The Last Bass Outpost

We do some slower americana stuff and then some that is a little edgier - especially the covers - www.thirtydollarstella.com

Buckeye Lake - this place gave me the creeps when it was still open in the early 70s - http://gmcnow.www5.50megs.com/buckeyelake/

Out here in Cali - The Pike in Long Beach - same creepiness West Coast style - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pike

I recently picked up this '72 B25, had it gone through and paired it with this Mesa RoadReady Cab with a 15" Jensen Neo speaker. I use it for studio work and in my shop. 40watts of tube goodness and I'm really impressed with the tone from the Neo (and the light weight). My DarkStar P-bass really shines through this rig.

In my case isn't "how many can I build" as much as "how many can I stand to build for other people who want an instrument with 4 batteries, 14 switches, 3 pickups, and a tremolo on a body shaped like a woman's breast".

I stopped taking orders for "the custom you design" as it was sucking the life force out of me. I now build what I like, when I like and sell it after that. The basic design has minor options. I have limited my audience with this and so far it's been a good thing. Thinned out the martians.

I'm fortunate to have a good day-job and do this for fun and make some money on the side. I've kept my biz in the black for 9 years this way and still enjoy it immensely. I could probably stand to make 6-8 a year and keep the fun factor in it.

Most builders have repair work to suppliment their custom stuff. I have a large number of local collectors and eBay addicts that keep me busy with wierd stuff. Even there I end up turning down some of the pain-in-the-a$$ stuff to keep my sanity.

Quite an eclectic bunch here as usual. I also built the tele and DarkStar bass used here by the Gin Blossoms. I'm interested in how you guys will tear them up now...   Have at it.

This one's a little more upbeat -

I think that's how I found the forum. She has an japanese Electra EB-3 slothead that is pretty sweet, the one you saw on ACL, also plays a Jack Casady Epiphone. Hopefully it's DarkStar from here on out. She says she likes it. Nice girl with tasteful, in-the-pocket playing and a great voice.

Bonnie Whitmore , bassist for Hayes Carll, singer/songwriter out of Texas, playing my DarkStar P-bass on Imus this morning. Scott Davis bends the strings on my telecaster with the single hum-size P90 in the bridge. Super nice folks and great musicians. It's a two-fer. I love to see and hear my builds in capable hands.

Cheap and Easy.

I'm in if I'm not too late - email sent.

This one is an oly white with cream 3ply pickguard and DS-3N, F-spec Jazz neck, Badass III string through, orange drop .047 cap. It came out real nice, used it in the studio for the better part of last year. It's now in the hands of Bonnie Whitmore, bassist for Texas alt-country singer-songwriter Hayes Carll. Should get some good stage time there.

Again, nice to see you old 'Pit guys here...

Roots / Americana stuff from my virtual two man band. The first 8 (right now) are originals. Most of the tunes were done using my DarkStar P-bass. A couple of the covers have me EUB and doghouse. "Losin' Sleep" ia a Dano '56 reissue with tapewounds. Almost all of the amplification is 6 watt tube amps through an old Kustom 2x15 cab mic'd with a SM57 into an old analog board and then into PTs.

Good to see you old 'Pit guys here.  www.thirtydollarstella.com

~ tonebender
www.tonebender.net