Bakithi Kumalo's fretless Washburn bass through the years

Some clips of Paul Simon's bass player Bakithi Kumalo

[@dinogovender5133]

What an inspiration playing a fretless bass .that sound I'm really proud as a South African. Watching these guys on stage

[@etpslick100]

Wow! I NEVER heard of Washburn period until I saw the Graceland Concert on TV. Bakithi had a sound unlike anybody back then. That sound and his playing was so emotional; made me look @ Fretless a whole lot differently. Love that album TO THIS VERY DAY!😌🎶🎸❤️👍🏾

[@willmandell2656]

What is so awesome to me is that it appears effortless.. Although I doubt I can play like him ... I'm inspired to try.

[@PinetopJackson]

Haha, yeah usually when people like that inspire me, they make it look so easy until I actually try, realize wow this is really hard, and give up too soon 😆 If you don't give up though, just keep struggling through the uncomfortable suckiness, eventually you find yourself at a point where you can enjoy it, even if you're not near as good as your hero

[@texonbass7598]

A few years back, Bakithi did a Bass Clinic at Groth Music in Minnesota. I was working there at that time. The guy was GREAT & Gracious! He did an excellent Clinic. Exceptional advice on practicing... On working well with others in a band, as well as all kinds of technical advice & life advice for musicians... Afterwards, he was more than generous with his time.. He stayed way late, & met & talked to all the peeps whom had attended. What a Pro!

[@sokshakshikse6583]

This soul just doesn't know the influence his music had on me as a child growing up in the 80's. God bless you Bakithi, great content!

[@BorisPopovic-bb2gy]

Beautiful!! 🙌🏼

[@samuelnerick]

Somebody have a link of the concert of the beginning?

[@arrell]

It's the 1987 African concert kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpyafnaseK2Bh6M

[@jimleveilleur2510]

sound comes from the fingers ! you can give any kind of bass, it will sound good ! the same for richard bona that i played with for months ! he had the same sound with a 400 dollars bass than with his fodera

[@salkdhfpoahergpoahre1534]

Met him at a Namm show and he signed my badge. cool dude!

[@soeffingwhat]

When I got into bass in 1988 I saw the Graceland concert, and couldn't figure out how his bass, his Washburn sounded so different for the different songs. I know now of course that the bridge pickup is so close to the Bridge which is why its so trebly and nasally sounding when its turned up and the P-pickup is turned down, especially duing the Boy in the bubble, and during You cn call me Al he has both Pickups turned up full. I remember too that for that show he played a pink Fender JB special. A certain white coloured version of that would become synonimous with Duff McKagan from Guns n Roses.

[@musicxtn]

Anyone know what Washburn model this Bass is? It appears to be so rare!!

[@34hedgehog]

Washburn B-40

[@kidjudge2428]

@@34hedgehog Thx. Did they make B-40 in Fretless? I thought B-40 was Fretted. Not B-20?