In '68, I was 9, playing a plastic guitar with nylon strings, and a Monkees logo, to a small transistor radio along with the days top hits, and wore a paisley print shirt. Wouldn't have any *real* instruments until '74. Then, it was game on.
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Calling all Geezers...
- Thread starter GBassNorth
- Start date
I have a couple of pictures of my band in 1968 opening for the "Buffalo Springfield" at Whittier High School. One is onstage, the other is drummer at souncheck. The backline was provided by the new Standel Solid State Line which the banner is visible in both pics.
Attachments
entirely respectfully, perhaps more productive to savor and learn from the very potent, extremely polarized, life-changing and irreplaceable sounds and politics of '68 (particularly!), than create some sort of ironic, "fun" diorama based on visuals and tropes of the day.
In 1968 I switched from saxophone to bass. I began with a green and black burst Univox Beatle style bass because I couldn't afford a Fender. My first amp was a tiny Sears amp, probably meant for guitar. It was only good for rehearsal alone. My first real amp was a black naugahyde Kustom with 1-15. Sounded fine but became quickly apparent it didn't have enough volume. I switched to a Bassman with 2 15s. While we all dreamed of bigger rigs like multi cabinet Kustoms or Sunns, the Bassman's were available used as well as new, sounded really good and were affordable. Still, it didn't have enough power and the tube amp broke up too quickly for me. I traded for a Peavey solid state and grew that to have two cabinets each with 2-15s. It was disappointing to learn that no matter what rig I got, as guitar players upgraded they could always drown me out. Also, I was playing in a horn band around then which got pretty loud.
Frustrated with all of that I bought a Fender CS400 - a huge monster of an amp by any standard. It was essentially three amps in one - each with two 6550 tubes. Every time you plugged in a cabinet it accessed another section of the amplifier. Ultimately (over time) I acquired two of the folded horns that went with this rig (each with 1-18) and then put a Bassman cabinet with 2-15s over top of each folded horn. That's right - 2-18s and 4-15s. Insane. But that was the end of volume problems.
Later I switched to an Acoustic 370.
P.S. These days I play at low volume (due to loss of hearing) and anyone who wants to crank up that loud can get another bass player.
I also remember Standell solid state amps as really nice sounding. Plush was a cheap imitation of Kustom in my book. Traynors were around, I just never was a fan.
I ultimately owned all the basses from that era at one time or another - Rick, Gibson EB3, Precision, Mustang, Telecaster, Thunderbird, Hofner, Hagstrom, and others.
I remember that Mosrite was the expensive brand that few of us could afford. I missed out on that one. I would say that the Rick was the most prestigious among the guys I hung out with although it wasn't my favorite. The T-bird was both deeper and brighter than the Rick, but it had neck dive. The Hofner had beautiful tone but would feedback at volume. Each instrument had its pluses and minuses. I still haven't found the perfect one after all this time, although I'm currently enjoying a pbass with j neck and an Ibanez SRX.
Frustrated with all of that I bought a Fender CS400 - a huge monster of an amp by any standard. It was essentially three amps in one - each with two 6550 tubes. Every time you plugged in a cabinet it accessed another section of the amplifier. Ultimately (over time) I acquired two of the folded horns that went with this rig (each with 1-18) and then put a Bassman cabinet with 2-15s over top of each folded horn. That's right - 2-18s and 4-15s. Insane. But that was the end of volume problems.
Later I switched to an Acoustic 370.
P.S. These days I play at low volume (due to loss of hearing) and anyone who wants to crank up that loud can get another bass player.
I also remember Standell solid state amps as really nice sounding. Plush was a cheap imitation of Kustom in my book. Traynors were around, I just never was a fan.
I ultimately owned all the basses from that era at one time or another - Rick, Gibson EB3, Precision, Mustang, Telecaster, Thunderbird, Hofner, Hagstrom, and others.
I remember that Mosrite was the expensive brand that few of us could afford. I missed out on that one. I would say that the Rick was the most prestigious among the guys I hung out with although it wasn't my favorite. The T-bird was both deeper and brighter than the Rick, but it had neck dive. The Hofner had beautiful tone but would feedback at volume. Each instrument had its pluses and minuses. I still haven't found the perfect one after all this time, although I'm currently enjoying a pbass with j neck and an Ibanez SRX.
In 1968 I graduated high school. I had a '63 P (same bass pictured below, but at that time it was aOly White with big chips all over it - which is why I later re-finished it to Ford Gold Metallic). My amp was a blackface Bassman, which was among the most popular bass amps, and a 2x15 Fender cab. I still have the Bassman as well.
At that time, I was playing bass in a "big band" made up of the music teachers in my home town. They needed a bass player. We played a lot of Elks Club and similar gigs, playing popular big band music like Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington...mostly white dinner jacket gigs.
At that time, I was playing bass in a "big band" made up of the music teachers in my home town. They needed a bass player. We played a lot of Elks Club and similar gigs, playing popular big band music like Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington...mostly white dinner jacket gigs.
If I remember correctly (big IF), Jim Messina produced the album "Last Time Around" and played bass on it because their bass player (Bruce Palmer) had been deported back to Canada for reefer violations. They either had just finished that album at the time of this concert or were just about finished. Either way, it was the last album for the band. They played a couple of songs from that album that night for the first time. One of the highlights of my young career.
Great Pics! Small world, at about the same time you were in Whittier I was living in Granada Hills, not far from Whittier. Moved from there to Boulder Colorado that year. A college town with lots of protesting and a huge hippie movement at the time. I was still in highschool so didn't get into all the political stuff going on but I do remember how the music was great and politics were woven thru everything from the music to the clothing to the hair styles and the lifestyle in general. The grunge era of the late 1990's is the closest I've seen to those days in a long time but it didn't really takeoff like the movements in the 60's. Actually kinda surprising we don't have a lot of that going on right now, there's certianly enough polarizing issues out there.
Anyway, back to music - great pics, one of these days I'm going to find a Standal amp to try, they've been mentioned a number of times on this thread, never seen one though.
I'll try to keep a long story short.....In mid 1968, at the ripe age of 15, I switched from bass to guitar - partly in the hopes of attracting a few more of the ladies. Sold the B-15 (I know, if only we knew then what we know now!!!) and bought a Vibrolux Reverb. After a few months at guitar, and finding that strumming chords all night was really pretty boring - not to mention that the situation with the ladies hadn't really improved - I came to two conclusions: 1) Guitar sucks, I'm going back to bass 2) Maybe I'm the problem with the ladies, not the instrument I play!!!
Anyhow, loaded up the Vibrolux and headed to the local music store to find the best deal on a trade, and came home with a Teneyck. A whole pile of watts, 4 (!!!) 15 inch speakers - heavier than my mother's Buick and took up about as much space in the garage. The local guy was closing them out after carrying them since they were introduced, and never selling the first one until he decided to liquidate them. I don't remember the financial details, but I was a high school kid, so I didn't have much cash to part with, so it couldn't have been too painful. The thing sounded like total cr@p, but it rattled the windows and floors everywhere we played!!! Unloaded it on some poor unsuspecting freshman right before graduating from HS 2 years later. See, the story does have a happy ending!!! (Although I hope the unsuspecting freshman isn't a member here!!!!!)
Blooz
Anyhow, loaded up the Vibrolux and headed to the local music store to find the best deal on a trade, and came home with a Teneyck. A whole pile of watts, 4 (!!!) 15 inch speakers - heavier than my mother's Buick and took up about as much space in the garage. The local guy was closing them out after carrying them since they were introduced, and never selling the first one until he decided to liquidate them. I don't remember the financial details, but I was a high school kid, so I didn't have much cash to part with, so it couldn't have been too painful. The thing sounded like total cr@p, but it rattled the windows and floors everywhere we played!!! Unloaded it on some poor unsuspecting freshman right before graduating from HS 2 years later. See, the story does have a happy ending!!! (Although I hope the unsuspecting freshman isn't a member here!!!!!)
Blooz
Late to the party, but I started playing in 1965. First amp was Sears Silvertone 115. In 1967 I moved up to a 50-watt Fender Bassman head and a homemade 215 cab with JBL D140s. I'd have to say that most pros in my area played either the Bassman with 212s or a Dual Showman guitar head with 215s. Remember that until around 1970, most bar bands didn't use monitors and didn't play very loud. A Twin Reverb was a lot of amp back then, and PA systems were low powered. Next upgrade was to a Kustom 200 head and a 215 cab, rolled & pleated Naugahyde. This was a big favorite at the time. My next move was to a 215 Standel solid state "combo" in 1970.
Flats were the rule, all right. LaBella, very heavy. I stayed with these till I switched to Rotosound in 1971 after seeing ELP. P basses ruled and adventurous players had a J bass. I Played my '59 P till I got a '72 Rick 4001. Very few Gibson basses in my area (Pittsburgh).
Straps? Either the aforementioned skinny strap with a moveable pad (which came with Fender basses) or the 2" wide fabric straps you can still buy today.
No stands -- just turn your axe around and lean the head against the amp. I didn't have a stand until 1978.
Flats were the rule, all right. LaBella, very heavy. I stayed with these till I switched to Rotosound in 1971 after seeing ELP. P basses ruled and adventurous players had a J bass. I Played my '59 P till I got a '72 Rick 4001. Very few Gibson basses in my area (Pittsburgh).
Straps? Either the aforementioned skinny strap with a moveable pad (which came with Fender basses) or the 2" wide fabric straps you can still buy today.
No stands -- just turn your axe around and lean the head against the amp. I didn't have a stand until 1978.
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
- 9,056
- 38,404
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Cataldo Basses, Whirlwind products, Thunderbucker pickups
Traynor is awesome gear!
Was only 10 in '68 so I didn't have a YBA-3A rig, but I have one now. Better late than never.
What a lot of fun. I didn't pick up bass until I was 39, after years of guitar playing, but I've tried to make up for lost time. Keep 'em coming!
Hey, Happy Days! I just found a Standal bass amp at one of the local guitar stores. Kinda beat up but everything appeared to be in working order. Minimalistic controls - total of 2 knobs for each channel (bright and normal channels) one knob for volume and one stacked pot with bass on the lower half and treble on the upper half. Actually played good and the price wasn't bad at $250.
All this talk about Standel amps 
I have an old 52J12 - Wes Montgomery era...
The front panel is lit all around with small bulbs behind the recessed panel. The cabinet was designed with the speaker facing the audience at an angle which seems like a cool idea.
I have an old 52J12 - Wes Montgomery era...The front panel is lit all around with small bulbs behind the recessed panel. The cabinet was designed with the speaker facing the audience at an angle which seems like a cool idea.
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GBassNorth,
Even in 1969 STV's were over a grand, and out of reach for most of us. There were so many amps to choose from.
The Sunn 200S and Kustom 200's were very popular along with the B-15's and the Fender Bassman and Showman.
Most likely a Fender Bassman or B-15N
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One word here LaBella (or Possibly Fenders) remember Rotosounds had come on the scene and lot's of us were grinding our frets down trying them out.
Head shop specials, custom made by the same hippies that did Tye Dye T Shirts and Leather Vests
Quite different than the K&M stands most of us use now days. They were usually chrome tripods with rubber hands to hold the bottom of the bass and a rubber covered c style brace for the neck.
It's all good
For authenticity you'll need to get some of those Maxwell House coffee cans with the plastic lids and cut triangles out of them for picks.
