My story begins at? The beginning. I lived in a small town in Ohio. Fell into bass by accident. As I tried and failed at every other instrument in the known universe. Bass guitar was the last I tried. And I could play. Immediately. Pretty well. There were two music stores in my town. At one worked a lifelong friend, I'd known him since 2nd grade, and I was there a lot cuz he was the one who inspired me to try bass guitar, and I could play em forever. I couldn't own one yet, but my parents helped me eventually. That same summer I discovered Geddy Lee, Steve Harris, John Deacon, Stanley Clarke, Michael Anthony, Cliff Burton, and in a weird way, John Paul Jones. All those were my biggest influences, but Geddy truly stands out. That'll play out later...
Cut to about 5 years later. I have basses now, and an amp. Peaveys and Crate. Cuz that's what my hometown store sold. I relocate to a bigger town. I got jobs in music stores and sound install and repair shops, and started hustling local gigs. I realize their are a TON of basses out there, and start to get ahold of some. By luck of draw, and my abilities in metal bass, I got to go to a NAMM show thru my work. There, I literally took home thousands of catalogs, pieces of literature. I played hundreds of basses, talked to now classic, then young, builders and manufacturers, some I still talk with today. I got an education.
I come back with a whole new perspective. Start working in a new shop, that sold far more upscale gear. I'd just discovered John Myung, and his Tung Wing 6. I had to learn that material, Dream Theater, and had to have a 6 of my own. The shop I now worked at had a few. Warwick, Yamaha, Alembic, Smith, and others. At that time, a new NT Smith could be had fer a song, but to me a song was still very pricey. Ha! Where I now played I realized, just like today, that playin metal in clubs will NOT get you paid. I had to learn material that was unrelated in order to work in the scene. Lotta shag. Lotta blues Lotta soul. I discovered a plethora of music and players. Jamerson, Babbitt, Jaco, Dunn. A ton of others. A huge deal to me was Will Lee. I thot he learned a set list a day to perform on Letterman, an thot that was a requirement to getting work. Ha! In researching him, I learned a hero of his was Chuck Rainey. Rainey became a hero of mine, too. He endorsed Smith basses at the time. Bolt versions, thus slightly more affordable. I wanted a CR 6. Playin those basses in my shop? That tone and feel inspired me like no other. So? I got one. Thru trades, dealing gear, I chased it. Used it fer years an years. In metal, in blues, reggae, and all kinds of stuff. But? After a bit I realized that folk held my bass acountable for my abilities and tone, and I was not cool with that.
So, I got on a mission. Fate, the death of my mother, took my Smith from me. After her fall, and an extended hiatus from performing, I found myself in my old shop, playin an 02 Fender Jazz Deluxe 5. I took it home. Played it a long time. In the interim, my Smith actually returned to me in a very strange, fateful way. The Smith was born on the same day as my Ma in 1995. So, I had my Deluxe anna Smith. But Geddy, see my forewarning, was returning to a heavier, grittier style, after his own hiatus into horrid 80s New Wave influence. He'd found a Jazz. A very specific LOOKing jazz. That era, that bass, took hold of me. Even then, old Fenders were ridiculously priced fer what they were, are, and I played a 6, or a 5. I wasn't givin up my low B. I tried every similar looking 5 string, passive Jazz on the planet. Nuttin quite got me to where I wanted to go, looks, feel OR tone wise.
In 2010, Fender redesigned their Deluxe line. My 02 Deluxe was incredible. But wasn't a Geddy Lee Jazz, the look was all wrong. Fender did not make a Geddy 5. But in the redesign, a Deluxe 5 with the same aesthetics appeared. Man, was I stoked. I had to have it. My old shop was a dealer, and a pusher, HA!! I started pricing them. Too. Damn. Much. As ALL gear is today. But? I had to have one.
In another twist of fate, I'd just gotten re acquainted with my 2nd grade friend. Seems he dunn well. After teaching at the old haunt, he became employed by my first store. Became manager, then a virtual partner in the establishment. A Fender rep had offered him a job, that he took, and he'd become the overall sales rep for Fender East, of the Mississippi. Heh. He had "weight". I told him of my plight. He told me he'd sell me a "Geddy" Fender American Deluxe fer a shockingly low price. Brand new. I'd not bought a new bass since my Ma's passing. But you bet yer sweet bippy I bought this one...
Due to Fender's paint supplier folding, he originally gave me a 6-8 month window in which it would arrive. I had plenty of time to put money back. I thot. However, it arrived in less than 6 weeks. He explained that one of the earliest, sales rep pieces had come back from the road. He'd nabbed it. And sent it out as a surprise. I got notice of its arrival at a band rehearsal. I told em to pack up, cuz I was goin to pick this up before UPS closed. They took me to get it. It was still on the truck, out fer deliveries, when we arrived. We waited. And waited. FINally the truck came back, I knabbed the box, opened her up. After traveling across the country, from Cali to Detroit, to SC, theu all the weather changes, flying, handling, my new beast was still nearly in tune. And, beast it was. Beast it is.
I've played this bass at every show in the last ten years. I play a lot. I beat the crap out my basses. And this "Wife" of mine just keeps getting better. And better. I sold the Smith the next day. I'd already sold my earlier Deluxe. Tho, in a way, I wish I still had em now? Then, I decided I should commit to this bass guitar. The others were so great, that I knew I would just fall into old habit and grab one of those fer gigs. And I wanted THIS bass to be, fer me, as Jamerson's or Jaco's or Osbourne's, or Sheehan's, or Geddy's, heh, were to them. This is the best bass, fer me, on the planet. She's won me gigs, competitions and a ton more. I never miss a chance to fondle her with purpose. She's aged exactly as I'd wished and intended. I love this bass. And will play her til I can't. Her name is Bertha. Bertha Jazz. 11.5 lbs of pure, tonal bliss. My Big Gun. She will be pried out of my cold, dead hands. Eventually. But I ain dunn juss yet. Here she is with another story. On the left. Bout ta hannle bizzness.
