My Carl Thompson Thread.

[GSR]

Looking back I feel like I should add a little commentary to this page.

So we called Carl before we left for the city, and he said that he didn't know when soundcheck was, but to call when we got into town. So we drive down and call Carl when we get into Manhatten. He says he's still not sure when soundcheck is, but he's waiting for his friend Jeff (Frohman, who I met at Carl's birthday party) to call him with the details. Cool.

So my dad and I ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. across the street from the theatre. Carl calls us and says soundcheck is at 4:30 and he'll meet us in front of the venue. So we wait outside for about a half hour. I'm extremely anxious to both see Carl again and at the possibility of meeting Les Claypool in person and watch his soundcheck. It took a little while for Carl to get there, which made me more anxious. Anyway, so Jeff finally walks up and doesn't recognize us at first. I said "Jeff?" and he goes "yes?" and I tell him we met at carl's party and he got really excited and goes oh yeah yeah how's it goin'? Then Carl comes up behind him and we shake hands and say hello and what not. Jeff is one of Carl's best friends. He owns a music shop about 45 minutes from manhatten and any time Carl needs something, a bridge or tuners or anything, Jeff always comes through for him without fail. Jeff's dad died the other day, so he came to visit Carl to help get his mind off things.

So Jeff goes up to the box office to let him know that Carl's here, and we get inside. The Nokia Theatre is pretty cool, lots of neon lights and stuff. We go down the escalator and there's this guy Jason that recognizes Carl and tells him he was just sent upstairs to see if Carl had arrived yet. So my dad and I are introduced to Jason and we continue further inside the venue. Finally I start to hear Les' bass echoing through the venue as we get closer to the stage. We go through a hallway and up a little ramp and through a door that leads onto the stage. The band is in the middle of soundcheck and they're playing Nothin' Ventured, which hasn't been played yet on tour. It sounded awesome, and the sound and sight of watching les play it from back stage was amazing and I won't forget it. (Nothin' ventuuuurred! Nothin' gaaaaained...)

So Carl walks right up to Derek, Les' bass tech who's fiddling around with Les' basses and they hug and start talkin' and stuff. My dad and I hang out against the wall while this happens. I was too nervous to get any closer. Anyway, so Jeff motions us over and introduces us to Derek, and he was really cool and friendly. I told him he held up the Rainbow Bass for me at Toad's Place last year so I could take a picture of it, and he was like yeah, yeah, i remember! So that was really cool. Then Les was like, "Hey is that Carl Thompson?!" And he was really happy to see him and they hugged and talked about bass and stuff. Carl had Les sign two copies of his book, South of the Pumphouse, one for Carl and one for this boy who has stomach cancer, which was really nice. Les joked that Carl wouldn't want to talk to him after reading the book because it's pretty raunchy (it's really raunchy).

Les was really cool, funny and laughed a lot. He talked to Carl about his basses and Carl asked how much he'd been using the Rainbow Bass lately, and Les said about a quarter of a set each night because it's so beastly and takes a lot to wrestle that thing. Carl was like if you need a bass, call me, and Les said he's ready for another one. He wants one just like his main 4-string because he's nervous that he's gonna lose that one whenever he travels or anything. It is 30 years old after all. Carl introduced me to Les really quickly, and we shook hands and he said hey how are you?, and I mumbled something about it being good to meet him. I'm an idiot.

Anyway, so Carl, Les, Jeff and Derek fiddled around with Les' basses and stuff and they talked about how Les likes the action low so it almost buzzes. He tried to convince Carl to "play us some licks" on a bass, but Carl didn't want to, hahaha. So then Les had to get ready for his book signing at barnes and noble at 6, so we said thanks and left the venue.

Carl asked me "so Andrew, how was that?" as we were leaving and I said I could not express my gratitude or something of that nature. The fact that I'm getting one of Carl's instruments is enough, but he's just so generous and kind-hearted, even though saturday was only our second meeting and he got us in to see Les' soundcheck. Awesome.

So Jeff, Carl, my Dad and I grab a cab to go to Barnes and Noble. We go upstairs to where Les is doing his reading. We can barely see him because there were at least 150 people there, and the crowd was huge. les read from his book a little bit and then answered some questions from the audience. Then he started doing autographs at a table. We didn't bother to go all the way up there because it would have taken hours and Carl wanted to keep a low profile because he didn't want to deal with the crowd. I bought a copy of the book. Carl said he could get me a signed copy from Les mailed to me, but I told him to not go out of his way since he'd done so much for us already. So while Les was signing his books, we met up with Dave Muntner, the undisputed king of CT owners, and his friend Joe, both of whom are professional musicians. We also met Carl's friend Marsha. Then it was time to each lunch.

So we walk out of Barnes and Noble and Carl points to the restaurant across the street, the Soup n Burger, and says let's eat there. So the seven of us eat and Carl talks a lot about the music industry and what a real musician is. He's very proud of what he does. I was pretty quiet during dinner mainly because I didn't know what to say and I was content with absorbing what Carl was saying. He talked about how it pisses him off how so few people can even play happy birthday on their instrument because they're so concerned with record deals and money and making hits and stuff. (I made sure to learn happy birthday as soon as I got home. I felt bad cause i didn't know it, but i figured it out by ear in a few minutes, so I felt better). Anytime we walked around the city Carl would show tell us stories about the history of this street or that street. We saw where his first shop was and he told us about what new york was like back in the 50s when he first arrived there.

My dad was talking to Dave and Joe most of the time and I could hear him telling them about me and how long I'd been playing and stuff. I could feel dave looking at me before we were introduced at barnes and noble, and when I moved over to talk with him at dinner, he asked me if I was the one who had a picture of myself with a 6-string bass and posted the thread about Carl's birthday on TalkBass.com, and I said yes and it was cool that he recognized me, because I had known him from Carl's website. Dave and Joe were both really cool and gave me a lot of advice about the music industry and things like that. (their band is called the curb dogs, it's blues-rock, http://www.curbdogs.com). Dave has 7 CTs, but he said he made sure only to order one specifically from Carl, because Carl makes the instruments for the people and because that's what he loves doing. He only ordered one directly from him because that way Carl has the chance to meet more people, like me, dave said, instead of building more instruments for old customers. Dave also talked to me about primus and les and my basses and what i was ordering and all kinds of cool stuff. So that was awesome.

Then it was show time. Carl didn't want to go to the show, but he said Jeff was going to take care of us. So we said goodbye to carl and he invited me to go see his band play next weekend; they're doing an all string arrangement with a cello and stuff, so I may go to that. Jeff, Dave, Joe my dad and I all got in a cab to go to the show. The guys were talking about Primus and different albums and how it used to be back in the old days when they saw primus back in the mid-nineties and it was all really cool.

The show was awesome and Les was in a great mood. Afterward, Jeff got aftershow vip passes from derek and handed them out to all of us. Dave and Jeff stayed onstage to help the band break down, john and i went into the aftershow room where they served us drinks and stuff. It was pretty cool. Dave and Jeff joined us eventually. Les finally came out and sat down and talked with some of us. Jeff had to catch a train, so we got a picture and said thanks. John and Dave were planning on hitting the road too, so we decided if we were gonna talk to les we had to go up to him. I went up to him and said something to the effect of hi les, we met at soundcheck, i was wondering if you could just sign your book here and if we could get a quick picture... I'm a jackass. Anyway, he was friendly and said he remembered me from soundcheck, and let us snag a couple pictures. You could tell he was exhausted from the show about probably wanted to be sleeping, but he entertained all of the fans who wanted his attention. He doesn't shake hands when there are big crowds around, he says "potato!" and does the fist bump. He shook my hand at soundcheck though, so that was cool.

Anyway, we said goodbye to dave and john, and they were so awesome and said to definitly keep in touch and to let them know when we were going to be in new york again so we can meet up again. Dave and I have already exchanged a few emails talking about basses and sending pictures from the weekend.

So basically, it was an amazing day and I owe carl a massive thank you letter, which I'm working on now.

[a1075dd63aa12]

Looking back I feel like I should add a little commentary to this page.

So we called Carl before we left for the city, and he said that he didn't know when soundcheck was, but to call when we got into town. So we drive down and call Carl when we get into Manhatten. He says he's still not sure when soundcheck is, but he's waiting for his friend Jeff (Frohman, who I met at Carl's birthday party) to call him with the details. Cool.

So my dad and I ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. across the street from the theatre. Carl calls us and says soundcheck is at 4:30 and he'll meet us in front of the venue. So we wait outside for about a half hour. I'm extremely anxious to both see Carl again and at the possibility of meeting Les Claypool in person and watch his soundcheck. It took a little while for Carl to get there, which made me more anxious. Anyway, so Jeff finally walks up and doesn't recognize us at first. I said "Jeff?" and he goes "yes?" and I tell him we met at carl's party and he got really excited and goes oh yeah yeah how's it goin'? Then Carl comes up behind him and we shake hands and say hello and what not. Jeff is one of Carl's best friends. He owns a music shop about 45 minutes from manhatten and any time Carl needs something, a bridge or tuners or anything, Jeff always comes through for him without fail. Jeff's dad died the other day, so he came to visit Carl to help get his mind off things.

So Jeff goes up to the box office to let him know that Carl's here, and we get inside. The Nokia Theatre is pretty cool, lots of neon lights and stuff. We go down the escalator and there's this guy Jason that recognizes Carl and tells him he was just sent upstairs to see if Carl had arrived yet. So my dad and I are introduced to Jason and we continue further inside the venue. Finally I start to hear Les' bass echoing through the venue as we get closer to the stage. We go through a hallway and up a little ramp and through a door that leads onto the stage. The band is in the middle of soundcheck and they're playing Nothin' Ventured, which hasn't been played yet on tour. It sounded awesome, and the sound and sight of watching les play it from back stage was amazing and I won't forget it. (Nothin' ventuuuurred! Nothin' gaaaaained...)

So Carl walks right up to Derek, Les' bass tech who's fiddling around with Les' basses and they hug and start talkin' and stuff. My dad and I hang out against the wall while this happens. I was too nervous to get any closer. Anyway, so Jeff motions us over and introduces us to Derek, and he was really cool and friendly. I told him he held up the Rainbow Bass for me at Toad's Place last year so I could take a picture of it, and he was like yeah, yeah, i remember! So that was really cool. Then Les was like, "Hey is that Carl Thompson?!" And he was really happy to see him and they hugged and talked about bass and stuff. Carl had Les sign two copies of his book, South of the Pumphouse, one for Carl and one for this boy who has stomach cancer, which was really nice. Les joked that Carl wouldn't want to talk to him after reading the book because it's pretty raunchy (it's really raunchy).

Les was really cool, funny and laughed a lot. He talked to Carl about his basses and Carl asked how much he'd been using the Rainbow Bass lately, and Les said about a quarter of a set each night because it's so beastly and takes a lot to wrestle that thing. Carl was like if you need a bass, call me, and Les said he's ready for another one. He wants one just like his main 4-string because he's nervous that he's gonna lose that one whenever he travels or anything. It is 30 years old after all. Carl introduced me to Les really quickly, and we shook hands and he said hey how are you?, and I mumbled something about it being good to meet him. I'm an idiot.

Anyway, so Carl, Les, Jeff and Derek fiddled around with Les' basses and stuff and they talked about how Les likes the action low so it almost buzzes. He tried to convince Carl to "play us some licks" on a bass, but Carl didn't want to, hahaha. So then Les had to get ready for his book signing at barnes and noble at 6, so we said thanks and left the venue.

Carl asked me "so Andrew, how was that?" as we were leaving and I said I could not express my gratitude or something of that nature. The fact that I'm getting one of Carl's instruments is enough, but he's just so generous and kind-hearted, even though saturday was only our second meeting and he got us in to see Les' soundcheck. Awesome.

So Jeff, Carl, my Dad and I grab a cab to go to Barnes and Noble. We go upstairs to where Les is doing his reading. We can barely see him because there were at least 150 people there, and the crowd was huge. les read from his book a little bit and then answered some questions from the audience. Then he started doing autographs at a table. We didn't bother to go all the way up there because it would have taken hours and Carl wanted to keep a low profile because he didn't want to deal with the crowd. I bought a copy of the book. Carl said he could get me a signed copy from Les mailed to me, but I told him to not go out of his way since he'd done so much for us already. So while Les was signing his books, we met up with Dave Muntner, the undisputed king of CT owners, and his friend Joe, both of whom are professional musicians. We also met Carl's friend Marsha. Then it was time to each lunch.

So we walk out of Barnes and Noble and Carl points to the restaurant across the street, the Soup n Burger, and says let's eat there. So the seven of us eat and Carl talks a lot about the music industry and what a real musician is. He's very proud of what he does. I was pretty quiet during dinner mainly because I didn't know what to say and I was content with absorbing what Carl was saying. He talked about how it pisses him off how so few people can even play happy birthday on their instrument because they're so concerned with record deals and money and making hits and stuff. (I made sure to learn happy birthday as soon as I got home. I felt bad cause i didn't know it, but i figured it out by ear in a few minutes, so I felt better). Anytime we walked around the city Carl would show tell us stories about the history of this street or that street. We saw where his first shop was and he told us about what new york was like back in the 50s when he first arrived there.

My dad was talking to Dave and Joe most of the time and I could hear him telling them about me and how long I'd been playing and stuff. I could feel dave looking at me before we were introduced at barnes and noble, and when I moved over to talk with him at dinner, he asked me if I was the one who had a picture of myself with a 6-string bass and posted the thread about Carl's birthday on TalkBass.com, and I said yes and it was cool that he recognized me, because I had known him from Carl's website. Dave and Joe were both really cool and gave me a lot of advice about the music industry and things like that. (their band is called the curb dogs, it's blues-rock, http://www.curbdogs.com). Dave has 7 CTs, but he said he made sure only to order one specifically from Carl, because Carl makes the instruments for the people and because that's what he loves doing. He only ordered one directly from him because that way Carl has the chance to meet more people, like me, dave said, instead of building more instruments for old customers. Dave also talked to me about primus and les and my basses and what i was ordering and all kinds of cool stuff. So that was awesome.

Then it was show time. Carl didn't want to go to the show, but he said Jeff was going to take care of us. So we said goodbye to carl and he invited me to go see his band play next weekend; they're doing an all string arrangement with a cello and stuff, so I may go to that. Jeff, Dave, Joe my dad and I all got in a cab to go to the show. The guys were talking about Primus and different albums and how it used to be back in the old days when they saw primus back in the mid-nineties and it was all really cool.

The show was awesome and Les was in a great mood. Afterward, Jeff got aftershow vip passes from derek and handed them out to all of us. Dave and Jeff stayed onstage to help the band break down, john and i went into the aftershow room where they served us drinks and stuff. It was pretty cool. Dave and Jeff joined us eventually. Les finally came out and sat down and talked with some of us. Jeff had to catch a train, so we got a picture and said thanks. John and Dave were planning on hitting the road too, so we decided if we were gonna talk to les we had to go up to him. I went up to him and said something to the effect of hi les, we met at soundcheck, i was wondering if you could just sign your book here and if we could get a quick picture... I'm a jackass. Anyway, he was friendly and said he remembered me from soundcheck, and let us snag a couple pictures. You could tell he was exhausted from the show about probably wanted to be sleeping, but he entertained all of the fans who wanted his attention. He doesn't shake hands when there are big crowds around, he says "potato!" and does the fist bump. He shook my hand at soundcheck though, so that was cool.

Anyway, we said goodbye to dave and john, and they were so awesome and said to definitly keep in touch and to let them know when we were going to be in new york again so we can meet up again. Dave and I have already exchanged a few emails talking about basses and sending pictures from the weekend.

So basically, it was an amazing day and I owe carl a massive thank you letter, which I'm working on now.

[a1075dd63aa12]

yea but that isnt exactly the most appropriate thing to say about somebody.

I was actually usually a literary device known as sarcasm, maybe you haven't heard of it

make that post coherent and i will respond.

[GSR]

Sparknotes:

Went to NYC -> met Carl -> saw soundcheck -> met Les -> went to book signing -> went to dinner with Carl -> went to show -> got backstage passes -> met Les again/took pics -> drove home in an awesome mood.

[Cor]

Congratulations, man. I'm sure it was a thrill. I was actually hoping all of this would pull through for you when you mentioned it a few pages back, cause I know you're a Primus freak. I'm happy for ya.

[GSR]

More of just a general Claypool freak, actually.

Haha, thanks Cor.

[GSR]

This guy on the CT board sent a lot of us pics from his recent trip to the shop. There are some amazing instruments being made there. I think i have to download, save and then host the pictures to show you guys, so if i'm bored, I may.

In other news, I'm going to nyc on sunday to see carl play with his band. He's doing an all-string arrangement that he was telling me about. Should be neat.

[GSR]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carl-Thompson-Bass- ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carl-Thompson-Fretl ... dZViewItem

[Kahn]

wow

[bassman462]

both of those look awsome.

[GSR]

June '06.

[bassman462]

is that yours?

[GSR]

Yep, I've had it for a month but didn't feel like posting about it.

[bassman462]

ah, I see.


anyways know actually talking seriously. is that kind of how he's building now so that's the type of style you're going to be getting?

[MOE.PHISH]

drgdsfgdfg