Thursday, March 31, 2016

Play Your Own ‘Bass of Doom’ with Fender’s Custom Shop Jaco Pastorius Tribute Fretless Bass



Fretless Bass | BassCentral.com
Jaco Pastorius is one of the most influential bass players of all-time. Many other bass players have modeled their own playing after Jaco’s. His signature style incorporated Latin-influenced 16th-note funk, jazz and R&B. He was known for incredible technique and soloing on his fretless bass, use of bass chords, and advanced understanding of harmonies. Jaco’s go to bass was a 1962 Fretless Fender Jazz Bass that he referred to as the Bass of Doom. This bass can be seen in most pictures of Jaco playing from the early 1970s through the end of his career.

Now Fender has built a Custom Shop replica of Jaco Pastorius’ Bass of Doom that you can purchase for your own collection. This fretless bass even has the wear of Jaco’s bass replicated in the finish. You can feel like Jaco and with enough practice, hopefully sound like him too with this beautiful distressed 3-tone sunburst Jazz Bass recreation.

If you haven’t heard of Jaco Pastorius before, he has probably influenced you indirectly as a bass player as bass legends like Les Claypool, Flea and Bootsy Collins have all cited Jaco Pastorius as an influence in their own playing. They are just a small sample of a larger group of bass players that have been inspired by his playing. Along with this fretless bass, Bass Central carries a great selection of fretless basses to choose from. Visit BassCentral.com today to browse our selection of basses to help you become the next legendary bass player.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Fuzz Bass Classics



Fuzz Bass | Bass Guitars | BassCentral.com
Popularized in the 60s and 70s, fuzz bass or distorted and overdriven bass effects are still used today. Early on these effects were often created by overdriving signals directly on the amplifiers. Some players have even cited blown out speakers as a way of creating fuzz sounds. There are many companies now, who have created fuzz pedals for bass guitars to recreate the bass tones heard on famous tracks from bands such as Cream, The Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy and Motörhead. Here are some popular tracks from the 60s and 70s that utilize a fuzz bass sound.


  • 1962 – Roy Orbison – “Lana”
  • 1965 – Q65 – “I’m A Man”
  • 1966 - The Rolling Stones – “Under My Thumb”
  • 1967 – Cream – “Strange Brew”
  • 1968 – The Doors – “Hello, I Love You”
  • 1969 – Norman Greenbaum – “Spirit in the Sky”
  • 1970 – Black Sabbath – “Sweet Leaf”
  • 1973 – King Crimson – “Easy Money”
  • 1974 – Frank Zappa – “Apostrophe”
  • 1976 – Thin Lizzy – “Jailbreak”
  • 1979 – Motörhead – “Bomber”

The EBS Fuzzmo, EHX Bass Big Muff, and MXR Fuzz Deluxe are just some of the options Bass Central carries for Fuzz effects pedals. We have also have a great selection of distortion, overdrive and other effects pedals, bass guitars, bass amps, and more. Visit BassCentral.com to get the right equipment to build your own sound today!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

3 Reasons to Buy Used Electric Bass Guitars



Whether you’re part of an up-and-coming indie band or you simply want to jam with friends in your garage, as the bassist, you need a bass guitar to call your own. No more rentals, no more borrowing from friends — bond with your own guitar through every show and rehearsal. When it comes to doing the shopping, deciding between a brand new and a used bass guitar may be difficult, but there are surprisingly compelling reasons to buy a used model.

They Cost Less

Most used electric bass guitars cost significantly less than the brand-new models, so if money is an issue, it makes sense to start your shopping with the more affordable models. You can save hundreds or even thousands in some instances by selecting a used model.

They’re in Great Shape

The best bass guitar sellers make sure that every model they buy for resale is in premium condition — or they fix them up to be in the best possible shape before they put them up for sale. Most of these guitars would never make you think they’d ever been played before.

Rare Models

Not every model of bass guitar is manufactured for years and years to come. In fact, many retire after only a year or two. The easiest way to get your hands on a rare model that’s no longer being made is to buy a used model. Add some classic aesthetic to your band by picking an older design.
Ask a Bass Central expert for assistance in selecting the best bass guitar for your needs. There’s nothing wrong with choosing a new model if that’s what you’d prefer, but don’t refuse to consider buying a used model before you even look at the used models in stock. The bass most attuned to you could be among them.