I am a bass collector...I have had over 40 basses in  my lifetime and have sold and traded many...to my regret. But now, I say to myself over and over again, "I will never sell another bass". I am fighting the urge right now. I have one bass I am thinking about selling, but I'm fighting to be strong and just keep it. I can say I have had in my lifetime: A 1976 Rickenbacker 4001, that would be worth about $9,000 if I still had it now. I paid $375 for it in 1978. I had a 1979 Music Man StingRay. I paid $400 for it and it would be worth easily $5,000 or so today. I had a 1975 Fender P Bass that would be worth $5,-7,000 today. I had a 1976 Fender Jazz Bass that would be worth about the same. The list goes on and on...I have had some great basses and didn't really realize it. So now, I am older and wiser right? Well hopefully!

     I am excited about the new basses I have pictured to the right. I found the first of the two in Korea...made by a company named "Dame" and Luthier Joon Yu. They call the bass the "Dame Neo Classicism 5 string Jazz Bass". I'm telling you that I am feeling this one even if it isn't a household name here in the United States. A household or popular name brand isn't what is important to me anymore. With this day in age of custom luthiers coming out of the woodwork charging $2,000 and up per bass, for lightweight, hollow sounding instruments, I just want to find a quality bass. A strong bass. A solid bass. Well, I tell you, I have found it!

     I was in Korea playing with Saxophonist Danny Jung and he took me to Ngyuwon music mall. In the mall there is a music store called SeJong music. Chang Gi, Son is the owner. I tried a bunch of Dame 4 string Jazz basses and was really impressed, then right before I was getting ready to leave they pulled out a 5 string. I am a 5 string player primarily. Needless to say....I LOVED IT! Something inside of me said..."André, this is the one!" I was trying to think of a name for my new bass, and the name Neo came to me, because it is the "one" right? And I am a fan of the Matrix movies...then it got scary, because up to that point, I hadn't noticed the name Neo Classical on the headstock of the bass when I thought about calling it Neo! It scared me.The moment I realized it, was too weird! It gave me goose bumps! Then coming back to America, I was able to walk on with the bass on all the flights (3). That almost never happens for me. So it solidified something in my soul that said, "André this is the bass for you..." I told the bass before I left Korea..."I believe in you..." and I do. I love this bass! This is my bass...I am thankful.

      I recently got another Dame 5 string Jazz Bass (pictured to the right). This one is natural blonde and is killing!!

     So, in my collection I have  the following basses:

1. Dame Neo Classicism 5 string Jazz Bass (Sunburst/Rosewood neck)

2. Dame Neo Classicism  string Jazz Bass ( Natural)

3. Dame Neo Classicism 5 string Jazz ( Sunburt/Maple Neck)

4. Dame Neo Classicism 5 String (Natural #2)

4. Lakland 5594

6. Lakland Skyline 5502

7. Fender Jazz Bass 4 String

8. Yamaha TRB 5 String Fretless

9. Yamaha TRB 6 String John Pattituci Model

10. Hohner Headless 5 String Bass

11. Dean 4 String Acoustic Guitar Bass

12. Kydd 4 String Upright Bass

13. Dame Neo Classicism 4 string T250 model

14. Dame Neo Classicism 4 String Passive

15. 1 Cello

16. My Grandfathers Banjo

But at this point, The Dame Neo Classicism 5 String Jazz Basses are the only basses I am really playing.

An instrument brings out certain aspects of your playing. You play different ways on different instruments so it is important to know what you want out of an instrument and then feel whether or not it can provide that. Knowing this is why I've decided to keep all basses I come across from here on out. See, you might want that different aspect to your playing again sometime and the variety of instruments asures that you can get to it when you want it. No more, "Dang, I wish I had that Music Man....it would be perfect for this track!! Thanks for stopping by, Dré