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NBD - Welcome home old friend....

#181
two fingers said:
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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That's a fantastic story! Glad you got it back. Those are great basses btw!
 
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#191
Bumping an old thread, came from the fleabass thread. Great story. I have been looking for a guitar for years. My dad bought it for me for christmas in either 1990 or 1991 It was a transparent dark purple Ibanez EX370 with Gold hardware. A friend of mine was down on his luck, and needed a guitar for a show, so I lent it to him. That same night after the show he ended up killing himself. His wife ended up selling it. I tracked it down to the person she sold it to, and he had already sold it. No clue where it ended up. It has been about 20 years now. As my dad gets on in years I am just now appreciating his sacrifices for me as a kid. Luckily I still have a MIJ Charvel Deluxe 475 That he bought me for the next christmas. That one I wont lend out.
 
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#194
two fingers said:
Ha! Knee surgery. :D
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Can be painful too @two fingers ..I had a torn cartilage in my right knee mid 90's...knelt down to turn the heater on and heard a rip sound..tried to stand up and my knee was locked..day surgery..in and out to remove the torn piece..instant relief but weeks to recover..incredible pain that I'll never forget..so I hope your OP went well.
My band at the time had to get in a temp bass player to cover the gigs 'cause I was hopping about like Skippy for at least a month with bandages on the knee..was impossible to stand or sit and play..wasnt a nice time lol
 
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#196
Giffro said:
Can be painful too @two fingers ..I had a torn cartilage in my right knee mid 90's...knelt down to turn the heater on and heard a rip sound..tried to stand up and my knee was locked..day surgery..in and out to remove the torn piece..instant relief but weeks to recover..incredible pain that I'll never forget..so I hope your OP went well.
My band at the time had to get in a temp bass player to cover the gigs 'cause I was hopping about like Skippy for at least a month with bandages on the knee..was impossible to stand or sit and play..wasnt a nice time lol
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My physical therapist at the time told me the further away from the trunk an injury/surgery is, the harder it is to heal. I had to relearn how to walk. It was pretty rough.
 
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