It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:53 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: The 76 Fender P bass that saved my life...literally
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:45 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:33 am
Posts: 21
When I was 17 I decided to stop playing drums for my dads band and switch over to bass.
My uncle sold me a 76 MIA P Bass. Brass Badass II bridge and brass tuners.
Blond with a black pick guard, maple Neck.
I loved that Bass.

One day about 6 years later (and many rush albums mastered) I was playing my bass in a new rented house. I remember I was playing something off Presto. I was hooked up to my Peavey Mk VI.
My music room was next to the kitchen and I decided to go grab a beer out the fridge. My bass cord was long enough so I walked over to the fridge with my P bass on and volume turned down (Still plugged in powered on).
As i approached the fridge, I put my hand out to reach for handle and something very strange occurred in that moment.
I felt a strange tingling in my right hand, I can clearly remember how it felt like my hand was waking from being asleep for a long time.
My brain trying to process this weird tingling had all of a half second to contemplate it before my hand was pulled....literally to the fridge door handle.
As my hand grasped the handle the tingling went away and was replaced by an intense (and painful) muscle spasm. I felt it go up my arm and into my chest area and travel to my left hand which was wrapped around the neck of my P bass.
It took me 2 or 3 seconds to realize what was happening to me.
I was being electrocuted!!!
I tried to pull my hand away from the door handle, but it just wouldn't move.
That when I yelled out for help.
My Mom who was in the living room came running just in time to see me try and Kick the fridge door to pry my hand away from it.
I gave the fridge at least 4 or 5 hard kicks and finally...finally the sonofabitch let me go.
Here is where it gets even stranger.....
I flew back a few feet once my hand was free and fell over on some garbage bags that were ready to go out to the roadside.
I hadn't noticed that my right foot (not in rubber lined shoes) was still on the fridge door.....
I could smell burning plastic and wood and noticed smoke vapors coming from underneath me.
My Mom saw i was still in contact with the fridge and pulled the plug.
(Mind you this all happened with 15- 20 seconds).

I lay there on burnt garbage bags not sure if i was ok. Was it over?
I looked at the fridge and it looked more like a monster from the twilight Zone than it did a normal fridge.

My Mom called 911.
Great....not a good sign. I didn't know if i looked like a well done hamburger or not. I couldn't feel anything.

After 20-30 seconds passed by I got up, flexed my arms and legs, everything seeming ok. Then i noticed that the fridge was about 4 feet from where it had been. The damn thing seemed to have followed me where I fell!!!

After I assured my Mom (who was freaking out and crying) that I seemed to be Ok I glannced at my bass.............
My poor, poor P bass. The one I loved.

I noticed my Brass Badass II bridge had a Black hole in one corner.
From there, A perfectly straight burn line was made in the clearcoat from the bridge all the way up the body, then up the neck.
Two strings had also been popped along the way.
The very last Brass tuning key was colored purple then transitioned to black.

Then I thought...Oh no! My Amp!
I saw that my cord looked ok. (Rubber)
As i went into my room, I saw no lights on my amp.....
It was dead.
Fried.
$@!&!

I went to the hospital for a barage of tests on my heart. Other parts were also checked mostly my fingers and my feet. The Doc told me that usually in a case like this an "exit wound" is possible, where the current leaves your body to find ground.
He told me I was lucky. The bass took the majority of the hit instead of me.

We had an electrician come out and he inspected the house and found that the landlord tried to do his own electrical work and did not ground the breaker box. The whole house was live just waiting to hurt someone.
He said I was lucky it was the fridge (120V) I touched and not the dryer (240V) in house or I'd be dead.
Even so, he said your lucky you had that bass on.

So....I know, long story....but that 76 P bass saved my life.

I put original pickups back in and pots. New Strings.
But i left all the burn marks there. As a reminder.

It wasn't long after this that it was stolen.

I miss that bass......

If anyone in Windsor Ontario has seen a 76 P-Bass with very strange burn marks on it, let me know.

My 2001 Geddy Lee Jazz is keeping me company now.

test,

_________________
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz
Fender MIUSA 76' Precision Bass (Now retired)
Bassman 100
Peavey MK VI


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:22 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 11:55 am
Posts: 24
Location: Seattle, WA
Wow, that's an amazing story Test. Crazy how life can come at you like that in such a split second. Sorry to hear about your live saving bass though man, Im sure every musician here has the utmost emotional attachment to every piece of gear they use and cringe anytime they hear of stolen goods. Thanks for the story and I hope that someday your P Bass will find it's way back home. Take care, thanks again for sharing!

_________________
Evan Middlesworth
Owner BHC Recording
Composition & Sound Design
Tunes
2008 Sunburst American Standard P-Bass
Ampeg SVT 3 Pro-SVT-15E Cab


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:35 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:02 am
Posts: 8609
Location: Vacaville, CA USA
Wow! Quite a shocking experience huh?

Sorry I couldn't resist.....

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:09 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
That's a great story, bummer about the bass getting jacked. Did you go after the landlord?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 12:30 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:33 am
Posts: 21
Yes I hope so EvanMidds.
I've been searching for that damn thing for years.
Its probably not as fine as I remember it, but like you said the emotional attachment is great.
I had many basses after that but not a one satisfied me.
They never seemed to live up to that p Bass....
Until now.

The Geddy Lee Jazz I have now (after quite a bit of setup) has the same comfort zone I remember I had with my P-Bass.
I love it.
It feels like i am playing butter for strings....no effort.

Ya CA it was a shocking experience...
:shock:

Hey Zod,
Yes my parents went after the landlord but I never got anything for my loss.
It was parents rental agreement so I didn't have much say.

I just want my bass back.
I know whoever has it now, probably doesn't have any idea the story behind it so I don't blame them.
I'd pay them what the bass is worth to have it back.


Test,

_________________
Fender Geddy Lee Jazz
Fender MIUSA 76' Precision Bass (Now retired)
Bassman 100
Peavey MK VI


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:08 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:26 pm
Posts: 2849
Location: Green Bay, WI
That's amazing :shock: , sucks when you lost the bass tho. :x

_________________
Rez(# 30916)
'89 Power Jazz Bass Special-BadAssIII, EMG P/J
Project PBass-EMG PX, Schaller BM Light Tuner
'05 Aerodyne JBass
'06 Spector Legend Custom Neck Through
VT Bass
Hartke TA5000 w/XL Cabs(210, 410, 115)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:12 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:40 pm
Posts: 873
Location: The Heartland
That is a truly amazing story. I felt a deep sorrow about you losing that P bass to a thief. I hope at some point it gets returned to you.

_________________
I played on stage once, they kicked me off when the band arrived


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:39 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2008 5:29 pm
Posts: 414
Location: San German,Puerto Rico
I know what is like being electrocuted but not at that extent . I mean , that was frightening ! I hope that you can get your bass back !

_________________
1996 50th Anniversary Jazz 5 (012 0f 500)
1997 '51 P Bass Reissue
2012 American Standard Precision V
2013 Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Fretless


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 4:57 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:43 pm
Posts: 9
That's an amazing story. Sorry to hear about the loss of your instrument though!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:06 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2008 11:35 am
Posts: 41
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
That's truly one special peice o' bass you had.

I live in Maryland, so depending on where you are, who knows, it might be here.

I'll look for it. Although, I'm sure by now it's been refinished or something, but if it had other trademarks such as some sort of deformity or other notable feature, let us know.
But it sounds like a real beauty.

I did that for my base in case of theft. A l;ist of unique features and serial number. I also usually but my signature somewhere inside the instrument so that the passive theif wouldn't know I had it.
I may possibly add a Phone number and "If Found" tag in there osmewhere.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 7:54 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:29 am
Posts: 14
That bass potentially saved your toe. I work construction and my electrician had a friend who touched a live wire and his toe got blown apart. I've heard of guys getting their kneecaps blown off too. I have a 73 p bass blonde, black pg, and maple neck. This bass doesn't leave my house. I played tons of
gigs with it but I retired it a few years ago. I really hope you find yours
someday. I'm on Ebay all the time if I ever see a bass that fits your description I will post here on the forums. Good luck.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: The 76 Fender P bass that saved my life...literally
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2019 9:59 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Apr 21, 2019 9:46 am
Posts: 1
Wow, 11 years later.

Haven't stopped looking for my 76' MIA P Bass. Havent found it yet.

I hope its being used and not in a closet or under a bed.

Makes me ill to think its been locked away all this time.

The Geddy lee Jazz was sold a long time ago. After the intial setup, its was really comfortable to play, yet after time I realized that I am a P Bass guy.

Anyway, a dead thread for sure, but I was feeling nostalgic and did search for 76's P-Basses for sale in Windsor and this this old post popped up.

I guess posting an update to this OLD thread, is theraputic for me in some strange way...lol

Sorry if resurrecting an old thread offends anyone! I had to do it.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: