She was the only one to answer the band ad in the Boston Phoenix wanting a "female bassist/vocalist for high harmonies, no chops". When she joined the
Pixies, she played her sister
Kelley Deal's Aria Pro
bass. She used the Aria to record "Come On Pilgrim" and "Surfer Rosa".
Before recording "Doolittle", producer
Gil Norton told her she had
to buy a better sounding bass. It was then she bought her 1962 Fender Precision Bass reissue. That is her main bass today.