$60 Ibanez Bass:

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
I played bass in a blues band for hire and needed my own bass. I started out playing a band-owned bass, but it was super heavy and I wanted my own. Not really being a bass enthusiast, but willing to play the role for $450/week + 15%, I set out to score one. I found this one on Craigslist not far from our home. Super light weight, nice neck, fully paint shielded and noiseless. The guitar had been riding around with it in the trunk of his car and it had a couple of deep scars on it. I paid his asking price of $60.00 for it.

The only modifications, other than setting intonation, was to add Dunlop Straplock buttons that accepted the hand made strap I made in 1979, shown here in these images.

Ibanez 1.jpg


Ibanez 2.jpg

"THANK YOU" has appeared on the back of all my guitars since the 1980's


SWR 400 Watt.jpg


Thank You.jpg
 
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I am a bad influence --- you should know better than to hang out with me----I mean it will be fun--- but could ruin your credit ;)
 
That is a nice looking bass. I am impressed that you can play it in a live band setting without regular practice.

Do you really have "Thank You" on all your guitars? What do you normally write it with? The bass seems to have those aluminum stickers you find in store windows and doors ("push" / "pull", "Welcome", etc.)
 
That is a nice looking bass. I am impressed that you can play it in a live band setting without regular practice.

Do you really have "Thank You" on all your guitars? What do you normally write it with? The bass seems to have those aluminum stickers you find in store windows and doors ("push" / "pull", "Welcome", etc.)

Bass is just really basic and easy. It's hard not to be able to play it well, since you only need to know the roots. When the band hired me, I played with them for almost a year and we played 4-5 days a week including one practice session per week.

I haven't put the stickers on my Gibson SG yet. These are reflective vinyl mailbox stickers. Tell you what, I have had more positive comments regarding the "Thank You" stickers than you can imagine. Everyone always commented on it.
 
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I wasn't crazy about the 'blues' nature of the gig, but the money was really good, so I gave it 100%....I enjoyed making people happy.

Verbon Kelley Band.jpg
 
Maybe Robert------MAYBE---- you Sir--- are the worlds BEST BASSIST ------trapped in a body that THINKS he needs to be a guitar player???????????????????

EMBRACE the BASS........give in to the Dark Side !
 
Everyone does Robert------everyone does :)

I didn't mind playing bass, it just didn't "grab" me like the guitar did. I am NOT a mega bass talent with all those crazy fills, etc., but I played it enough on a variety of recordings to get good at timing and "feel."
 
Bass IS MORE a feel than a play --- IMHO--- you gotta be willing to lay down the low and the rest of the gang skittle skat beedatahha wahaaawaaa all over the place....


I "can" play guitar--- but its honestly -- harder-- I have to think and force things---
Guitar is like a suit where all the things have to be in just the right place

Bass is like coming home and slipping into a 20 year old pair of Levis.....that just fit------just right

I can wear both --- but one makes me happier :)
 
Bass IS MORE a feel than a play --- IMHO--- you gotta be willing to lay down the low and the rest of the gang skittle skat beedatahha wahaaawaaa all over the place....


I "can" play guitar--- but its honestly -- harder-- I have to think and force things---
Guitar is like a suit where all the things have to be in just the right place

Bass is like coming home and slipping into a 20 year old pair of Levis.....that just fit------just right

I can wear both --- but one makes me happier :)

Very good comparison!
 
HEY ROBERT you could paint the back of the guitar with Chalkboard paint and CHANGE the message during the show ;)

depending on the audience --- it could be tailored to the event/situation......and if they are throwing tomatoes just beat them to death with it :)
 
HEY ROBERT you could paint the back of the guitar with Chalkboard paint and CHANGE the message during the show ;)

depending on the audience --- it could be tailored to the event/situation......and if they are throwing tomatoes just beat them to death with it :)


F*** YOU???? :-)
 
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