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Risky or just a good nickname?
- Thread starter CaribooBass
- Start date
I played with a choir for many years. Over that time, I had several different instruments. Sometimes I brought more than one to a rehearsal or gig.
A couple of choir members would help me with gear so it didn't take more than one trip. One woman usually grabbed the basses, and over time she named them:
First Bass, Second Bass, Third Bass, Fourth Bass....
A couple of choir members would help me with gear so it didn't take more than one trip. One woman usually grabbed the basses, and over time she named them:
First Bass, Second Bass, Third Bass, Fourth Bass....
My only instrument that has a name is my 1936 Conn trombone, named nearly 30 years ago. I hand painted it in cursive on the inside of the bell, visible only to me as I play: Emily. I used Gunze-Sangyo model paint, in a metallic turquoise color that was correct for the interiors of WWII-era Japanese airplanes. I have no particular affinity for the name, and it wasn't for anyone I know. My section-mate to my right named the trombone the day I first brought it in, and I said, "OK." He and I are still acquaintances, and – funny he should come up – we just hung out a few nights ago, for the first time in years.
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I never name inanimate objects, they seem to resent it.
Tom
Tom
Firstly, anything that riles the squares is a good thing, secondly "Hal" is only 20% the length of "the TRBX", thirdly "the Matt Freeman" already is a name (though there is a definite pleasure in innocently referring to it as "the MF")
Taz is my main squeeze, the nickname was given to us by a drummer who is also my longest and best friend, former roommate, tour mate and long time collaborator in music. My other three Carvin basses also have nicknames Tweety, Toney & Tygr.
This 1967 Fender Precision was named the Unknown Blonde by a previous owner. After a long career of touring she was retired to the Hard Rock Cafe collection due to irreparable differences.
This is the Midnight Brunette. After retiring the Blonde I swore off p-basses but started to have a yearning, dreamed up a fantasy girl to pass the time. Lo and behold up pops this beauty that was nearly my dream girl and with just a bit of a make over viola the Midnight Brunette is born.
You're not sensitive to their needs - listen to them, they'll let you know what they want to be called.
My basses have names, and their names are on their case tags. I play church gigs (often half hour drives from my house), my wife usually comes to the service. if I ever have an issue with an instrument, I can call my wife and say "bring me Red", and she can find the right bass by looking at the tags - if I didn't do this, it'd be a nightmare trying to describe to her which bass to bring.
A lot of touring musicians also name their instruments - it makes communicating with their techs about what they need easier. It isn't necessarily a flaky thing - naming your instruments can have practical aspects.
Or I'm just weird - but I have company.
For my SO, the basses have quite simple names: The orange one, the green one and the wooden one.
For myself, I call them by their given names. The Karlsson, the Precision, the Invader.
For myself, I call them by their given names. The Karlsson, the Precision, the Invader.
I never thought about it. I knew some people named their basses like people name cars. I only had one bass for many years, so it was simply "the bass." Mostly, until this post, I've never really thought about it.
I could see how it would help for identification though. An electrician friend of mine named all of his levels, so that when he's on a job he could ask his helper for "bob level" and his helper would know it was the 4' level and not the 1' level. So for someone who owns several (especially if similar) basses I get it.
I could see how it would help for identification though. An electrician friend of mine named all of his levels, so that when he's on a job he could ask his helper for "bob level" and his helper would know it was the 4' level and not the 1' level. So for someone who owns several (especially if similar) basses I get it.
I do not name my basses, they get refereed to by color or model. The black one or the stingray, the grey one or the sterling, etc......
