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Myrtle the Double Bass

Contributed by The Devon Show

Myrtle the Double Bass

"Myrtle" is a double bass who has seen the world and travelled extensively. She is over seventy years old, worthless but priceless and very simply made of plywood in the Czech Republic. She is very battered and held together with masking tape and according to her present owner Terry Pearson lots of luck. She has travelled extensively with many bands and has stickers to prove it. One of her claims to fame is that when the musician Peter Chopin was playing with the 'Skinners Rats' in a folk club in Kent he fell off the stage taking Myrtle and the band with him. They all landed in the front row of the audience. 'Myrtle's" battered condition always makes customs officials suspicious and there are lengthy delays getting in and out of countries. "Myrtle" is now part of the Tanglefoot Appalition cloggers. She has caused many problems because of her size. She's been stored in ladies lavatories and left on harbour walls when the pubs have been too full to take her. She has played the Marseillaise at the request of the Mayor outside Reims Catherdral and she has has also appeared before Princess Margaret. Terry acquired her in the 1970's when an irate man threatened to burn her.

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