I was never just nuts for having lots of instruments; I just felt funny that some of them would never get played much or at all . . . it must go back to my piano days in that I'd go to other people's homes and invariably they'd have a 'furniture' piano. Just sat in the living room unplayed along with the 'nice' furniture they only used for having company over . . . always unplayed, untuned, and forgotten. Just didn't seem right.
Basses were always like tools to me, the way a great mechanic has a really used but CLEAN set of SnapOns. I never babied them, but I always wanted them tight, tuned, and ready to go, and they always needed to look good and feel good. So I never got crazy about a collection for me, though I admire people that can maintain a closet full of them.
So at this point in my life, now that I rarely gig, it's all abour sentiment. My ALEMBIC basically fell out of the sky one day, stole it as a consignment in a local store. My brother-in-law fronted me the funds, and my mother paid him back for me. LOTS of emotion in that story, and the instrument still reveals another side of itself and reaffims its supremacy every time I play it. I always think of all of you often when it's in my hands, and it's all the more satisfying that it was built by a Family Business.
The other two are also sentimental faves: My '87 Yamaha BB5000 and it's son, a '91 BB5000A. 'Back in the day' in the 80s, the vision of a white BB owned my daydreams, the way guitar players lust for that flametop LP of their dreams. I had a white 3000, but could never score a 5000. Anyone who's ever had to deal with Yamaha vis-a-vis back orders will laugh out loud watching people wait for their ALEMBIC to be finished and shipped. I was on back order for a BB2000 for TWO YEARS.
Christmas two years ago I walked into a nearby pawn shop I usually cruise every so often, and there was a really clean BB5000A hanging there. These were even more rare than the original 5000s. One little dent on the rim I could live with, no case, great price. I bought it on the spot. Couldn't believe it. I still was looking for a white 5000 though . . .
Found one this year for my birthday in March. A Bass-only store in my home state of Texas. Dead-mint, the original Yamaha brown/green fur case, even the original tuning key wrench, price OK. Got it. After 25 years ! It's amazing, I felt like Ahab finally catching the white whale, utterly shamed by how long a vision of an instrument can stick with a musician.
So these three warm my heart in ways that are difficult to illustrate to 'civilians', but I know you guys understand. I feel better having them around me.
J o e y
