• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Your "axe" - what is its name and how did that name come about

Status
Not open for further replies.
I don't normally "name" my instruments, with ONE exception. I've played and owned several Ric basses over the years, but my newest, an '06 4003 jetglo, has a much bigger voice than any of the previous. So much so, it was dubbed "black rock monster". It became official when I put a label on the case with that name.
 
I have a compulsion to name everything, so naturally both my basses have names. No fancy stories, just my own inherent weirdness. Usually I'll just look at the object in question until a suitable name comes to me, although occasionally I'll have some outside input or inspiration.

My First Act short scale is Rhoda, and my Fender P Special is Rosalyn.
 
I have never named a bass. It's a tool. I would feel weird calling my screwdriver "Rodney".

Not judging anyone else that feels compelled to do this, mind you ;)

Heck, I don't even have a name for my d--- and I'm way more fond of that than any of my basses.

OK...I lied...I do. It's Big Buford and the Twins.
 
I've never named an instrument but...
About halfway through the first set I ever played with my Sadowsky PJ5, the band leader turned around and said,"That thing is a real ass-hammer isn't it?"

The name kinda stuck.
 
I name everything too but I had never named any of my axes. 2 now DID end up with names but it was simply by accident. Anyway, I saw a thread on it not too long ago and realized it is something nice to do so I figured I'd name the rest. Alas the names were too forced and none really stuck. BUT names are coming for them. You can't really force a name on something like a car or a guitar. As hokey as it sounds the object presents its name...

My '85 'bacco burst T40 is called 'Godzilla'. My '95 Fender Cowpoke is just 'Baby'. My '08 Squier VMG is just 'Bas@ss'. My two Foundations (4 and 5 string) are simply called 'The Twins' and my '87 Dyna-bass seems to be called 'Brat' more then anything else. ^_^

EDIT

As for why each one got that name? The T40 is LARGE, in CHARGE and weighs about 4 metric tons >_< It rattles the speaker in my crate amp no matter what I do short of turning the volume down super low. And my Ibanez practice amp can't handle it well either. Its just ....'Godzilla'

My Fender is the only Fender I have ever owned and probably will ever own. The bass is just awesome every way you think about it. Its my 'Baby'... the Crate can handle it but the Ibanez amp can't deal with it AT ALL.

The 2 Foundations are the same year and identical. Both are smooth as silk, mellow and laid back is the vibe you get from them... their 'name' [The Twins] seemed a no brainer.

The Squier got its name from a couple of guys I practice with. (I didn't realize just how big that VMJ was and its poundage until I had it next to my T40. Thats pretty awesome ^_^ ) I used it the day I got it home for practice. One of the guitarists at one point said that bass looked and sounded 'Bad@ss' and it just stuck.

And the Dynabass is 'Brat' cause, well, its just bratty. Awesome bass!! But its just...a brat... its not hard to play or whatever, its just .. a Brat...
 
This is "Wilma", my Fender '62 RI Jazz Fretless. The postman delievered her the day after hurricane Wilma hit. My neighborhood was ripped apart, I had no power for a week.....but I had a shiny new bass!

bb-09.jpg
 
My Geddy Lee J Bass- La Negra. Because it's my baby and I have a black pickguard on it, black Dimarzio Model Js and soon all black hardware. It's a she and negronegra in Spanish means black, La = female. Hence La Negra.

My Peavey Zodiac DE Scorpio bass is called Junior-because it's Junior's signature bass and well it's the in your face bass with the tone I've wanted for years!
 
This is "Wilma", my Fender '62 RI Jazz Fretless. The postman delievered her the day after hurricane Wilma hit. My neighborhood was ripped apart, I had no power for a week.....but I had a shiny new bass!

bb-09.jpg

This isnt about a bass but the day before Hurricane Charley hit my ''74 Gran Torino Starsky and Hutch replica was delivered from literally across the country. I drove it up to walmart to get supplies that night then evacuated the next day with it (those were my test drives in it as I couln't drive it before I bought it..thank god I have owned Torinos in the past..whoo-boy what a beast this one is LOL). So here I was in a warzone damage-wise, no power, no water, nothing, but I had a shiny hollywood car sitting in the only clean spot [I made for it] in the yard LOL
 
This isnt about a bass but the day before Hurricane Charley hit my ''74 Gran Torino Starsky and Hutch replica was delivered from literally across the country. I drove it up to walmart to get supplies that night then evacuated the next day with it (those were my test drives in it as I couln't drive it before I bought it..thank god I have owned Torinos in the past..whoo-boy what a beast this one is LOL). So here I was in a warzone damage-wise, no power, no water, nothing, but I had a shiny hollywood car sitting in the only clean spot [I made for it] in the yard LOL

Yea, hurricanes are FUN!!

I just got a generator.....is at least I can play my bass if another one hits and I lose power!
 
I named my Epiphone Embassy Standard V Bishop. Our singer named his old car Bishop (an '88 New Yorker, and actually his dad named it), and this is just as big, beefy, and indestructible as the car was. He got rear ended 6 times this winter, one car was totalled and all he has now is a 3" long scratch on his bumper.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.