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TomRichards

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Everything posted by TomRichards

  1. Here are pictures of Kevin Brubaker's US Custom built JXB-5 in white. the bass and fingerboard are maple! Its a dreamy bass...
  2. What do you think about "reverse bursts"? Kubicki used to feature them, dark blue or dark color in center, fading toward the edges.
  3. For decades ALL of Gene Simmons basses were built only with a volume pot. For that reason, he wanted full range and power from the pickup and tweaks the sound via amp and sound guy.
  4. Single coils make noise to start. Add a better and more powerful set and you are bound to get more hum. Last I looked the Squier was not really shielded well. So you probably have to add shielding. Also, check some of the grounds again. Sometimes it may look solid but you might have a cold solder joint.
  5. What one charges has nothing to do with "ethical" or "moral". Is it more ethical to charge $129 for a Chinese bass that the near slave labor gets paid about $5 to make? That to me is actually unethical and immoral. But we let that pass without a sound. In his century, Stradivarius made instruments for the greatest players and yes, THE WEALTHY. The average guy walking the streets of Verona or Rome didn't even have the opportunity to own one. Same for great painters and sculptors. Why do you think Michaelangelo and Leonardo painted for the wealthy? Because the poor man couldn't keep him alive with food, clothing or shelter. I personally pay for what I get, and I often pay a little more then I could because I have someone I know do the work. I could get cabinets installed in my kitchen by the hardware chain Home Depot, and it costs about 30% less. But I know I will get general helpers who install cabinets but are not cabinet makers and who will not understand the things to properly install a cabinet or how to handle particular issues that may arise during installation. I have a local cabinet maker, and he uses some standard cabinets and then customizes some to optimize my room and installation. Well worth the extra money. The truth is, if you look hard and long enough, you can get boutique basses at reasonable prices. The bass pictured in my profile I recently purchased from a small shop, used. The bass is a Brubaker KXB-5 in satin black with a stained maple fingerboard. The bass was sold originally by Kevin Brubaker for $3700. I found it with a small dealer and got it for $1500 cash and a 1993 MIA Fender Jazz Bass Plus (which I had purchased for $475). So, for $1975 I got a boutique bass that originally sold for nearly double that. Not that you can find that kind of a deal on every boutique bass, but you can on most. You can regularly score Kubicki's for a grand or less, you can find many Spectors for the same, and I have even purchased several Rickenbackers over the past few years in mint condition for less then $1000. Now, can you buy them new for that? No. But you can own a piece of your dreams for that if you are patient and do your homework.
  6. Darn. Maybe it is a only available in the US until '81. I know the one I had I sold in a bidding war to Aria collectors here because the set neck was only available in one year. So, maybe that was it, not availabe in the US. Either way, the set neck versions sound WAY better then the bolt ons.
  7. I'm not so sure its Korean, as to me it has all the hallmarks of basses made in the Fujigen factory for Ibanez during that time period. The laminated neck looks entirely like the old Ibanez Musicians. Having said that, I don't see a lot on this that is original. The tuners could even be replacements, the knobs certainly are, the bridge also. $100 USD if it were here, maybe $150 tops depending on sound.
  8. The two posters are correct. Those are the two places to go for bass. Save this message. When you go to Bass Emporium, tell John or Chuck Tom from Brubaker basses said hi. Might help you get a little better price/help. If you go to Austin Bass Traders, tell Glenn the same thing. If you need help in coordinating a visit to them, let me know. tom
  9. Here is one, well backlit, in "British Racing Green." I kind of fancy it in the pictures, but not sure how it would look onstage.
  10. [quote name='louisthebass' timestamp='1330986736' post='1566017'] Welcome aboard Probably a silly question - have you played at the legendary Stone Pony? [/quote] Yes, many times, going back as far as 1986 and did a fill in last year. I also appeared on the Pony stage in November as a presenter for the Asbury Music Awards. Its a great stage to play, but honestly, no different then most. Unless Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi actually jump up with you at some point, well, its not thought of as legendary. Every Sunday in Feb and March they have a battle of the bands called "The Break" for a spot at the annual Bamboozle Festival. There are at least 18 bands each day for the first couple of weeks. You wanna know what they put in their press kits? Yep, "Played the Legendary Stone Pony." Paying to play for a 15 minute contest set and using that phrase kind of takes a little shine off the medal.... I think my favorite was the fact I got a chance to play with Vini Lopez and Steel Mill at a benefit held there a few years ago. Now that, in AP terms, is legendary. Thanks for asking. If you are ever in the area, look me up. I'll be glad to use my Stone Pony Musician's VIP card to get you in.
  11. [quote name='Spike Vincent' timestamp='1330988092' post='1566045'] Black. With a mirror scratchplate. [/quote] A little Thin Lizzy thing, eh?
  12. Satin black is becoming very popular on basses in the US. So I will ask my friends from your side of the pond what are your color preferences for your basses?
  13. [quote name='obbm' timestamp='1330962446' post='1565406'] Welcome Tom. You must know Joe D'Urso and Mr Lou. [/quote] Yes I do, although I usually only see Joe when he is doing the annual Light of Day stuff here in January. Glad to make your acquaintance.
  14. Talk about clairvoyant, how did you know throw off? Right after your last post Brubaker approached me with an offer to manage the Brute series brand. SO I ACCEPTED!!!!!! So, now not only an endorser but work the basses. I will have to be careful with my posts from now on, but wow!
  15. Hello everyone! Tom Richards, pro bassist from Asbury Park NJ USA, 30+ years in the biz. Yes, I do know Bruce Springsteen and Garry Tallent but no, I can't get you tickets, so don't ask. I am endorsed by Hartke and Brubaker, and I just recently accepted the position as Brand Manager for the Brubaker Brute Series basses. I am a recognized expert in anything made in Neptune NJ, and am the go to guy for many shops in the US when they have questions about vintage Danelectro guitars and basses and Kramer or Vaccaro basses. If you need or want any info on US basses, I will be glad to get you it if I can. Great to meet you all!
  16. The Lull, but then I am from the US and have played a ton of Mike's stuff over the years. Just really solid basses with a little kick.
  17. Sometimes it's nice to welcome home one of your long lost ladies...
  18. This has to be an '81. Matsumoku only made the set neck models for 1 year according to my research. I think the price for this is great.
  19. I own inexpensive imports (Brubaker Brute, Tobias KZ), high end US mass production (Kubicki, Guild, Kramer, Steinberger) and boutique (Brubaker, Spector). Each one has a price point for a reason. I know a lot of the boutique builders personally, Kevin Brubaker, Stu Spector, Phil Kubicki, Roger Sadowsky among them, and with little exception none of them are making Wall Street money or even close. Do they live well? Yes. Do they own mansions? No. Do they take 6 month vacations twice a year? No. Do they have a nice car, home, and send their kids to good colleges? Yes. Labor in America is as high if not higher then in the UK. Our businesses have a much higher tax rate then anywhere else in the world. I know, my music publishing company gets hammered all the time. Fodera's are built in a small shop in NYC, a handful of highly skilled artisans trying to craft the great basses they do with perfect consistency. A company like Fodera has to invest years in a worker to get them to be able to do consistent hand driven work to the Fodera standard. A lot of luthiers are the only ones doing the work. So, what do you think your labor would cost if you were doing the near perfection most boutique builders are all by yourself? Yep, you would have to make enough profit that you can actually live off of the 100 or so basses you might make a year. Think about it. In the US poverty level is a family of 4 making around $30K per year. For a boutique builder, in order to just make a personal income of $30K he would have to have total revenue of about $300K. Don't forget, materials cost too, as well as credit lines, shop space, packaging materials, yada yada. So, to make poverty level that is 100 basses at at least $3K. And its not like that is consistent cash flow either. You can't fully bill until its built. If I put them at your comfort level, say $1K, then he would have to make 300 basses a year to make $30K. That is one bass a day, all by himself. In order to make non-poverty money, he would have to produce 2-4 basses per day, all by himself. Now, How does that math work for you in your thinking?
  20. While Westone is sometimes thought of as the "bastard child" of Matsumoku, it was actually their premier line, and when you get to some of the anniversary addition of the Genesis XA6520 in 1987 you would be hard pressed to find a bass that was more innovative, better built, better sounding and as versatile. The Aria Pro II's are clearly the Mercedes of the Matsumoku made basses, but the 1986-1988 Westones are as good if not better in many ways. The Westone Super Headless basses are prized, at least here, to this day and are definitely as good as any early Status headless, and I would put them on par with some of my Steinberger Q4s.
  21. [quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1330608922' post='1560270'] I have to say do you work for this company? We have representatives of many brands on BC but you seem to be promoting them but acting like you are nothing to do with them.. [/quote] I guess full disclosure, I just became an endorsed artist last week, but that was well after owning custom Brubakers and Brubaker Brutes. I went to NAMM and was blown away by the new stuff. I'll try not to be so enthusiastic. That having been said, if I ever do work directly for the company, I will fully disclose it as well and of course carefully post. I have known the luthier, Kevin Brubaker, for a while, and his distributor is in my hometown. Kevin is also a bass player himself, and when he is in town we always get together and throw some great scotch back and jam. I offered to help him do some QC and setup since I have some free time. Is that okay? I know that from my multiple gigs in the UK over the past 30 years that you blokes don't often get the scoop on new/boutique builders here who are under the radar. I try to be respectful of all forums. I am a contributor to all of the main bass forums, having been a touring bassist for the 30+ years and usually chime in on bass construction, etc. I do have a consulting and music publishing company. I am having professional shots taken of my 2 dozen basses for insurance purposes, so the Brutes are included. Sorry if it seems "fishy."
  22. Taking some professional shots of all the Brute series this week. Will post when they are done. Hey guys, what are the best shops in the UK to deal with? Best way to see a Brute is to play it and touch it in person. Let me know where you bass shop....
  23. Email me at [email protected] and I will fire pix at you. Also, you can see some of them on my Facebook page.[url="http://www.facebook.com/TomRichardsbass"]http://www.facebook.com/TomRichardsbass[/url] Look under the NAMM pictures as well as the Brubaker pics and the album called "the basses of tom richards."
  24. I'm having the pleasure today of sitting with Kevin Brubaker himself and helping him setup the latest production of Brubaker Brute Series basses. What an honor! Amazing builder, amazing bass player, amazing guy!
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