Summer resolutions

Okay, so I keep telling myself I'm gonna get better at blogging more regularly but this time, I mean it. It will be the summer of the blog and website for me. I promise. I often forget that most people really rely on the web for their information. Just because my brain goes numb after 30 minutes of being on the computer doesn't mean all people suffer from the same "internet brain freak out". I swear to you, all 6 of you blog followers, you'll be hearing more from me.
So. What to blog about....
-I have a great story about another crappy bass I had to work on. I'll save that for a day when I really feel like complaining...
-I could talk about helping my good friend and customer Tim Gilson find a new (old) bass. What a fun time that was. More about that when I have a bit more time....
-I can tell you a bit about the next big project that's just got put on the bench, but I'll do that in a few days when I can get some pictures up alongside....

I KNOW! I'll just plug the website.


It's still under construction but it's on it's way. Thanks to Richard for the little extra "kick in the pants" this morning to remind me that I need to spend time behind the computer too...not just behind the bench. More to come but for now I'll leave you with this awesome little clip for your amusement. Enjoy.

Getting back to what I was saying.....

Wow. It's been some time. I wish I had some great story about how I was traveling through Europe searching out fine instruments hidden in old churches but I wasn't....and most of those "lost Strads" have been discovered so I'll just be honest.
I was busy. Working. I'm not complaining. Work is good and I do love it and 2010 is a big bold new year and my head is FULL of some new ideas but sometimes it's not the right time to blog. The reason being, my trusty, rusty ol' Dell desktop hit a little bump in the road. Understandable. It is 6 years old and I am no computer whiz. She needed a little TLC and I set out to fix her up. Now, here's where the complaining will start...
So, even though I'm not a big fan of citysearch.com and other websites like it, sometimes you gotta give things a chance. Found a local PC repairperson to come and help me out. Without getting into too much detail, or naming names, I was very disappointed with the service (or lack of) that I received. Flat out, the computer barely functioned when returned to me. I was then further disappointed when aforementioned repairperson said that there was no guarantee. Now, as I said before, I am no computer whiz. This is exactly the reason I trust a trained professional to provide me the work and service I pay for. My experience with this computer "situation" made me think very much about the service I provide to my customers. It is so important to me that you all are happy and comfortable with the work I do for you. The relationship between person and instrument is close one and I feel happy knowing I have the trust of so many wonderful people. So here's a huge THANK YOU to all the folks who have repeatedly given their business over the years. I strive to provide the service for you that I expect of someone doing a job for me and I appreciate your business.
On a less complainy note.... huge thanks to my friend David Sullivan who brought my computer back to life. Not only is he the real computer whiz, he's also a guitar maniac! Check him out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Vcoq-QRo4. Next time I'll call him first. Thanks to him there is lots more blogging for me to do.
And while I'm handing out compliments... thanks to Ron at Specialty Auto, http://www.specautocare.com/ for being a fantastic and really honest, down to earth mechanic. Thanks to him the bass-mobile is running better than ever. And last but not least, thanks to Tyler Bjerke for the above image. Check out more of his photos on display March 2010 at the Night Light Lounge, http://www.nightlightlounge.net/news/5-art/20-march-art-by-tyler-bjerke-a-seth-hollingsworth.html. Tyler, you're welcome to come back and take pictures anytime.
What does any of this have to to with basses, you ask? Nothing and everything. There are so many people who help make MDP Bass Works operate the way it does and I just wanted to give credit where credit was due.
More to come.....

Gary Karr in Seattle on Sunday November 15, 2pm Brechemin Auditorium

If you can make it, it will be well worth it. Gary Karr is one of the most prolific bassists of our time and is a joy of a person. Below is all the info you need reposted from Barry Lieberman of the University of Washington. I'll be there to check it out, I hope you can make it too.


Barry Lieberman and Friends
An Afternoon with Gary Karr, Part II

EVENT

Gary Karr, considered by many to be the most iconic double bassist of our time, returns to the School of Music for Part II of an extensive interview with Barry Lieberman. The interview format will employ historical recordings by Karr as well as performance by Karr and his musical partner, Harmon Lewis. Part I of the interview, conducted by Barry Lieberman in 2007 in Brechemin Auditorium, may be viewed at YouTube.com

DATE & TIME

Sunday, November 15, 2009

2:00 p.m.

LOCATION

Brechemin Auditorium, University of Washington, School of Music

Map

TICKETS

$10 (cash or check at the door 30 minutes prior to the performance)

206-685-8384
About Gary Karr

Although he comes from seven generations of bassists, he was not encouraged by them to go into music. In an interview with ActiveBass magazine he said that he has no contact with the professional bassists in his family.

His major teachers include Herman Reinshagen and Stuart Sankey, with whom he studied at the Aspen Music Festival and the Juilliard School. Karr's breakthrough came in 1962, when he was featured as a soloist in a nationally televised New York Philharmonic Young People's Concert, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. On that famous telecast, Karr performed "The Swan" from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns. He has since appeared as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and with all the major orchestras of Australia. He has premiered new works written for him by Gunther Schuller (Concerto for Double Bass), Hans Werner Henze (Concerto for Double Bass), Vittorio Giannini (Psalm CXX), Alec Wilder (Sonata for Double Bass and Piano and Suite for Double Bass and Guitar), John Downey (Concerto for Double Bass), Ketil Hvoslef (Concerto for Double Bass), and Robert Xavier Rodriguez (Ursa, Four Seasons for Double Bass and Orchestra.

He has taught double bass on the faculties of the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, Yale University, Indiana University, and North Carolina School of the Arts and has published a number of instructional books for the double bass. He focuses on finding one's unique sound on the double bass and approaching one's playing with the lyrical emphasis of a singer.

After 40 years as a concert artist he retired in 2001 to Victoria, British Columbia, where he lives with his dog Shin-Ju.

Gary Karr website (with music samples)

Gary Karr YouTube channel

Spending time with the next generation of bad ass bassists....

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with a local high schooler interested in luthiery. She had e-mailed me asking if she could do a job shadow with me for a senior project that she was working on. Needless to say, I was honored...and a little bit anxious. I spent a little extra time tidying up the shop that morning to say the least. She showed up right when she said she would (I love punctuality...) and we got down to business.
First things first, paying bills...it can't all be glamorous. She started with a basic interview....education, influences. etc. I was so impressed with her ease and maturity and felt honored that she was truly interested in me and the career I chose. Turns out, it seems we have a lot in common. She, like me, is auditioning for the same schools I had and shares the same desire to study in NYC. We talked at great length about the conservatory education. Certain teachers I had worked with she would like to...and there was a peculiar familiarity in the sparkle I saw in her eye when she talked about her feelings toward playing the Double Bass. It felt nice to offer someone the advice and guidance I wish I had received before choosing to attend a conservatory. All in all, it was a lovely afternoon and according to the thank you card I received a week later, sounds like she had a nice time too. So thanks Hannah, I wish you the best in your musical pursuits. With your talents and grace you should go very far.
* To hear Hannah play check out the benefit concert on November 15. I'll definately be there. For info, visit www.americanmusicprogram.org

No time to blog lately....

But hopefully that's going to change real soon. You see, I've been working long days on one particular bass that I have had a long relationship with. It's a beautiful old instrument belonging to a dear customer. A customer I am more than pleased to call a friend as well as one of my best clients. Well, the poor bass suffered quite an injury during an outdoor concert with the Oregon Symphony about a month ago and well, that's where my month of September went. Sometimes I find it hard to stop working on an instrument. It becomes such a part of my life during the repair that I almost don't want it to be over. (which is hilarious because I am soooo looking forward a real nights sleep...) Anyway, we're a the end, for now. A strong impact wound to the upper top of the bass resulted in a full bass bar crack and due to the fragility of the instrument to begin with, there was a whole lot of reinforcement to do. Take a look at the pictures... I just got her all glued up tonight (special thanks to Chris for the muscle). More about this bass soon, but for now, bed. Goodnight.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Continuing a bit from yesterday's post, let's talk about neck blocks. Violin family instruments have 6 blocks inside the body. One at the top (neck block), one at the bottom (end block), and one at each corner (corner blocks). These blocks are typically made from quarter sawn* spruce although it us not uncommon to find willow or pine blocks in some older basses. The blocks are the first things to be put in place in construction of a new instrument, and the rib structure is then built around the blocks and the mold. So needless to say, they're pretty darn important when it comes to an instrument's structural integrity.

A few months ago a customer of mine brought me his lovely German flatback c. 1900 because it had developed some cracks in the neck. Being that this was the original neck on a bass well over 100 years old, it was time for a neckgraft. A neckgraft is a procedure where a new neck is carved for an instrument and the pre-existing scroll is grafted onto the new neck. Upon removal of the old neck I found a neck block underneath that was an absolute mess (check out the pictures....). Since it makes no sense to put a brand new neck into old block, it was time to rebuild the block too. It was like giving the old man a new spine. The before and after pics say it all.....

Maybe more about neckgrafts soon....

*Quartersawn boards are created by first cutting a log into quarters and then creating a series of parallel cuts perpendicular to the tree's rings. The grain in quartersawn wood is more consistent and stable and this is why it is preferred by violin makers.

What not to do....

So. We all want somethings sometimes. And sometimes we want these things so badly that we don't wait for the right things to come along. I see this happen so often when people decide that they want to start playing the Double Bass. One word. Patience. Please have patience. Do your research. Talk to folks like me or me for that matter. Or you might end up like this poor guy.

So, nameless customer comes to me a few months ago with a bass he found online for only $500! Brand new! Now there are lots of companies overseas making these "economy instruments" and while they'll put a brand new, shiny bass in your hand for cheap,... buyer beware. You'll spend at least twice as much getting them set-up. And once you have 'em set up they still are what they are. A cheap bass. They look pretty and all but take a look inside. The biggest problem with these basses is the materials (woods, glues, fittings, etc.) are from the bottom of the barrel. Take a good look at the picture. What you're looking at is the neck block inside the bass. This is there to stablize and support the neck and to withstand the tension the strings are putting on the bass. The one in the picture, look closely, HAS A HUGE CRACK IN IT! It's rotten. Literally. This brand new shiny bass is made out of rotton wood and glued together with white glue (more about glue soon...) and is set up with strings that seem more appropriate to be used as piano wire. Ugh. I see it so often. It makes my job of setting them up harder and more time consuming AND although said customer has spent at least another $500 to set up a $500 bass, the bass is still only worth $500.

So, think about it. Save up a little more money and shop around. Call me. Find your best option for your budget and get something that will acutally appreciate in value. Your experience as a beginner to the Double Bass will be a more pleasant one, and you're much more likely to excel with an instrument that sounds and plays it's best. Trust me on this one....