The Last Bass Outpost

Hi all, Keith here, aka Dave's son.

As you might have noticed, Dave has been absent from the forum since early July.  He was a fairly private person except for the few people he let in, so I won't go into too many details.

He had a bad fall and injured himself at the beginning of July, and recovery did not go very smoothly.  After a big surgery and multiple trips by us up to Minnesota, he agreed to come move to Ohio to be near my wife and I, and this happened near the end of August where we had hoped being near us would help and we could visit every day.

Since then, although we got to spend a lot of time with him which we all enjoyed, and I could monitor things and talk to doctors in person, his health did not improve and actually took a bad turn recently.

Dave passed away peacefully about 1am Eastern US time this past Sunday.  He will be sorely missed.

He had asked me to keep the Outpost going during one of the last times we had a meaningful conversation, and I can tell all of you that the Outpost and all of the friendships and discussions (and even the arguments, as he LOVED to argue his points, as I am sure you are all were aware of, lol) were the highlights of a lot of his days.  Those of you who knew him from the Dudepit (where I also lurked and posted a little) know how passionate he was about music...the reason I picked up guitar and bass was because he had a couple of guitars and basses around the house when I was little, and I liked the one with the "fat strings".

I am sure that he went to the Great Bass Gig in the Sky, where I am also sure he is telling someone that vintage Gibsons are far superior to anything produced today, and is enjoying a cup of black coffee.

He was not someone who wanted or liked attention, but if you could, please raise a glass/mug/stein/cup of your favorite beverage in his name, and keep the Outpost going strong.  I'm sad he is no longer with us, but I am glad we got him as long as we did.

Keith

Keith, My deepest condolences to you and your family I am so very sorry to hear of his passing, his presence will be missed. Ah the Dude pit the early days of the internet, it was the wild wild west and that's where I first met Dave. I can't believe that it's been something like 25 years. When the pit folded Dave and Uwe stepped up and gave us misfits a home and I will be forever greatfull for that. RIP my friend

I'm sorry to hear this, but grateful for letting us know what happened. It's kind of you to keep the forum going.

So sorry to hear this. He will be missed around here.

I'm so sorry to read this , Keith , my condolences to you and family. He will be missed.

 Keith,

 My condolences to you and your family at this time. Dave and his wit will be greatly missed, like many here, I remember the days of The Dudepit and how we could go on about stuff. May he Rest in Peace.   

I'm still in shock.
I've known Dave for more than 20 years, maybe 25 years? I don't know exactly.
We met on the discussion board called The Dudepit. Steve Barr (the guy that ran the Dudepit) asked Dave to be the moderator of the Gibson corner. Which initially didn't make Dave popular because he had to execute the often irrational rules that Barr issued.
But after a while I got to appreciate Dave's style.
His sharp wit and cynical sense of humor made him stand out of the crowd ;-)

I am forever grateful that he and Uwe started the Last Bass Outpost when the Dudepit folded.
It is still a place that I check on a daily basis. Even if it has become a bit slow lately.
Let's honor Dave's legacy and keep talking about Gibson bass guitars, WWII aircraft, Non chrome hardware,
et cetera


My sincerest condolences.
Rest In Peace Dave.
We are going to miss you.

So sorry for your loss. Your Dad was awesome and he will be missed. We'll do our best to keep holding the torch of this forum aloft but no way can Dave's presence be replaced. Happy trails Dave.

This site would have never existed without Dave. He talked me into - and I'm grateful he did - continuing some of the good elements of The Dudepit when that started to go downhill and Steve Barr became increasingly erratic due to meth consumption.

I go back with Dave to 2003, like Rob I liked his caustic wit, his deadpan humor and the glint in his eye. And as someone once wrote: He was the piss (or spit) and vinegar here.

Dave hadn't been well for a while, battling with his health. He was never a moaner, but towards the end even he was exhausted. Except for those who will die a quick and therefore often unexpected death, the same thing will happen to most of us. Dave could have a sharp tongue - but he could also take a joke, his Gwyneth will certainly be in mourning now and light a vagina candle in his memory.

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/03/26/02/96574401-0-image-m-8_1742957687642.jpg)

Though he always said - one of our many points of contention - he didn't like fish!

It was great having him. We didn't always musically (or politically!) agree and I don't think he ever forgave me for that Deep Purple "Listen, Learn, Read On" boxed CD set I sent him many years ago to (force-)educate him!  ;D  I think I failed big time. But we both could agree on how great The Dictators and Handsome Dick Manitoba were ...


Rock'n'Roll, old man, no rest in peace and all that boring crap! You'll always be in our memory.

Who'd have thought that that pimply, meter-confused Rush fan of a son Dave joked about many moons ago would pick up his baton here one day! We're looking forward, Keith, to mold a new reality closer to the heart ...


Familie Westheimer at large, herzliches Beileid, have a good funeral with lots of warm memories and already some low-pc comments. Dave was an agnostic, so he swore there ain't no heaven and it's now up to me to pray there ain't no hell ...  8)

PS: WAIT!!!, can we really have a Dave obituary without a Nick Lowe & Dave Edmunds vid? Of course we can't!

I was in the Dudepit but was mostly in with the Bovine crowd. I joined this forum shortly after the Dudepit began to fold , but it was only after I was after one of Rob's bass books , I came back to this forum and realized I was already a member.
I check this forum daily. Never was a rock player , but always the nerd about that stuff we use , I appreciate those that are here.

I'm so very sorry to hear this, Keith.  Awful news.  I raise my current mug of black coffee to Dave.

Very sorry for your loss Keith. This is such sad news. Dave seemed like a great guy. I go back to the Dudepit days as well, and I've now realized it's been at least 20 years that we've been chatting online. I've made some great friends here, and I have Dave to thank for keeping it going for so long. Rest in peace old friend.

Sorry for your loss Keith, Dave will be deeply missed here. Being a fellow Minnesotan, I was hopping we would cross paths after he moved back from Texas. Sadly it never happened. We frequented many of the same Vintage Guitar stores. He remembered a few basses I bought hanging in Willie's. I gave Nate (owner of Willie's) a part for an EB-0F that Dave bought. Thanks for keeping the LBO going.

Thanks all for all of the wishes and thoughts.  He and I were never exceptionally close, but we did share a love of music, and a lot of phone calls over the years centered around "Hey did you see that post on the Dudepit or the Outpost about (insert topic here)?"  He was super happy when I managed to resurrect the site after it crashed last year, I think the Outpost was his baby and like I said, was a big part of his daily routine as he got older.

Uwe...I actually found that Deep Purple "Listen, Learn, Read On" boxed CD set amongst all of his music stuff.  I am sad (ha) to report that it appears to have been completely unopened/unlistened to.  I will give it a listen, although due to a lack of odd time signatures I will probably hate it  :mrgreen:

Quote from: Grog on October 31, 2025, 08:51:22 AMI gave Nate (owner of Willie's) a part for an EB-0F that Dave bought.

And now that EB-0 is in my music room.  My non-vintage bass self shudders a little every time I touch it, but I will probably hang onto it for a while.  He had several basses and guitars, but I think that one was his favorite.

Start with the Bolin-penned Love Child then, Keith, that has a 7/4 time signature in the riff which Tommy apparently nicked off an old Joe Walsh idea when he was with the James Gang  ... I see that boxed set in good, appreciative hands now: I'll turn Dave's son into a Deep Purple fan yet, that will be my ultimate curse! :mrgreen:

Where will Dave's resting place be if I may inquire? I never asked, but where did you guys live as a family pre-New Braunfels?

Keith,

I am so sorry for your loss, and it's a loss we all share.

Dave was always exceptionally kind to me in my bass-building enterprise. I was aware of the Dudepit, but joined here well after that had collapsed. I imagined there may be a market for another US-based builder of Fenderbirds, and this group seemed to be likeminded in that regard.

Although the 'bird shapes have been long discontinued, their influence remains strong in my designs. Dave was a regular poster in my shop notes thread and his comments always made me happy.

On music, my tastes sound more similar to yours than his, and I often find I'm not understanding some of the "in" jokes here. :)

I really enjoy being a part of this community and I'm glad you have committed to keeping it going. Thank you, and condolences to the whole Westheimer family. Dave will be missed.

Brad Lowe

Very sorry for your loss.

Could never convince Dave that richlite was an acceptable fretboard material!

I'm very sorry to hear this terrible news. I recently lost my wife and soul partner of 40 years to cancer so I can understand your loss and the pain you're feeling. My sincere condolences.

RIP Dave.

TD

Keith,
My condolences.  I can't add any more than what has already been said but will miss your Dad.

My condolences on your loss, Keith.  I lost my father recently and there's no preparing for it.

Quote from: Grog on October 31, 2025, 08:51:22 AMI gave Nate (owner of Willie's) a part for an EB-0F that Dave bought. Thanks for keeping the LBO going.

Was that he one with the nonfunctioning fuzz circuit that they couldn't figure out about 25 years ago?  I saved and saved, and when I finally had enough cash it was sold.

Quote from: hollowbody on November 02, 2025, 10:26:04 AMWas that he one with the nonfunctioning fuzz circuit that they couldn't figure out about 25 years ago?  I saved and saved, and when I finally had enough cash it was sold.

This one is a just a standard slothead EB-0.  Just a tone and volume, so I think no fuzzy fuzzy.

Sad to hear about his passing, rest in peace.

Quote from: hollowbody on November 02, 2025, 10:26:04 AMMy condolences on your loss, Keith.  I lost my father recently and there's no preparing for it.




Was that he one with the nonfunctioning fuzz circuit that they couldn't figure out about 25 years ago?  I saved and saved, and when I finally had enough cash it was sold.

The one Dave bought had one gold tuner ferrule that I had given to Nate. I don't think he kept it long......

My deepest condolences.

Sad sad news indeed. Sorry for your loss Keith. I always appreciated Dave's straightforward approach regarding differing opinions. He would always speak his mind. I will miss him.

Although he and I didn't see eye to eye on certain things, be it sometimes politics, or websites, or our favorite mock-argument-topic 'vintage vs. modern basses' (he pretended to disown me once when I bought not one but two Moudluses/Moduli), he would very rarely belittle someone for having a different opinion if they could back it up a little bit on why.  Not that it never happened, but it was fairly rare in real life, anyway.

Rest in peace, Dave, and thank you for all you did for us.

I've not logged in for a while (Black Dog can be a BITCH) and I checked back and the last PM Dave responded to was 9th July when I sent him some photos of a Ned Callen bass I'd just picked up...
A standing "joke" was that I'd send him an image of Castle Aarghhhh every time I passed the Castle, which is also my family's origins (Stewart of Appin)...
I had been aware of his numerous ailments for several years... :sad:
A question, Keith, if I may... what has become of his elkhound, Joy...? I'll PM...
Yes, with a dram in hand now, I will raise a toast to his memory... and in keeping with our respective sense of humour...


"I'm getting better..."
Slainte Mhath, David Westheimer... the world is a darker place... well, it is, it's dark over here right now...!  :mrgreen:

Just a thought, but did Dave ever post on TDPRI? I think there was a DaveW over there.

Quote from: Alanko on November 20, 2025, 10:28:03 AMJust a thought, but did Dave ever post on TDPRI? I think there was a DaveW over there.

He did, but I was never over there so no idea how involved he was over yonder.

I haven't been here in a very long time.  I was getting ready to send Dave a PM telling him I would probably be posting some more once again.  My mother passed away earlier in the year.  Now Dave is gone.  This is so very, very sad. 

I have also known Dave since 2003 and the Dudepit. I haven't been around here much over the last few years, but Dave and I had a longstanding PM thread on Facebook with another friend of his that swung more toward noting and scoffing at U.S. politics and culture.

Keith, I'm so sorry for your loss. I really enjoyed my correspondence with your dad and will miss him even more than I have over the last year when his messages began to wane. I'm glad to have counted him a friend, even if we never did meet in person. Thank you for letting us know and for picking up the baton here. I'm sure that would mean the world to him.

I finally figured out my log-in for this wonderful place and I'm shocked to see this post, condolences Keith. Like others, I met Dave decades ago on The Dude Pit and followed the flock over here. Dave did the necessary job that every forum needs and did it well, no matter who loved or hated it.

That Dave's gone is really sad news for me, too. First time we got in touch was with the Dude Pit. It was fascinating to get in touch with other bass players, and I got several good ideas from the Pit, plus interesting conversations with Dave himself. I guess it must have been him who gave me info on the 1964 Epiphone Embassy bass that I just hade bought off the bass player in some american band that I've forgotten the name of. I didn't have any idea concerning that bass, just knew I loved the shape, and, as I already was used to the Gibson Thunderbird, loved the pickups. The Embassy is, by the way, a great bass, especially if you want a slim neck, and a thunderous sound.

When the Pit ended I wrote Dave to get some news about what was happening. He wrote back, and gave me the answers. So when the Last Bass Outpost started, I just felt lucky! It's so good to see so many of the old Pitters here.

But now that Dave's gone, it feels like a thread is broken. No, not a thread, but a barb wire! I salute, on this years last day, Dave for his work to bring us together. Both as a forum for knowledge, but also as a fountain of inspiration. From the far north in Sweden I say Thank you, to Dave, and all of you who makes it always feel good to drop into the net. Thanks! And to all of you: A Happy New Year!

Dave was kind enough to sell me an original mudbucker for my '64 EB-0 with an extra pickup rout.  It was very nice of him, and the bass turned out well.

I always think well of him and his many good deeds. 

Thanks all...it has been a rough year, well, the second half anyway.  It was weird not picking up the phone on Christmas Day and talking to him.

I don't get on here too often at present with so much I'm trying to drag up to spec again but did want to post something on the 23rd but was not in a position to log in...
Dave's birthday popped up on my FB feed and I raised a glass to him, wherever he may now be, and yes, I do miss him...
Slainte Mhath, e gradh... xo :toast:

I'm sure he is listening right now to Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe wherever he is.

Quote from: uwe on April 27, 2026, 09:19:21 AMI'm sure he is listening right now to Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe wherever he is.

... and raising his eyebrows everytime you mention a one-time notorius candle empresario... :mrgreen:
On the subject of Rockpile, my tour-shirt finally surfaced from amongst the merry throng... far too small to be worn again though... I think...
And a variety of tattoos continue to appear on my skin...  :rolleyes: