Are they available in stores? Sometimes... 12-string basses aren't exactly high in demand, so neither is the supply. Matter of fact, I'm uncertain as to whether Hamer is still currently in production of them, or if they've been discontinued - although Hamer isn't the only manufacturer of 12-string basses anymore. But aside from having it custom built, finding one is usually a case of stumbling upon one at a music store. Most of the time, though, I see them mostly at used music stores. Both of Jeff's were custom made - the first in approximately 1990, and the second more recently in 1995. The second 12-string was built with a partial hollow body cavity and given a piezo bridge-saddle pickup in addition to its electro-magnetic pickups, much like the design and function of Hamer's Duo-Tone acoustic/electric guitar. The theory was the same too - that it would be cool to achieve both an electric tone as well as an acoustic tone from the same instrument - but unfortunately, the bass didn't seem to achieve as much of the acoustical properties as Jeff had hoped. All was not lost, however, as the electric tone was great and the style was a nice aesthetic change from his original 12-string bass.

Q: I am completely in love with the Carruther's Sub-1 upright that Jeff uses, and I was wondering if you could tell me how I could obtain one. I have looked everywhere, and I can't find anything about it. Please help me, thank you!

Carruthers' Guitars
346 Sunset Avenue
Venice, CA. 90291
U.S.A.

Q: Hello!!! I am writing from Florianopolis/Brazil. Well, I want to know something about Jeff's basses. In the "Even Flow" video he plays with one and I didn't know what it was. It appears on the cover of "Temple of the Dog" album too. I took the pictures into some stores here, and the guys couldn't help me. They said it was an exclusive one. So, I want to know every detail about that bass, if it's possible.

A: Your local music store guys are correct... it is an exclusive bass. That particular bass was Jeff's first fretless bass. He got it in (approx.) 1988 while he and Stone where still playing in Mother Love Bone. It's kinda hard to describe because it wasn't made by any one manufacturer. The body and neck were made by Warmoth, a Washington State guitar parts manufacturer; the body is made from Alder and was stained (wood stain) by someone (maybe Jeff?); the neck is a bolt-on, satin finished, headstock stained; the fretboard made of Ebony with fret lines (for beginners, ya know). The pickups and electronics are Bartolini (P-bass/jazz pickup configuration). Tuners are generic Fender style, and the bridge is something, I don't know. As far as I know, the assembly - and any modifications over the years - were done by Mike Lull, owner/luthier/builder of the Guitar Works in Seattle. Mike Lull has always - and I mean ALWAYS, like since the MLB days - done repairs/modifications/custom builds for all the guys in PJ. You can check him out at www.mikelull.com.

Jeff used that fretless for recording during the MLB "Apple" record, the Temple of the Dog record, and for good parts of PJ's "Ten" and "Vs." recordings. A little known fact is that Jeff recorded most of the songs on "Ten" with that bass, including "Alive." That's right, fretless! Additionally, that bass was his only touring fretless for a few years until he discovered the Wal fretless bass, made in England. Now he owns, records, and tours with the Wals (he has two) and the old original fretless stays home in its case.

Q: What bass does Jeff use in Ten and Vs? And what amp? What bass does he use in the Even Flow video?

A: I don't know that anyone remembers precisely what basses and amps Jeff used during the recordings of "Ten" and "Vs." - especially during "Vs." There were so many choices available to him and I know he used more than just one. As far as the Even Flow video bass..... see the above question.

Q: Does Jeff Ament own a headless Steinberger bass?

A: Negative. Ed owns a guitar, though.

A: For a more detailed response to this question, please view the Signal Flow Diagram. But in short, Jeff is currently using a variety of amps: a 1968 Ampeg B-18; '73 Ampeg SVT I; '70 Acoustic 360 pre-amp; '96 Ampeg SVP Pro pre-amp; and a reissue Ampeg B-15.

The speaker cabinets look like old Fender Showman 2x15" cabs, but are really new swr 6x10"s designed to have that old Fender style. What most musicians don't know is that the SWR 6x10 cabinet was actually Jeff's idea which he approached SWR with in 1995. The four blonde 6x10's Jeff owns were the very first 6x10's SWR ever made and, at Jeff's request, were intentionally covered in blonde tolex and given tweed grillcloth to have that vintage Fender look. They're the only blonde SWR 6x10's in existence. Since then, SWR has gone into production of the 6x10 cab - in their traditional black carpet and metal grill cover - and anyone can purchase one at their local music store.

Q: Also, I read on the bass tablature for Alive that I downloaded you need a special type of amp to get some of the notes to sound right. Is the guy that wrote that tab wrong or what???

A: The guy is who wrote that is sniffing glue!! An amplifier only amplifies what comes from the instrument itself. If you play the correct notes and rhythm, it will sound "right" - regardless of the amp you are using.

Tech Guru Tip: For helpful hints regarding tube amplifier maintenance and servicing, please visit our friend, Sal Trentino, at http://trentino.best.vwh.net/. Sal has 35 years of experience working with tube amplifiers and electronics, and for the past 27 years has been Neil Young's amp technician. Over that same span, he has also regularly serviced the amplifiers of Carlos Santana, amongst others. Pearl Jam is fortunate that during the recording of "vs." in 1993, we were introduced to Sal and he has been our primary amplifier technician since 1994. Please, however, direct any questions you have concerning Pearl Jam's amplifiers to the Rumor Pit only.

Q: Do you know if any PJ members used an Ibanez FL-303 flanger pedal on a tour a few years back? A guitar dealer is trying to convince me that the band used the effect he has.

A: I do know and the answer is NO. None of the PJ members have ever used an Ibanez FL-303 flanger.

Note: Please do not ever buy any piece of musical equipment 96 guitars, basses, amps, speaker cabinets, effect pedals, drums, keyboards, etc. said to have belonged to or used by Pearl Jam without first receiving some sort of proper authentication. Non-authenticated sales of such equipment only result in you being misled and paying higher prices than the actual market value would otherwise dictate. With the exception of only a few extremely limited occasions during their nine-year career, Pearl Jam has never been in the practice of selling their musical equipment. At this point in time (while they are still successful and collectively making music), there is really no need or point for PJ to be "unloading" unwanted equipment. If you ever question someone selling musical equipment said to have been used by Pearl Jam, please email the Rumor Pit and I'll be more than happy to validate it for you.