Music / The Electric Bass

I have always loved music, both listening to it and making it. Here is a little bit of information about my musical life.

Ok, so you probably guessed that I play the bass by now. :) I've been playing the Electric Bass since the 7th grade, and the upright bass since college. The nice photo to the right here was taken during a UofD Wind Ensemble concert and was actually used in the UofD Music Department's recruitment brochure! Whoo hooo, I'm famous!

Here's my current gear: 4-string Kubicki X-Factor Bass, Hartke 4x10 cabinets, Ibanez JS100 Electric Guitar, Ensoniq MR76 Keyboard, Zoom GM200 Amp Modeler, and a bunch of PC software. :)

Bass Tabulature

Over the years, mostly during my college days, I have transcribed some cool basslines and bass solos. A lot of my most recent bass tabs can be found at the ActiveBass website. Some of the older stuff I used to post to rec.music.makers.bass, and alt.bass. When I posted them years ago I used to have the email webb@udel.edu... hehe... I feel sorry for the guy that has that email address now. I'm sure he gets questions about those tabs. lol.

The Electric Bass Companion

In 1995, just before finishing college, I was experimenting with Visual Basic. What better way to experiment than write a music program. The result was a program called the Electric Bass Companion. The first version came out in 1995, and in late 2002 I released version 2.5. (took me long enough eh?) Click on the logo to check it out!!

Seven Wishes

I was in many bands through out the years, but the one that had the biggest impression was with Seven Wishes. We were a local band in the DE/MD/PA area that played hard rock and heavy metal covers and originals. This picture was our promo package picture. Left to right: Herb Brubaker (Drums, Vocals), Webb Pickersgill (Bass), Joe Datilio (Lead Vocals), Bob Lind (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Jimmy Davis (Guitar, Vocals). I became great friends with everyone in the band and ultimately they all stood for me as ushers in my wedding. Although I don't stay in touch with them as often as I'd like to, they will always be a part of that unique time of my life known as Seven Wishes.

Homemade 6-String Bass

In the summer of 1993 I decided that I wanted to build a 6 string bass. I had NO idea how to, but I figured, how hard could it really be? I went to the local Home Depot and picked up some poplar and oak and started working. Although I never put pickups in it, the result was suprisingly good. Here I am with the "final" bass, sans electronics. I have some "under construction" pictures... someday I'll post a writeup on how I built it. If you REALLY want to know, send me an email, and maybe it'll inspire me to write it. :)

Simplefolk & Heroes

I got smacked on the back of the head, via email, from my old friend Joe Arabia. He lightly suggested that I post something here about his band. Geee, let me quote him,
"Look rodeoboy.. you better put up FAVEORITE ORIGINAL BAND on the about ME section of your webpage and link it to: www.sfh-band.com so the 3 people that look at that site over the next 6 years can come to our site!!!!"