27 February, 2002 The Cuicoland Express Carriage #46
(a newsletter dedicated to the Great JACK BRUCE)

Dear Jackettes,

The Cuicoland Express is finally up to date with all correspondence.
Thanks
again to all Jackettes for your patience.

Special thanks to SHANE KENNY, DENNIS THEROUAX, DENNIS LAWRENSON, NEIL
YOUNG,RICHARD SHEPPARD, MELISSA HAMILTON, DAVE LAW, ERNIE TICHENOR,
MICHAEL
ZACCARIA and DREW BEHR for their contributions to this Carriage.

Thank you to MICHAEL ZACCARIA, MITCH KANE and MELISSA HAMILTON for advice
and offers of assistance to get The Express back on track.

New passengers please be sure to check out DENNIS LAWRENSON'S site for
back issues of The Cuicoland Express at http://www.users.tpg.com.au/jlorro.

Thanks again to my wife LORRAINE for all her help with The Express.

Regards - Marc.


SHANE KENNY WRITES:
Marc, any news on Jack's Australian tour dates &
places?
REPLY:
Shane, the only dates I'm aware of are the ones for Japan listed on
DEREK'S site at www.jackbruce.com
-Marc.

DENNIS THEROUAX WRITES:
Hey Marc..... Hope you enjoy him immensely. You make me wanna go
out somewhere and see him live. I did enjoy seeing him on the Letterman
Show once. He is certainly a kind gentleman and deserves his accolades.
He has a wonderful voice, too......... huh?
Take care my friend,
-Dennis Therouax.


DENNIS LAWRENSON WRITES:
Thanks to Mitch Kane and Bruce Gary for sending through some great photo's
which have been posted to the Image area of the Cuicoland Express Back
Issues web site
www.tpgi.com.au/jlorro/
Happy New Year to everyone !

NEIL YOUNG WRITES:
Hi There:
Just to update Steffan's posting....the current URL for the JB article
referred to is:
http://www.suntimes.com/output/jazz/cst-ftr-bruce14.html
Regards,
-Neil Young

RICHARD SHEPPARD WRITES:
$28,600 was the highest bid - by someone named Jack Bruce (allegedly).
And it didn't meet the reserve! Is there bad blood between Jack and Gary,
one wonders?
-Richard Sheppard.

MELISSA HAMILTON WRITES:
I thought the Express members might like to see the original ebay
listing in its entirety. Cheers, Melissa
Title of item: JACK BRUCE'S LEGENDARY 1965 GIBSON
EB-3 BASS
Seller: nharris99
Starts: Jan-15-02 19:52:40 PST
Ends: Jan-22-02 19:52:40 PST
Price: Currently $25,200.00
To bid on the item, go to:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1502940143
Item Description:
Jack Bruce's 1965 Gibson EB3 Bass Serial Number 333147
NORMAN'S RARE GUITARS and BRUCE GARY, formerly of THE KNACK and
longtime associate of JACK BRUCE, are pleased to offer the sale of
arguably THE MOST HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BASS GUITAR EVER AT AUCTION:
JACK BRUCE'S GIBSON EB-3 BASS. This bass was used throughout the
legendary career of JACK BRUCE from 1967 with CREAM, featured on the
recordings "WHITE ROOM," "SUNSHINE OF YOUR LOVE," etc., etc., as well as
numerous live performances.
While many musicians change instruments as often as they change their
clothes, this is the instrument most commonly associated with JACK
BRUCE and WAS HIS PRIMARY BASS FOR BOTH RECORDING AND LIVE PERFORMANCE!
Whether this is for a personal or corporate purchase, this will be a
feather in the cap of the most discerning collector and may be used in
museum displays as well as corporate promotion.
SERIOUS INQUIRIES MAY CONTACT NORM AT 818-344-8300
BETWEEN 11AM AND 6PM PST MONDAY THRU SATURDAY. GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY
BIDDING.
On Jan-15-02 at 19:56:21 PST, seller added the
following information:
On Jan-15-02 at 20:02:45 PST, seller added the
following information:
Jack Bruce's concept and development of playing the bass as a guitar
in Cream proved to be a watershed in the history of the electric bass,
and it established a new standard of creativity for an entire generation
of bassists. For Bruce, playing the electric bass "like a guitar" was not merely a matter of cranking the volume, flinging out lots of notes and bending strings-although he certainly did those things. He believed that bass lines should be melodic and contrapuntal as well as supportive, and in asserting this concept in Cream he elevated
bassists to a new position of importance in rock bands. The "Jack Bruce
tone" he developed in Cream was far from the smooth, deep tone considered
the "ideal" electric bass sound in 1966. This is one of the reasons Bruce
selected the Gibson EB3 as his primary instrument. The EB3 was the perfect
choice; a short-scale bass with a raw, biting tone (further enhanced with
electric modifications) and light-gauge strings that were easy to bend.
The EB3 bass was also a good visual match for the custom-painted Gibson SG that Eric Clapton often played, and it was about as non-standard as a bass could be in those days. Just holding it made a statement about Bruce's approach to bass
playing.
During his Cream career, Bruce's potent sound was pushed to the foreground
and his contrapuntal approach became bolder. Rather
than outlining chords,he constructed melodic lines that complemented-and
challenged-Clapton's increasingly complex guitar parts. Bruce often used
minor thirds against major chords, which deepened the blues feel on even
the most overtly psychedelic pop tunes. His parts were, quite literally,
becoming more "guitar-like" while still providing a solid
foundation.
The Description of the Gibson EB3 from the 1965-66 Gibson Guitar catalog
"Here is the ultimate in an ultra thin, hand contoured solid body
Gibson Electric Bass. The delicately balanced design automatically adjusts
into a natural, comfortable playing position with or without
a strap.
FEATURES: New extra thin, custom contoured, double cutaway body
design.
Chrome-plated metal parts. New, extra slim, fast, low-action neck
joins body at 17th fret. One-piece Mahogany neck, adjustable
Truss Rod. Rosewood fingerboard, pearl dot inlays. Two powerful
Humbucking pickups for greater tonal range. New four position switch for
versatile tonal response.
New Chrome-plated string damper. Hand brace mounted on pickguard.
Heavy-duty
individual machine heads with metal buttons. 12" wide, 16" long, 1 5/8"
thin; 30" scale, 20 frets. Cherry finish."
Jack Bruce's EB3, serial number 333147 The 4-way switch had an extra
"baritone" setting for the neck pickup. During the 1968 Cream farewell
tour, Jack replaced 3 of the 4 Gibson volume and tone knobs with white
fender knobs. These were switched back to the regular Gibson knobs after
Cream disbanded. Dan Armstrong made electronic modifications by adding a
diode to retain/accentuate the "bumblebee" sound when not being used
though Marshall Stack amplifiers. Bruce used light gauge La Bella brand strings
and together with the shorter scale meant lower string tension that
contributed to Bruce's dexterous fretwork.
In 1984, Jack Bruce traded this EB3 to long time friend and associate
Bruce Gary, formerly of the recording group The Knack.
Bruce had since moved on to using a Warwick fretless bass, which has since
honored him in 1990 by producing 90 Jack Bruce signature limited editions.
This EB3 has been featured in many guitar and artist publications,
including a centerfold presentation in Guitar World (November 1997). The
Gibson EB3 will long be associated with Jack Bruce, and perhaps the
world's most popular guitar riff in "Sunshine Of Your Love" (Written by Jack
Bruce).
"I was trying to play the bass guitar like a guitar, as opposed to a
bass."
-Jack Bruce in BASS PLAYER magazine, 1993.
-Melissa Hamilton.

DAVE LAW WRITES:
i thought that jack's eb-3 was safe and secure at the los angeles hard
rock cafe. in fact i have a picture of it in its glass case.
-Dave Law.

ERNIE TICHENOR WRITES:
Hi All;
I'm just completing "Crazy Fingers," a biography of Jeff Beck. It hit
me several times during the course of my reading what a shame it was that
the two JB's never got together. What a great band the two of them and
Cozy
Powell would have been.
-Ernie Tichenor.

FORWARDED BY MICHAEL ZACCARIA:
Dear Warwick Lover and Jack bruce Fans,
On the eve of the arrival of the stunning new Jack Bruce model Warwick
bass,
we have received great praise for the bass from the man himself.
Below is a copy of the email sent to Warwick founder Hans Peter Wilfer
by Jack Bruce after receiving his signature bass, serial # 2 of 100.
Dear Hans-Peter,
Thank you so much for the bass (002) which arrived safely along with
the Framus Panthera guitar.
I have to say that it is without doubt the finest Warwick you have
ever made for me and I can't wait to "break it in!"
I know that Malcolm will be thrilled with his Pantera (he is coming to
the house tomorrow) and I am sure it will cause quite a stir on the London
scene.
Once again thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the Warwick
anniversary.
Best wishes,
Jack.

For more information on the very limited Jack Bruce
Bass, please visit:
http://www.warwickbass.com/news/24.htm
or email :
E - michael@dominantmusic.com.au
-Michael Zaccaria.

ERNIE TICHENOR WRITES:
The current issue of Vintage Guitar magazine has a new interview with
Jack.
It touches on the basses he has played over the years, Cream, WB&L, BBM,
and
much more. There is also an article on his recently found and sold EB-3.
-Ernie Tichenor.

DREW BEHR WRITES:
I'm still trying to get that Jack Bruce "60 Minutes" segment and will keep
my promise to forward you a free copy when I do get it. I
recently posted to a Led Zeppelin site and said that "The Song Remains The
Same Movie" was good technically, musically speaking, but
lacked the intensity of LedZep's forefathers, Cream, and what nasty
responses I got! Then, a little later, I watched Cream perform "Spoonful"
in
a little ballroom during their 1967 tour on the DVD version of "Fresh LIve
Cream" and reminded myself that I was right. Just magnificent chemistry,
especially Jack matching Eric note for note and paying lead bass as well.
Phenomenal. Nothing Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones could ever match,
chemistry-wise, in my opinion. Nor did John Bonham's sad attempt to equal
Ginger Baker's masterful percussion in Moby Dick-an obvious ripoff of
Toad.
So let's see.....yeah, I am right!
-Best Wishes, Drew Behr.
Reply:
Drew, I can't understand why the Led Zep fans weren't thrilled with your
input! But regarding JACK BRUCE'S segment on 60 Minutes, it was a segment
on
Eric Clapton (not JACK), and apparently the reporter said that Jeff Beck
was
in Cream with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. That's what the stir was all
about. After that a number of us from The Cuicoland Express sent emails to
60 Minutes asking them to do a segment on Jack. But it hasn't
eventuated....yet.
Regards - Marc.