Nothing
inspires you like a visit from the 4 time and current IBMA bass player of the year Marshall
Wilborn and a deadline!!!
We had the delightful
pleasure of hosting a workshop visit with Marshall Wilborn and his lovely wife
Lynn Morris this past Saturday. What an
absolute thrill to have Marshall and Lynn visits our
workshop. They looked over the entire
herd…I mean collection…of basses while we got to see and hear Marshall play a little ditty on each
one. Lynn has an excellent ear, she knows what she
likes and see’s when it comes to basses.
Marshall
even brought his beloved American Standard #506 (his back up bass) for a little
show and tell. What a beautiful and pristine
example of an American Standard. After a
full tour, dessert and coffee Marshall and Lynn moved along with
their evening plans. What a joy, what wonderful
people…how blessed we are to know such fine people.
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| Working on carving the back side of the bridge to lighten the overall weight |
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| Ruben and Lonnie taking in the evening news |
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| This bass arrived with no Epiphone tail badge. We have been hoarding a supply of vintage original "bikini badges" for accurate restorations. This vintage tail badge is the crown jewel on an Epiphone bass. |
With a self
imposed deadline looming Lonnie has resumed his work on the 1941 Epiphone B-5
named Ruben, #623. A new second bridge
is underway as Lonnie was not happy with his first effort. The fingerboard has been dressed and is as
smooth as silk after much scraping and sanding.
This bass will retain the original wooden end pin collar and none
adjustable wooden stick. I plan on
keeping this bass for a while so it is being set up to my playing preferences.
The string combination
is old school with Marshall
approved Golden Spirals on top and medium Spirocore on bottom. I have never tried the Golden Spirals so this
will be new for me. Marshall said they were his string of choice
and he was introduced to them by Ed Ferris of the Country Gentleman many years
ago…that is a mighty fine recommendation.
Hopefully
Lonnie will continue to be inspired and push on through to competition with
this bass. I would like to get a few
hours of playing time before we take this big ole boy on vacation. This bass has great character and colorful
history. I hope he booms with the best
of them. We have had some awesome jams the
last three weeks; I learned a new tune, Newton’s
Grove. A Johnson Mountain Boys
tune. It’s a mighty small world…but gosh
is it good.
