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Double Bass NBD Yup, I'm pretty thrilled.

rickwolff

rickwolff

‘Leave the clams in, let ’em know we're human,'
Supporting Member
Dec 24, 2012
3,609
5,770
Hudson Wisconsin (15 miles from St. Paul/Mpls
#1
'Thank you', to Eric Barstad, from whom I just bought my 'New Bass'.

My frequent lurking paid off in that I was the first person to contact Eric shortly after he had listed his bass here on TB.

As he is in Minneapolis and I am in Raleigh, there was a logistical issue which was solved through a bit of serendipity. I'd had a bass player friend go over and look at the bass but was still hesitant about buying a bass I hadn't played.

As it happened, our daughter who lives only about 30 miles from Eric needed our help with some child-care issues and a trip to the Twin City area was suddenly in the works.

I had asked Eric if he would mind putting me 'at the head of the queue'. It was a lot to ask for but he kindly agreed to not sell the bass to anyone else until I was able to get there in a couple of days and play it.

I asked another bassist friend of mine, Gary (who had toured with Sammy Davis Jr. and also Garrison Keillor and The Prairie Home Companion Show) to come with me so he could give me his opinion and play the bass so I could hear it out front.

It didn't take more than a couple of minutes to know I had found my new bass.

It was wonderful to see my old friend, Gary, again too. We had played together in the University of Minnesota Orchestra about 45 years ago and it was fun to share old memories.

I haven't taken my own pics of the new bass yet but will repost one here from Eric's ad.

Czech bass.jpeg
 
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#2
Truth be told, I fell in love with that wood grain even before I heard the bass, but hearing and playing it today surpassed my hopes and expectations.

Now, hopefully, Southwest Air Cargo can get it to Raleigh in good condition. It will be in a hard case and fully insured.
 
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#3
rickwolff said:
I asked another bassist friend of mine, Gary (who had toured with Sammy Davis Jr. and also Garrison Keillor and The Prairie Home Companion Show)
Click to expand...
Gary Raynor sounded fantastic on the PHC broadcasts. Big sound, great time/notes.
What is it with "Minnesota Bassists" ? Something in the water in the 10,000 (10,000,000?) lakes up there, don cha know?
Q: Will you be jettisoning one of your current basses to make room for the newly acquired bass? (I have a guess...)
OK then.
Congratz.
 
#5
Don Kasper said:
Gary Raynor sounded fantastic on the PHC broadcasts. Big sound, great time/notes.
What is it with "Minnesota Bassists" ? Something in the water in the 10,000 (10,000,000?) lakes up there, don cha know?
Q: Will you be jettisoning one of your current basses to make room for the newly acquired bass? (I have a guess...)
OK then.
Congratz.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Don! I'll pass your very nice compliment along to Gary, who, unlike me is gigging so much he doesn't have time to lurk on TB.

As to Minnesota and bassists, there does seem to be something. A number of bassists (and other musicians from Minnesota) have made significant marks in the music industry. To mention just one (and he is of the 'slab' persuasion) Jimmy Johnson is from Minneapolis. He is currently James Taylor's bassist and musical director. Along with my new bass I also bought a wonderful French Bow that Jimmy's dad, Cliff made. Cliff played with the Minneapolis Symphony for years and was not only a very in-demand piano tuner but also made bows which are highly regarded. And to close the circle, Gary Raynor just bought Cliff's symphony bass from Cliff's other son, Gordy, who is also a top-tier bassist (and, like his dad, an in-demand piano-tuner and technician).

PS yes, I will be selling a bass, and yes your guess is almost certainly correct.
 
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#6
rickwolff said:
Now, hopefully, Southwest Air Cargo can get it to Raleigh in good condition. It will be in a hard case and fully insured.
Click to expand...
I heard a tip somewhere (I think it was Chris Wood but not 100% sure) that you should put that hard case inside a soft case. When people see the soft case, they tend to handle things with much more care.
Jim Dombrowski said:
Are you going to tell us what kind of bass it is?
Click to expand...
Yea, come on man!
 
#7
What kind of bass?

A brown one?

A big one (only 3/4, actually)?

But seriously, thought to be Czech, but no label inside. It is a canted Flat-back, fully carved, with Gamba corners (for which I have an affinity). If my luthier, Bob Beerman in Greensboro NC can tell me more I'll pass it along.
 
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#11
Anne Millington said:
Are you sure you don't want to just drive up and get the thing? I am not paranoid by nature, but would hate to ship an instrument. Or an animal. Or me, for that matter, these days.

Beautiful bass!
Click to expand...

I've actually got the bass in my possession now but don't have room for it in the car for the 3 day drive home. Steve at the String Emporium swears by SW Air Cargo (but also suggests plenty of insurance). I had thought about renting a little U-Haul trailer but I'm leaning toward Air-cargo at this point.
 
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#13
rickwolff said:
I had thought about renting a little U-Haul trailer....
Click to expand...

I would never tell another bassist what to do, but I think the idea above sounds way better than shipping! You could bring the bass into your hotel rooms on the way. Although in this heat, inside a larger air conditioned vehicle would be best. Anyway, congrats on the bass!
 
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#17
Ric Vice said:
I’ve had a personal experience with baggage handlers dropping my Clevinger EUB of a luggage cart and damaging the end pin assembly. My Mirecourt
5/8ths has never flown for just that reason.
Click to expand...

I'm now leaning toward the small U-Haul. The bass came with a hard case that has about three inches of insulation that should make any temperature changes very gradual.
 
#19
Anne Millington said:
Would a small U-Haul cost significantly less than to fly up and rent a car big enough to drive it home one way? Of course with the U-Haul you can monitor temp and be sure you aren't keeping it out in too much heat.
Click to expand...
The key to hauling a bass and a UHaul is to put the crap in the UHaul and the bass in the car!
Don't ask how I learned that . . .

CONGRATS on your new bass, Rick!
 
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#20
I'm getting a wireless indoor/outdoor thermometer and will put the outdoor sensor in the heavily insulated hard case with the bass and monitor it as I drive. If it gets warm I'll know. I can't put everything else in the trailer because we have two dogs.
 
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