Beth's Big Bass

My latest, and hopefully last musical instrument acquisition is an upright bass. And my latest musical goal is to go to an adult music camp this summer called "Swing Camp" in Sorrento, B.C.



It was quite the adventure buying the thing. I flew down to Vancouver and went around to three different music stores and played the instruments they had in stock, which really wasn't that many. The next day, my bass teacher Russ Botten kindly volunteered to come around with me a try out all the instruments. He narrowed it down to two instruments whose sound he liked the best, and then narrowed it down to the winner of the Buth Buys a Bass contest.

The bass then went to visit a luthier - the person who fixes stringed instruments, adjusts them, etc. He adjusted the sound post, carved some wood off the neck to make it easier to play, adjusted the bridge, and put on new strings.



To get it home, I took it from the luthier's to the airport in a taxi van, and was lucky to be able to take it on the plane as luggage. The luggage loader happened to be a bass player and I carefully explained how to carry it and load it. Even the pilot came out and chatted about loading it. Once I got home, I loaded it into the front seat of my car, on its side, neck pointing forward.




It's a challenging instrument to play, but having short and medium-term goals is helping. I've been taking bass lessons when I'm in Vancouver, so hopefully will be ready for swing camp in August.



Unfortunately, I fell off my bike yesterday and landed on my left wrist. Today my wrist is wrapped in a tensor bandage. It's not broken, but is quite sore and still a bit swollen. So, an unexpected holiday from practicing.

I'm not abandoning my electric, because as far as playing bass goes, I really think I'm a rock 'n roller at heart.