NBD - Welcome home old friend....

[wintremute]

After reading the story and reading all of these replies, I almost feel bad for "borrowing" it all those years ago.

 

[Engle]

Congrats!

 

[two fingers]

Silly question. How are you sure it is the same bass - not just a Japanese red P?

Great question!

1) I knew of one particular mark I made on it.

2) I still have some of the original documentation.

3) I was able to convince the guy at the shop to give me some of the back story so I know how it went "missing".

 

[two fingers]

After reading the story and reading all of these replies, I almost feel bad for "borrowing" it all those years ago.

I'm just glad you got off the drugs and are trying to clean up your life.

 

[Spidey2112]

The pic of your daughter with it is worth whatever you paid for it.

There's the real reward... well, one of them, anyways! Good job, Two AND Mrs. Two!

 

[Spidey2112]

Awesome. your story put a smile on my face. I'd love to get my original Ibanez Blazer P Bass back someday.

I'd like to find my first... an awful Fender P knockoff... It's pretty cold outside, and I could use the firewood...

 

[noeinstein]

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.
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 whore, 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
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View attachment 1047805
My youngest approves.
View attachment 1047806

If I can't have your experience, I really enjoyed sharing it! Thanks!

 

[Runnerman]

Awesome story, thanks for taking the time to share it and the pics of course!

I lost one that I purchased 35 years ago and foolishly sold it to fund new gear about 15 years ago. I've been trying to track her down again. I can only hope for such an ending.

 

[madbass6]

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.
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 whore, 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.
View attachment 1047806

Wow" nice story !! cool shorts too!

 

[buldog5151bass]

Great question!

1) I knew of one particular mark I made on it.

2) I still have some of the original documentation.

3) I was able to convince the guy at the shop to give me some of the back story so I know how it went "missing".

In that case, EXTREMELY cool.

 

[Joebone]

Killer story!

Boy meets bass, boy loses bass, boy gets bass again

Elements of crime (theft) and shady commercial practice (the pawn shop)

A heroic enforcer (Dad confronts pawn shop owner)

Red Bass as the Hitchcockian "McGuffin" - what the heck - a Wellesian "Rosebud"

...and yes, one of the best TB posts ever...

 

[two fingers]

Killer story!

Boy meets bass, boy loses bass, boy gets bass again

Elements of crime (theft) and shady commercial practice (the pawn shop)

A heroic enforcer (Dad confronts pawn shop owner)

Red Bass as the Hitchcockian "McGuffin" - what the heck - a Wellesian "Rosebud"

...and yes, one of the best TB posts ever...

Ha! Very well stated!

 

[Herrick]

First of all this is a very great story. It's always cool to hear about people reuniting with their long lost basses.

Second, that's very cool that you first started playing bass in a jazz band. That's like a trial by fire. Then shortly after that you were already playing in a cover band? Talk about on the job training That must've been pretty tough even with your previous musical experience.

 

[two fingers]

First of all this is a very great story. It's always cool to hear about people reuniting with their long lost basses.

Second, that's very cool that you first started playing bass in a jazz band. That's like a trial by fire. Then shortly after that you were already playing in a cover band? Talk about on the job training That must've been pretty tough even with your previous musical experience.

It was! I went from 0 to 60 in about two seconds!

 

[noeinstein]

Great question!

1) I knew of one particular mark I made on it.

2) I still have some of the original documentation.

3) I was able to convince the guy at the shop to give me some of the back story so I know how it went "missing".

Tell us the story of how it went "missing."

 

[Roxbororob]

The pic of your daughter with it is worth whatever you paid for it.

+1
Great happy ending story, made my day. Congratulations.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Cool story, like the Daisy Dukes...

 

[JRA]

ha! after i read your other thread about this bass: i knew you'd end up with it! great story, great instrument, great all the way around!

hope you have a lot of fun with the instrument: it will definitely be fun for you to tell the story from here on out!

 

[Papalampraina]

Hands down one of the best stories I've read on TB and possibly the best written. Really glad you got your old bass back.
I had sold mine and then the person who bought it gave it back to me for safekeeping while he was at the army.
Then he became a seaman and told me to keep it forever. Still have it.

 

[SafeHands83]

Great story. Congrats on the bass.