If you find yourself at one of Rise Against's packed shows and feel your bones rattling from that low-end pummel rushing you at 140 BPM, you have Joe Principe to thank (and you should thank him). As the bassist and co-founder of the Chicago punk legends, Joe's spent over 20 years recording albums, playing festival stages, and honing his sound. Now, he's come to Reverb, where he's putting two decades' worth of gear up for grabs.
Almost 80 basses, amps, effects and more are on sale now in The Official Joe Principe of Rise Against Reverb Shop. Below, we're taking a closer look at five pieces of primo gear that will disappear faster than the Bears' chances of making a playoff appearance.
Fender Tony Franklin Fretted Precision Bass
While the original fretless model was made for the Englishman to jam alongside the likes of Jimmy Page and Kate Bush, this particular fretted model sporting BassLine pups and a pro-sanded neck served Joe well in the recording of Rise Against's sixth studio album Endgame. Finished in a now-discontinued Olympic White, this P Bass was the muscle behind "Help is on the Way," the group's first song to reach the Billboard Hot 100.
Fender P Bass American '57 Reissue US Vintage Series
For longtime fans, there's a good chance you've both heard and seen this bass in action. Used by Joe during the recording of The Sufferer & the Witness and the tour following the album's 2006 release, this '57 Reissue Precision Bass in sweet white/blonde finish has seen plenty of love from Joe and was even featured in the music video for the single "Prayer of the Refugee." Oh, and don't forget about the Mario sticker.
Fender Custom Shop ProtoBass 2014
Who doesn't like a little throwback flavor in their arsenal? This well-preserved Proto Bass from Fender's Custom Shop has been in Joe's collection for the past five years and kept from the hazards of the road. Consider the alder body with polyurethane finish, one-piece maple neck, and TJ Thunderblade pickups, we wouldn't let it out of the house either.
Fender Jazz Bass Geddy Lee MIJ
Sometimes you get to the point when you've played an instrument that you can't quite tell where the original ends and the mods begin, and for Joe, that's this Fender MIJ Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. An absolute beast with the wear to prove years of use, this was first used by Joe for the recording of the classic Siren Song of the Counter Culture and the album's supporting tour. The raw, no-frills heart of Rise Against distilled into four strings.
Nash P Bass
Finally, we thought we'd dip a toe into the boutique pool to showcase this absolute beauty Joe's had in his collection for a few years now. Sporting the type of killer relic job synonymous with a Nash instrument, this P Bass comes action-packed with character in a package handmade by masters in the world of guitar luthiery and craftsmanship. Joe found the beast within the beauty when he used this Sonic Blue Nash on Rise Against's 2017 record, Wolves.
Find these and other instruments from Joe's collection at The Official Joe Principe of Rise Against Reverb Shop now.