Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
No outrage here. Merely trying to understand - and to provide context for my remarks.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Atkinson basses new website and model
- Thread starter probasser
- Start date
No outrage here. Merely trying to understand - and to provide context for my remarks.
As a fairly recent Tb`er, I have seen several examples of Dan`s work, and have been quite impressed. As well, it has always been crystal clear what he does and what his basses are. He has never attempted to blur any lines or imply his work is anything but what it actually is; he has never implied he is a "luthier". Does he have a "right" to vent about his situation ? Considering his livelihood has been severly impacted, I`d say so. Saying "I told you so" doesn`t change anything. Whether he is at fault or not, nobody likes Big Business putting the screws to them. When this thread started, I was on Dan`s side on the basic issue - if the parts were licensed when made, why can`t someone assemble them any way they want, right ? But after further thought, I do have to admit Fender has a legitimate case (albeit on a micro-scale). I can buy enough OEM parts to assemble a Ford Mustang, but do I have a right to rebadge it and sell it, even if I properly disclose that all parts are sourced from Ford ? No, I don`t. But it`s a complicated issue: if I buy a licensed body for my Fender, and then years later buy a replacement neck, and in the interim, buy new pups, wiring, tuners, etc., is it still a Fender ? Yes and no. Regardless, my advice to you (Dan) is this: nothing like adversity to make a man step his game up. You`re on the right track with the Evokes. Continue to distance yourself from Fender - I think you`ve already established a good reputation as a builder (or whatever people choose to label you as). If you continue to build nice basses, you will find customers. I think you`ll have no problem selling two of those Evokes a month ! And my advice to Savit and Mongo is this: You "told him so". We get it. Move on.
Mongo,
What will it take to make you stop posting in this thread? You're bordering on stalking status with me.
I'll make you an offer. I will pay you money to stop. I'm not kidding. PM me your Paypal address, and I'll send you $5. But you gotta promise to move along and exit this thread for good.
If you promise to never post in any thread about my basses ever again, I will pay you $10.
Yeah, about a woodshop class. Not about the business of building and selling basses.
Nah, I like your posts. You're logical and respectful.
Wait! I can try harder!!!
Let's see...how about:
I would like to take a moment to debate the efficacy of Atkinson Basses's pouty, verbally incontinent subliminal psywar campaigns. With this letter, I hope to solve the problems of Pyrrhonism, factionalism, economic inequality, and lack of equal opportunity. But first, I would like to make the following introductory remark: If I hear Atkinson Basses's accomplices say, "'The norm' shouldn't have to worry about how the exceptions feel" one more time, I'm definitely going to throw up. A great many of us don't want Atkinson Basses to destroy, debauch, devalue, and dehumanize a wide assortment of innocent people. Still, we feel a prodigious pressure to smile, to be nice, and not to object to its indecent, cheeky prevarications. We must keep our eyes on the prize. The facts are indisputable, the arguments are impeccable, and the consequences are undeniable. So why does Atkinson Basses allege that encouraging young people to break all the rules, cut themselves loose from their roots, and adopt a parasitic, macabre lifestyle is essential for the safety and welfare of the public? We already have our answer: As a respected journalist put it, "All of Atkinson Basses's principles share elements of traditional, crapulous conspiracy themes in which muzzy-headed ragamuffins secretly abandon the idea of universal principles and focus illegitimately on the particular". He probably could have added that Atkinson Basses's fans have learned their scripts well and the rhetoric comes gushing forth with little provocation.
Atkinson Basses's intent is to prevent us from asking questions. It doesn't want the details checked. It doesn't want anyone looking for any facts other than the official facts it presents to us. I wonder if this is because most of its "facts" are false. Call me old-fashioned, but Atkinson Basses holds onto power like the eunuch mandarins of the Forbidden Citysterile obstacles to progress who seize control over where we eat, sleep, socialize, and associate with others. It's debatable whether Atkinson Basses runs at the first sign of trouble. However, no one can disagree that it maintains a "Big Brother" dossier of information about everyone it distrusts, to use as a potential career-ruining weapon. Is your name listed in that dossier? If I'm not mistaken, there's a painfully simple answer. It regards the way that some of my acquaintances express the view that its coalition is a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Others express the view that Atkinson Basses's behavior is beneath contempt. I am prepared to offer a cheer and a half for each view; together, they paint a sufficiently complete picture of Atkinson Basses to warrant a full three cheers.
For years I've been warning people that Atkinson Basses plans to confuse the catastrophic power of state fascism with the repression of an authoritarian government in our minds. However, that's not my entire message; it's only a part of it. I also want you to know that if Atkinson Basses thinks that everything will be hunky-dory if we let it attack everyone else's beliefs, then it's sadly mistaken. I undoubtedly dislike Atkinson Basses. Likes or dislikes, however, are irrelevant to observed facts, such as that Atkinson Basses says that 75 million years ago, a galactic tyrant named Xenu solved the overpopulation problem of his 76-planet federation by transporting the excess people to Earth, chaining them to volcanoes, and dropping H-bombs on them. You know, it can lie as much as it wants but it can't change the facts. If it could, it'd indeed prevent anyone from hearing that if it were true, as it claims, that the most dangerous hell-raisers you'll ever see have dramatically lower incidences of cancer, heart attacks, heart disease, and many other illnesses than the rest of us, then I wouldn't be saying that Atkinson Basses makes so many laughably humorless statements, it boggles the mind to think about them. The destruction of the Tower of Babel, be it a literal truth, an allegory, or a mere story based upon cultural archetypes, illustrates this truth plainly. It is time for someone to tackle the multinational death machine that Atkinson Basses is currently constructing. Will that someone be you?
Bryan R. Tyler
TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002
Staff member
Administrator
Gold Supporting Member
Supporting Member
- May 3, 2002
- 28,948
- 20,932
- Disclosures
- Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
Everyone-
Both sides of the current argument have stated their case enough times- we need to move on from here. If people on either side keep insisting on dragging it out or making comments about particular users, the thread will be closed.
Both sides of the current argument have stated their case enough times- we need to move on from here. If people on either side keep insisting on dragging it out or making comments about particular users, the thread will be closed.
Good lord, this really got out of hand. All I really care about from this whole mess is that Dan will be able to continue to offer his amazing work as a bass builder. If people don't like what he does, that's their prerogative, but this fussing is doing nobody any good. We should just leave it at that and move on (especially since the moderator is threatening to close the thread).
Dan, how well does the grain show through on the alder bodies with the sunburst? Are there any examples in the gallery section of the site?
Dan, how well does the grain show through on the alder bodies with the sunburst? Are there any examples in the gallery section of the site?
Fender went after "Certain Bass" on ebay as well - because he was actually putting Fender decals on his parts basses - not a good idea - and he's still selling basses with Fender headstock shape and his own decal. Fender is probably still after this guy. It's a drag that Fender has gone after Dan's small operation.
Someone mentioned a tweek of the headstock shape and Dan said it would cost a little more for the bass, but not that much more. It would make sense to come up with a different headstock shape and continue to do what he was doing - building complete basses. There are so many Fender style basses already out there, it might be a challenge to come up with something different, yet still cool-looking - BUT, it would be a nice way to say "screw that" and keep your thing going. They can't touch you if your headstock is different, no?
Someone mentioned a tweek of the headstock shape and Dan said it would cost a little more for the bass, but not that much more. It would make sense to come up with a different headstock shape and continue to do what he was doing - building complete basses. There are so many Fender style basses already out there, it might be a challenge to come up with something different, yet still cool-looking - BUT, it would be a nice way to say "screw that" and keep your thing going. They can't touch you if your headstock is different, no?
I'll just remind everyone so the moderator doesn't have to that we should immediately drop the issue and get back to regular TB programming.
