The Beast

Many years ago in a far-off place, a young lad stalked a Beast.

Ok, it wasn't a far-off place. It was at Sam Ash Music. But still, he stalked it and hunted it. He pursued it relentlessly until it had nowhere else to go.

The kindly salesman was used to seeing the young lad enter the store with stars in his eyes. Each time he did, the kindly salesman would answer his questions, bring in a cord, and let him turn it on.







Finally, the day arrived that would change the sound at the Sandbar for years to come. The young lad once again walked into Sam Ash, once again asked all the questions he already knew the answers to, and once again plugged in the cord.

"Shall I put it away now?" asked the kindly salesman when he was finished.

"Not today!" replied the young lad.

Finally, after two years of saving birthday money, Christmas money, and coin from the occasional odd job, the young lad had enough to purchase not only the 700 watt amp head, but the 800 watt cabinet.

"You gotta respect a man who buys his own equipment," the kindly salesman remarked. "Got nothing but respect for a kid who doesn't let Mommy or Daddy get it for him."

After receiving the sales slip from the kindly salesman, the young man walked up to the pay counter and made the purchase. Without really looking at the receipt, the clerk automatically asked, "Would you like a bag for that?"

Without blinking or hesitation, the young lad replied, "Yes, please."
The clerk finally realized the joke was on her and laughed. All were smiling at Sam Ash that day! Perhaps some of them wondered if the young lad would return, now that he'd accomplished his goal.

Proudly, the young man and his family hauled the Beast home. He plugged it in and turned it on. With his entire family sitting on the couch, he hit the E string of his bass guitar.

His family thrilled at the vibration and cheered! It was better than a ride at Disney!

For the next four years, the Beast was part of the family. It showed up at every event in the young man's home.
It attended his sister's eleventh birthday.


It listened attentively to Spanish II with profesora Sarita.

In fact, there are few home pictures without the Beast in them. There were even times when it held flowers, notebooks, bags, and the occasional sweater that was air drying.

Its most important job, however, was making the cups dance in the cupboard.
Some amazing sounds have come out of this Beast!

Now, however, since the Truth has arrived and the other bass player has his own beast, it's time for this Beast to go and rock other homes. There's a guy coming over tonight to check it out.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to handle an amp-free decor but I might, I just might, rearrange the cups in the hutch. Or, in tribute to the Beast, I may leave them as they are.