Double Bass Nice bit of EUB history

[mrpc]

Check it out!

Invalid Link Removed

 

[damonsmith]

NIce, I wonder if Rumsey used it with the Light house all-stars.

 

[Francois Blais]

Thanks for the link!

 

[mikjans]

In a marketing attempt, Rickenbacker gave away two EUBs (designed by Beauchamp) in 1941, to two of the finest (and loudest) big band leaders of the day, Stan Kenton and Jimmie Lunceford. These basses were played briefly by Howard Rumsey and Moses Allen, respectively.

In the book The Kenton Kronicles, by Steven Harris (Dynaflow Publications), Rumsey recalls: “I played that thing for one year. You couldn't play it unless you were sold on it one hundred percent. If there was any doubt in your mind, you wouldn't touch it. I wanted to play a little louder, you know, because the Kenton band itself was loud. But it wasn't a good idea. First of all, if we went east of New York, I had to rent a converter because it would only play on alternating current. It wouldn't work on direct current. One night we were playing at a theatre in Brooklyn. (Vocalist) Red Dorris was sitting next to my speaker when all of a sudden some police calls came through the amplifier and shocked us all. We didn't know what was happening. We're in the middle of a gig and pick up a short wave broadcast somewhere – what a joke!"

I have also talked to Rumsey, who is around 90 but still with us, about it and he said: “Up until Moses and I were given electric basses, many bass players around LA were experimenting and trying different primitive ways to amplify their string basses. I tried at least three different kinds of ideas that were floating around. In my mind this attempt to make the string bass sound louder was brought on by the use of more and more PA house systems which made the other instruments much louder.”

Thus, he did not use it with the Lighthouse All Stars...

Mikael

 

[nacnud]

Here it is. I just saw it on the Charley Haden documentary "Ramblin' Boy". Was wondering if there was a place to share it and here it is. If anybody's out there.

 

[Francois Blais]

What is it?
A Rickenbacker EUB?

 

[nacnud]

It's Stan Kenton's band around that era. Without more research I can't be sure of the players but by reading Mikjans note above (2003) I'm betting its the Rickenbacker EUB and either Howard Rumsey or Moses Allen. No! Its Howard Rumsey, I just looked him up. One ot the pictures of him is a cut out of this very one. Cool!

In a marketing attempt, Rickenbacker gave away two EUBs (designed by Beauchamp) in 1941, to two of the finest (and loudest) big band leaders of the day, Stan Kenton and Jimmie Lunceford. These basses were played briefly by Howard Rumsey and Moses Allen, respectively.

In the book The Kenton Kronicles, by Steven Harris (Dynaflow Publications), Rumsey recalls: “I played that thing for one year. You couldn't play it unless you were sold on it one hundred percent. If there was any doubt in your mind, you wouldn't touch it. I wanted to play a little louder, you know, because the Kenton band itself was loud. But it wasn't a good idea. First of all, if we went east of New York, I had to rent a converter because it would only play on alternating current. It wouldn't work on direct current. One night we were playing at a theatre in Brooklyn. (Vocalist) Red Dorris was sitting next to my speaker when all of a sudden some police calls came through the amplifier and shocked us all. We didn't know what was happening. We're in the middle of a gig and pick up a short wave broadcast somewhere – what a joke!"

I have also talked to Rumsey, who is around 90 but still with us, about it and he said: “Up until Moses and I were given electric basses, many bass players around LA were experimenting and trying different primitive ways to amplify their string basses. I tried at least three different kinds of ideas that were floating around. In my mind this attempt to make the string bass sound louder was brought on by the use of more and more PA house systems which made the other instruments much louder.”

Thus, he did not use it with the Lighthouse All Stars...

Mikael

Hello Mikael: I found this in the Charles Haden Documentary (Ramblin Boy). Turns out it's the Rickenbacker with Howard Rumsey playing in the Kenton Band - as you mentioned.