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Double Bass Rockabilly Breakthrough

Kenny Allyn

Kenny Allyn

Mar 25, 2006
2,566
38
Memphis
#1
Rockabilly Breakthrough

I know playing the DB in a Rockabilly band can get a little … Uhh physical sometimes, talking to a buddy of mine today I found out that during one his physical forays on stage he literally “broke-through” the side of the bass while standing on it (see center picture) … I know I know they are made to play not stand on, but hey it’s all part of the show.

Just curious anyone else had one of these plywood wonders break under strain of use?

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felixlaughthumb.jpg
... We got a laugh out it, after I gave him some good natured ribbing ... BTW he put it back together and is still using it, way to go Joe :D
 
#5
Kenny Allyn said:
Can I take that as meaning that you have seen/heard of this before?

In 14-15 year olds :D


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...
Click to expand...

Dude, I was one! Weren't you?:D

In case you don't know, and since you for some reason asked. Plywood basses won't last long without sustaining structural damage being stood on and humped.

That's why the people who choose to treat their instrument this way have a plan for rebuilding/reinforcing them for the next circus act. A lot of decent instruments have been trashed over the years.
 
#6
Yeah I was 15 once … about 40 years ago.

And the reason I asked was that although I know that in the DB world an Engelhardt Swingmaster is in the low range of basses pricewise … it’s still a $1500.00 piece of gear. Just was curious if and how those who do chose to use their instrument in such a physical way deal with the possibility of damage. It was supposed to be a humorous little anecdote, that spawned a serious question.

In the case of my friend, it just goes with the territory, he is a world class professional musician (hardly a circus act) and his basses last usually a couple of years under the strain he puts them through, that’s just part of it. Most of the guys doing this are not full-time pros, so it can be a bit of a high dollar hobby if they break them!

So to the guys/girls out there doing the rockabilly show thing … do you, “go for broke” to put on a show or “pull your punches” to protect your instrument?

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...
 
#7
That's some sad territory your friend is in, IMHO. Destroying instruments (or giving the illusion thereof) is nothing I think anybody should indulge in.

I get it that you are wondering if some folks don't give a hoot if they wreck instruments, or if they have some slight of hand tricks they use to make the audience think that they've seen instruments being destroyed.

Those are the same types of routines that are used everyday at the circus. Some circuses can barely take up a town square, and some fill "world class" arenas. You might find the most talented entertainer working "small time" and of course just being involved in the "big time" can make one seem like they have more talent than the former.
 
#8
OK your point is made … you don’t find the performance aspect “politically correct” or to your liking.

Not really the issue, Victor Wooten throws a $7000.00 Fodera around for the entertainment aspect of his show, that certainly has nothing to add or take away from his ability as a musician. Mr. Wooten has never struck me as wanting to damage or destroy said instrument intentionally, but certainly a misplaced step or microphone stand in the way would not do his Fodera any good should it connect with the stage or stand. Some may find his stage presence circus like, but I doubt few if any would refer to him as a clown, at least in a derogatory way, rather he is respected as a “world class” musician, who is also a great entertainer.

Had I posted this in the orchestral or jazz section, I can see how it might ruffle some traditional feathers, but I didn’t. I was very much hoping that those who are actual practitioners in this genre deal with the question of potential damage during the rigors of a live show. So far at least that hasn’t happened.

The answer seems to be, either take the instrument apart and add some sort of internal brace (didn’t know that was done, thanks hdiddy), or be more gentle with said instrument (that kinda goes without saying).



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... I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out
 
#9
I have a good friend who played in that scene for a number of years and never broke an instrument beyond repair. I played on an old Kay (I shuddered and was scared for it when he played lol) but he had a luthier open her up and add significant bracing to the ribs on either side. If you get the right instrument and get it braced properly, theres no reason why it can't survive MOST abuses that you'll find on a rockabilly stage (though I'm sure someone could figure it out lol).
 
#10
Kenny Allyn said:
OK your point is made … you don’t find the performance aspect “politically correct” or to your liking.
Click to expand...

I didn't say anything about political correctness. MR PC. It's a John Coltrane tune honoring Mr. Paul Chambers. FYI. The "politically correct" assumption is your projection.

No, I didn't like Hendrix burning his guitar, or Keith Moon blowing up his drums either. I think they were ass**** for making it acceptable to behave that way. I love those men's music, though.

Victor did spend a lot of time studying acrobatics. Have you ever seen him juggle, walk on stilts or ride a unicycle? He uses what he learned there for entertainment during his show, just like they do at the circus.
 
#12
i have two basses. one really nice expensive old carved bass that sounds beautiful. i use it for recording and higher profile gigs. my other bass is a plywood that i use as a rockabilly road bass. it's nothing special and i stand on it all the time. i weigh 225 pounds, and so far, it's held up just fine. knock on wood. literally:D. i've also had a couple of engelhardts and an old kay in the past and they seemed like they would hold up to the abuse. personally, i wouldn't risk screwing up a kay because of the higher value. but engelhardts?!?! go for it. all you need to do is buy a cheap chinese bass off ebay and give it hell. you'll have a blast.
 
#13
hdiddy said:
PEECHEE, I think you forgot what subforum you're in. :p
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Nah, I always know where I am here. Somebody else was getting bothered and using Victor Wooten's example for backup, that's all. I just took it farther back to the "60's.....sheet, we haven't got to the 50's or even close Vaudeville era yet.;)

ya know, they had tap dancers and gut buckets way before Elvis!:D Those 50's Rokabillies really are something. Love the music.
 
#14
Various full time upright bassists have stood on their bass, from Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats to Jimbo in Reverend Horten Heat all the way back to Marshall Lytle from Bill Haley and the Comets. Marshall used to actually throw his bass into the air. I doubt it was ur bass players intension to destroy his bass as a someone seemed to suggest. That said, if one was to do such a deplorable act (as I might have done) one might place one's left foot not in the middle but towards the crease where there is more reinforcement (right where the guitarist has his foot in ur 3rd pic) Having the endpin all the way down or none at all, allows such balance..the sides and the endpin become a tripod for stability. I have a west german ply (gotz) that I've done this w for close to 20 years without a problem.
 
#15
MR PC said:
Nah, I always know where I am here. Somebody else was getting bothered...
Click to expand...

Which was exactly your intent, to bother somebody else. Go back and read your posts: adolescent, circus, "sad territory". And knowing which sub-forum you are in leads me to believe your derorgatory descriptors are intended to be inflammatory.

Kenny: I think most professionals who entertain with their bass ruggedly have a) a spare bass, b) a cheap bass easily replaced and / or c) their bass reinforced.
 
#17
i go to a lot of shows and enjoy seeing the band do crazy or fun antics on stage...gotta do something to get the crowd to react ya.....i live in austin and you can pretty much throw a rock and hit a band here..granted the rockabilly/pyschobilly scene isn't much, it's more up in dallas and houston...

i think doing things like standing on the bass at times can wow a crowd at the right moment during a show, but if the music is bad then i don't think setting the bass or band on fire for that matter will help at all..

i don't think i would stand on my bass weighting in at 230 lbs, i don't have the money to replace it. if someone else chooses to, rock on
 

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