Hello TBers, here's my story how my bass got famous for one night.
I was checking Facebook one night this September. I saw one of my friends share a band's bassist's posting, namely Schmier Fink from Destruction of Germany. They say they are having a gig in Istanbul tonight and his Dean Flying V bass is lost in transit from Beyrout. They were in need of a replacement bass. What they look for in the bass is that it should be active, good sounding, OK looking and having strap locks (didn't mention brand). I instantly replied I could lend my heavily modded Washburn XB-200 if the fellow bassist agreed. I had replaced the pickups, bridge, tuners, added active EQ and Schaller strap locks to my black bass which was not as developed before.
They quickly replied with the tour manager's number. I reached them and they asked for a pic. Sent it. They said it's OK and they are waiting for me at the venue which is 30 minutes by car. In a few minutes I packed my axe and hit the road.
By the way, I normally listen to thrash metal and many other genres as well, but never really listened to Destruction before. I don't even know what their hit songs are. I just googled on the way and saw that they are a famous thrash band since the 80's.
When I arrived at the venue they took me backstage and I introduced the bass to the bassist. He was a huge guy, like 2 meters tall and quite big. When he heard it had Schallers he said good. They took it for trial and gave me a beer while I waited. I heard it was the fifth bass that came that night and it was 30 minutes to the show.
They said OK, they were going to use it. Schmier himself asked me if it was OK they put fluorescent tape on the neck, and I said no probs. But seeing the amount of metal studs on his jacket, I became sure bass would receive heavy belt rash, so I asked him to cover the back of the body with tape too. He was kind enough to agree. Lucky me.
Looks like it was the Schallers that made him and his tech decide. Other basses probably did not have those and the guy was such a hulk that he might have thought he couldn't find another strap suitable for his size. Strap locks aren't very popular in Turkey. I added them for fancy very recently.
When they hit the stage, I went out into the crowd, stage front. The show started. It was my bass in his hand. I didn't know until that point that he was also the singer in a trio, so I got very excited. My bass was becoming famous. But into the first song the bass stopped sounding. I was like "DAMN!"... He even announced it was somebody else's bass and it broke down. The show seemed to be over right at the beginning. Very soon it appeared the problem was the wireless device. They plugged him in wired and bass came back.
I don't remember another concert I had so much fun, because it was MY bass being played on stage. He used distortion so it sounded differently but it looked awesome under stage lights. I myself never had performed on such a big stage. My bass has surpassed me now. I was into such thoughts when 90 minutes have passed quickly. I didn't even know any of the songs. Then, before the last song, Schmier announced ME and called me to the stage. I ran, jumped up to the stage quickly and saluted the crowd. He asked me to stay on stage and I did so. With a beer bottle in my hand I headbanged in the corner on the stage throughout the last song.
After they left the stage I picked my bass and went back to backstage. We were taken pictures together. He and the tour manager thanked me for saving the gig. I said I was happy to help. It was a fellow bassist in need in the end, and in return I had such an amazing night. They were all super nice guys. They posted our pics later on their social media.
I returned home late that night and my wife got awake, and she was thrilled with the story. She had always criticised me for buying too much stuff for my bass, but this time the straplocks I just bought did work for someone else's need. This experience is priceless. Here are some pics.
I was checking Facebook one night this September. I saw one of my friends share a band's bassist's posting, namely Schmier Fink from Destruction of Germany. They say they are having a gig in Istanbul tonight and his Dean Flying V bass is lost in transit from Beyrout. They were in need of a replacement bass. What they look for in the bass is that it should be active, good sounding, OK looking and having strap locks (didn't mention brand). I instantly replied I could lend my heavily modded Washburn XB-200 if the fellow bassist agreed. I had replaced the pickups, bridge, tuners, added active EQ and Schaller strap locks to my black bass which was not as developed before.
They quickly replied with the tour manager's number. I reached them and they asked for a pic. Sent it. They said it's OK and they are waiting for me at the venue which is 30 minutes by car. In a few minutes I packed my axe and hit the road.
By the way, I normally listen to thrash metal and many other genres as well, but never really listened to Destruction before. I don't even know what their hit songs are. I just googled on the way and saw that they are a famous thrash band since the 80's.
When I arrived at the venue they took me backstage and I introduced the bass to the bassist. He was a huge guy, like 2 meters tall and quite big. When he heard it had Schallers he said good. They took it for trial and gave me a beer while I waited. I heard it was the fifth bass that came that night and it was 30 minutes to the show.
They said OK, they were going to use it. Schmier himself asked me if it was OK they put fluorescent tape on the neck, and I said no probs. But seeing the amount of metal studs on his jacket, I became sure bass would receive heavy belt rash, so I asked him to cover the back of the body with tape too. He was kind enough to agree. Lucky me.
Looks like it was the Schallers that made him and his tech decide. Other basses probably did not have those and the guy was such a hulk that he might have thought he couldn't find another strap suitable for his size. Strap locks aren't very popular in Turkey. I added them for fancy very recently.
When they hit the stage, I went out into the crowd, stage front. The show started. It was my bass in his hand. I didn't know until that point that he was also the singer in a trio, so I got very excited. My bass was becoming famous. But into the first song the bass stopped sounding. I was like "DAMN!"... He even announced it was somebody else's bass and it broke down. The show seemed to be over right at the beginning. Very soon it appeared the problem was the wireless device. They plugged him in wired and bass came back.
I don't remember another concert I had so much fun, because it was MY bass being played on stage. He used distortion so it sounded differently but it looked awesome under stage lights. I myself never had performed on such a big stage. My bass has surpassed me now. I was into such thoughts when 90 minutes have passed quickly. I didn't even know any of the songs. Then, before the last song, Schmier announced ME and called me to the stage. I ran, jumped up to the stage quickly and saluted the crowd. He asked me to stay on stage and I did so. With a beer bottle in my hand I headbanged in the corner on the stage throughout the last song.
After they left the stage I picked my bass and went back to backstage. We were taken pictures together. He and the tour manager thanked me for saving the gig. I said I was happy to help. It was a fellow bassist in need in the end, and in return I had such an amazing night. They were all super nice guys. They posted our pics later on their social media.
I returned home late that night and my wife got awake, and she was thrilled with the story. She had always criticised me for buying too much stuff for my bass, but this time the straplocks I just bought did work for someone else's need. This experience is priceless. Here are some pics.
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