What I lost in the Thomas fire

[pickles]

Equal parts catharsis/commiseration and just trying to remember what all was in that glorious closet.

Edit: I’ve had some really nice offers of help after posting this. I’d ask anybody that wants to help, work with one of the many funds helping victims with *real* problems. We’re fine. We’re insured. We have great rental housing (which is going to get REALLY tight around here). Anyway, back to the boutique bass funeral ...

Sadowsky NYC PJ5 alder/braz
2005LE EBMM Sterling
Early SR5
Homemade fretless 5 with moses neck (my main bass for many years)
Blue/rosewood EBMM Caprice
JohnK 66 Jazz
D. lakin JO
Modulus quantum 5
Martin d-28
Wal mk.2
Kala u-bass
Lakland skyline hollowbody

Lidwig jr kit with a good zildjian hat

Tons of great pedals. Darkglass, aguilar, ebs, maxon ...

Aguilar DB751
Aguilar DB359
Aduilar DB659
Aguilar DB210x2
SWR Big Ben
PIP SQUEAK!!
Ampeg svp-pro
Trace v-type pre
Alembic sf-2

I was able to save a few and chose my 60P, 71P, black/maple Caprice, and best-ever Sadowsky metro RV5. And my smoothie. That’s it. It happens fast. Went from thinking “this is silly why am I packing” to “time to go RIGHT NOW get the kids” in about 20 minutes.

Equally painful losses in surfboards, wine, and my wedding ring.

No punchline. Sometimes bad things happen.

 

[Warhawk]

I wish I could tell you where to get what you want but that's up to you.

 

[LBS-bass]

I don't know where to get those things, but just want to say I am terribly sorry about your losses. That's just horrible. I hope you have a decent place to stay while you work out what you need to do next. I can't even imagine being in your shoes; these fires are beyond awful. Wishing you the best.

 

[Turnaround]

View attachment 2836592 Equal parts catharsis/commiseration and just trying to remember what all was in that glorious closet.

Sadowsky NYC PJ5 alder/braz
2005LE EBMM Sterling
Early SR5
Homemade fretless 5 with moses neck (my main bass for many years)
Blue/rosewood EBMM Caprice
JohnK 66 Jazz
D. lakin JO
Modulus quantum 5
Martin d-28
Wal mk.2
Kala u-bass
Lakland skyline hollowbody

Lidwig jr kit with a good zildjian hat

Tons of great pedals. Darkglass, aguilar, ebs, maxon ...

Aguilar DB751
Aguilar DB359
Aduilar DB659
Aguilar DB210x2
SWR Big Ben
PIP SQUEAK!!
Ampeg svp-pro
Trace v-type pre
Alembic sf-2

I was able to save a few and chose my 60P, 71P, black/maple Caprice, and best-ever Sadowsky metro RV5. And my smoothie. That’s it. It happens fast. Went from thinking “this is silly why am I packing” to “time to go RIGHT NOW get the kids” in about 20 minutes.

Equally painful losses in surfboards, wine, and my wedding ring.

No punchline. Sometimes bad things happen.

.......




















What could I possibly say? It's not just the bases, the gear. It's so much of your life.

 

[bdgotoh]

I'm so very sorry for your losses. There's a Cafe Walter for sale here:

For Sale - Cafe Walter headphone amp

 

[Bent77]

View attachment 2836592 Equal parts catharsis/commiseration and just trying to remember what all was in that glorious closet.

Sadowsky NYC PJ5 alder/braz
2005LE EBMM Sterling
Early SR5
Homemade fretless 5 with moses neck (my main bass for many years)
Blue/rosewood EBMM Caprice
JohnK 66 Jazz
D. lakin JO
Modulus quantum 5
Martin d-28
Wal mk.2
Kala u-bass
Lakland skyline hollowbody

Lidwig jr kit with a good zildjian hat

Tons of great pedals. Darkglass, aguilar, ebs, maxon ...

Aguilar DB751
Aguilar DB359
Aduilar DB659
Aguilar DB210x2
SWR Big Ben
PIP SQUEAK!!
Ampeg svp-pro
Trace v-type pre
Alembic sf-2

I was able to save a few and chose my 60P, 71P, black/maple Caprice, and best-ever Sadowsky metro RV5. And my smoothie. That’s it. It happens fast. Went from thinking “this is silly why am I packing” to “time to go RIGHT NOW get the kids” in about 20 minutes.

Equally painful losses in surfboards, wine, and my wedding ring.

No punchline. Sometimes bad things happen.

Sorry

 

[SLO Surfer]

I'm so sorry for your losses, but also so glad you and your family are safe.

 

[kesslari]

Ferk. I'm really, really sad for your loss.

 

[StayLow]

I hope you had insurance.

In any case, wish you and your family the best. It'll perhaps be impossible now, but in time you can hopefully find a path to seeing it as a renewal and freedom from "stuff".

I have close friends, family and property affected too, all safe so far but the flames are close.

 

[mikeswals]

Sorry to see that pic of your house and the loss!

But you had a Wal Mk2? What did it look like?

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Not saying this to downplay anything at all, but what you actually were able to take with you is more than a lot of people have! It's all material possessions and as long as you and your family made it out safe all that other stuff can be replaced over time.

 

[bwoodman]

Sorry to hear about that - very bad news. I'm over here near Pasadena and we can see the smoke from this fire! I was just thinking about this today - what would I grab / what would fit in my Ford Focus, which gets me to and from gigs just fine, but if I had to cram ALL my gear in there - no way - it wouldn't all fit. There sure as heck isn't any time to go rent a van or truck when they say evacuate! The only good thing about this is that you're all safe.

 

[blindrabbit]

Thankfully you and your family made it out safely. I had relatives lose a home to forest fire this past summer. It is pretty terrible, and was a very close call for one of them. Things can be replaced, but people can't. I'm sorry for all the loss of your great gear though. Lots of tragedy this past year. 2017, get lost already.

 

[Charlzm]

View attachment 2836592 Equal parts catharsis/commiseration and just trying to remember what all was in that glorious closet.

Sadowsky NYC PJ5 alder/braz
2005LE EBMM Sterling
Early SR5
Homemade fretless 5 with moses neck (my main bass for many years)
Blue/rosewood EBMM Caprice
JohnK 66 Jazz
D. lakin JO
Modulus quantum 5
Martin d-28
Wal mk.2
Kala u-bass
Lakland skyline hollowbody

Lidwig jr kit with a good zildjian hat

Tons of great pedals. Darkglass, aguilar, ebs, maxon ...

Aguilar DB751
Aguilar DB359
Aduilar DB659
Aguilar DB210x2
SWR Big Ben
PIP SQUEAK!!
Ampeg svp-pro
Trace v-type pre
Alembic sf-2

I was able to save a few and chose my 60P, 71P, black/maple Caprice, and best-ever Sadowsky metro RV5. And my smoothie. That’s it. It happens fast. Went from thinking “this is silly why am I packing” to “time to go RIGHT NOW get the kids” in about 20 minutes.

Equally painful losses in surfboards, wine, and my wedding ring.

No punchline. Sometimes bad things happen.

Ugh...

I live about a mile outside the mandatory evac zone for the Creek Fire in Sylmar. I loaded up all my $1k and up basses, my computer and documents in the SUV the first day and have been sweating bullets since, waiting for the "voluntary" evac to become "mandatory".

I wonder which surfboards my g/f would have put on the roof racks...

Luckily for us, the fire did not burn in our direction and they lifted most of the evac notices today.

I look at your pic and think "There but for the grace of God go I."

Glad you made it out with your life.

 

[AztecViking]

I hear drummer Simon Phillips lost his house and everything in it in the same fire. He was playing the first night of his new Protocol tour at the Iridium in NYC that day so he wasn't there to attempt to save anything. Supposedly he's now cancelling the tour to deal with issues connected to the fire.

Good to hear you got your family out and were able to hang on to a few things.

 

[BaileyMan]

Oh man...so sorry to hear it. Thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

My condolences on such a loss, but thankfully you got out with the fam and a handful of basses. That fire footage looks unreal.

 

[Kyllsa]

I have no idea how that must feel =( I am happy you and your family are safe!

 

[equill]

That's awful; my condolences, and I'm glad you all made it out.

 

[bubba-b]

i'm so sorry for your loss. good to know your family is safe and in good health. stay safe.