Grammy-winning bassist opens official Reverb shop July 16
Renowned bassist Juan Alderete is preparing to open his personal gear archive to the public. Beginning July 16, more than 700 bass guitars, effects pedals, and amplifiers will be available through the Official Juan Alderete Reverb Shop.
The sale is hosted by Reverb, the largest online marketplace for new, used, and vintage music gear. Alderete’s collection spans decades of studio and live work across multiple genres. Each piece carries a history tied to his extensive collaborations and touring career.
“All this gear should be in the hands of creative musicians who want to do what [the gear] is designed to do: make beautiful music,” said Alderete.
A Cross-Genre Career
Alderete’s career began in the mid-1980s, after he met guitarist Paul Gilbert at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. The pair co-founded the metal band Racer X, releasing their debut album Street Lethal in 1986.
He later joined The Mars Volta in 2003, contributing to several of the band’s most celebrated albums. His performance on “Wax Simulacra” earned a Grammy Award in 2008 for Best Hard Rock Performance.
Outside of his work with The Mars Volta, Alderete has collaborated with artists including Lil Peep, Juliette Lewis, Deltron 3030, Mac Miller, Domo Genesis, Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith), and One Day as a Lion. Most recently, he has teamed up with Del the Funky Homosapien for a new project titled thegoodnews.
Highlights from the Reverb Collection
Alderete’s Reverb shop will feature a broad range of gear used in both recording sessions and live performances. Notable items include:
- Lakland Daryl Jones Signature Bass – Played on The Bedlam in Goliath by The Mars Volta. Purchased at the Mesa Boogie store in Hollywood, inspired by David Wm. Sims’ tone in The Jesus Lizard.
- Fender Custom Shop Bass – Featuring a custom Oakland Raiders graphic.
- Boss Custom Juan Vibrato Pedal – Decorated with a Mexican flag decal, used extensively on Mars Volta tours.
- Mr. Black Fwonk Beta Prototype – A chrome-cased envelope filter Alderete described as “super funky.”
- Mutron Micro V – Used live with Deltron 3030 and Dr. Octagon. Alderete noted, “A lot of other companies tried to match what this envelope filter does. It’s very simple.”
- Wren & Cuff Distortion Pedal – A custom-built unit that was never commercially released.
Reverb Hosts Exclusive Artist Shops
Reverb regularly partners with artists to offer curated sales of tour-used gear, custom builds, and rare instruments. The Juan Alderete Reverb Shop stands out in scale and variety, with over 700 listings tied to major records and performances.
Interested buyers can preview the full selection ahead of the July 16 launch at Reverb’s official preview page.
About Reverb
Reverb is the largest online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling new, used, and vintage music gear. The platform connects musicians and collectors to independent sellers, retailers, and artist-curated shops worldwide.
About Juan Alderete
Juan Alderete is a Grammy Award-winning bassist known for his work with Racer X, The Mars Volta, Deltron 3030, and numerous collaborative projects across rock, hip-hop, and experimental music.
