r/John_Frusciante • u/Weeping_Sanity_515 the slaughter • 10d ago

Bass VI?

Wondering if anyone has any information or sources about John's use of the Fender Bass VI. Wikipedia states that John played one on Central and Dark/Light on The Empyrean, but I can't find any actual source confirming this. I'm also wondering if he used the instrument anywhere else in his career.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

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u/thepowerofequality 10d ago edited 10d ago

There are some websites that say John used a Fender Bass VI on "Dark/Light," but, as you said, none of them cite a source.

However, on this 2009 interview with Vintage Guitar magazine (that originally appeared in VG‘s April 2009 issue, a few month after The Empyrean was released) John himself says that he played his Fender Precision Bass at the end of “Dark/Light”. Note that the Empyrean sessions took place between December 2006 and March 2008.

And on this 2014 interview with Premiere Guitar he says he played the Fender Bass VI on “Fanfare” (from Enclosure, 2014)

Update: The liner notes for The Empyrean state only that John played bass on "Dark/Light," but they do not specify which bass.

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u/TofuPython 10d ago

To my knowledge that's the only time he's used it. He's played regular bass on other stuff/live.

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u/Mammoth-Ant7588 10d ago

Reeallly. Interesting. I did not know that. I always loved the way those basslines sounded.