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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

Congratulations to Luke Rogers

Luke joins the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. He won his audition on HSBS #45! Big Congratulations to Luke!

HSBS #51 News!

Welcome Justin Smith, Julliard, to the Threlkeldian family. Justin is the new owner of HSBS #51.

C-Horse Endpin update

We're excited to share our most recent C-Horse review from our first cellist. And I quote... "It's Strad-like!"

Read the whole review here:

C-Horse Testimonials

Leigh Mesh provides UltraStealth Tailpiece comparison

Check out our Tailpieces Reviews page to hear Leigh Mesh of the Metropolitan Opera play an UltraStealth on his Old Italian bass.

UltraStealth Testimonials

UltraStealth Tailpieces are Trademarked and Patent Pending.

HSBS Scrapbook

Luke Rogers and HSBS #45 (on the left) joining fellow Threlkeldian Justin Kujawski (on the right with HSBS #50), Principal, Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. Luke won his audition on HSBS #45.

Four of the five basses in the Apex Ensemble in NYC are HSBS basses.
From left to right: Dante Ascarrunz owns #44, third from left is Mark Lillie who owns #32, fourth from left is Zach Marzulli who owns #47 and far right is the one, the only Brendan Kane who owns #10!
So honored to know these amazing musicians.

Richard Edwards playing HSBS #38 with the Chicago Symphony (HSBS #38 is owned by Steve Lester of the Chicago Symphony). #38 looks very good on Richard!

An UltraStealth on TV! Thomas B. Harte (on the right) performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden! Pictured is Thomas with his bass and an HSBS Bocote UltraStealth tailpiece. UltraStealth tailpieces are Trademarked and Patent Pending.

Luke Rogers with HSBS #45 performs the Prokofiev Quintent at SMU. Great job Luke!

Steve Metcalf, principal of the Colorado Symphony plays HSBS #14 in the Tubin’s Concerto for Double Bass performance from the weekend of December 4, 2021.

Pictured from left to right: Bradley Aikman: Metropolitan Opera, American Ballet, and Albany Symphony with my 39th bass, Dante Ascarrunz: Manhattan School of Music, with my 44th bass and Brendan Kane with my 10th bass… all playing with The Apex Ensemble this week!!

On stage at Disney Hall in LA. On the left, Brian Johnson of the LA Phil and on the right, Jeff Kail principal of the Kansas City Symphony. Jeff owns and is pitcured with my 6th bass dedicated to my dad, James B Wiegand.

Three HSBS basses in the Utah Symphony! From left to right: Andrew Keller with HSBS #11 dedicated to Chris’ niece, Elizabeth Wiegand, Jeffrey Kail with HSBS #6 dedicated to Chris’ dad, James B Wiegand and Jens Tenbroek with HSBS #7, dedicated to Chris’ maternal grandfather, William Patrick King.

Brendan Kane of the Metropolitan Opera with his HSBS #10 at Carnegie Hall. Brendan won both his Vancouver Symphony and Metropolitan Opera jobs on HSBS #10.

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Brendan Kane at Carnegie Hall with HSBS #28. HSBS #28 can be strung as a 4 string or a 5 string.

On the right is Joe McFadden, Principal of the Atlanta Symphony with his HSBS #12. HSBS #12 also has an African Blackwood UltraStealth Tailpiece.

Three UltraStealth Tailpieces at Disney Hall with the LA Philharmonic! Left to right are; Ted Botsford, David Allen Moore, and Jory Herman.

Ken Vork with HSBS #48 and the Bismarck Symphony.

Rion Wentworth, Blake Hinson, and Isaac Trapkus played on the new recording of John Williams' cello concerto with Yo-Yo Ma and the New York Philharmonic.
Half the bass section was HSBS!

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Four UltraStealth tailpieces and two HSBS basses at the Metropolitan Opera. Left to right: Leigh Mesh, Dan Kreckler, Brendan Kane with HSBS #10 and Dave Romano with HSBS #1.

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Jeff Kail, principal of the Kansas City Symphony with HSBS #6 and Joe McFadden, principal of the Atlanta Symphony with HSBS #12 at the Grand Teton Music Festival.

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.

Have you Heard?

Rion Wentworth, Blake Hinson, and Isaac Trapkus played HSBS basses on the new recording of John Williams' cello concerto with Yo-Yo Ma and the New York Philharmonic.

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 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.

Please enjoy Chris playing his composition of Blackbird

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.

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.

C-Horse Endpins are Trademarked and Patent Pending.

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News, Updates, and Other Things You Might Enjoy