Author Topic: Smithsonian Bass (Read 1137 times)

mica · « **on:** September 24, 2002, 06:24:25 PM »

Here's one for the fans of our early work:

This bass is Koa top and back with a Birch core. Maple and Walnut neck supports a fretless Ebony fingerboard. The pickups are a rare dark caramel color.

Smitty as we call her was in an exhibit at the Smithsonian in the seventies. The exhibit travelled all around the country featuring excellent American woodcrafting.

Michael Delacerda (dela217) · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2002, 09:53:05 PM »

In case anybody cares, this bass is serial number 13, and was originally fitted with a bridge that was not adjustable for intonation. It had a bridge that was just a brass bar with slots cut into it.....Michael

keavin · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2004, 05:38:46 AM »

oh!!!! so thats #13!!!! very interesting! a buddy of mine owns #11, in oakland california, so that solves the mystery ,,,,i can account for 11,12,13 and those other 'teens' on the site,hmmmm!thats good!

adriaan · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2004, 06:12:26 AM »

Last November I visited some of the Smithsonian museums, and I went looking for this one. But the only modern day guitars I could find on display were -1- a special Les Paul built out of hickory from some historic building (not many guitars have less appeal than that one), -2- one of those tasteless PRS display models with an overworked dragon inlay, and -3- an Auerswald guitar donated by Prince.

Where did this one end up?

keavin · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2004, 06:41:46 AM »

you know what?, alembic needs to have it,s own museum, for all to see,dont you think? that would be very interesting! (added to the web site), but alot of the older instruments are in circulation (owned by lots of folks) and most of the 'very rare' ones are in retirement, BUT, this site is a museum in its self, alot of their finest works of art are right here, but a museum page would be real cool!

lysosome · « **Reply #5 on:** June 05, 2006, 01:40:53 PM »

First post on this thread in over 2 years!

I'm going to have to ask the same question that adriaan did..where did this thing end up? I would love to see more pictures..

57basstra · « **Reply #6 on:** August 13, 2006, 02:49:46 PM »

Adriaan, just cruising around the area and saw the post (no pun) on the hickory Les Paul. A tornado came through our part of the world several years ago and knocked down some old,old hickory trees that were on the grounds of The Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson, 7th U.S. President; 1st of 3 from Tennessee, nicknamed Old Hickory. A run of Les Pauls out of Nashville were made from those downed hickory trees..What you saw was likely one of those..thanks..

....

adriaan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2006, 02:54:31 AM »

David (57basstra),

Sure, I remember there was a comment like that on the display case.

I should not have said less appeal quite so bluntly, but any appeal would have to be in the history of the thing. It really didn't have much figuring or colouring for a top wood.

It was sitting next to one of Prince's wild Auerswald guitars, which didn't help much to make the poor Les Paul stand out.

57basstra · « **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:53:45 AM »

Adriaan....I don't know if hickory is all that good of a wood to use for a guitar anyway. I think I saw one of those Old Hickory Les Pauls trading (soon after they first came out) somewhere for about $250,000......Now talk about pricey...thanks..have a great week!

2400wattman · « **Reply #9 on:** August 14, 2006, 08:05:22 PM »

I heard that aaheemmm...Al Gore(Snore) was given one of the hickory guitars. Such a waste, oh well....

hydrargyrum · « **Reply #10 on:** August 15, 2006, 07:52:55 AM »

Careful now, don't go introducing politics into an otherwise civil forum.

57basstra · « **Reply #11 on:** August 15, 2006, 02:49:24 PM »

Ya' know, this is one area of the forum I have not spent much time on, but it certainly is lively!...Oh, by the way, as a Journalist in Tennessee for about a quarter century I've had occasion to meet Gore several (actually many times.)He's not as boring or weird in person as he sometimes comes across on TV....and ..in keeping with our ' theme' I always found Gore's nickname 'The Tennessee two-by-four' to be kinda funny.....HIt a lick on that hickory, Woody!

David Houck · « **Reply #12 on:** August 18, 2006, 07:44:08 PM »

And, as carefully as I can, in an effort to avoid the appearance of political content, since his name was brought up, I thought I would mention .. his new movie is quite good. If you're the type of person that is interested in the environment, I highly recommend it. Gore plays the role of himself, and it's a pretty convincing portrayal.

Bradley Young · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2006, 12:02:37 AM »

I realize that playing himself was probably a stretch, artistically, but what exactly are you trying to say, Dave?

Bradley

David Houck · « **Reply #14 on:** August 19, 2006, 09:04:57 AM »

I was trying to be funny. Obviously, it's not really an acting role. There is lots of live footage of his slideshow presentations. And there are lots of shots of him at his laptop working on the slideshow. The slideshow presentations that he puts on around the world show that the popular media's portrayal of Gore as someone who will put you to sleep are off the mark. This movie will not put you to sleep. It will make you think about your contribution to the health of our planet and the future of the people that live on it.

Incidentally, this movie is recommended for folks all over the world. For the most part, it is not about US politics, though he does briefly talk about losing the election in 2000. But the focus is on global environmental issues. There are pictures included from around the world and there is slideshow footage from China and elsewhere.

Author Topic: Smithsonian Bass (Read 1137 times)

Michael Delacerda (dela217)