Base

Today is the day I am going to learn to play the bass.  Why is it pronounced as 
the name of a fish and/or not spelled  "base" I do not know.  Do you remember 
the singing wide mouth bass that was mounted on walls years ago.  It sang 
something like la la la be happy ......

Why was it a singing bass and not a singing base? Or should the instrument bass 
be singing or playing like a player piano?

Until I get the answer to my questions, learning to play will have to wait 
another day.