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News, Updates, and Other Things You Might Enjoy

HSBS ExeCATive Management

Meet the Boys

Boone, Commander in Chief

COO Arlo (Cat Obesity Officer)

Chief Inspector Zander

VERY EXCITING NEWS!!!!

Heartland String Bass Shop is getting ready to dip our toes into the waters of Lake Michigan!!!!!

The first phase will begin mid May with a Bass Shuttle service between Chicago and Iowa City!! A lot of details to work out, but there will be a designated drop off spot in Chicago where basses will be picked up, serviced and returned. I will be present when clients pick up their instrument so that minor adjustments and preferences can be addressed on the spot.

If all goes well this summer the goal is to open an additional shop in Chicago this coming Fall.

I’m really excited about this and can’t wait to spend more time with my friends in Chicago!!! It really is a toddlin’ town!

Photos: Legal note

UltraStealth Tailpieces are Trademarked and Patent Pending, C-Horse Endpins are Trademarked and Patent in Progress, Ry’s Comet electric bass guitars and guitars are Trademarked and Patent in Progress, Geneva 1.0 and Geneva 2.0 cellos are Trademarked and Patent in Progress.

I am obligated to take legal action against anyone infringing on my intellectual property rights.

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Basses and Geneva 2.0

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C-Horse Endpin

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HSBS Dedications

Many HSBS basses are dedicated to Chris' family, friends, and other inspirational people. While we don't have images for everyone, we want to introduce you to some of these amazing people.

Descriptions are mostly from my (one of Chris' sisters') point of view.

Callie (HSBS #15) and Swede in their courting days.

Swede's World War II Army photo.

Sam (HSBS #6) and Swede were good pals.

Callie and Swede on their wedding day.

Sam, Swede, Callie and Geneva (HSBS #13) at Callie and Swede's wedding.

Maybe Callie and Sweded anniversary colo

Swede was a very spiritual man, with a quick smile. He was also a whistler (rare talent these days). And, while he loved having friends and family over for dinner, he often napped in his chair after our meal amid the clamor of all the kids.

Swede enjoying a walk with his wife Callie (ahead and on the right) and Callie's sister Kathie.

This is Wally in his younger years.

Nellie (HSBS #14) & William Patrick “Billy” King (HSBS #7) had 5 daughters (Mary Janelle, Callie, Geneva, Kathie and Margie) and one son (Pat). Pat passed away in his Freshman year of high school.
Here's an excerpt from the high school yearbook dedicated to him; "the sparkle of his eye, the kindness of his wit, and the pleasantness of his disposition made him the idol of a large circle of friends.
His deep respect for old age and his thoughtful consideration of others was easily noticed by all who came in contact with him, and leaves his memory cherished.
Gone from the scenes of his joyous youth, we feel that he is with us in spirit for we 'believe in the Communion of Saints.' When we come to pass our final exam before the great Judge, we hope our record may measure up to his."

Jim Hesse was married to Kathie (King) Hesse. He loved to read and he smoked a pipe. He enjoyed sitting in their remodeled basement with Aunt Kathie, a good book, his pipe and an occasional beer. He also loved to travel: he planned their month long European honeymoon and took Billy & Nellie on road trips when they could get away from their farm chores.

Sam and a World War II Army buddy.

Sam at a family gathering. He loved having family over - always telling people 'no need to rush off' - no matter how long they'd been there! He was a hard working Union man with a full time job and a couple part time jobs. One of his part time jobs was delivering groceries for Feeney’s Meat Market. He would sometimes take Chris & me to Feeney’s, a store with sawdust on the floor & a glass display case full of candy. Mr. Feeney would give us each a brown bag which we could fill with our favorite candies. Dad took us for tractor rides on Grandma and Grandpa King’s farm, where he taught me to recognize a sheet of rain in the distance. He was a bit stubborn, arguing with me during an MLB broadcast that the basic unit of play of the game were ‘endings’ while I pointed out the TV screen clearly stated ‘inning’. Our family vacations were spent visiting family in Missouri –Dad often helping with farm chores.

Geneva and Sam in front of the King home on their wedding day.

Sam and Geneva's wedding photo. Geneva's sisters were her attendants (Mary Janelle, Callie, Kathie) and her youngest sister, Margie was flower girl. Sam's favorite brother Jack is to his left, then Swede, and finally, Pat Wheeler, who is Geneva’s first cousin.

Sam and Geneva with their two oldest kids in front of the Wiegand farm house.

Billy King with his little sister. Grandpa was a quiet and gentle man, but apparently was a bit of a rascal as a child. I can’t imagine bad behavior from this wonderful man, but they say he was a handful. He and Nellie were tremendously hard workers. He raised black angus cattle – getting the funds to buy his first herd from the federal government.

Nellie and Billy's 50th wedding anniversary picture.

Geneva is an amazing woman and the best mom. She's smart, witty, and fun. She's an excellent listener and she gives the best hugs. She knows exactly what words to say and actions to take to make our worlds better. She's kind of a terrible singer, but we all look forward to the phone call on our birthdays when she 'sings' happy birthday to us - a tradition she is carrying on from her mom.

Nellie King. Going to church lasted hours because everyone wanted to talk with Nellie. She had a great sense of humor (with some classic sayings we all still use) and while her days were full with chores, she still took the time to make me paper dolls. She loved to travel (Billy came along, but she had the true passion) - and Aunt Kathie and Uncle Jim took them on several road trips. She liked to collect rocks for her rock gardens. She also enjoyed working with her chickens and of course her amazing vegetable garden.

Callie and Geneva were very close. Geneva was 16 when she graduated high school (having taken the first and second grades in one year) and joined Callie in Ft. Madison, IA. They shared an apartment and took a trip to Chicago with some other friends to buy Callie’s wedding dress (which Geneva also wore). In Ft. Madison, Callie was in the pencil department at Sheaffer Pen company, and Geneva, when she turned 17, went to work in the pen department. When Callie got married, she and Swede moved to Davenport, IA and after Sam and Geneva got married, they also moved to Davenport. The young couples had apartments near each other for several years. Callie and Geneva had children of very similar ages, which helped build the bond. Callie was also a fierce supporter of us kids. I remember her defending me to someone when I think I was actually in the wrong, but that didn't matter.

Dr. Obrecht was Chris' bass professor at the University of Iowa.

A young Eldon Obrecht.

Karli is my husband’s youngest daughter. She was killed in a car accident shortly before her 21st birthday. She had a profound positive impact on so many people’s lives, and she had an explosive energy. She lived her short life to the fullest. As her dad said, “If you ever needed someone, Karli was always there”.

Chris visited Bill at Collings Guitars in Austin during the American Muscle Tour of 2017. Bill's bass belongs to the New York Phil and is also known as 'New York Bill'.

Draylen Mason, 17, was killed by the Austin bomber on March 12, 2018. Draylen was a gifted musician who played with classical orchestras as well as mariachi and jazz bands. He was also a phenomenal human being—a sweet, positive person who went out of his way to help others, whether they were friends, teachers, or orchestra mates. His talent was prodigious, his spirit infectious.

Jerry was born in Berlin, Germany to Walter and Annemarie (Cassirer) Loewenberg. After the Nuremberg Laws deprived the family of citizenship, they emigrated to New York City in 1936. He graduated from The Bronx High School of Science in 1945 and continued his education at Cornell University where he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in government.
From 1953-1969, Jerry taught in the department of political science at Mount Holyoke College. In 1969, Jerry, Ina, and their two children moved to Iowa City when he joined The University of Iowa as a professor of political science. He served as department chair and for eight years as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 1992 he returned to teaching until his retirement in 2003. He continued teaching courses at the Iowa City senior Center until 2018.

Please enjoy Chris playing his composition of Blackbird

Have you Heard?

The original motion picture soundtrack to the 2019 Joker movie includes Troy Rinker on HSBS #3 and Dave Romano on HSBS #1.

Brendan Kane (HSBS #10) and Troy Rinker (HSBS #3) play on the original motion picture soundtrack to the Coen Brothers' 2010 True Grit remake.

Troy Rinker (HSBS#3) and Dave Roman0 (HSBS #1) played with Billy Joel in the last concert in Shea Stadium.

Dave Romano played HSBS #1 on tour with Barbra Streisand.

HSBS Scrapbook

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra performed live indoors for an audience April 16, 2021, something that has not been possible for 400 days.

Always a thrill to see an HSBS bass in action. Here we have Rion Wentworth of the New York Philharmonic with HSBS #30. Rion and #30 are on the left. So good to see them playing again.

Brendan Kane (HSBS #10) and Dave Romano (HSBS #1) at the Met

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Andrew Keller wins Utah Symphony audition on HSBS #11

Steve Metcalf (on the right), Principal of Colorado Symphony plays again at Red Rocks on HSBS #14.

Dave Romano (HSBS #1) and Brad Aikman (HSBS #39) at the Met in 2019

15, 8, 33, 41 at Boettcher Concert Hall.

Four HSBS basses at Boettcher Concert Hall. Left to Right, Steve Metcalf (HSBS #15), Jeremy Kincaid (HSBS #8), David Crow (HSBS #33) and Chris Threlkeld-Wiegand with HSBS #41).

Sayuri Yamamoto of the Hawaii Symphony with HSBS #41 and Joe McFadden of Atlanta Symphony with HSBS #12

Kansas City Symphony, Led Zeppelin Tribute with HSBS #6 and HSBS #29

Three HSBS basses (HSBS #30, HSBS #27, HSBS #21) in the New York Philharmonic.

Matt Frishman playing HSBS #27 at the new Minnesota Vikings stadium for the half-time show.

Jeff Kail (HSBS #46) playing during a World Series game for the Kansas City Royals in 2015.