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NBD - Welcome home old friend....

two fingers

Opinionated blowhard. But not mad about it.
Inactive
Feb 7, 2005
33,959
116,684
55
Eastern NC USA
Short version for ADD TBers.... The bass I started playing on 30 years ago is back. Pics at the bottom. Thanks for stopping by.

How the heck did two fingers become a bass player anyway? Welp, I played low brass in high school. One day the band director called me into his office and told me he wanted me to play TUBA in the JAZZ BAND! My reply was something like "No offense, but that ain't cool. No thanks, man." Two weeks later he called me into his office and pointed in the corner. Still in the box was a new P bass and a Peavey TNT amp. "Jazz band starts in a few weeks. Better get ready." the rest is history. Yes, I played in jazz band. But, a few weeks after this fateful event, a guy who grew up with my mom came over and begged her to let me go out and fill in with his classic rock cover band for the weekend....one weekend.....which led to two weekends....which led to my 15 year old skinny butt playing shows all over NC and VA for the rest of high school. Here's a pic from Spring of '86.
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A few years and a lot more hair later I was still playing in that band and moved away from home about 70 miles away. Wound up playing in 5 bands at once barely making a living. Then I moved on to teaching lessons and working in a full line music store. After that, playing for a living in a private/corporate party band. Point is, that red bass changed my life. I even met my wife at a show.

Years ago I had started trying to find that bass. I contacted the various band directors that came and went. They all had looked for the bass. It was simply...."missing".

Fast forward to last week. My brother, a self-proclaimed pawn shop whore, waltzed into a tiny pawn shop in our tiny hometown he had never been in. And there it was.
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He immediately knew what it was. (Not only is he a guitar player, but he played trumpet with me in that same jazz band 30+ years ago.) He sent me that pic and my face got hot. I immediately had him check a few things to make sure it was that exact bass. It is.

They were asking a ridiculously high price. I wanted the bass but wasn't about to pay too much for it. I started a price check thread about it. It's around here somewhere.

"Get to the point twofer!!!!" OK, OK, chill.

84-87 MIJ by the serial number.

I got the bass. It has been through some things, and has some scars. But, don't we all....
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Anyway....

So, back then I was clueless. I'm not really sure about a model number or anything. But here it is, bumps and all. Welcome home old friend. You tell me your stories and I'll tell you mine. It's been a long time. Since you pointed me in a new direction, I've seen a lot. Seems you have too. We have some catching up to do.
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My youngest approves.
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Short version for ADD TBers.... The bass I started playing on 30 years ago is back. Pics at the bottom. Thanks for stopping by.

How the heck did two fingers beco.email a bass player anyway? Welp, I played low brass in high school. One day the band director called me into his office and told me he wanted me to play TUBA in the JAZZ BAND! My reply was something like "No offense, but that ain't cool. No thanks, man." Two weeks later he called me into his office and pointed in the corner. Still in the box was a new P bass and a Peavey TNT amp. "Jazz band starts in a few weeks. Better get ready." the rest is history. Yes, I played on jazz band. But, a few weeks after this faithful event, a guy who grew up with my mom came over and begged her to let me go out and full in with his classic rock cover band for the weekend....one weekend.....which led to two weekends....which led to my 15 year old skinny butt playing games shows all over NC and VA for the rest of high school. Here's a pic from Spring of '86.
View attachment 1047777

A few years and a lot more hair later I was still playing in that band and moved away from home about 70 miles away. Wound up playing in 5 bands at once barely making a living. Then I moved on to teaching lessons and working in a full line music store. After that, playing for a living in a private/corporate party band. Point is, that red bass changed my life. I even met my wife at a show.

Years ago I had started trying to find that bass. I contacted the various band directors that came and went. They all had looked for the bass. It was simply...."missing".

Fast forward to last week. My brother, a self-proclaimed pawn shop where, waltzed into a tiny pawn shop in our tiny hometown he had never been in. And there it was.
View attachment 1047784
He immediately knew what it was. (Not only is he a guitar player, but he played trumpet with me in that same jazz band 30+ years ago.) He sent me that pic and my face got hot. I immediately had him check a few things to make sure it was that exact bass. It is.

They were asking a ridiculously high price. I wanted the bass but wasn't about to pay too much for it. I started a price check thread about it. It's around here somewhere.

"Get to the point twofer!!!!" OK, OK, chill.

84-87 MIJ by the serial number.

I got the bass. It has been through some things, and has some scars. But, don't we all.
View attachment 1047796
View attachment 1047797
View attachment 1047798
View attachment 1047799

Anyway....

So, back then I was clueless. I'm not really sure about a model number or anything. But here it is, bumps and all. Welcome home old friend. You tell me your stories and I'll tell you mine. It's been a long time. Since you pointed me in a new direction, I've seen a lot. Seems you have too. We have some catching up to do.
View attachment 1047800
View attachment 1047801
View attachment 1047803
View attachment 1047804
View attachment 1047805
My youngest approves.
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Very cool story. Glad you are back together with the bass that started it all.
 
Great story. Just don't try to adjust the rod. It might make you unhappy and ruin the reunion. :roflmao:

Yeah I agree. I'm sending it to a friend to get all the kinks worked out. It may need a new nut. Definitely needs a good setup. I'm not messing with that rod the first time out. For all I know it hasn't been adjusted in 30 years. It deserves some TLC from a pro. We'll call it "rehab".
 
Sweet you got it, inquiring minds from the other thread are curious what the shop owner let it go for finally....

Tee hee hee.

My father knows the owner of the shop. He gave the guy $400 cash and walked out with it in a hard case. He impressed upon the guy that he might not want anyone trying to find out how it went "missing" more than 25 years ago. I love that old hardball playing bastard. (My dad, that is.)
 
Tee hee hee.

My father knows the owner of the shop. He gave the guy $400 cash and walked out with it in a hard case. He impressed upon the guy that he might not want anyone trying to find out how it went "missing" more than 25 years ago. I love that old hardball playing bastard. (My dad, that is.)


Haha thats rad, even without the nostalgia a great price and even greater father.
 
My first bass was/is an early 80''s MIJ E-series as well. It's a jewel, glad you have her back.

One of the things that surprised me the most was how beefy the neck is. (To me, that's a good thing.) Over the years since then I have played a lot of MIJ Fender basses and most of them had pencil thin necks. But this one feels pretty good in my big hands. It's not a baseball bat. But it's thicker than I thought it would be. That was a pleasant surprise when I got to play it yesterday.