Our 5th Anniversary!
Egads, it's hard to believe that
this site has been running for a full five years. Happy Anniversary to us! It's been a great five
years. Since anniversaries by their nature are a time of both reflection and
anticipation, we thought this was the perfect time to take a look at where we've
been and where we are heading in the future.
This site was established to promote
the 12-string bass, the people who play them and the people who make them. How
well have we been accomplishing our mission? Here is a partial list of some of
the things we have done over the last five years:
37 
24 Original Interviews - With bassists including Tom Petersson and Doug Pinnick, manufacturers, techs and recording studio producers;
28 Reviews - Some of these reviews have been read by literally tens of thousands of prospective buyers;
44 Prizes have been awarded in our 8 Contests - Including a 12-string bass, we've presented thousands of dollars of new gear to working musicians worldwide. Very few websites ever give away prizes in even a single contest, let alone eight;
300 Pages of information on all aspects of the 12-string bass are now on this site, including comprehensive reporting on more than two dozen different brands of 12's, player profiles, rigs, audio and video samples, technical info and tips, and much more;
Overkill Album to be released next month, promoting original songs that include a 12-string bass;
We have arranged endorsement deals for a number of players, with more currently in the works;
Consulting Work - Much of this happens quietly behind the scenes but is becoming one of the more interesting aspects of what we do here. For instance, a major string manufacturer hired us to conduct a String Test to determine the viability of a proposed string set, and we've Designed 12-string basses for new and existing manufacturers - the most interesting new products are still in the Top Secret stages!
24k gold coin issued last week in Thailand
Working on this website has been an incredible learning experience. It's amazing
how much you can still learn after you think you've got it pretty well figured
out. Plus it's been tons of fun. Probably the best part of all this from a personal
standpoint is the friendships we have made with people on this
planet and elsewhere. We have been successful largely because of the people like
you who have taken tangible steps to make things happen, for yourself and for us
too. It's all about participation - the more you put into life, the more you get
out of it. Chat rooms are fine but real success requires a lot more effort. And
a special thanks goes to those who have provided financial support for this
site, it is greatly appreciated!
Where do we go from here? There is still much more yet to do. We can't do this
alone and we need your help! If you'd like to join in, it's easy. Send us photos
when you play your 12 at your gigs and we'll put together a Featured Player page
for you. If you already have been featured, update your current information and
photos and let us know what you've been doing lately. Write a review. Record an
mp3, or if you've used your 12 on your band's CD, send us a copy of the album
for our Discography section. Add us as a friend on MySpace. Send us a prize to
give away in our next contest. Share a tip that will make life easier for a
fellow 12-string bassist. The list of possibilities is almost endless. When
you're ready to join us we're easy to get in touch with - you can find our
complete contact info
Thanks to everyone who has helped us get to where we are today! And here's to
another great five years - Samuel Adams for everyone, woo hoo!
Surf and Philip
to commemorate our Anniversary!
