The Last Bass Outpost

Sorry I haven't posted in so long - but hopefully some of you can share this video throughout social media and generate interest in the Circuits to Cure Cancer Auction.   120+ pedals, 50 builders - a great team for a great cause.

This is my daughter's story (audio:  Mr. Black Eterna pedal)

Thanks guys - I didn't mean to derail the thread.  *should know not to post after a strong shot of Don Julio!   

She is doing well, we've been at a proton treatment center in California for  6 weeks, this is the final week so I'm anxious to get back to terra familiar.  My wife and I have rotated each week, and it has gone fairly quickly.   I saw Uwe's G3 on the way to pick up my wife from the airport a few (?) weeks ago. 

I would say as a "public service" announcement, that Proton Therapy is great.  It is used to treat specific regions for cancer that are potentially sensitive to radiation that spreads.  For example, my daughter's cancer was behind the eye and the proton beam gets that small specific region without harming the surrounding cells ala traditional radiation.  Traditional radiation would have hit the pituitary gland meaning hormones for life, and taken the vision from both eyes. The PSA is that I've discovered the number one proton customer BY FAR is the middle-aged male being treated for prostate cancer.  Its VERY effective for this cancer - I think most of these patients spend a couple of months at the proton center, can work via cyber commute or play golf as there are no side effects with proton.   There are 10 proton centers in the US, and we're at the oldest one - 30 plus years or so I believe at Loma Linda California.  So if any of you or someone you know is going to deal with prostate cancer, I highly recommend you consider proton therapy.

The good news for my daughter is that they've been aiming the beam away from the eye and focusing on the sinus/nasal cavity where the remainder of the tumor is.  We were expecting her to lose vision in that eye, as the tumor was wrapped around the optic nerve.  But due to the chemo and proton it appears that the vision loss risk is minimal right now and that tumor has shrank considerably  (aggressive cancers respond rapidly to aggressive treatment we're told).   Even though there are no side effects, that optic orbit is still sensitive.  So now we continue with chemo until March at which point we're hoping for cancer free!

I am curious on my Gibson question - does anyone else feel that Gibson may finally be listening to their customers with these new models?

*cue the Ellington.... "Don't Get Around Much Anymore..."

Thanks for letting me sample the bass Uwe and Mark - it was actually Uwe's Grabber II review a couple of years ago that led me to the GRABBER II (not a Ripper II) that is now nearly my number one player.   The G3 Tribute and Grabber II are different basses due to the pickups obviously, but the thinner/not-as-deep body of this G3 did get me wonderin' if Gibson is listenin' to their customers from the forums.   Lots of great reissues/tributes coming out these past two years.  The Non-reverse, the Midtown, the "shrinking" weight of the OSB Les Pauls, (the G3 weighs a good pound less than the Grabber II, but I don't know that that's necessarily a good thing.  I like WOOD in my tone).  A Gold Top OSB Les Paul will arrive next week that is close to 9.5 lbs.  I know these OSB LP's started out close to 12 lbs, so I'm wonderin'   

I'm not sure I would say the G3 sounds better than the Grabber II - I liked them both.  But I have grown to love the Grabber II.  *thanks Uwe! 

And thanks for your hospitality Mark - Gibson lovers are few and far between and its great to live so close to the number one TBird Afficionado in the world!  This G3 is balls-to-the-wall tone!  There's one in my future, but I'm still catching up with that LP OSB.   Guess I'm one of those close Gibson bass fans that...just....doesn't.....get....out....enough!

*Side note:  I'm in California, for the final week of my daughter's Cancer Proton therapy.   Nothing changes your perspective on life like cancer.  She's only 9, but she is my hero.

And there is a Sam Ash not far from here, but they won't return my calls - so when I do get a G3 Tribute reissue it won't be from these hosers!

QuoteHey Dave, how ya been?

Dave!  How you are?  I'm good....life gets crazy sometimes...
Thanks for that vid - I like the quality on all these from that same session.  Crazy college kids always pushing the envelope - multiple cameras help a lot too.

Quotebut the keyboardist should definitely toss his modern keys for an old Vox or Farfisa organ

I guess he uses the vintage boards like Farsisa's in the studio.  Apparently a lot can go wrong with vintage keyboards traveling on the road.   Yeah, I didn't like that "extra" nasal quality here either.  But enough of the real deal was bubbling beneath the surface I guess. 

EB-2!  Thanks Grog.   

Yeah, an SVT rig while the drummer has no toms.   Wooden Shjips - I really want to see this band live.

*I'm the kid in the back of the class who wasn't paying attention - I should know this!  Gibson EB-3?  






I love so many things here:  

* The Ampeg Rig
* The Gibson Tone
* The Minimalist Vibe
* The Records on the shelves (man, I miss vinyl!)
* The jar of foam ear plugs on top of the SVT
* The surfy-nasal keyboard tone
* The Bay Area Ambience (yeah, its an L.A. Radio station, but there's something about this band that makes me want to roadtrip to San Francisco right now).
* The Guitarist's pedals.  And his beard.
* The feeling I'm back in a garage band.

Whew - anyway, lots of vids from this particular in-studio radio gig.  

OK....back to earth now.  

Yeah, I'd love to see a NR.  Not sure what to think of a Short scale TB yet..    And thanks Scott for the info on the Gold LP Bass.  This one has got my attention!

Scott - did you say a gold-top LP Bass too?  If so, do you know what pup's Gibson is using for this?

Yep, the Lull pup's are amazing - I'm blessed to have picked up a T4 last year, and its got it all.  Communicating with Jason indicates that his pup's aren't going to cost much more than his Epi TB pup's    and I think he's going to have a pretty amazing one on the market in a couple of months as well.  Perhaps Mark and I are in the middle of a Thunderbird Renaissance market based in the NW? 

Quote from: TBird1958 on January 23, 2011, 02:44:13 PM

Dave,

If you're going to use some of Jason's pups in your Fenderbird and the originals become surplus let me know - I'd like to hear them again before you take them out.........

Will do Mark - I'll let you know before I head over to his shop. 

Quote from: Dave W on January 22, 2011, 10:37:49 PM
Dave, nice to see you posting again. And thanks for steering the thread back. 

You too Dave!  I'll try to be here more in 2011!  *Hey did you like my pun "Not to derail..."  Saw Mark's Model Train pic, and the door was wide open!  Can I get a rimshot? 

Not to derail the thread back to the OP, but Jason indicated to me that his TBird pup's would be ready in about 60 days.  I'm hoping to put them in my Fenderbird - and yes, Lollar P-bass pickups are the best I've heard as well.  So I'm kind of riding that mojo as I proceed...

I don't check in enough, but this is a great forum all around.  Thanks Dave and Uwe for making such a great thing happen!

Saw it last night with the wife and kids - great movie.  Two things afterward:

1) I have a sudden urge to listen to "Tales From Topographic Oceans."

2) My Avatar bass cabs suddenly escalate in "Cool Value" for my son. 

Wow Mark!  Looks great - I bet the Lull's sound killer in there.   

*Nice 3-point bridge btw.    *