ISB @ Penn State..

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I met Linda McKnight while finishing up dinner and than sat next to Bert Turetsky while watching Ron Carter in concert.. Just a small sample of an evening at the ISB.. Oh, and I walked from dinner to the concert with Stefano Sciascia as we just happen to be walking out of the same restaurant.

Ken, did you have a musorgasm?

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Ken, you correctly quoted me as saying "He kicked my ass". However, you wrote that you handed my butt to me. Perhaps semantics, fighting words for sure. So, your kid was varsity golf in high school? My kid was the team CAPTAIN! You guys are goin' down!

Say, Ken, how about we use our tournament as a fund raiser, proceeds to benefit something bass-related, like the ISB?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Arnold Schnitzer

Ken, you correctly quoted me as saying "He kicked my ass". However, you wrote that you handed my butt to me. Perhaps semantics, fighting words for sure. So, your kid was varsity golf in high school? My kid was the team CAPTAIN! You guys are goin' down!

Say, Ken, how about we use our tournament as a fund raiser, proceeds to benefit something bass-related, like the ISB?

Ok, but I can almost guarantee that you will making a bigger donation at the 19th!!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

Ken, did you have a musorgasm?

A what?

Do I need a second opinion to tell if I did?

[Calvin Marks]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

A what?

Do I need a second opinion to tell if I did?

http://mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/musorgasm.html

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Calvin Marks

http://mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/musorgasm.html

Well, watching Leon Bosch play my big Gamba was amazing so I guess I did have a few of those. Also, watching Stefano play the Gilkes, Candi and other basses I went there as well. All in all, looking back at the players in my booth including Paul Ellison and John Clayton whom each played only a few minutes, I was thrilled to see it was one of my basses in their hands that together produced a sound I would be happy to almost die for.

The other experience was just meeting them. I had Sergio Scaramelli in the booth a few times and besides him being the one that gave new life to my Martini in 1999, he played beautifully as well. Sergio uses the Bille style Italian fingering which is 1-3-4, not using the 2nd in the lower positions. Both Sergio and Stefano played the Candi back to back. Sergio has a Candi Cello in his personal collection and just loved seeing and playing the only bass Candi ever made.

I guess the experience of meeting and talking with these people one on one as they played the basses or played for me which is how it felt, combined gave me one of those thig-a-ma-jigs Calvin.

These guys and gals are people too and watching them all play in the same week on my basses was heaven. I told Stefano after playing my basses, that they are now 'Blessed' having been made more musical than ever from his hands. I never in my life with all the players that have played it heard sounds from the Gilkes like I did that first time he walked into the booth. Each note was so musical sounding.

The ISB for me was a life experience, not just a show. Some of these players are like living Gods with a bass in their hands and so humble as well.

[Anselm Hauke]

that sounds like a LOT OF fun there.

i don´t want to spoil the party, but, just for my curiosity -

back to business : did you sell a bass?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

that sounds like a LOT OF fun there.

i don´t want to spoil the party, but, just for my curiosity -

back to business : did you sell a bass?

I don't think it's easy for anyone to buy a Bass in the range I had on show in a day or two. I did make a lot of contacts and I do expect to get some sales from it. The cheapest bass I had on display listed for $24k. That one was close as it got the most interest in the 20k range shoppers. In the more expensive basses it was mostly jaws dropping. I was told by many that the Big Gamba was the best bass at the show. "That 'A' String" is what I kept hearing from players after playing it as well as people coming to try it after the word got out.

The Gilkes and Candi also received strong interest besides them both being one-of-a-kinds and the only bass by the maker known or ever seen.

Time will tell. Trade shows are usually more of a 'show and tell' than a store sale set-up. Patience is the prescribed show after treatment..

[Anselm Hauke]

ok, thanks!