The 12

[bassduke49]

Here's the latest family photo after polishing the Blackstar. For the newbees in the group, the collection is:

'00 4001V63 refinished white by Dale Fortune for Sean Kelly
'72 4001 "Mink" (Wineburst), formerly MG, refinished by Paul Wilczynski and restored by Ted Staberow
'93 4004C Cheyenne with Rath VVT mod
'02 4003 Desert Gold (2001 COY)
'00 4003 Sea Green (2000 COY)
'04 4003 Montezuma Brown
'07 4003 Dark Cherry Metallic 75th Anniversary
'97 4004L Fireglo with Rath VVT mod
'97 4001V63 Fireglo
'02 4003 Burgundy (2002 COY)
'07 4003 Amber Fireglo (2006 COY)
'89 4003SPC Blackstar

[rickfan60]

The family has grown a bit in the past year......

[bassduke49]

And here are a couple of shots of the newest addition, the Blackstar, purchased from Mike Carr. Near mint and gorgeous:

[bottom4]

That’s a very nice special group you’ve got there, Paul!

[bassduke49]

Yeah, Ted, seven of these are new since this time last year. Two others sold, another DG and the Fireglo 2060. You should come up to the wild white of Wisconsin and see 'em in person!

[rickaddict]

Very nice collection, Paul.

And great job polishing the Blackstar. The "Force" is strong with that one. I can feel the disturbance its causing. What was I thinking when I didn't snatch it up?

[brycycle]

i'm kicking myself for not going for the white Fortune special...stunning.

[jakeox]

I like the bookends! The Mink's all right too -- but what's wrong with calling it purple? There's no shame in purple.

[stanislav]

Nice 12. Where will you go from here? I'm sitting at 12 myself, and though I never considered 13 an unlucky number, some people do. This makes me think I should next buy TWO Ricks at the same time, of course, just to bypass that whole 13 thing.

[bassduke49]

Well, it really isn't purple. Now, Melibee's 330 is PURPLE! Mine is more of a wineburst, more to the red-brown side. Here is a shot of the two instruments and happy owners taken at the 75th event:

[markbass99]

Great collection Paul. We're both going to have something in common this year, I'm going to have Paul and Dale refins in my collection sometime this year also. Mine will be similar, white/walnut wings Laredo/white 73 4001(Paul) and a trans-burgundy 73 4001(Dale).

[jakeox]

You're right, next to the purpleburst, the mink looks almost AFG.

(someday, when extraterrestrials are sifting through earth's wreckage, an alien linguist is going to spend several years trying to figure out what the heck I just said)

[nattiep]

And here I am sitting with one bass. PFFFFT!!!
I'd kill for that Blackstar. Dream bass right there along with the 4004NMB (hehehe).

[rickaddict]

NMB?

[rickaddict]

And here I am sitting with one bass. PFFFFT!!!
I'd kill for that Blackstar. Dream bass right there along with the 4004NMB (hehehe).

Its okay, Nattie P...Most of us had only one bass for years. 20 years with one bass for me. When you are old enough to have a collection, that (sadly) signals that you'll probably never amount to much as a musician.



So play that one bass Nate. Play it like a man possessed!