Flea's E string

avid · #1 05-29-2006, 08:30 PM

Did anyone else notice the size of Flea's E string on his '61 Fender in the current Bass Player? If you haven't seen it, it is huge. Check the pictures on pages 3 and 35. Looks to me to be at least a B string diameter.

David

Petary791 · #2 05-29-2006, 09:21 PM

He says he's using flatwounds. Maybe some really heavy flatwounds.

jz0h4d · #3 05-30-2006, 07:48 AM

Do any of you know what brand of flats Flea is using?

avid · #4 05-30-2006, 08:31 AM

He doesn't reveal the brand just that they are 'old' flatwounds.

David

Thunder_Fingers · #5 05-30-2006, 09:24 AM

so he does not play GHS anymore?

Matthew Bryson · #6 05-30-2006, 09:43 AM

Does anybody know if Flea is slapping on those old flat wounds? From the Bass Player article, I got the impression that his main bass and his back up are both classic Fenders with old flats. Then I went and bought Stadium Arcadium and gave it a listen. In my very uneducated opinion, I thought he was in fact slapping the old flats in places. I thought it was a pretty good album. I thought Fleas tone was killing when he was playing finger style and clean, but when he used effects or slapped it got kind of weird tone wise - like his tone didn't cut. Maybe that was just me - I've only listened to the album 1 time through, and I'm far from being an expert on bass tone. I'd like to hear more discussion of Fleas "new" flat wound Fender bass tone.
Just to be clear - because I could be wrong. Is Flea trying to play classic Fenders with Flats exclusively? I really get the impression that Flea has been through a lot of changes and is really starting to mature as a person and as a bassist. He's showing up for photo shoots now in nice jackets and nice clothes and looking generally respectable - No blue hair lately and not showing off his muscles and tats for the camera, and the big news - he's playing pre-CBS Fenders with flat wounds. I just hope that he's not taking the flat wound Fender thing too extreme and that he's keeping a Sting Ray with rounds around for certain situations - after all, that is kind of the Flea sound. (IMHO)
Steering the thread back on track - I didn't notice the string gauge in the Bass Player photos - I'll take a look at that when I get home tonight.

snowdan · #7 05-30-2006, 09:56 AM

i always dug his stingray/boomers sound.

vitch · #8 05-30-2006, 01:47 PM

I give a 5 star to the Chilly Peppers new CD, Stadium Arcadium. My son has loved them for years, and this is my first CD of theirs. I can't stop trying to cover Flea's bass lines. Great tone, tempo/timing. I'm having fun playing along with their CD.
vitch (age 55)

avid · #9 05-30-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitch

I give a 5 star to the Chilly Peppers new CD, Stadium Arcadium. My son has loved them for years, and this is my first CD of theirs. I can't stop trying to cover Flea's bass lines. Great tone, tempo/timing. I'm having fun playing along with their CD.
vitch (age 55)

Get Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik and check it out. There is some awesome stuff on that CD. The explicit language may or may not be to your liking. I am a long ways from emulating Flea but have only been at it for nine months. Haven't picked up Stadium Arcadium yet.

David (54.5 <g>)

phxlbrmpf · #10 05-30-2006, 03:16 PM

He's definitely slapping on "Tell me Baby" and "Hump de Bump", I didn't even notice he wasn't using rounds.

Lorenzini · #11 05-30-2006, 08:33 PM

Yes, that is a huge E string.
Even weirder is how Charlie Haden's bass is strung and how it looks like he's using 2 different brands and that it is perhaps strung backwards...
really really weird

avid · #12 05-30-2006, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzini

Yes, that is a huge E string.
Even weirder is how Charlie Haden's bass is strung and how it looks like he's using 2 different brands and that it is perhaps strung backwards...
really really weird

Charlie does say he uses D'addario gut on G and D and TI steel strings for E and A. That could account for the size you are seeing there. Flea's E looks like bridge cable!

David

jz0h4d · #13 05-31-2006, 05:26 AM

Lots of URB players us that combo of strings.

Doctor J · #14 05-31-2006, 05:41 AM

I picked up a set of GHS Boomers recently with a 115 E string, might a set of them? Is the red wrap on the strings around the tuners?

Mojo-Man · #15 05-31-2006, 06:03 AM

They have red silk/
Maybe T I. or Roto.?

Doctor J · #16 05-31-2006, 06:19 AM

Boomers have the red silk too.

Groovin · #17 05-31-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew Bryson

Does anybody know if Flea is slapping on those old flat wounds? From the Bass Player article, I got the impression that his main bass and his back up are both classic Fenders with old flats. Then I went and bought Stadium Arcadium and gave it a listen. In my very uneducated opinion, I thought he was in fact slapping the old flats in places. I thought it was a pretty good album. I thought Fleas tone was killing when he was playing finger style and clean, but when he used effects or slapped it got kind of weird tone wise - like his tone didn't cut. Maybe that was just me - I've only listened to the album 1 time through, and I'm far from being an expert on bass tone. I'd like to hear more discussion of Fleas "new" flat wound Fender bass tone.
Just to be clear - because I could be wrong. Is Flea trying to play classic Fenders with Flats exclusively? I really get the impression that Flea has been through a lot of changes and is really starting to mature as a person and as a bassist. He's showing up for photo shoots now in nice jackets and nice clothes and looking generally respectable - No blue hair lately and not showing off his muscles and tats for the camera, and the big news - he's playing pre-CBS Fenders with flat wounds. I just hope that he's not taking the flat wound Fender thing too extreme and that he's keeping a Sting Ray with rounds around for certain situations - after all, that is kind of the Flea sound. (IMHO)
Steering the thread back on track - I didn't notice the string gauge in the Bass Player photos - I'll take a look at that when I get home tonight.

Don't forget: Flea is still playing his Modulus "Flea" bass as well. His sig sound is that tight, accurate, and deadly compressed attack that he does so well. That may be what you hear as his tone "not cutting". It is just very compressed and tight. I could never pull it off but he does with aplomb!

I love the new album. He was really able to show some chops but still wonderfully support the groove. Bravo.

fenderx55 · #18 05-31-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groovin

I could never pull it off but he does with aplomb!

oooo good word

jz0h4d · #19 05-31-2006, 01:03 PM

If you check out the live footage of CP's on AOL Sessions you'll hear a great tone from the flatwound Jazz Bass.

RSmith · #20 06-03-2006, 01:57 AM

I have a hard time believing the slap tones are fltwounds on the new album. Thats a pretty growly/ mid range tone to my ears. I agree his playing is great but the songs don't do much for me......... so far! It's like maybe they shoulda picked the 12 best of the lot.