The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: lowend1 on February 25, 2010, 09:37:39 PM
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http://www.sweetwater.com/guitargallery/electric/custom/s100400597
...or is this old news?
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I remember a Les Paul BFG guitar in the GOW series. Weird unsanded top. I don't remember seeing a BFG bass before.
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Uwe got some pics from his dealer. I believe he ordered one?
I like the simplicity of the guitar version, but I dislike the wooden controls.
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I had the guitar version for a while, and I loved the unfinished feel it had. The basses look badass and could use some non-woody replacement knobs and DR Black Beauties! I'd love this one...I had no idea they actually made them. Three pickups too.
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My dealer sent me a sneak pic of one of those a year back, but they were only scheduled to come out right about now. I agree that the wooden knobs are a bit like the unfinished wooden handicraft toy your ecology-obsessed aunt gives you for your birthday when you were dying for something glaring in plastic from Mattel ... "Thanks, auntie, just what I wanted ...".
Description says "bass-size body", it doesn't look larger on the pics. Three pups, one of them upfront, is great news and I like the guitarish bridge. Does Sweetwater ship internationally?
Uwe
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Knobs aside that is pretty cool !
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Those knobs look God awful. First thing I would do is pry those off & get some black speed knobs. Hard to see the bridge.
I'm sure someone can help you out Uwe if Jesus compels you to get it from them. If I did it I would have to pull them off personally. I have a small dresser in the basement, that they would look right on.
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I agree that the wooden knobs are a bit like the unfinished wooden handicraft toy your ecology-obsessed aunt gives you for your birthday when you were dying for something glaring in plastic from Mattel ... "Thanks, auntie, just what I wanted ...".
That is the funniest thing I've read the past couple of days!
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I guess Basvarken had a lot of bad wooden toys as a little boy. That's why he made the Tonka bass.
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I give up... what does BFG stand for?
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Big Fugly Guitar?
I really can't remember off hand, but I might sell the Blackbird for one of these....so tempting. Uwe, if they won't ship International, I might be able to help out.
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Description says "bass-size body", it doesn't look larger on the pics. Three pups, one of them upfront, is great news and I like the guitarish bridge. Does Sweetwater ship internationally?
I doubt the body is any different, it never was on the LP basses.
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BFG = Big f***ing Guitar, I believe, a silly name if there ever was one.
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It'd be novel if they'd do one called 1967 Non-Reverse............... :rolleyes:
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Ok, Sweetwater doesn't ship Gibson product internationally, so I need help from one of the residents of the land of the free. The deal is: I transfer the amount to you paypal, you order bass and play it and gig it at your leisure for a month, post pics and a review here and then send it on to me in Germany at my expense. Volunteers, please pm me. First come, first get.
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BFG = Big f***ing Guitar, I believe, a silly name if there ever was one.
That's no sillier than all the weird names for cars being marketed.
Carter had a 4 barrel carburetor they called the AFB. I always heard that it stood simply for "A Four Barrel". Coincidence, maybe, but I like it.
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Here's a cached version of the original page that they had up, no longer on their site, go figure:
http://search.gibson.com/search?q=cache:tALN67AN71kJ:10.1.243.211/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/BFG-Bass.aspx+BFG+Bass&access=p&output=xml_no_dtd&ie=UTF-8&client=GibsonUSA&site=Transition&proxystylesheet=transitionV2&oe=ISO-8859-1
Pretty interesting. Standard LP Bass nut width, three vol and a tone, 3 "Les Paul Bass" pickups (small TB+'s most likely), Grade C Rosewood board...
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We have a volunteer: the inimitable Bassvirtuoso! Thanks, David!
Really curious how that three pup set-p will sound.
Uwe
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Good news Uwe! I was at work with no internet connection so I missed out.
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BFG...? but I always thought it was something to do with Roald Dahl... ;D
Uwe... there's room for at least another 2 more pups, too... :vader:
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BFG...? but I always thought it was something to do with Roald Dahl... ;D
Roald Dahl, I knew there was a reason we kept you around Kenny ;)
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I was thinking it meant "Barely Finished Guitar". Awesome looking bass.
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Don't laugh, but in a sudden attack of adolescence, I think I would put skull knobs on it! Is that very regressive?
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No, skull knobs would look good on it.
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Also dress like a pirate when playing, that would work too.
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That's no sillier than all the weird names for cars being marketed.
Carter had a 4 barrel carburetor they called the AFB. I always heard that it stood simply for "A Four Barrel". Coincidence, maybe, but I like it.
Carter Abbreviations (OCD kicking in again)
AFB=Aluminum Four Barrel
AVS=Air Valve Secondary
TQ=ThermoQuad
WCFB=Will Carter Four Barrel
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neeeds pickup rings and covers, along with those knobs thrown in the trash, I see they went with the Korean tune o matic too.
Does anyone know why they changed the headstock shape in around 93-94 to the wierd fat on the bottom skinny on top?
the older Lp basses had alot nicer more traditional headstocks.
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Carter Abbreviations (OCD kicking in again)
AFB=Aluminum Four Barrel
AVS=Air Valve Secondary
TQ=ThermoQuad
WCFB=Will Carter Four Barrel
There were bigger 4-barrels around at the time, but in the case of my '66 GTO the AFB also translated as "flush toilet". The flow ratings on the AFB series went from around 400 to 750 CFM - I don't know the one on the GTO but vigorous around town driving netted perhaps 10 MPG.
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There were bigger 4-barrels around at the time, but in the case of my '66 GTO the AFB also translated as "flush toilet". The flow ratings on the AFB series went from around 400 to 750 CFM - I don't know the one on the GTO but vigorous around town driving netted perhaps 10 MPG.
The TQ on my Chrysler flows around 850cfm or so, but it's a spread bore carb - the primaries are like a small 2bbl, but the secondaries are gigantic. As long as I keep my foot out of the back two, MPG is palatable (well, for me, anyway).
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Yup...opening up the secondaries on a big-block with 4-BBL carb tells you why they call it "the loud pedal." Even the noise under the hood is loud.
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Don't laugh, but in a sudden attack of adolescence, I think I would put skull knobs on it! Is that very regressive?
Long John Hornung...?
Roald Dahl, I knew there was a reason we kept you around Kenny ;)
(I have me use's, Dave... ;D)
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I'm thinking it should have Crocodile Teeth knobs and get called the "CDB". (Crocodile Dundee Bass)
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Don't laugh, but in a sudden attack of adolescence, I think I would put skull knobs on it! Is that very regressive?
Only if they are real skulls. Any reptiles pass away recently?
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Only if they are real skulls. Any reptiles pass away recently?
You'd need shrunken skulls if you want human - might require a trip to South America....
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Funny you mention that.. My wife was telling me they had a real shrunken had when they were kids, she thinks her sister now owns it.
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Whoah...! Don't go upsetting the
outlaws inlaws, John... :o
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Also dress like a pirate when playing, that would work too.
Argggggggggggggg mateys makes me think of this bass http://www.rondomusic.com/pbg2.html Don't laugh to hard i kinda like it :-[
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Argggggggggggggg makes me think of this bass mateys http://www.rondomusic.com/pbg2.html Don't laugh to hard i kinda like it :-[
ya mee too, the red binding on the neck and the strat jack make it.
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I generally hate split coils (visually, they sound well if they are a good quality), but that red is so garish, it's got something!
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I've found everything I need!
(http://www.dreadmeister.com/files/Content/Image/2009/07/29/11,45,55,LPCU.large.jpg)
(http://www.dreadmeister.com/files/Content/Image/2007-06-29/product_1-1.original.jpg)
This will be a great instrument at auditions of Goth bands!
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The tease:
Mar 05, 10 06:36 am
On FedEx vehicle for delivery COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA On FedEx vehicle for delivery
More to come soon, I do have a gig tonight...
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Trial by fire. I want your blood on that bass.
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You're starting to sound like those Gibson lions I've heard so much about...
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(Long John Hornung voice)...
Why are pirates, pirates...?
Because they AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGHHHHH...! Now Uwe, me boyo, takes this black spot to Blind Pugh...
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WHOA! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
(this is just a teaser, just got back from the gig and I'll have a full review up tomorrow sometime)
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Initial Reactions:
When I pulled it out of it's case, it seemed much bigger than I though it was going to be. I guess my expectations where of a Les Paul guitar but with a bigger neck. It's a "bulky" bass guitar. The neck is slightly fatter than my Thunderbird, the body is the thickest of any bass I've ever owned. It's heavy, but mainly body heavy so the weight "felt" by hold it by the neck is somewhat misleading. With a nice padded Brooklyn Gear Comfort strap, it was very reasonable and never become unwieldy (although I only played it for about three songs back to back). I would put it in the 10 lb area, but that's just a guess since I don't own a scale.
The maple top has a somewhat 3D effect. The pictures on the internet make it look like "scales" from reptile, but it's not that pronounced, in fact you can barely feel the ridges. The finish is worn ebony and is applied throughout the body on everything except the rosewood board (which is quite dark itself). The wood knobs don't actually look all that bad on the body, but they do feel cheap. My band mates (all in their 40's +) liked the knobs, then again they're guitards too. The three pickups are set into the body without pickup rings, which on one hand looks weird actually gives your thumb someplace to rest while playing the bass. The fretwork and finish on this bass may perhaps be the best Gibson has produced in the last 10 years. Granted I've never owned a brand new Gibson, from the stories I read around here, the neck feels great with no fret sprout and the finish has no "orange peel".
The three pickups are black, almost glossy in a way finished like the crinkle control plates of the old G&L basses. The neck pickup is set at level with the actual bass top, the middle pickup is up from the top just a little, and the bridge pickup is raised much more as a bridge pickup should be. The controls are VOL VOL VOL TONE and the switch is actually a kill switch like on the Nikki Sixx basses and not a selector switch. The knobs are set up like typical Gibson guitars. Closest to the strings, top to bottom: Middle pup VOL, Bridge pup VOL. Farthest from the strings, top to bottom: Neck pup VOL, Tone.
The bass was set up very well out of the case, just needed a tune up. In fact, for my playing style, it was set up almost perfect. The strings are nice and have a good bright "twang" to them but not overly bright like new strings can be. The neck profile had scared me initially when I had picked up the bass, mainly because it was much fatter than my Thunderbird. It's the standard Les Paul Bass 1.625 at the nut, but while being semi-fat to the back, the neck is very playable to my smaller hands (which prefer Thunderbird necks to everything but '62 RI Jazz necks). It was very comfortable and I had no problems playing Sweet Child 'O Mine on it. The two-point seems to be easier to do set ups on compared to the three point, but then again, I didn't touch it so that's a guess.
The tone: WHOA! I loved playing this bass. I believe the maple top on it really gives that Gibson tone a nice foundation in snap and brightness that the Thunderbirds seem to lack a little. I used this bass in lieu of my Nikki Sixx Blackbird on all my Eb tuned songs, and was almost surprised on how much better it did the job immediately. It's there with the great growl of the Thunderbird, but with an added top end that was almost Fender-ish in presence. It was the best of both worlds for me. This was almost my first set-neck bass and I think that also made a difference when comparing it to my Thunderbird. After playing it at the end of the second set last night, my keyboard player (a drummer and bassist who is a High School Band teacher around here) immediately commented on it and gave it a rave review saying that he "dug it" and was "feeling it" better than my Nikki Sixx. He really was wow-ed by both the look and sound of the bass, he wanted one. I used mainly the bridge pup and middle pickups for most of the songs. I found the neck pickup to be too much for the songs I was playing last night. The greatest thing about this bass has to be the bridge pickup. It has a lot more "power" than the Thunderbird bridge pickups. I could actually use it solo if I wanted and it stayed in the mix without being over powered. When I play my Thunderbird I always have to have the neck pickup on full with the bridge either mixed in or full as well. With this bass, I could use the bridge and still have the "ooomph" there. The neck pickup also gave me a great tone and I enjoyed running middle and bridge pups at full bore. The combination of all three pickups was also nice, added some fatness to the already growly tone.
I'll be added some pics later of the bass, it was rainy today so I didn't get much sun.
PS: Someone PLEASE buy my Nikki Sixx Blackbird in the For Sale forum, I want to buy one of these right away. Otherwise Ze Reich might be getting a Blackbird in the mail...
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Now I'm getting worried you're liking it too much. ! - )
Expropriation of German property in the US has an unhealthy tradition, you did it without reason whenever we started a little world war ...
I'm happy you dig it, anybody whose ever played an LP with a maple top will immediately note the raucuous attack of these beasts. A real rocker's bass and the BFG has the look to go with it plus that extra neck pup. Too bad these morons of Gibson marketing don't even mention it, much less picture it on their site.
Uwe
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Send Henry J. a note asking if he remembers even producing it ;)
And ask he where my RD re-issue is too!
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Now I'm getting worried you're liking it too much. ! - )
Expropriation of German property in the US has an unhealthy tradition, you did whenever we started a little world war ...
I'm happy you dig it, any body whose ever played an LP with a maple top will immediately note the raucuous attack of these beasts. A real rocker's bass and the BFG has the look to go with it plus that extra neck pup. Too bad these morons of Gibson marketing don't even mention it, much less picture it on their site.
Uwe
It was more enjoyable than I first thought it was going to be after pulling it out of the case. It has grown on me though, and yes it is down right nasty attack!
Don't worry, I won't be keeping it, I'll probably snap some good pics and get it ready to ship to Ze Motherland soon. Thanks for the opportunity Uwe!
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Play it some more so that you're sure it will be the suitable mistress opposed to your current wife, the Nikki Sixx Bird! It's weird that the maple wings of the Sixx don't provide a similar attack to the LP maple top - the Sixx has actually more, not less maple mass. Seems to confirm what some luthiers say that on a neck-thru the neck wood is more determinative than on a bolt-on or set neck. None of my Birds with non-maho wings can compete with the attack of a maple-topped LP.
It can't be just the neck-thru construction, but must be the combo of neck-thru and maho. A Ric 4001/4003 is living proof that a maple neck-thru can snap and bite like hell.
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I have another show this coming weekend so I'll give "the mistress" another go round. I really feel that the BFG/Thunderbird combo is a TKO pairing made in heaven.
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Ok, here are the promised pictures!
First, I said QA work was finally coming around at Gibson, well I lied a little. Check out the fit of the Maple Top here:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/TopCrack.jpg)
and the dent they left on there:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/TopDent.jpg)
Also, the control plates are see-through to some degree:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGControlPlate.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGSwitchPlate.jpg)
Here are the rest:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGTopAngle.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGLong.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGCaseOpen.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGCaseClosed.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGBodyFull.jpg)
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGBack.jpg)
And check out the Rosewood board, nice and tight:
(http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/bassvirtuoso/Uwe%20BFG/BFGRosewoodBoard.jpg)
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Wow,! The more pics I see, the more I like it.
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Yeah, it really has brutish charm, I wish I was 20 years younger, where is the eyeliner? Love that dinosaur skin and those three pups nailed into the body are outright mean-looking. RRRRRock'NNNNNuclear'RRRRRoll ...
Youth is fleeting (and generally bestowed upon those who do not cherish it), but, man, immaturity can last forever!!!
Uwe
PS: Shouldn't lovers of the old sixties TBird bridge be in immediate erotic ecstasy about that bridge? Just close your eyes and think its nickel or chrome. :mrgreen:
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The only thing I would change is the wooden knobs.
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great looking bass, congrats Uwe!
The only thing I would change is the wooden knobs.
I'd put chicken heads on it
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I'd put real lizard skulls on it, if I could find the right size.
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Too late, I have the skull knobs already on my desk! I think they're pretty and will no doubt benefit the sound too ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00010-20100318-1235.jpg)
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I'm diggi'n it ! I am resisting the temptation to buy one though :sad: A hard lesson I have learned is that if it isn't Tbird-ish it usually just sits, I am tempted though...................................the bridge is Tbird-ish.
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The tone: WHOA! I loved playing this bass. I believe the maple top on it really gives that Gibson tone a nice foundation in snap and brightness that the Thunderbirds seem to lack a little. I used this bass in lieu of my Nikki Sixx Blackbird on all my Eb tuned songs, and was almost surprised on how much better it did the job immediately. It's there with the great growl of the Thunderbird, but with an added top end that was almost Fender-ish in presence. It was the best of both worlds for me.
I dont even play my thunderbird anymore, the LP sound is superior to me, possibly Gibson's best next to the RD & Mudbucker.
Wow,! The more pics I see, the more I like it.
Agreed Chrome would be wrong on this. Would look great with the hammered cymbals
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Again I am the trend setter ;D From my first build circa 1982. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/baotbass001.jpg)
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Too late, I have the skull knobs already on my desk! I think they're pretty and will no doubt benefit the sound too ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00010-20100318-1235.jpg)
depends on the finish, no?
;D
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Bone for the tone.
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I know a scuffy ol' T'bird that might suit some "wooden-tops" if they are going in the junk pile, oh Bassmeister... ;)
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Regarding the knobs, I don't mind them too much except the bridge pup knob since it's "o-ring" is not as well endowed as the others
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Real "grip" is only achieved when you insert your fingers into the eye sockets of the skull ...
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#96 is headed back to Ze Motherland!
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Vee vill haff ze vvvays to make it play.
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I said I'd do it and I did:
A collection of formerly unruly Fender bass players have now been put to good use gracing my BFG bass ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00002-20100331-1344.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00003-20100331-1345.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00001-20100331-1342.jpg)
I am now applying for a role as an extra either in Predator III or in Pirates of the Caribbean IV. As we are a modern law firm, we have upward appraisals and I have earnestly asked my junior team members here if they think that skull knobs on a bass could be deemed in any way awkward or inappropriate for a 50 year old ... after a period of silence and thought during which no pressure or coercion was exerted whatsoever they all eagerly assured me that this was not the case at all! Incidentally, we have wage raise discussions comimng up. 8)
Nothing is ever wasted in the Hornung household, the original wooden knobs have now found a home where they fit just right, wood is good ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00004-20100331-1348.jpg)
BTW: The amount of organic sound variations you can get with the three pups (this is the first Gibson three pup bass since the G 3!) and their individual volumes (the three graveyard-yellow skulls, the bone-white is for master tone) is amazing! The bass is not any larger than a regular LP Bass from the nineties, it just looks that way due to the lack of bevelling. The body thickness is monstrous (and the bass weighs a ton), 5 cms (4 cm maho, 1 cm maple) and that is not counting the elevated parts of the sculpted top. Even the special faded LP run of a couple of years back only had 4 cms.
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That BFG is just to damn cool
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I'd even consider selling my only thunderbird for that bass (minus the skull knobs). Loved how the 6 string BFG felt. It's unruly cool.
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Bass weighs a ton? That's an understatement. After using it for three songs, I felt it was ok in weight. After the second gig I played it got a full set's worth of playing time. By that point it made my 8.5 lb Thunderbird feel like a toy.
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They should do a "Bird with a top like that, and perhaps a single pup....... ;)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG00003-20100331-1345.jpg)
I look at that and think it's the PERFECT bass to play "Who Do You Love"....
Who Do You Love?
Bo Diddley (ellas mcdaniel) 1956
I walk 47 miles of barbed wire,
I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house on the roadside,
Made from rattlesnake hide,
I got a brand new chimney made on top,
Made out of a human skull,
Now come on take a walk with me, Arlene,
And tell me, who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Tombstone hand and a graveyard mind,
Just 22 and I don't mind dying.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
I rode a lion to town, use a rattlesnake whip,
Take it easy Arlene, don't give me no lip,
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Night was dark, but the sky was blue,
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew,
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed,
You should have heard just what I seen.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Arlene took me by my hand,
And she said ooowee bo, you know I understand.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
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How about "Dead Men Tell No Tales" ...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZeYUM3pniY