Hilarious old bass advertisement

[neren]

Found this old Harmony ad and thought it was a crack-up: http://i.imgur.com/13wmO.jpg

My favorite part is "And you produce sounds you've never heard before."

 

[ThudThudThud]

Mini rig of doom too.

 

[gigslut]

"And you produce sounds you've never heard before."

When you are electrocuted by the ungrounded chassis and two wire mains power cord.

 

[bloobass]

Hey, at least the bass is plugged in!

 

[bassinplace]

Just saw Tal Wilkenfeld play on Sat. night and she played a bass similar to the one pictured which seemed like an interesting choice to me. She only played one song on it at the beginning of the set so I'm thinking she might of just thrown it in there for entertainment value. I wonder if these basses were any good?

 

[MonkeyBass]

The model for that ad clearly has no idea how to play. I hate that.

 

[bongomania]

The model for that ad clearly has no idea how to play. I hate that.

If you're talking about his right arm, it was actually common for people to play by plucking with their thumb at the time. That's the reason for the "tug bar" (inverted thumb rest) below the strings on basses from that period.

 

[fenderhutz]

Anyone still wear their bass as a necklace anymore?

 

[Salamenster]

From what year is this ad? Anyone who can date it?

 

[seang15]

Anyone still wear their bass as a necklace anymore?

Yes.

 

[Salamenster]

Oh, btw. I just realized he hasn't got any strap or something. I wonder if he could play a gig, holding it like that...

 

[craig.p]

"And you produce sounds you've never heard before."

I believe it.

 

[Eric1668]

If you're talking about his right arm, it was actually common for people to play by plucking with their thumb at the time. That's the reason for the "tug bar" (inverted thumb rest) below the strings on basses from that period.

You've just answered one of those questions that I've always thought was too dumb to ask! Thank you!

 

[Stilettoprefer]

Oh, btw. I just realized he hasn't got any strap or something. I wonder if he could play a gig, holding it like that...

I played acoustic guitar for a few church services on a mission trip without a strap. Not even strap buttons to tie a shoelace to. The pressure of my right arm on the sticky poly finish was enough to keep it up.

 

[Oren Hudson]

I'd guess early to mid 70s based on the fact that this bass had the finger rest (a/k/a tug bar) on the G string side along with a thumb rest on the E string side to accomodate either thumb or finger playing. Fender switched from the G string to the E string side about '73ish, plus or minus. BTW, I'm an original thumb player since I started playing bass in 1963.

 

[dtripoli]

The model for that ad clearly has no idea how to play. I hate that.

Great ad for the time.
I agree that the guy is a model and has no clue how to play.
1) No guitar strap present
2) Left hand fingering is awkward and useless
3) Right arm is completely covering the strings for some extreme muting
4) Right fingers are not on or near a "tug bar"
5) Lastly and most importantly, the model is clean cut, way too happy and smiling, definitely not a bass player trait.

.....Other than that the ad is accurate

 

[Exploiter8]

Dick Van Dyke plays bass?

 

[Mike11121]

If you're talking about his right arm, it was actually common for people to play by plucking with their thumb at the time. That's the reason for the "tug bar" (inverted thumb rest) below the strings on basses from that period.

Frankly, I'm much more concerned about his left hand. He appears to have only 2 fingers (and maybe a thumb). That's gotta make those chord voicings pretty challenging!

 

[dtripoli]

Now here's an ad from the same era.
He doesn't even need to pretend to play.
His name precedes him.
Fender Jazz and a Peavey go together like mom and apple pie.
Here'ssssssss JOHNNY....Williams that is

 

[Salamenster]

"bass man" xD