NBD: The Empire Strikes Back!!

[tb-player]

This is a Fender Custom Shop Empire ‘58 Precision. It is identical to the precision bass I purchased last year. That bass was excellent, but I was very GASsy and, like a fool, I let it go to buy something else that I probably didn’t even keep.

I hadn’t thought about that bass in a long time until a fellow TBer @tyd450 DM’d me asking about the quality of the Empire basses. He got me looking at them and, just like that (after I confirmed he wasn’t buying this one), I find myself emailing the owner at Empire Music and working out the same sweet deal I got last year.

It arrived today and I must admit, I think it may be even sweeter than the one I sold. Super lightweight at 8.35lb. The same black with anodized gold guard (my favorite p bass color-combo) and a roasted maple neck/board… complete with the natural maple skunk stripe! It feels like home.

I’ve been missing having a precision but I’ve also been behaving myself on the GAS front. Yet every time I post pictures of my basses on Instagram, fellow TBer @Sam Dingle usually comments, “I don’t see a p bass.” Well Sam, this one’s for you!

Apparently I am easily swayed by peer-pressure. Ummmm, yeah… that’s it. Peer pressure!

 

[climber]

looks great...how much?

 

[climber]

oops, I see. out of my range

 

[Wyrdlow]

That looks lovely! I don't think I've seen a skunk stripe lighter than the neck before; I really like it. Very classy. Enjoy!

 

[nonohmic]

You should sell everything else (or put everything else in storage) and just play that for 1 year.

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Best bass for Cantina Rock.

 

[tb-player]

You should sell everything else (or put everything else in storage) and just play that for 1 year.

Sounds like a plan. I actually have a couple of my pricier basses for sale that don’t see much action. They’re super nice, but I always lean toward the workhorse basses when I play. So I guess I’m kind of doing that, without realizing it.

 

[Sam Dingle]

My favorite thing is spending other people’s money for them through peer pressure! Now get one with flats….

 

[tb-player]

My favorite thing is spending other people’s money for them through peer pressure! Now get one with flats….

I have an Upton Bass Brescian Hybrid coming later this year. Pretty sure that will have flats!

 

[TonyP-]

This is a Fender Custom Shop Empire ‘58 Precision. It is identical to the precision bass I purchased last year. That bass was excellent, but I was very GASsy and, like a fool, I let it go to buy something else that I probably didn’t even keep.

I hadn’t thought about that bass in a long time until a fellow TBer @tyd450 DM’d me asking about the quality of the Empire basses. He got me looking at them and, just like that (after I confirmed he wasn’t buying this one), I find myself emailing the owner at Empire Guitars and working out the same sweet deal I got last year.

It arrived today and I must admit, I think it may be even sweeter than the one I sold. Super lightweight at 8.35lb. The same black with anodized gold guard (my favorite p bass color-combo) and a roasted maple neck/board… complete with the natural maple skunk stripe! It feels like home.

I’ve been missing having a precision but I’ve also been behaving myself on the GAS front. Yet every time I post pictures of my basses on Instagram, fellow TBer @Sam Dingle usually comments, “I don’t see a p bass” Well Sam, this one’s for you!

Apparently I am easily swayed by peer-pressure. Ummmm, yeah… that’s it. Peer pressure!

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I just want to know what kind of board is in the background.
Looks gunny, share the dims on that.
Also that looks like a Clark foam logo so that would make it at least 20 years old since they have been out of the biz for a long time.

 

[tb-player]

I just want to know what kind of board is in the background.
Looks gunny, share the dims on that.
Also that looks like a Clark foam logo so that would make it at least 20 years old since they have been out of the biz for a long time.

Haha... well played Tony. Good eye!

That's one of my first surfboards. It's a relic. During college summer breaks, I worked at a surf shop in Ocean City, MD called Sundancer. This was one of our branded boards from Spectrum Surfboards. They were big, back in the day. This one's from 1993. It's a 7' 4" shaped by Joe Shriver. He went on to shape for Wave Riding Vehicles when they got huge.

It's got a pretty big ding on the rail. I didn't want a big ugly patch, so I never fixed it. it's just adornment for my music room now. Plus, with mushy east coast chop, guys my age need something with a round nose and significantly more real estate... lol.

 

[Dust2Dust]

Righteous bass, bro

 

[tyd450]

Looks great, congrats!

 

[Z-Bass]

Congratulations..........again! Sweet bass and a classic color/wood combo. I dig the quartersawn and roasted neck; construction benefits aside, it gives it a nice aged look that's fitting with the overall appearance.

I keep meaning to get down to Empire Music. Great store with an expansive collection. Good people. It's funny, they are not far away from me but I can never seem to make it down. There is a fabric store just down the street from Empire that my wife uses sometimes for her seamstress work. I'm usually like "Honey, do you need anything from the fabric store? I'd be happy to go down and pick it up." But she knows my game.

 

[tb-player]

Looks great, congrats!

Thanks for the push. I forgot how much I enjoyed this bass.

 

[logdrum]

This build sheet says, no pickups . no controls and no strap locks.

 

[tb-player]

This build sheet says, no pickups . no controls and no strap locks.

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Hmmm... maybe that's why he gave me such a good deal. It is a very quiet bass.

 

[TonyP-]

Haha... well played Tony. Good eye!

That's one of my first surfboards. It's a relic. During college summer breaks, I worked at a surf shop in Ocean City, MD called Sundancer. This was one of our branded boards from Spectrum Surfboards. They were big, back in the day. This one's from 1993. It's a 7' 4" shaped by Joe Shriver. He went on to shape for Wave Riding Vehicles when they got huge.

It's got a pretty big ding on the rail. I didn't want a big ugly patch, so I never fixed it. it's just adornment for my music room now. Plus, with mushy east coast chop, guys my age need something with a round nose and significantly more real estate... lol.

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Awesome, I remember my collage days as well when Spectrum was all over the east coast. Nothing wrong with riding a longboard. My under 7’6” days are gone (unless it’s a fish). I’m a bit of a surf geek, so my apologies for hijacking the thread.

It’s like being at NAMM and having a conversation about Star Wars with Bubby Lewis or wine with Jonas Hellborg. (Who stopped drinking it, but it was fun while it lasted lol). I love that stuff.

 

[tb-player]

Awesome, I remember my collage days as well when Spectrum was all over the east coast. Nothing wrong with riding a longboard. My under 7’6” days are gone (unless it’s a fish). I’m a bit of a surf geek, so my apologies for hijacking the thread.

It’s like being at NAMM and having a conversation about Star Wars with Bubby Lewis or wine with Jonas Hellborg. (Who stopped drinking it, but it was fun while it lasted lol). I love that stuff.

Haha. Hard to believe bassists have interests other than bass. Get Bubby talking anime and there's the rest of your day... lol.