Another Bogdon Box Bass Adventure

Saturday, June 16, 2007 - Saturday was a perfect day. It was sunny with no humidity, warm fresh air, no breeze. I went to Plymouth MI to be seen with the box bass. I circled Kellogg Park once and decided to park right on Main Street to sit on a park bench where everyone passing by can see me. I played the box bass softly at first, and got quite aggressive beating a rhythm on the box and answering the rhythm with a little melody. I played for a bout 5 mins and drew a few people that were casually sitting in the shade. An elderly woman simply said "you're a nice boy... I love music" I smiled and nodded in thanks... a roller blade guy stopped and asked what it was I was playing, I said that I'm just making it all up as I go, he said "no, no, I mean what is that thing your playing...?" Ohhh, this is a genuine original Bogdon Box Bass, American made. He sat and said that I should have a tin cup. I disagreed and said that I am here to change the world slowly. "What do you mean?" he said. I said "I'm sitting here to show everyone that anything is possible..." He laughed and so did I.

People came a little bit closer as I maintained my groovus maximus. A cop walked by and didn't even look at me (I was ready to be asked to leave, and I would have quietly). A teen on a bike stopped and told me that I was amazing. He went on to say that he watches a video on youtube and wondered if the guy playing it was from New York. "Why do you think that?" I asked. He shrugged and told me that he plays a jaw harp and harmonica. I said, "That guy you see on youtube is me..." His jaw dropped and he got off his bike. I sensed a feeling of jubilation as he called his friends over. Now, I know I'm an old guy in their eyes. I told them that I simply can't afford an upright bass so I made one. They cheered and I was amazed for a moment. They played guitar and said that someday they'll be a band. I told them that anything is possible.

I jammed with the kid playing the jaw harp. He took out his harmonica and started to have a hard time playing it. I got my harmonica out and started to show him everything I know. His harmonica was the problem, he seemed capable of doing things that I did, but his harmonica was cheap, so I gave him a tattered beat up Blues Harp (the best money can buy). The harmonica I gave him was now below my standards because I play so hard that I wear out the reeds and they become unbalanced.

I told him to take this harmonica to any music store and say "give me a new one of these..." "I guarantee that you'll play much better with a better harmonica." His friends each tried out the Bogdon Box Bass and all agreed that it's something they want to own. I gave them my phone number and the Bogdon web page, then told them that I am married with children and they cant hang out at my house, but they are welcome to come over and play the box bass thru an amplifier. Each of the 5 kids said that they've seen me on youtube and can't believe that were sitting in the park jamming. A guy in a suit stopped his car and came towards us with a camera but didn't take any pictures. He looked around for a minuit then left without saying anything either. I was really having fun jamming and talking about the Bogdon experience.

After a few more minuits, I sensed that my time was up. There's nothing worse than becoming a figure of boredom, so I bid my farewell and came home. Most likely, I'll go back more often. I now realize that I need a small power supply to bring an amplifier everywhere I go. I checked out the battery powered amplifiers at guitar center, but they all sounded horrible for a bass, so I think one of those power supplies made for jumping a car would work. They have a plug-outlet. I think I'll run up to Sears to check em out.

Chris Badynee, amateur bassist
BogdonMusic.com