• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Reverend Mike Watt sig...

#61
Oh, man!

I'm searching through TB to find reviews of the Reverend Dub King, as I'm planning to buy one this week. But stumbling across this thread, I'm thinking it makes sense to hold off and see if this Watt model appears at NAMM. A light, offset body with a P pickup? I have only two responses: how much, and gimme.

It's killer to read this thread and see how many people have had great interactions with Mike Watt. I'll add mine: Seeing him play with fIREHOSE just melted my teenaged brain. The first time I saw them, with my friend TB member Doctor_Clock, they opened for the Beastie Boys at the Roseland Ballroom. Back before the internet, it was possible to dig a band but not know what they looked like. So, when a big, bearded dude with a gigantic set of keys clipped to his pants wandered onto the stage and picked up a bass, I figured he was a roadie for the Beastie Boys. Then, with his back to the audience, he played a totally ridiculous run and I realized it was Watt.

Years later I was in a hit-and-run that tore off my left leg and knee, and totally crushed my right leg. I spent six months in the hospital and had more than 15 operations. One of my friends reached out to Mike Watt, told him what had happened to me, and passed along my address in the hospital. Watt wrote me a really kind letter and it just blew me away that my musical idol would take the time to do something so kind. I still have the letter.

People say "never meet your idols," but Mike Watt is different.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jakedog, BassmanMetzger56, MarkoYYZ and 12 others
#63
Orion1985 said:
Just saw this on the ol' FB this morning from Mike Watt:

the september 2016 prototype "wattplower" bass. the good folks at reverend guitars plan to LAUNCH this baby at the 2017 namm convention. there's still a couple of more changes to be made but it's really getting there and I love working it. I'm using an earlier orange prototype on this il sogno del marinaio "canto secondo tour 2016" that starts tomorrow, in fact! it'll be available in emerald green and powder yellow. yeah, it's a short scale cuz that's what I like working gigs w/and they took the neck dimensions from the dan bass which is my preference. joe naylor designed a shaging happening sounding pickup to go in this baby, love it - both him and ken haas did a righteous job, much respect to them!

View attachment 957703
Click to expand...


Hot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: static0verdrive and MrAtomic
#64
static0verdrive said:
Absolutely. He's the nicest, most respectful, down-to-earth visionary (with a cult-like following) you'll ever meet. Your story (very sorry to hear what happened) with respect to Watt writing the letter barely surprises me.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much. I feel lucky to be here. I hadn't played bass for a long time before my accident. But over the past few years it's been incredibly therapeutic to start re-learning and playing. And for noodling while seated, nothing beats a light, offset-bodied short scale. Can't say I'm excited about the "Wattplower" neck inlay (did nobody at Reverend say this word out loud before signing off?), but otherwise this thing is right up my alley.
 
  • Like
Reactions: knumbskull and static0verdrive
#66
MrAtomic said:
Oh, man!

I'm searching through TB to find reviews of the Reverend Dub King, as I'm planning to buy one this week. But stumbling across this thread, I'm thinking it makes sense to hold off and see if this Watt model appears at NAMM. A light, offset body with a P pickup? I have only two responses: how much, and gimme.

It's killer to read this thread and see how many people have had great interactions with Mike Watt. I'll add mine: Seeing him play with fIREHOSE just melted my teenaged brain. The first time I saw them, with my friend TB member Doctor_Clock, they opened for the Beastie Boys at the Roseland Ballroom. Back before the internet, it was possible to dig a band but not know what they looked like. So, when a big, bearded dude with a gigantic set of keys clipped to his pants wandered onto the stage and picked up a bass, I figured he was a roadie for the Beastie Boys. Then, with his back to the audience, he played a totally ridiculous run and I realized it was Watt.

Years later I was in a hit-and-run that tore off my left leg and knee, and totally crushed my right leg. I spent six months in the hospital and had more than 15 operations. One of my friends reached out to Mike Watt, told him what had happened to me, and passed along my address in the hospital. Watt wrote me a really kind letter and it just blew me away that my musical idol would take the time to do something so kind. I still have the letter.

People say "never meet your idols," but Mike Watt is different.
Click to expand...
Hey @MrAtomic here is a photo of you and Watt I found from the time was hung out with him at Tuxedo's!!! This was 1993
Osuwoqd.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: neptoon, BassmanMetzger56, static0verdrive and 5 others
#67
Pandastylebass said:
Hey @MrAtomic here is a photo of you and Watt I found from the time was hung out with him at Tuxedo's!!! This was 1993
Click to expand...

OK, that picture just made my month. Doc_Clock -- was that the show where you traded flannel shirts with Watt?

What you CAN'T see in that picture (because my teenaged acne and paisley shirt are so blinding) is that I'm also wearing a beret and brown-and-white wingtips. That was... a lot of look.

The nineties. Not an attractive decade. A lot of fun, but not attractive.
 
  • Like
Reactions: knumbskull, static0verdrive, GregC and 1 other person
#70
A-Step-Towards said:
Its HIS sig its not suppose to make anyone happy but him
Click to expand...

Not 100% accurate. Large bass manufacturers don't make significant models as some sort of trophy for a guy whose playing they like. They make a signature bass hoping and expecting it will SELL and make them a PROFIT. So, in fact, they DO have to find a balance between what the artist likes and what enough of the bass market will like so much so that they will come off of CASH for one.

This isn't a "gift" for Mike. It's part of the Reverend MARKETING plan. And, honestly, don't fool yourself into thinking Mike isn't trying to pay some bills with this deal either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: static0verdrive
#72
MrAtomic said:
OK, that picture just made my month. Doc_Clock -- was that the show where you traded flannel shirts with Watt?

What you CAN'T see in that picture (because my teenaged acne and paisley shirt are so blinding) is that I'm also wearing a beret and brown-and-white wingtips. That was... a lot of look.

The nineties. Not an attractive decade. A lot of fun, but not attractive.
Click to expand...

No this was the show where Watt drew and mustache and and a Blue Oyster Cult Symbol on Jake's driver's licence and Watt let me sit on stage and film the show. The flannel trading happened at the one at Roseland with the Beastie Boys. He did have my flannel in the back of the tour van though!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Calexia13, knumbskull, MrAtomic and 2 others
#73
Plake said:
Been kinda busy but this is my recent NBD....
View attachment 993841
Had it a month or so, its the sister bass to the one Watt's been using. Was so pumped when Ken from Reverend gave me the chance to buy it. Super light and so well made its an honor to have it. :):bassist::hyper:
Click to expand...

Wow! I'm actually a bit jealous right now. Congrats on the getting it, that's a bass with a pretty cool story, one of a kind (almost).
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheMinutemen and static0verdrive

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back