Reverb, the world’s largest music gear marketplace, has announced that Juan Alderete — Grammy-winning bassist known for his work with The Mars Volta, Racer X, and a laundry list of genre-bending collaborators — will be opening his official Reverb Shop on July 16.
Alderete will be parting with over 700 pieces of gear used throughout his expansive career, spanning decades of groundbreaking studio sessions and world tours. From custom pedals to artist-model basses, this collection is a goldmine for players, collectors, and tone nerds alike.
Alderete first made waves as co-founder of Racer X, the heavy metal band he formed with shred legend Paul Gilbert after they met at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood. The band found success with its debut Street Lethal in 1986, laying the foundation for Alderete’s relentless and experimental approach to bass.
In 2003, Alderete joined The Mars Volta, where he spent the next decade helping define the band’s volatile, genre-defying sound. His time with the group culminated in a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 2008, awarded for the chaotic and powerful single “Wax Simulacra.”
Since then, Alderete has lent his low-end brilliance to a wide range of artists from Juliette Lewis, Deltron 3030, and Mac Miller to the late Lil Peep, Domo Genesis, and his recent collaboration thegoodnews with Del The Funky Homosapian. Now, Alderete is ready to pass on his vast arsenal of tools to the next generation of boundary-pushing players.
“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.
Among the standout listings in the Official Juan Alderete Reverb Shop:
- Lakland Daryl Jones Signature bass, used on The Bedlam in Goliath by The Mars Volta. “I bought this Lakland bass at the Mesa Boogie store in Hollywood because I thought it sounded like David Wm. Sims’ bass in The Jesus Lizard,” Alderete said.
- Fender Custom Shop bass featuring an Oakland Raiders graphic—a one-of-a-kind nod to his West Coast roots.
- Boss Custom Juan Vibrato with a Mexican Flag decal, used extensively during tours with The Mars Volta.
- A Mr. Black Fwonk Beta prototype, described by Alderete as a “super funky envelope filter” in a rare chrome finish.
- A Mutron Micro V, which Alderete used on tour with Deltron 3030 and Dr. Octagon. “A lot of other companies tried to match what this envelope filter does. It’s very simple.”
- A Wren & Cuff custom distortion pedal built exclusively for Alderete and never released to the public.
The Official Juan Alderete Reverb Shop opens July 16 at reverb.com. Check it out here.
