Happy New Year!

Well, time flies. New Years Eve again. This year, I'll be appearing at one of Memphis' greatest music venues, Neil's. I'll be working with Victor Wainwright, The Victor Wainwright Blues & Boogie Revue, and appearing with Victor will be none other than Reba Russell. Reba and Victor on the same stage...this will be an amazing show!
If you're in or around the Memphis area this coming New Years Eve, this will be the show you won't want to miss. Neil's is located at 1835 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone Number: (901) 278-6345, call for ticket information and reservations.

The Barker "Leo Goff Special # 001" Is completed!

The collaborative effort in what I would like to have in my latest Barker Bass, and Lee’s suggestions in what could be done to enhance and improve my original concept, has resulted in what I think is a very cool piece of work.

After using my B1 fretted for some time, I thought I would really like to have a Fretless Barker too. My main fretless has been a Zon Legacy Elite, and most of the music I play suits a fretless very well. In conversations I had with Lee, I asked him if he would consider building a special bass, using some ideas I have had on my mind for a while. He thought the project would be viable, so the idea worked into reality.

Lee felt the B1 would be the jumping off point. My concept was to use a p-bass pickup, and a j-bass pickup, with the j-bass pickup in the bridge position. I wanted to use concentric pots for volume and tone, like the early Fender Jazz Bass. I wanted to use a fretless Bulbinga neck, with an Ebony fret board.

There were several reasons I wanted to use the Bulbinga / Ebony neck configuration. Bulbinga, when used as a neck material, produces a bright midrange, and a thick, well defined bottom. All Barker Basses are noted for their big, round articulate sound. I was curious to hear what the Special would sound like with the Bulbinga / Ebony neck combination in a fretless version.

P- Bass pickups are noted for their big, full, and round tone. Jazz pickups in the bridge position give even tone, great articulation, and snap…which comes in handy for solos. The concentric tone / volume pots make a lot of blending combinations possible, and I like their clean appearance. Lee suggested using Nordstrand pickups, and I agreed.

So that’s how this whole “Leo Goff Special” Barker Bass thing got started. It’s on its way from Lee now, and I’m very excited to start working with it. I'll keep posting my comments here.

Victor Wainwright Blues & Boogie Revue at The Fayette County Cotton & Music Fest

TheVictor Wainwright Blues & Boogie Revue will be performing on the Main Stage, Saturday, Oct. 13th, at The Fayette County Cotton & Music Fest, in Somerville Tn. at 4:30. Come out for a day of fun and music, just minutes from Memphis.

The Blues Healers at The Fayette County Cotton & Music Fest

The Blues Healers will be performing on the Main Stage, Saturday, Oct. 13th, at The Fayette County Cotton & Music Fest, in Somerville Tn. at 12 noon. Come out for a day of fun and music, just minutes from Memphis.

Heartsong Summer Concert Series, The Victor Wainwright Blues & Boogie Review.




With Kenny Neal, The Rum Boogie Blues Club, Beale St.

The new website is now up. I'll be posting news about shows, and the latest pictures here.