The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Psycho Bass Guy on January 23, 2012, 12:25:40 AM
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... and wanted to do some "touristy" stuff in Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg with his wife and stepdaughters, specifically Ripley's Aquarium. I've been there once before and since the place has a new shark exhibit, I gave up a day of sleep and went with them. Since it is the off-season, they're doing some work and the whole place smelled, but not too badly. Afterward, we went to the Hard Rock Cafe. I'd never been to one before and was kinda curious about the food and the decor. I didn't care for the food, but this was next to the bar:
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu183/PsychoBassGuy/2ef681ad.jpg)
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu183/PsychoBassGuy/65305550.jpg)
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu183/PsychoBassGuy/f2ba6fd9.jpg)
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu183/PsychoBassGuy/905fe8bc.jpg)
(http://i646.photobucket.com/albums/uu183/PsychoBassGuy/79cefc1e.jpg)
...not the way you'd want to see a Bicentennial end up, but it was cool to see. They also had one of the Bill Wyman "endorsement" Vox basses, a Fiesta Red Precision signed by Timothy B Schmidt and a newer Stingray signed by the guy from "Atreyu" (whoopief'n'doo). I have pics of the Vox, but they're pretty bad since I shot them using my phone. If anyone's interested, I'll post them.
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Cool bass! Who's signatures are on it? I can't make 'em out.
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Cheap Trick on the '76 Thunderbird.
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Nylon saddles???
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Nylon saddles???
My late 60's EB-2DC had nylon saddles (two-point Tip-O-Matic bridge).
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Nylon saddles???
At one time I thought I was hallucinating nylon saddles on my long gone '77 white Bicentennial...nice to know I wasn't. I hated them. I replaced the nut with a brass one and used a stainless steel pick with Rotosounds, definitely did not want nylon saddles.
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Cheap Trick on the '76 Thunderbird.
Correct: the whole band. My phone normally takes much better pictures but it decided to have a bad day. The aquarium pictures were mostly awful, but video shot on the same camera was much better. The glare on the bass is from the little display lights and I didn't have any way to iris down. There was a commemorative brass plaque for the signatures but I couldn't get any of it visible; it was all glare.
Nylon saddles???
Yeah; that's why I took the close-up of the bridge.
Does Hard Rock ever sell off their instruments?
As an aside, the host seated us at a table next to a signed gold Eric Clapton Strat. He didn't know how to handle it when I asked him what he had against us. We were one of two parties in the whole place, and I had to sit next to Slowfoot's toy!
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Cheap Trick on the '76 Thunderbird.
White ones didn't ship until mid '77. Another reason for removing that goofy bird pick guard. ;D
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White ones didn't ship until mid '77. Another reason for removing that goofy bird pick guard. ;D
I'd trade them my Bicentennial pickguard even up for that one since I think my Fenderbird is originally a '76.
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What a Damn waste of an instrument...Shame Shame Shame......
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Just what I was gonna say Baz.........
Stuffed and mounted - Not in a good way either ;)
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At one time I thought I was hallucinating nylon saddles on my long gone '77 white Bicentennial...nice to know I wasn't. I hated them. I replaced the nut with a brass one and used a stainless steel pick with Rotosounds, definitely did not want nylon saddles.
I replaced the saddles on my EB-2 with aluminum saddles I made.
I used to use a stainless steel pick I made with Rotosounds with my Ric. :)
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As an aside, the host seated us at a table next to a signed gold Eric Clapton Strat. He didn't know how to handle it when I asked him what he had against us...
:mrgreen:
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There's no accounting for the likes and dislikes that musicians have for each other. :sad:
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Does Hard Rock ever sell off their instruments?
A lot of the stuff is "on loan" from the actual musicians. And a LOT of it has nothing to do with the musicians, they just got them to autograph it. Like the 5 string Guild Pilot signed by Sting in Chicago. :-\
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I don't think any of the JAE/Peter Cook items are on display and they are unwilling to supply a copy of a picture of them... you can see pics on their site though... just kinda awkward... the TRC on the "Lightning-Bolt is a perfect reverse (white to black) of the one on my T'bird...
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A lot of the stuff is "on loan" from the actual musicians. And a LOT of it has nothing to do with the musicians, they just got them to autograph it. Like the 5 string Guild Pilot signed by Sting in Chicago. :-\
Given that Tom Petersson is well associated with T-Birds and that's a very rare bass to start out with, I'd hope that he still claims it. If any of you on here can get in touch with him, I'd love to hear what he has to say about that bass and possibly liberating it from its display casket. The pickguard is signed Jan 18, 1998 for what I presume was the Philly grand opening. Ironically, I saw it one day before it turned 14 behind glass. I'm sure they can drum up some artifact from Korn or Crazy Town, but knowing my luck, they'd put Flea's Wal up there, and I'd have to steal it, just on priniciple. The T-Bird is a temping target enough, but I've been detrimentally honest for so long, I couldn't start a life of crime if my life depended on it; I'd just be too bad at it. (Been weighing career options lately.)
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How many Bicentennial Birds has Tom owned anyway? I noticed this one (http://www.thebasspalace.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=180) the other day on The Swami's site -- he doesn't really say whether or not the finish is original -- and Dude at one time also had a green refin signed by Tom.
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Tom owns one unbroken Reverse T bird II and 3 unbroken T bird II's....2 were refin by Yours truly...the other NR is Left handed.... The rest...are 1960's reverse T bird II's headstock repairs...refins...custom paint jobs...He told me there is no difference in tone... But he's got the mike Lull signature bass..the Waterstone 12 strings...Now He's has a Electrical Guitar Company aluminum 12 string bass. he just orderd 4 of those...2 med scale and 2 long...Plus in his arsenal..a Vintage Hofner..57 P bass...about 10 basses.....
But seriously...any instrument that is or was owned by a so called celebrity...in my opinion...is not worth it..must be junk..or else...why would they get rid of it??
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He's been known to lurk around here.....
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Tom owns one unbroken Reverse T bird II and 3 unbroken T bird II's....2 were refin by Yours truly...the other NR is Left handed.... The rest...are 1960's reverse T bird II's headstock repairs...refins...custom paint jobs...He told me there is no difference in tone... But he's got the mike Lull signature bass..the Waterstone 12 strings...Now He's has a Electrical Guitar Company aluminum 12 string bass. he just orderd 4 of those...2 med scale and 2 long...Plus in his arsenal..a Vintage Hofner..57 P bass...about 10 basses.....
But seriously...any instrument that is or was owned by a so called celebrity...in my opinion...is not worth it..must be junk..or else...why would they get rid of it??
You saying my Embassy is junk? Hey, it was even owned by TWO different celebrities. Tom Petersson and Jon Brandt. Seriously.
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One man's castoff is another's treasure. Works the same for celebrities as for anyone else.
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Hey Dudes....I'm not Insulting anyone, Ok? Capesh>>> I have Tom's Old Hamer Thunderbird 8 string, the only one EVER made in the world.....and Tom wants it back.......but you have to ask yourself...why did they get rid of it???? Possibly drug money????Boredom???? I personally go for an instrument because of what it is, how it sounds and how it plays...I don't care if Paul McCarthy from the Beatles owned it. If it sucks...it sucks...if it's good...it's good.... I hate celebrities...
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Baz considering how quick you go through basses I find this hysterical ;D
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Welll...dammit...this is supposed to be funny!!! I too go through basses like toilet paper...because I get some crazy bug up my ass and have to trade or have this so I can sound like this...etc....
All I am saying...I don't EVER buy a bass because a famous asshole owned it.....Buy it because it what you want...in playability, sound, Look...feel...I hate celebrities.... Have a great day everyone!!!
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Welll...dammit...this is supposed to be funny!!! I too go through basses like toilet paper...because I get some crazy bug up my ass and have to trade or have this so I can sound like this...etc....
All I am saying...I don't EVER buy a bass because a famous asshole owned it.....Buy it because it what you want...in playability, sound, Look...feel...I hate celebrities.... Have a great day everyone!!!
Can't argue with that. The day I found my Embassy, it was one of FOUR hanging on the wall together. The one I got just sounded so much better than the others. To this day, I'm convinced that the pickups were rewound somehow. It was only after I knew I wanted the bass that I found out the history on it.
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Well good!!! I originally wanted my Candy Apple Red Hamer Thunderbird 8 string because it was a Thunderbird and it was a Hamer 8 string...I had read about it in a Hamer newsletter a year before... and at the time I WAS a HUGE fan of Tom Petersson.....Now I fancy myself....and a few dead guys.....anyway..the bass speaks for itself...And it is never leaving my hands...unless some one offers me an unbroken 1964 Thunderbird IV...or 2 Unbroken 1964 II's....
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What a Damn waste of an instrument...Shame Shame Shame......
Ummmm....I think "Ain't That A Shame" would be a more appropriate comment :)
Oh...BTW....As they were doing a zoom in to a news segment on Fox News last night, Cheap Trick's "Ain't That A Shame" cover was playing in the background and that fat guy Dem/recovering alcoholic they use (Bob Beckel or something) asks "Is that the Everly Brothers or Elvis?" Grrrrr.
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Welll...dammit...this is supposed to be funny!!! I too go through basses like toilet paper...because I get some crazy bug up my ass and have to trade or have this so I can sound like this...etc....
All I am saying...I don't EVER buy a bass because a famous asshole owned it.....Buy it because it what you want...in playability, sound, Look...feel...I hate celebrities.... Have a great day everyone!!!
I've got some of your "toilet paper" and rather like it Baz.......... ;D
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Stars buy and sell for the same reasons as the rest of us. I don't rate the quality of an instrument by whether or not it's ever been celebrity owned. Buy it if the performer's music means a lot to you, buy it if you think it's a great instrument, just understand that the two aren't necessarily related.
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Agreed, Dave. Mark, thanks man....You've got me thinking about that bass.....
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I too go through basses like toilet paper...because I get some crazy bug up my ass and have to trade or have this so I can sound like this...etc....
Really Baz? I hadn't noticed. :mrgreen:
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Sh*t. Now I want..... No! Now I NEED a bass preowned by Baz Cooper. No matter how it sounds.
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Oh stop.....I'm overrated....I mean...I can play a mean Lead bass....ha! You guys are funny. Ya wanna buy a Pink Hamer 12 string bass for $2,000.00????
Hey...the one good thing about owning a bass from that Baz Cooper guy...he tweaks...tightens every screw...has them set up..all original poarts replaced..fanatic about making them perfect...and then He gets bored...like..everytime I listen to JIMI Hendrix...I want to sell/trade my T birds for a 1964 Sunburst Jazz bass...or everytime I listen to Robin Trower...I want a Pre-CBS Fender precision...black with white pickguard.....I'm nuts....however...now...whenever I listen to Cheap Trick...I want to smash My thunderbirds and 8 strings!!! HA!!!!
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Sh*t. Now I want..... No! Now I NEED a bass preowned by Baz Cooper. No matter how it sounds.
Just cave like I did! You won't be disappointed!
Baz Cooper goodness! :thumbsup:
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/tahiti004.jpg)
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You saying my Embassy is junk? Hey, it was even owned by TWO different celebrities. Tom Petersson and Jon Brandt. Seriously.
Two of my Favorite bass players from The Illinois area.
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Two of my Favorite bass players from The Illinois area.
The really funny thing is that Brandt never knew that Petersson owned it before him. Dave Angel also wanted to get his hands on it, but never did.
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I own one of fifty odd instruments that Peter Cook hand-built and it makes no difference who she was originally built for - "She" has been my baby for over 35 years now - when I bought her I had no idea who he was/is or any significance about the shape or style what-so-ever - instruments come-and-go through our lives and the way we play so often overcomes the instrument...
... but there are some that just work for us... 8)
Baz... what you need is not a tombstone, but your own unique logo... no more tributes... just your own unique outlook on what you feel is right!
RECOOPERATED...! ;)
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I'm reinventing everything....Re-Charge-ING!!!!
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Agreed! :sad:
What a Damn waste of an instrument...Shame Shame Shame......
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I'm reinventing everything....Re-Charge-ING!!!!
BAZ BASSEZ
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Your on to something there.....
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Your on to something there.....
Percoset at the moment.
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Uh oh......
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Swamp-fever...?
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Swamp-fever...?
Surgery for 3 kidney stones blocking left ureter. Peeing raspberry Kool Aid for last few days but much better now.
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Man that doesn't sound like any fun at all, glad your feeling better.
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My son came in from L.A. to give me a hand, it's been great having him around. Other than that, no fun though the hospital (UF Shands) and doctors were excellent
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Feel better Carlo!
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Glad you're through it, and hope you feel better!
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Thanks, Guys!
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Wow, that's tough. It can be very painful, or so I've been told. Glad to hear you're getting better.
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wooo i had kidney stone problems,no fun at all . take it easy on yourself and dont overdo it,it knocks you around some.
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Calcium oxolate stones?
If so, I will gladly pass along (pun intended) something that seems to have helped me: Drink lots of water with lemon. Lemon has natural properties that help to smooth out and reduce the size of any stones that may form.
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Thanks, guys. I'll be having tests to determine the composition and find out possible prevention but at least I now have Medicare and won't be putting off treatment. Kidney stones are the worst pain I've ever felt.
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you have my condolences! kidney stones are absolutely no fun!
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Kidney stones are the worst pain I've ever felt.
My doctor told me that his wife, who has had both kidney stones and children, says that stones are the more painful of the two.
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My junk is gettin' tingly - but not in a good way :-X
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Percoset should help. Hang in there...
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My junk is gettin' tingly - but not in a good way :-X
Quick! Rush out and buy some fried chicken! ;)
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Quick! Rush out and buy some fried chicken! ;)
I'm at work so it's greasy cheese puffs
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I POPEYE' Spicy New Orleans Fried Chicken!!!! MMMM...MMM.....Good!!!
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Hope yer through with the worst of it... and it through you!!
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I don't think any of the JAE/Peter Cook items are on display and they are unwilling to supply a copy of a picture of them... you can see pics on their site though... just kinda awkward... the TRC on the "Lightning-Bolt is a perfect reverse (white to black) of the one on my T'bird...
There's a ridiculous T-bird II once owned by JAE on display in Hard Rock Cafe in Moscow. Never again was I so close to commit a theft like on the day I saw it the first time ;)
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My daughter was in the Berlin Hard Rock but JAE's bass had moved on - iirc it was an Alembic...?
Carlo, you have my sympathy :o - my cousin up on the home Island suffers from that but luckily it's not come my way...