The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Chris P. on April 04, 2009, 02:54:08 AM

Title: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 04, 2009, 02:54:08 AM: Hi there,

I'm just back from Germany where I visited Uwe and the Frankfurter Musikmesse. I still have to upload my pictures, so I'll post 'm later.

The Gibson booth at the Messe was really disappointing: Two Gibson basses: a normal Thunderbird and the block inlay SG Standard bass. That's it. Period. I asked the guys about the Grabber/Ripper and they said they will be available within three months. And here's the only news: I was cheky enough to ask when the BFG bass would be available and the guy said: End of the year, December. So that's a kind of a scoop, isn't it?

Then Epiphone: Just the normal ones and three neck through Thunderbird Pro's..... hanging locked on a wall so I couldn't try them out. For comparison: At Fender's I just pulled the 5.000 dollar Custom Shop twohumbucker Tele bass off the wall and played it! I even dropped a Road Worn by incident, which maked it a real Road Worn bass;)

Well, as I said I post pics later on.

Visiting Uwe was great again!!
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 04, 2009, 08:57:17 AM: I uploaded some pics at my MySpace. Go to:

www.myspace.com/chrispdekker
then pictures and then 'Chris @ Uwe' or something. The first pics are of last year and at the end you'll find the new pics called '@ Uwe's 2009'.

And this is the enourmous Gibson Bass Corner at the Messe:

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/IMG_6462.jpg)

Impressive, isn't it.

And the Epis:

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/IMG_6464.jpg)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/IMG_6465.jpg)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Blazer on April 04, 2009, 07:35:39 PM: Thanks for that Chris, I'm not going this year but I'd like to come along next year because I would love to see "Ze kollekshön" for myself.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Dave W on April 04, 2009, 08:57:54 PM: Too bad about the Epi birds being locked.

Nice pics from Uwe's lair.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Lightyear on April 04, 2009, 09:21:24 PM: Gives new meaning to the term "man cave" : ;D

The only thing that is out of place is the Che poster. Just as soon as I can find the one I want I'm sending Uwe a nice "Ronnie Raygun" print - suitable for framing - of couse :P
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Highlander on April 05, 2009, 07:55:57 AM: Nice collection, Herr Bassmeister... :mrgreen: with envy...! why did I get drawn to that EB3 with the sunset fin...?

RD...? "Metal Corner" instrument...?

I can understand "Che" being there - Isn't there a bit of the "Revoloutionary Spirit" within us all, even if it is caged somewhere deep within...?

I almost feel sorry for the 20/20, sitting all by herself, on a shelf, forlorn, unloved - are they really that bad, is there a "worse" Gibson model, or one less loved...?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 05, 2009, 09:13:37 AM: That Sunset fin is the infamous Clownburst; the only Gibson more infamous than the 20/20.
Metal Corner: Uwe has this corner outside his office with the Flying V, Explorers and the RD. It looks a bit metal-ish.

This year I didn't play the 20/20, but I kinda like it!
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: shadowcastaz on April 05, 2009, 03:09:31 PM: Nice pics . What a collection!! I believe the strawberry blond LPbass is the one Doc made. Nice !!!
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 06, 2009, 07:55:47 AM: In a womanly fit of jealeousy, Mark has raided Doug's Photobucket account ...
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: TBird1958 on April 06, 2009, 08:15:08 AM: No...no, no! ;D

I think he's hiding something.............and just doesn't want to come out of the closet with it ;)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 06, 2009, 08:20:07 AM: Quote from: T' BaRD '59 on April 05, 2009, 07:55:57 AM
Nice collection, Herr Bassmeister... :mrgreen: with envy...! why did I get drawn to that EB3 with the sunset fin...?

RD...? "Metal Corner" instrument...?

I can understand "Che" being there - Isn't there a bit of the "Revoloutionary Spirit" within us all, even if it is caged somewhere deep within...?

I almost feel sorry for the 20/20, sitting all by herself, on a shelf, forlorn, unloved - are they really that bad, is there a "worse" Gibson model, or one less loved...?

:mrgreen: The 20/20 is not forlorn or unloved, it just rests on that cupboard because it is the one bass that has enough room there! Gibson have built much more unfortunate basses than the 20/20. In its way, the design is immaculate, it was recently mentioned in a German bass mag as "probably the most ergonomic long scale paddle bass" because Steinberger's design idea of the extended upper horn places it much better before your gut, making it less of a stretching erxercise to reach the low F than on other paddle basses. Soundwise it sounds like basses were supposed to sound in the eighties, lots of treble and presence, lot's of bass rumble, no mids - imagine how the bass on Starship's "We built this City" sounded and you have the (aural) picture.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 06, 2009, 08:21:14 AM: Hmm... I'm bringing some order into my PhotoBucket account by making different folders for like 'Chris on bass', 'Basses', 'Cats' and '16-year-old female gymnastics'. But now some links seem to change:(

I'll try to repair it.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 06, 2009, 08:26:57 AM: What about the "Chris & Mark: Romantic Moments, Model Trains & Dark Tunnels" account? You're deleting that?!!! :o
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: TBird1958 on April 06, 2009, 08:48:55 AM: "Dark Tunnels"............. :rolleyes:

Worn Cherry maybe...................I can go with that ;)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 06, 2009, 09:34:15 AM: I was only talking about my public folders.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: OldManC on April 06, 2009, 10:47:13 AM: (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/gcarlston/dudepit/chrishansen.jpg)

What's all this about 16 year old gymnasts? :mrgreen:
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 08, 2009, 08:16:13 AM: Cleaning up that photobucket account sure takes some time. Must be all those pubic, yet non-public folders.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Highlander on April 08, 2009, 04:31:58 PM: "Pubic"...?

Uwe... a Freudian slip...?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Dave W on April 08, 2009, 09:38:36 PM: Definitely not a Freudian slip. ;)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 08, 2009, 10:11:17 PM: ;D

Man, I read Uwe's comment too fast to notice. Great:D
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 09, 2009, 12:56:37 AM: Have you now finally cleaned up your photobucket mess and do we get to see pics, Buzzard Boy?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 09, 2009, 01:41:32 AM: For ze visit to ze Köllektiön I vant to direct you to ze Myspace: www.myspace.com/chrispdekker

There's a folder called Chris @ Uwe's or something and you'll find the 2008 and 2009 pics! But if you insist, I'll put them up here too.

And to great demand again the great pictures of the enourmous bass collection at the Gibson booth:

All the Gibsons:

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/Chris%20op%20bas/IMG_6462.jpg)

And the locked Epis:

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/Chris%20op%20bas/IMG_6464.jpg)

(http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k165/chrispdekker/Chris%20op%20bas/IMG_6465.jpg)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 09, 2009, 02:14:04 AM: The Epi Pros don't look half-bad, are those wings maho?

I'm MySpace challenged. Once I'm on your site and have found out that you like Neil Diamond, but don't want children with him, how do I get to the pics?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 09, 2009, 02:24:14 AM: Because they were locked I was gone within a minute. I want to hold and feel a bass... But they looked very well made and I think it's mahogany. Everything looked very nice.

Maybe this helps. There's a quote on that page that you have to log in to see more pics, but I'm sure you'll just see four pages of pics. First 2008 and at the end 2008:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=67884879&albumId=2003779

BTW: Uwe: Have you checked the Fernandes Explorer and Buzzard thread at Other Bass Brands yet?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 09, 2009, 02:25:38 AM: BTW: If the link doesn't work, I'll post them ASAP!
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: uwe on April 09, 2009, 03:08:28 AM: Now it works, fine!
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Chris P. on April 09, 2009, 04:14:39 AM: And a short report:

Last week we went to Uwe again. Two Bassist-colleagues, a Musicmaker colleague and I. After again a great dinner round the corner at Uwe's, we went to his office, very high above the ground with a breathtaking view at the Frankfurt Skyline. But our views were of course at the basses.

Normally if I would see like an EB0-F in real life in a shop or something, that would make my day. But here are so many Gibsons, it's almost overwhelming. The 'normal' ones seem to disappear. Everytime I walked around his office I spotted 'new' basses.
Uwe was a real gentleman, as always, providing us with the basses and switching a lead between us, so we all had time to try the basses at his Cube. And of course Herr Hornung played some basses himself too.

I went for my favourites first: The blue non rev and the one pick up cream rev. After that I went for the Explorers because of my early midlife crisis Explorer period. We all tried a lot of basses. Of course last year was even more overwhelming, meeting Uwe and the köllektiön for the first time, but we all felt like kids in a candy store again. What a collection!!
I believe it was over 01:00 when we left that night. And next year the dinner is on us!

It was great to see basses like the singlecut Ripper prototype and ofcourse the cream LP off which I 'designed' the pickguard. Of course we went through all the rarities like the TM Stevens 8-string, the prototypes, the 20/20. Uwe and I also compared the various Blackbird and Nikki Sixx basses.

When one of us asked which bass Uwe would grab when the office caught fire, he took the clownburst without blinking. The man's a born actor.

When we left we found a big garbage container outside at the back of the office, containing lots of chrome Gibson parts, so I took a lot of bridges, covers, tuners and pick ups out of it. So if you need chrome parts: PM me.

I hope next year we'll see the new Nikki Sixx (which was at Uwe's son if I'm correct), the BFG, the new Grabber and Ripper, et cetera.

Thanks again Uwe, for having us strange Dutch guys and showing us around! And like I promised I'll go on hunt for some nice Herman Brood stuff.
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: TBird1958 on April 09, 2009, 07:19:57 AM: " my early midlife crisis "

Mmmmmmm...........You're sailing for a severe one of these ;)
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Highlander on April 13, 2009, 04:02:11 PM: Whoah... wait 'til you hit your "mid-life" ... :o

"Chris, what Chris...?" to paraphrase an LP title... ;)

Doug... cross-dressing next...?
Title: Re: 2009 Musikmesse und Uwefest Teil Zwei.
Post by: Lightyear on April 13, 2009, 07:11:06 PM: Quote from: TBird1958 on April 09, 2009, 07:19:57 AM
" my early midlife crisis "

Mmmmmmm...........You're sailing for a severe one of these ;)

Midlife ??? ???

I finally saw the formula for a Cougar: "Womans" age / 2 + 7 or younger (for the "prey") = Cougar bait :mrgreen: If Chris is having a midlife crisis then Mark must move on ;)