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

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 16^th-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.

Fuzz Bass Classics

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!

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.

At What Age Can a Child Start Learning to Play the Bass?

A lot of children imagine themselves to be future rock stars, but before they can grow up to sell out venues, they have to put in the days, weeks, and years of practice to master their chosen instruments. While a lot of children gravitate toward the guitar, keyboard, or drums, there are many who enjoy the smooth, deep sounds of the bass. Consider letting your child learn bass from a young age.

The Size of the Guitar

Most bass guitars are made for adults or teens at the earliest, but there are actually smaller-sized models made for children and smaller people in mind. If you find the right guitar, your child can start learning. An expert can help you size the guitar to the child.

Starting Very Young

If music is an important part of your family, it wouldn’t be unheard of to teach a child as young as 4 to play. Most children aren’t ready at this age, but if they’ve expressed any interest in learning to play a stringed instrument, the bass, which doesn’t usually require complex melodies, may be the perfect place to start. If your child has a good attention span and you’re willing to supervise him as he plays, preschool bass playing is possible.

Starting Slightly Older

If no one in your family plays or you simply don’t have the patience and time to supervise a child playing, you might want to wait until your child is around 9 or 10. Sign her up for classes and make sure she sticks to her practice schedule.

Talk to the bass experts at Bass Central about finding the right size bass for your small child, and whether or not your child is ready to learn. A lot depends on the attention span and drive of the child, but in general, any child is ready by the age of 10. Give your child the gift of music by buying her a bass guitar.

The Great Bass Players of David Bowie

The legendary David Bowie has passed, but fortunately we have years and years of great music that we can enjoy from this amazing artist. As a tribute to the Thin White Duke, we have put together a small list of some of Bowie’s best bass players. 

• Gail Ann Dorsey – From 1995 until his death, Dorsey laid down the bottom end on Bowie’s albums and in his live band. She was known for taking the Freddy Mercury parts when they performed the legendary single, “Under Pressure.”
• Trevor Bolder – One of the Spiders from Mars, Bolder is one of the most important bass players Bowie ever had. He performed on the albums The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Hunky Dory, and Aladdin Sane, paving the way for Punk. After his time with Bowie, Trevor Bolder performed for many years with Uriah Heap. Bolder passed away in 2013.
• George Murray – During Bowie’s Berlin period, his band typically consisted of Carlos Alomar on guitar, Dennis Davis on drums, and George Murray on bass. His performances can be heard on Stations to Station, Low, and “Heroes,” as well as Iggy Pop’s The Idiot, which was produced by Bowie.

Whether you are paying tribute to Bowie or are just interested in rocking in your own personal way, Bass Central has the items you need. From high-end bass guitars to some of the best bass amps on the planet, our business always takes care of your bass needs.