A new experience - totally surprised!

Pilgrim · August 07, 2016, 10:08:09 PM

Saturday night my wife JoAnn and I went to Denver fo dinner and to take the family and (Liz) oldest daughter's significant boyfriend (Morgan) to Dick Dale. He was introduced to him last year and Dale blew him away - he's a big fan now.

At any rate, I happened to find out that my wife had taken along one of my gig bags; she explained that Liz had bought Morgan a surprise electric guitar because he'd been making noises about trying guitar. She wanted to borrow the gig bag to keep the guitar nice in case it didn't work out and they needed to return ot exchange it. No problem, I don't use them much anyway. I even packed up a Fender Champ amp with a cable and basic guitar strap so he'd have he basics to make noise with.

So we went to Liz and Morgan's, and at the agreed upon moment, Liz went to the closet and brought out....

A Gretsch 2202 bass, TOTALLY custom finished with WSU graphics, artwork and photos. It was a setup to blow my mind with a gift to ME from the family and Morgan! This is simply incredible - I've never seen anything like this, and it's a one-of-a-kind done by a friend of theirs who lives in Florida and does an occasional custom like this as a hobby. The gig bag was part of the setup to make sure I'd have a safe way to get it back home. BTW, they also had the Gretsch chrome humbuckers replaced with TV Jones ThunderTrons. The guy who did the work is a musician and understands this stuff.

I had no words, other than multiple Thank Yous and that this was the neatest and most unexpected thing that ever happened to me!

This unique bass sounds great and is a giant GO, COUGS! to the world!

Photos are at: http://s83.photobucket.com/user/apowell1/library/Electric%20Basses/Cougar%20Bass%20-%20Gretsch%202202?sort=4&page=1

Here are a bunch of them. You can't believe how thoroughly covered this bass it - there isn't two square inches anywhere on it without graphics, other than the back of the neck.

My photo (with headset) was Photoshopped next to a photo of a Coach Mike Leach bobblehead...

exiledarchangel · August 08, 2016, 03:29:02 AM

Where can I apply to be adopted by your family?

Basvarken · August 08, 2016, 03:45:51 AM

Wow! That's incredible.
Congrats

gweimer · August 08, 2016, 04:41:16 AM

That is so cool!

westen44 · August 08, 2016, 06:21:35 AM

A fantastic gift!

Pilgrim · August 08, 2016, 08:34:10 AM

My expression upon receiving it...

uwe · August 08, 2016, 11:40:22 AM

What a bass! What a family! What a guy! What hairy feet!

TBird1958 · August 08, 2016, 12:15:11 PM

It's Cougariffic Al!

What a wonderful, thoughtful gift

Pilgrim · August 08, 2016, 01:11:40 PM

I knew that you would particularly enjoy it.

OldManC · August 08, 2016, 03:19:04 PM

What a beautiful way to show they truly love (and get) you. Congrats all around!

hieronymous · August 08, 2016, 05:27:57 PM

This post made me cry - amazing!

Aussie Mark · August 08, 2016, 05:36:06 PM

I'd hit that

Rob · August 08, 2016, 07:31:11 PM

Too cool!
What a great gift.

Pilgrim · August 08, 2016, 08:11:24 PM

The finish on the bass is really good - smooth and no trace of unevenness or ripples. It appears that however he treated it, he put either clear poly or resin over the graphics - I'm betting on poly.

When I play it, the entire body resonates with the notes - I don't think the final finish coat 'muffled" it or interfered with the sound.

Definitely a fun bass...and MY bass, more than any other I own. I'm having fun with it and it may improve my practice habits.

Dave W · August 08, 2016, 08:51:26 PM

Very nice, and Thundertrons to boot!