Hi, all.  I signed up about a month ago, just in time to buy Michael Pallas? Spoiler.  It arrived a week ago, so now here?s my intro.  Here?s a picture first.
 


 
 
I know from having read other threads that some of you have experience with other instruments.  Maybe you?ll get a kick out of seeing my new bass next to my old bass and even older contrabass.
 
On the left, you?ll recognize the bocate-topped Spoiler.  In the middle is an 82-year-old Buescher bass saxophone.  It has just over a two-octave range, starting at the fourth fret Ab on a four-string?s E.   On the right is an 89-year-old Conn contrabass sarrusophone.  It has just under a two-octave range, starting at the second fret Db on a five-string?s B.
 
I started out playing sax in 1961, when rock and roll bands had saxes.  Since I went to college in the early sixties, I had to learn some guitar---as you folks of a certain age will remember!  I played a Fender P by ear in pick-up bands for a few years after graduation, but traded it in for a sax just before I got married.
 
Parenthood put music on hold for a while, until about twelve years ago.  After starting work at Loyola College as a professor in the information systems department, I started playing baritone sax in the school?s jazz ensemble.  Two years after that, I started playing bari and clarinet in Moodswings, a Baltimore area big band.
 
After the last dozen years as a sax hobbyist and collector, I got interested in bass again.  My oldest son has a Rick 4003 and my number three son has an Epic.  I liked the Epic better than the Rick, so I hit the Internet and ended up here.
 
Right now, I?m working my through Rufus Reid?s ?The Evolving Bassist,? at the suggestion of Moodswings? bassist.  I don?t know about this bass clef thing; I think my brain must be getting full!

Hello George and welcome,
You've obviously seen enough of our little group to realize you've made several Pauls happy with the pix. What a beautiful family photo. Do you and your sons assemble the full combined arsenal for cookouts or to make rainstorms appear? (j/k) I'm envisioning a home filled with low ferquency!
 
Mike

Cool picture!!

Welcome, George.  I've checked out your website before.  It looks like a pretty fun gig.  Enjoy your Spoiler.
Rich

Hi George, That is a beautiful Spoiler bass!

Just some follow up....  I oiled the fingerboard, and it just drank up the lemon oil.  No need for a tee shirt to wipe off the excess!  It also seems to need to have the frets filed down.  I think I'll give it some more time to adjust to the Denver/Baltimore transition.

Oh, no.  You mean another one left Colorado?  I thought I felt a great disturbance in the Force, Luke.
Rich