For the Record:
Miscellaneous
12-String Bass Facts
There are a wide variety of stories about 12-string basses and the people who play them that are repeated on websites and message boards throughout the internet. Many are factual but some seem to have been concocted by people who are heavily involved with recreational pharmaceuticals. We will track down these stories and set the record straight whenever possible. This page is also for information that doesn't really fit in elsewhere.
Aerosmith Misinformation
Recently it has been stated on eBay and various blogs that guitarist Joe Perry of Aerosmith recorded the song "Back In The Saddle" from the "Rocks" album using a 12-string bass. "Rocks" was released in 1976 - two full years before the first 12-string bass was built by Hamer Guitars.
How this bogus story got started is unknown but the truth is clearly printed right in the liner notes. Joe Perry is listed as playing "Six String Bass" on "Back In The Saddle", and no 12-string bass is listed anywhere. End of story.
In 1976 Fender 6-string basses such as this one were uncommon but not really difficult to find.
No 12-string bass has ever been used on any Aerosmith album, nor has a 12-string bass ever been used in a live Aerosmith show. Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton received a Chandler Royale 12 in late 2003 from Chandler Guitars to try out. He kept the bass about a month, decided it wasn't right for him and returned it to Chandler; shortly thereafter that 12 soon found a home with Shalini Chatterjee. It is rumored that Joe Perry owns a Waterstone TP-1 12-string bass although no photos have thus far surfaced of Joe with that bass.
|
12-String Bass Scale Model |
|
Hans Grimm from The Netherlands just received a really cool birthday present - a scale model of his Waterstone 12-string bass! The model was made by hand from scratch out of polystyrene. Hans writes, "It is accurate to the smallest detail. The 12 little strings are made from melted and drawn polystyrene. Even the pickup switch is in the correct 'up' position that I use." This model was created by Johan van der Neut, an artist / drummer who started making models as a hobby and has recently started his own model making business. Johan has created a wide variety of models and dioramas. "Johan put a lot of hours into this. It's a birthday present which I will treasure always," writes Hans. The slogan "Real men use 12 strings" was taken from a t-shirt Hans wears.
Be sure to check out
Johan's website:
|
|
|
12-String Bass Action Figure |
 |
This unique Tom Petersson
action figure recently came to our attention. Measuring just under 9"
tall, it is the only such figure ever made that includes a 12-string bass. About 1980, artist Robert Karr was commissioned by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen to create a diorama of the band, including their entire stage set-up. Working from extensive notes, hastily drawn crude diagrams, concert photos and details provided by Nielsen, Karr set to work. After several months he had finished the diorama which included CT's entire wall of amplifiers, authentic looking guitars and stage clothes, and a chain smoking Bun E. Carlos complete with cigarette butts strewn around the drum riser. There were several different figures of Nielsen created, each with a different guitar. The figure of Tom Petersson holds his Hamer B12A 12-string bass, which is correctly reproduced even down to the positioning of the tone controls and switches, as well as the binding on the body of the instrument. |
After it was completed the diorama was shipped off to Nielsen, with whom it still resides today.
|
Strangest Use of a 12-String Bass? |
|
Bob Nimmo sent us this story about the recent happenings in Rockford, Illinois involving a Waterstone 12-string bass and a sock monkey. Tom Petersson donated one of his personal basses to the project. A little history: Rockford was the home of the Nelson Knitting Company, incorporated in 1880 by John Nelson, the inventor of the sock knitting machine. Around the end of the 19th century, mothers began using the socks to create sock monkeys and other animals as toys for their children. In 1920, Nelson Knitting Mills began to include the directions for making sock monkeys with every pair of socks they sold. According to Bob, a few years ago the tourism folks in Rockford resurrected the idea of the sock monkey. Now a small army of these sock statues, some up to 7 feet tall, show up at a variety of happenings in the Rockford area, and are even flown to special events across the country. Tom Petersson's sister / artist, Jane Petersson Hooker, created the sock monkey in honor of both John Nelson and her brother. |
|
|
|
|
|
World's Youngest 12-String Bassist? |
|
|
Just when you think you've made it, some new kid comes along. Meet Little Zach Nasty from Key West, Florida. According to his dad, Craig Eubank, Zachary is three years old and loves guitars. "We spend our evenings playing songs and he likes trying on guitars. The other night he insisted on putting on the Hamer and I had to take a pic. He doesn't really play yet but he knows all the moves." Craig also reports that Zach's favorite words are "Stratocaster" and "Led Zeppelin". Cool! Pampers and cowboy boots, what a great look. Wish I'd thought of it....
|
With our Fantasy 12's and Unofficial History pages, you know how much we enjoy a good parody around here. Here's an entry we received of a "modified" cover to the latest Cheap Trick album which shows Tom Petersson playing a Chandler Royale 12-string bass instead of a Waterstone 12:
|
|
|
12-String Bass Birthday Cake Tony Senatore celebrated his birthday this last May with a Rothstein Andromeda 12-string bass cake. Tony told us that the cake was delicious, nutritious and full of positive energy: 12-String Bass = Good Juju! |
|
First 12-String Bass Tattoo This 12-string bass tattoo belongs to Stevie Conlon of Chicago, Illinois. To our knowledge it is the first tattoo patterned after a 12-string bass and is complete with all 12 tuners and the Hamer logo. Positioned on the upper biceps of the right arm, Stevie got this tattoo in late 2002. Rock on, Stevie!
|
|
|
Billy Sheehan's 12-String Bass? |
|
|
On other websites it has been claimed
that master bassist Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth) plays a
12-string bass, and also that his 12-string is strung Inverted to allow him to play it
fingerstyle rather than having to use a pick. We contacted Billy about this and here
is what he had to say: "Hi Mark- Actually it's a baritone 12-string guitar, not a 12-string bass. It's tuned B-E-A-D-F#-B with octave strings for the low B, E and A and double strings on the D, F# and high B. I play it with a stone pick like a regular guitar. It's used on my solo CD 'Compression'. I don't play any instrument 'inverted' as mentioned - don't know where that one came from! Your friend, Billy" |
|
Billy Sheehan and his Yamaha Custom Shop Baja Sexto |
|
|
12-String Bass Poetry |
When we run our contests and giveaways, people can enter by submitting something that is relevant to the 12-string bass. Entries can include photos, reviews, mp3's and many other things. We encourage people to be creative by accepting original song lyrics and poetry too. Here are two 12-string bass haikus that were submitted during a recent contest:
Massive grooves I crave, |
Ozone in the air? |
|
Written by |
Written by |
How about a 12-string bass limerick, courtesy of Ken Ritchie:
The Pirate's Booty be Not in the Waters
There once was a pirate called
"Surf",
Determined to stake out his turf.
He put up dot net,
With nary a fret,
His 12ver's as blue as a Smurf!
Ken also sent us these song lyrics, with the comment, "Sing this to the tune of '99 Bottles of Beer' and your next restringing may go a little easier." Hmmm, either that or you'll have a psychotic episode....
The 12ver Stringing Song
Twelve new strings to mount on this beast, twelve new strings to tune.
You tie one
on and wind it up tight. Eleven more strings left to do.
Eleven new strings to mount on this beast, eleven new strings to tune.
You tie
one
on and wind it up tight. Ten more strings left to do.
You get the idea.....
