Author Topic: "The bass of Doom" (Read 309 times)

serialnumber12 · « **on:** May 23, 2009, 08:21:22 AM »

Jaco?s 1962 Fender Jazz Bass ?Bass of Doom? Found!

By Chris Jisi

It?s official. We can all set our sights on locating James Jamerson?s long-lost ?62 P-Bass ?Funk Machine,? because the most famous missing bass guitar of all has been found. Jaco Pastorius?s fretless 1962 Fender Jazz ?Bass of Doom? (as he dubbed it) has turned up in New York City, ...

[moderator's edit: copyrighted material]

(Message edited by davehouck on May 23, 2009)

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2009, 08:24:27 AM »

OOPS!!!!

(Message edited by serialnumber12 on May 23, 2009)

serialnumber12 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2009, 08:25:20 AM »

Here's more http://www.bassplayer.com/article/jacos-1962-fender/mar-08/34267

57basstra · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2009, 09:06:18 AM »

Wow, thanks!

white_cloud · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2009, 09:53:15 AM »

I dare anyone here to read this posting by serialnumber12 and belittle the achievements of Leo Fender!

There was an intrigueing thread elsewhere on the club forum about vintage vs new where some members pondered wether or not old Fenders are worth the cash - how much would this axe be worth??

Indeed, has Will Lee, Victor Wootens etc objective collective judgement been clouded by the legend attached to this bass??

I think not, it is what it is - it must be kinda like finding Gandalfs staff!!

John.

David Houck · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2009, 10:48:38 AM »

John; to answer your question, it's not worth anything to me. I have an Alembic. I can certainly understand that others might like to have this bass; but I'm happy with mine, and I have no desire to acquire a Fender.

white_cloud · « **Reply #6 on:** May 23, 2009, 12:10:49 PM »

Apreciate your point Dave and it is well made!

It is your perogative to have no taste or intrigue as to Jacos Fender but I find this an interesting subject as Jaco was arguably one of the greatest exponents of the electric bass. Im sure many of the bass enthusiasts here at the club will however (like me) find this an interesting topic. In fact it is arguably the most famous bass in the world!

I guess to me its just a big deal as Jaco was an important influence.

John.

chrisalembic · « **Reply #7 on:** May 23, 2009, 12:39:18 PM »

I actually love Alembics and Fenders (and maany more basses;-)). I mean they are two different animals for sure, but just as I have a wide taste in music I also have a wide taste in basses.

And talking about vintage instruments. I once played an original 63 Fender Jazz Bass, and to be honest it was one of the best basses I have ever played. Dont ask me why but the feel, resonance and sound were simply amazing. And I am definetely not a guy who likes an intrument just because of the hype, age and mystery connected to it. It has to play, feel and sound great. Thats all. I am sure the Bass of Doom must be an amazing bass!!

Also I have to agree with you John. Jaco is also in my eyes one of the greatest Bass players ever. I guess a lot of people are partial to this because of the tragic and abusive course his life took. Because of this there are videos and recordings where Jaco's playing is really not that amazing, and merely a display of his inner chaos. I can understand when people cant really see Jaco's true genius then. But to those I say check out Havona, Dry Cleaner from des Moines, Port of Entry, Opus Pocus etc. The list goes on... you see I am a Jaco enthusiast:-)

chrisalembic · « **Reply #8 on:** May 23, 2009, 12:42:29 PM »

goodness!!

john_judge · « **Reply #9 on:** May 23, 2009, 01:13:37 PM »

All I can say is An instrument is like a Scepter, each Magician has his own and works his magic according to the need of what power he is trying to achieve from it. Jaco indeed worked his Magic from the Bass of that era. So what if the rules changed, what if Jaco had an Alembic to play back to back against the Fender whould he still be Jaco..yes but would he still be the Jaco that we know? maybe not.
I say this because I have seen people play scales and parts on one Bass in a music store or on stage and struggle and then on another brand and fly through it.

Bottom line, That person just found his scepter that suites the power he is trying to achieve.Thus he produces his or her's Magic on the Bass or instrument of choice.

Give credit where credit is due..but do not Discredit the individual who seeks himself and to do so he must accept change..whether it is a New Bass or the individual doing a new technique instead. Moral of the story is...
There is a little Jaco in all of us but if you own his Bass it doesn't mean you get his Magic along with it..Just inspiration to find your own Magic. peace to all my fellow Bassist

David Houck · « **Reply #10 on:** May 23, 2009, 02:01:41 PM »

John (white cloud); it's not that I don't find it an interesting subject. I do think it's very interesting; I read the entire article. I also have, and have read, Milkowski's Jaco biograph; and I have three Jaco CD's and the Big Band tribute CD, most if not all of the Weather Report stuff, a Joni CD or two, the Metheny CD, a Joni DVD, a Weather Report DVD, the Jaco instructional DVD, probably some stuff I'm forgetting, and a bunch of downloaded mp3's including some of the Live in New York bootlegs. So it's not that I don't think it's interesting; I like Jaco a lot. I like practically everything about his playing. It's just that you were referencing the question of old Fenders being worth the cash; and I have no desire to own Jaco's bass. I love listening to him; I just don't want to sound like him.

white_cloud · « **Reply #11 on:** May 23, 2009, 02:45:05 PM »

Yes, a fascinating thread indeed!

Just to hold the bass that Jaco used as his main axe, the bass that he probably used to compose portrait of tracy and continum - the bass he recorded birdland, a remark you made and havona with - wow, that would do it for me. To think of the magic as the great John Judge beautifully puts it that Jaco created with it, the sweat, blood and tears that this bass witnessed.

To me that is what makes this instrument special. With my own personal spiritual beliefs I have no doubt in my mind that this bass absorbed a lot of Jaco's energy and vibration...quite haunting really!

Dave, I think that all any of us can hope for as musicians is to sound like ourselves - to aspire to sound like Jaco would be to miss the point. To want Jacos bass to simply sound like him would be to miss the point. The desire to own, or even touch his bass however is something different - it would be no different to simply wanting to own or touch one of the late great John Entwhistles Alembic exploiters if you were a big JE fan. I guess when the time comes and Stan Clarke has deceased (hopefully after a very long and healthy life might I add) the same desire/allure will be felt by many towards his Brown bass - of that I am certain! In 30 yrs time the community here may be obsessed with wheres the brown bass?

Lets just be glad that Jacos bass for one has been found!

Peace brothers!

John.

artswork99 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 23, 2009, 04:05:38 PM »

To hold and play any of Stanley Clarke's Alembic basses, whew. A great wish for my bucket list. That's a whole other thread

When you happen to be blessed in knowing the kind of mojo that goes along with a particular instrument that you may be privileged to holding and playing surely sweetens the flavor.

artswork99 · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2009, 04:10:05 PM »

BTW, the Jaco article in Bass Player is dated March 2008.

crobbins · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2009, 07:44:20 PM »

That bass is a piece of musical history. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less..

(Message edited by CRobbins on May 23, 2009)

Author Topic: "The bass of Doom" (Read 309 times)

white_cloud

white_cloud

chrisalembic

chrisalembic

white_cloud