pass it on in a similar manner.

Peace,
S

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jollygiantchris said:

I want this bass and I'm gonna type this whole thing out for the first time ever and its long as hell. I've read that typing these sorts of things out can make you feel better about it as well and I'm still pretty ****ing bitter about it so here it goes.

To begin in October of 2005 my car died (this comes into play later), so I started saving money for a new one. At the time I was working for the TSA as an airport goon screening people's luggage underground at O`Hare in Chicago (this also comes into play later). Because of my job I didn't really need a car for work so I just took the CTA blue line and start saving money for a new car.

On to the main story, on July 11th 2006 at about 1:15am I was sitting in my chair in my basement playing world of warcraft when I heard a loud roaring in my ears and experienced the most incredible pain in the back of my head. It caused my vision to go total black and me to begin to fall out of my chair. I think this only lasted for a split second but I will remember this moment for the rest of my life and the two thoughts that ran through my mind "were oh my god I'm going to die" and "I'm so ****ing fat the paramedics won't be able to get me up the stairs." Being in a panic I ran upstairs screaming I was having a stroke (this would have killed me if I was actually having one). So the pain in my head lessened a bit and I started feeling this odd feeling like I was changing elevation really fast.

So I went to the emergency room and got a bunch of tests. They all came back negative except for a low grade fever they told me I most likely had viral meningitis and to go back and see my doctor in 2 days if I still felt this way. So I still did 2 days later and saw my main doctor. He said I probably have viral meningitis or west nile or both but since the only treatment is pain killers and to verify you have them you get a spinal tap we are going to skip that part and just go home and wait the 2 weeks. (this turns out to be a very bad idea the date is now July 13th 2006)

So 2 weeks pass and the fever passes and I start to feel better just kinda have the tiniest pressure at the base of my skull so I go back to work. So as the first week of work goes by I start to feel an ache in the base of my skull grow and grow and grow. By the end of the first week of work I ran home and immediately laid down in bed for the rest of the night and was unable to move. At the start of the second week at work the ache at the base of my skull has begun to radiate towards the front of my brain in addition to the base of my skull. After a week and half back at work the pain is so intense I walk up to my supervisor halfway through my shift and say I have to leave right now and leave. The date is August 6th 2006, this will be the last day I work until April of 2008, this will be the last day I sit or stand for more than 4 hours until roughly the week of July 22nd 2007.

To clarify symptoms at the time (and now if I wasn't on the meds I'm on) whenever I sit/stand up for more than 15 minutes I get a dull ache at the base of my skull. After about 30-45 minutes it becomes a pain around my entire neck. After an hour-hour and a half it spreads to the entire front of my face and grows more intense the longer I remained in an upright position until it started ****ing with my vision and making me feel like I was going to pass out. The symptoms got worse the longer this went on.

Now begins the litany of ****ed up doctors. So I go back to my primary care guy and he says that sometimes theres some residual inflammation from meningitis for another 6-8 weeks so wait it out and it should go away (it doesn't). I wait 4 weeks, and than go see a neurologist that I had seen years previously for sleep apnea. After some tests she puts me on this drug called Elavil tells me I have migraines and to go back to work (she ends up being partially right but ignoring the glaring issue of it being completely positional). I literally said "go back to work? you're ****ing kidding me" and walked out went back to my main doctor and got another neurologist.

Neurologist #2 was a real nice guy. He had me get spinal tap #1. This ended up being a good thing as this was the first test that came back abnormal in that my CSF (cerebro spinal fluid pressure your brain floats in this fluid) was 21 (its supposed to be 15) and the protein level (which is a non-specific indicator of infection) was 115. Despite the CSF pressure being high, Neuro #2 was convinced that my pressure was in fact low because thats what my symptoms were indicative of. So he had me get the cure for low spinal fluid pressure which is called a blood patch. What a blood patch is is they take about a pint of your blood and inject it in the empty space behind your spinal canal in the hope that the blood clots any leaks. Incidentally, this causes a gigantic bruise to form along the length of your entire spine that lasts for 3 days and you cannot move for these 3 days.

First blood patch made me feel better for about 2-3 days after I was able to get up and walk around. Than the symptoms came back. We are now in roughly October 2006, so Neuro #2 decides we should do another blood patch. This one hurts a lot too and doesn't work. (fast forward to today and they will **** me on the billing for these blood patches and overcharge the **** out of me and report me to collections and not take it off my credit report) Neuro #2's next step is lets wait a couple months and see if you get better. Neuro #2 is now fired.

Friend of family recommends one of the highest regarded Neuro-surgeon's in america we go to him (December 2006). Neuro-surgeon #1 orders more tests come back normal and Spinal tap #2's CSF pressure result is a 27 (remember its supposed to be 15) and we find out that the original spinal tap that was done did not take into account position and was an incorrect # from the beginning. (protein level is still a high 105ish) Get put on a new pill called Diamox that lowers CSF pressure and has a bunch of weird side effects like making patches of skin randomly turn red and start to burn intensely for a couple minutes.

January 2nd 2007, watching Jackass 2 with my friend Rick I have chest pains and call an ambulance and am taken to the hospital. Get there get an EKG comes back fine all the doctors are pissed off and than my heart rate jumps to 200 while I'm lying in bed and everyone comes running in the room. So it keeps randomly spiking and I get admitted end up staying in the hospital a week get an ultrasound/spinal tap #3/stress test (have to get the chemical one its weird and creepy). Comes back that the pain from my "headache" is releasing so much adrenaline its causing my heart rate to fluctuate. They release me and tell me to come back if it does it for more than 15 minutes (great).

Back to Neuro-surgeon #1, so we end up slowly increasing the dosage of Diamox and it helps a little bit but not enough and we do a couple more spinal taps all come back with the same results. (Neuro-surgeon #1 to date is still annoyed about my main doctor not doing a spinal tap to check if it really was meningitis or not he mentions it every time I see him I think its preventing him from publishing in a journal) So because my test results consistently come back with high pressure but my symptoms do not match and the pills do not work Neuro-surgeon #1 cannot recommend the surgery to correct high pressure so he recommends me to Neuro-surgeon #2 who is a specialist in high-pressure headaches.

We are around April of 2007 now, Neuro-surgeon #2 has me redo all the tests and has my get my eyes checked by a Neuro-Ophthalmologist (the fattest doctor I've ever seen) because people with high CSF pressure are at a high risk to go blind because the optic nerve is susceptible to damage because it floats in CSF (this is still a possible problem for me). She cannot recommend me for the surgery either but recommends me for the trial shunt. Let me clarify what the surgery is, they put a shunt in your brain and run it through one of your arteries into your stomach to drain out excess CSF. What the trial shunt is is they stick a catheter directly into your spine and leave it in for a week and it simulates this and they see if the shunt work would for you. They do this on Monday morning and if it works they do the surgery to put the permanent shunt in on Friday afternoon. I'm not going to elaborate on what the trial shunt feels like.

So I get the trial shunt done the week of July 9th 2007. The end of the first day I felt good, The morning of the second day I felt amazing for the first time since this whole thing started. By the end of the second day I started to pretty bad. The third day (the 11th) I felt ****ing awful. By the end of this day it became apparent to me and the team of doctors there that high CSF pressure was not the cause of my problems (they still kept me until the 13th with that ****ing tube in my spine "just to be sure" though) and Neuro-surgeon #2 referred me to the Neurogist on staff there (we shall dub him Neuro #3 the final Neuro). On a slight tangent I ended up getting 9 spinal taps in total.

At this point I was pretty ****ing depressed and thought I was completely ****ed because I had a lot riding on that surgery working. So Neuro #3 says take this pill (Topamax) in conjunction with the Diamox I was already on. I basically told him hes got 6 weeks or I'm going to the Mayo clinic and hes like I'm here and I'm cheaper try this first. So I did and it actually worked slowly at first and we began to gradually take larger and larger doses of Topamax (Topamax lowers CSF pressure and prevents migraines Diamox just lowers CSF pressure) and I've slowly tapered off the Diamox. However, I've also had to get physical therapy and 6 cortisone shots in my neck. Because once the Topamax started to make the headaches less frequent (meaning not every waking moment) it became apparently that the muscles in my neck were completely ****ed in addition to my other issues.

This is where the car that died in the fall of 2005 returns. When this started I had about 6k saved up for a new car. I had to dump that into bills or they were going to cancel treatment in spring of 2007.

Heres where the story gets irritating I wanna make sure my timelines are right here.

So after I get cleared by my Neuro #3 and the Physiatrist to return to work I call the TSA (October 16th or so 2007). First lady I talk to is thrilled says glad you're better we will send you the paperwork cool. 2 days later I get a call from a different lady who starts yelling at me. It takes me about ten minutes to figure out what the **** she is talking about. I realize she is saying that the TSA MRO (medical review officer) never received the paperwork I sent in to certify my being out this long and that I needed to follow up with them. I respond with no one told me this and I don't know who the MRO is. So I argue with her and she tells me she will call me back.

A month later (November 13th 2007) they tell me the forms for me to return to work are ready so I go pick em up. Its the dreaded standard form 86 that takes 10 hours to fill out so I do it. So I get the forms filled out and faxed in on Nov. 15th and on the 16th I get a call saying that I need to re-sumbit the first page because I filled out my county and state of birth as IL on accident fine so I don't have access to a fax machine so my mother does it for me on Monday the 19th. On the 20th I get a call at 9:20ish AM (while I am asleep) from the TSA saying that faxxed copies are not valid so I need to resumbit the original ink copies...Wow. I also drop off the forms my doctor had to fill out.

So they told me it would take about 2-4 weeks for that stuff to clear. December 17th 2007 they say it will take 2 more weeks for it to clear after a minor ****up with the paperwork.

Jan. 13th 2008, I find out that whenever I get to go to the emergency room again with a very high fever and find out I need to take large amounts of tylenol to lower it because Topamax prevents you from sweating. I also out find from my doctor that because of my CSF pressure being high I have a permanent lifting restriction of 30 lbs making my bass cab and head completely useless to me. I also call TSA and they say they will call me back.

Jan 30th 2008, TSA calls me back, I'm fired! I'm fired because my doctor wrote my lifting restriction on the forms he sent in to TSA (even though he didn't tell me it was permanent until Jan). The best part is because I hadn't worked in two quarters in 18 months I'm not eligible for unemployment either.

Oh and TSA also marked me AWOL in violation of their own rules from Jan 07 until Jan 08 which prevents me from collecting their 5 year pension.

Right now I'm 26 and my only job experience is worthless because of my lifting restriction. So I had to start over and because I REALLY needed money I kinda grabbed the first job there was and I'm doing retail and I ****ing hate it and it pays ****. So heres where I'm at musically and financially.

I made 1k for the fiscal year 2007 because TSA accidentally paid me a retention bonus which went to bills. I did get one of my big bills written off to charity. My credit rating is ruined and I really need a car. My friend Craig, (seaKamp on talkbass) sold my black Rickenbacker 4003 here on talkbass in december for me to pay some of my bills (I ALMOST ****ING HELD ON TO IT THROUGH THE WHOLE THING LONG ENOUGH TO KEEP IT). Right now I'm playing a $100 Hamer Slammer which I bought from Craig. Through my useless rig that I can't carry anywhere that I really need to switch out for markbass gear.

So why do I want this bass. When I was sick I was unable to play and I'll admit that I didn't really practice a lot before I got sick. However, during the time I was sick it made me realize how much I enjoyed playing and how little I got out of all the other things I did with my free time (video games really). When I got better I started practicing two hours a day and have gotten a lot better as a bassist and than I had to sell my Rickenbacker. In addition, during the time where I was essentially ok but not working (December 07-April 08). I did send out some responses to ads on craigslist/myspace and one on stonerrock.com and was ignored. I'm guessing the reason why I was ignored is because I can't carry my halfstack which I did state because its an issue. So I'd like a 6xer so I could do solo work and because my current bass is a complete piece of **** and I don't have the budget to get a new one for awhile because my job sucks and I have a lot of bills.



Thats the first time I've ever typed that whole thing out its really long and I cut some stuff out.

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varunkapahi said:

i think i should be eligible to compete if i ask for the bass to be shipped to my uncle living in USA (that is of course, IF only IF only, i win the contest) who would bring it to me on his next trip here and not to shipped to me in New Delhi, India which i think is the hassle.

so here is my essay:

almost four years back from now, when i was 14, i entered inside the western music room in my school and as they say it turned my world around! before this i almost had no clue about music let alone me imagining myself thumping a bass so after a couple of lessons on the classical guitar, learning basic finger picking and theory, i was asked to try playing the bass guitar as the school band needed a bassist. and THAT incident completely makes me what i am today as it gave the ONE thing that i am the passionate about.

why i want this bass guitar is because it is almost my only chance to own a standard decent real bass guitar. living in India and being a bassist at the same time is sorta contradicting in nature. not only gear is very much overpriced, keeping the duties and shipping costs in mind, it is incredibly hard to find something good with only a little value for money, to give you an idea a standard mim jazz bass costs about 900US$ here. so bass equipment is the least cared thing here, you can find guitars all sorts of guitars and their effects and drums and keyboards but ask for bass you just have a couple of old cheap basses with horrible actions and rusted strings. in short not only bass gear is terribly over expensive but actually hardly available.

going back to my four year journey as bassist there came another day when i saw a victor wooten video series on youtube where he was explaining his thoughts and views on bass playing. not only it was his playing but the whole philosophy regarding music and beyond blew off my mind and i read every single word on his website and followed every single lesson he had online, and then a similar story with the jaco instructional videos on youtube. there was no looking back; bass playing from an interest turned into a serious hobby into a serious passion into every thought of mine. now even my nerves send across impulses in form of grooves!

but the only thing which deters me is the lack of gear, i just turned 18 and being in a middle class family here luxuries are distant dreams. i am currently playing a crafted in china squier jazz bass, which i bought after having a real hard time convincing my dad to buy it to me, before which i used to play the locally made school's bass while in school and practice on my nylon string acoustic guitar at home.another very important reason why you should give me the bass guitar is that not only i am a very serious and dedicated student of the low end (i learnt to read sheet music and transcribe by ear the hard way on my own as i couldnt not afford continuous lessons, i am currently going through the bass grooves book which is pretty awesome anyway, but am not too good at it and still working to get better everyday) ...... i need the extended range especially the added lower notes to be a part of quite some bands here. now i told you i really cant buy another bass in years ahead. am using a hartke 30w amp a friend gave for the time he is abroad and i would need to return it this august. naturally there is not much scope for finding something "used" too.

having a real decent bass guitar helps me getting into playing with more pro's and semi-pros as generaly,keeping the skill quotient aside, they do care about the gear you have and a fender squier doesnt cut it for most recordings and a sixer would really help me go the next levels regarding my chordal interests and understand harmonies as i can really tap notes which are very difficult to reach on a four string at one time. lastly, just like almost everyone who posted, am closing my eassay hoping for the best!

PS: i really do love my squier jazz bass for whatever way it is.kickass. and would not be selling off the washburn bass in any case, i plan to really use it if i get it!

and, i just thought of a name for the bass too! the TALKBASS! hehe

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hbarcat said:

There are bass players on TB who have gone through hard times with health or with financial problems or had other difficulties but that doesn't describe me. For my entire adult life, I've been satisfied supporting myself and my family with blue-collar work and living frugally in a modest apartment and have been fortunate to remain happy with what we have and with our good health.

My one self-indulgence is music and in that regard I've spent more than twenty years trying to acquire gear and equipment to properly equip myself as a gigging bass player and singer. Toward that end, I make sure to practice at least 12-15 hours per week on either of my two inexpensive basses- an '83 Ibanez that I bought used in '91 and a fretless kit that I put together myself in '94. I've succeeded in learning the unique qualities of these two basses and they are now familiar extensions of myself.

If I had a newer six string bass it would allow me to expand my playing into areas in which I haven't been able to experiment before and I've dreamed about having one for a long time while knowing that I realistically can't justify to my family spending the money for another bass. If I did own this bass, I would play it until it, too became familiar to me and I will still be playing it in decades to come.

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