Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament has hand-painted two of his new signature model “JAXT4” electric bass guitars – created in collaboration with legendary Northwest guitar and bass builder Mike Lull -- to auction off on leading charity auction site, www.charitybuzz.com STARTING TODAY, January 10 through January 26. Proceeds from the online auction will benefit 826 Seattle. Ament will personalize each bass for the winning bidders. To bid, go directly to http://www.charitybuzz.com/jaxt4/.

Jeff Ament and Mike Lull chose the local 826 Seattle, recognizing the need for young people to have artistic outlets.  “Jeff and I are musicians who benefited from any and all arts mentors who were willing to take us on,” said Lull. “826 Seattle does this for every young person who comes through their doors.”

“826 Seattle represents the best of local writers and artists nurturing our young writers at a time when the creative arts are being pushed out of our schools,” says Ament. “The proceeds from my two hand-painted basses will be a small gift to help with everyday operations at 826, keeping the computers working and publishing poetry and stories by the best of Seattle's youth.”

“This auction could not come at a better time. 826 Seattle, fresh from winning a national award (from the White House!), is in an amazing position to increase our work all over the Puget Sound area. These basses, hand painted by Jeff and created just for 826 Seattle by he and Mike Lull-- will allow us help so many more kids.  We could not be more grateful to both Jeff and Mike,” stated Teri Hein, Executive Director of 826 Seattle.

The two one-of-a-kind hand-painted auction basses will be revealed on charitybuzz.com the week of January 2 and will not be available elsewhere. The first real-life unveiling of the four standard versions of the JAXT4 basses will take place at the upcoming NAMM Show on the weekend of January 19-22, 2012 in Anaheim, California. Orders for these standard JAXT4 basses can be made now by contacting Mike Lull Custom Guitars.

In the 21-year history of the band, the JAXT4 bass guitar is the only musical instrument to have earned the endorsement of a Pearl Jam band member in the form of a signature model. As previously announced, the JAXT4 features a 20% oversized body, but thinner body thickness than Mike Lull’s standard T-bass models, along with a reverse headstock. Jeff Ament personally chose all custom colors, finish, and wood configurations. The JAXT4 comes with a metal (select models only) pickguard engraved with an Ament designed T-bass logo, Jeff’s signature on the headstock along with a special Mike Lull logo designed by Jeff to be used only on his signature model. Included is a custom Ament hardshell case with a hand-stenciled logo on the exterior, along with a bag of a dozen assorted Ament custom guitar picks. The JAXT4 is available for sale in four custom color and wood configuration choices (see mikelull.com for all JAXT4 options).

About 826 Seattle

The mission of 826 Seattle (www.826seattle.org) is to teach young people to write. It is their belief that writing – both creative and expository - is an essential tool for future success. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, 826 Seattle offers workshops, afterschool tutoring, publishing opportunities and support to teachers in classrooms – all free of charge. 826 Seattle is one of eight chapters nationwide inspired by author and publisher Dave Eggers, founder of 826 National. 

About Mike Lull Custom Guitars

Mike Lull has been fixing and building guitars and basses for 35 years.Lull’s first job at age 16 was repairing guitars for a local shop. He developed a following among area musicians and opened his own shop at 21. He began to build custom basses and guitars, his fretwork becoming legendary and his fine-tuning attracting artists across genres and locales. A local cover band bassist himself, he has built and repaired instruments for numerous Northwest legends including Heart, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, Queensryche and national acts such as Bon Jovi, Randy Jackson, Bob Dylan and many more. To this day, Mike continues to hand build and test each and every bass and guitar that leaves his shop.Mike Lull Custom Guitars are distributed in 9 countries and all over the United States. Visit www.mikelull.com for more information.

About Jeff Ament

Jeff Ament is a songwriter and bass player for Pearl Jam, and one of the band’s founding members. Ament is also known for his work prior to Pearl Jam with the 1980s Seattle based bands Green River and Mother Love Bone, and is particularly noted for his work with the fretless bass, upright bass and twelve-string bass guitar. Ament is also a member of the side project band Three Fish. In 2008, Ament released his first solo album, Tone available at www.pearljam.com.

More information below

AUCTION INFORMATION RECAP:

WHAT:                        Online auction of two hand-painted (by Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament) signature JAXT4 bass

guitars:

·      One bass features a “red splatter” design-  a maroon-red paint for the base, with “splatters” in lighter colors all over the instrument’s body, neck and headstock. All hardware is chromed. Custom JA hardshell case included.

·      The second bass is painted a light “seafoam” green color with the word “NOISE” (in a stencil-like design) painted repeatedly in white over the instrument’s body and neck. All hardware is chromed. Custom JA hardshell case included.

WHEN:                        January 10-26

WHERE:            http://www.charitybuzz.com/jaxt4/

WHY:                        To benefit 826 Seattle

RETAIL INFORMATION RECAP:

WHAT:                         

The JAXT4 signature bass features a 20% oversized body, but thinner body thickness than Mike Lull’s standard T-bass models, along with a reverse headstock. The JAXT4 is available for sale in four custom color and wood configuration choices. See www.mikelull.com for all available options.

WHEN/WHERE:

The JAXT4 will be unveiled in person at the NAMM show in Anaheim, California the weekend of January 19-22. Orders are being taken now through Mike Lull Custom Guitars (www.mikelull.com).

WHY: 

“The only bass that plays like a modern handmade machine and sounds like the best vintage bass guitar in the shop,” said Jeff Ament. “I’m honored to put my name next to Mike’s on this beast. 4 strings!”

“I’ve worked with Jeff for years, on repairs and building instruments for use in the studio and on the road,” says Lull. “His instinct when it comes to quality and craftsmanship match my own sensibilities and made it a joy to create the JAXT4 to add to our lineup.”