Sad Tidings - please read

Son of Dave W · October 30, 2025, 10:19:07 AM

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

godofthunder · October 30, 2025, 10:40:19 AM

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

Pilgrim · October 30, 2025, 10:45:10 AM

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

patman · October 30, 2025, 10:49:10 AM

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

morrow · October 30, 2025, 11:38:23 AM

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

TBird1958 · October 30, 2025, 12:08:27 PM

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.

Basvarken · October 30, 2025, 12:50:07 PM

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.

4stringer77 · October 30, 2025, 01:11:03 PM

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.

uwe · October 30, 2025, 03:43:15 PM

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.

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!

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 ...

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

morrow · October 30, 2025, 06:52:42 PM

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.

Ken · October 31, 2025, 07:15:28 AM

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

gearHed289 · October 31, 2025, 07:41:42 AM

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.

Grog · October 31, 2025, 08:51:22 AM

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.

Son of Dave W · October 31, 2025, 09:12:51 AM

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

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.

uwe · October 31, 2025, 02:22:45 PM

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!

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?