Bass Suggestions
 

So I am looking for a new bass. I am looking for a bass with an mm pickup and I would like it (as cliche as it may be) to be able to nail the iconic Flea sound. I also don't have a TON of money to spend, around $800 or so. I have looked at the sterling by music man basses and both seem like good options. Out of the two (ray34 and sb14), which one gets closer to the Flea sound and what are other options of basses? Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Look hard enough and you can pick up a used ENMM

Flea actually recorded with an American standard jazz bass on most of their older stuff and some newer stuff. He also uses one live on some stuff. Dani California being one I know off the top of my head. I know for a fact he did on the Californication album. Just turn both pickups on and you have that MM humbucker sound. It wont sound exactly the same because one is active and the other is passive but its still a flea tone :)

I have a squier vm jazz bass and it does sound similar to the humbucker sound when both pickups are on, however I have played stingrays in my local music store and there is just something about the active mm pickup that I love

I understand. Those music mans are awesome instruments

:eyebrow: Whaaaat? His tone always freakin has that MM bite to it. I even watched a rig rundown, and all of his basses were Modulus... You're blowing my mind right now!

Edit: Just listened to a few songs on YouTube - you're right!

Both are quite good
 

It's just that Sb14 is basswood and Sterlin' Ray 34 is ash but, unless you go for Sterlin' "ca" (classic - 2 band only - active) which is not only ash but way more... "rough n'ready", the other two, again Sterling Ray34 and Sb14, sound very close to each other.

I'd tell Sterlin' Ray34 "ca", hopefully in a vintagey "mint green".

Cheers,
Wallace

just my opinion... But, to me "the FLEA" sound is the GK more so than his myriad basses.

if you're patient you can probably get a used stingray here on talkbass. if you are impatient you can get a new sterling.

you could also find a used stingray sub for 4-600 and put some cash back in your pocket

or a brand new sterling SUB is 250 for a 4 string model and they are damn good basses. a lot of options and all of them good ones.

A Lakland 55-02 is a great bass in your price range and does a SR quote well.

A used SR is your best option likely.

I have been thinking of getting a slightly "cheaper" bass (such as a sterling SUB bass) and switching out the preamp for the Bartolini ntmb preamp and the pickup for a Seymour Duncan. Would this get closer to that sound, and if so is it worth spending the money on a preamp, pickup and installation?

have you played the sterling SUB? they sound amazing as is, the pre-amp is hotter than the devils balls tho and needs a mod or ran with you -db pad on on your amp

I have never played them my local music store doesn't have them in yet how is the eq on them? Can you get a good variety of sounds out of it (including that nice flea sound of course :))?

Why in hell would you EVER.... EVER change a Bart for a Duncan??? That's like trading 10k gold for a pile of dog crap.

If you read REALLY closely you will see he wanted to run a Bartolini preamp and a Seymour Duncan pickup. No idea why he chose that combination. But. He didn't say anything about "switching a Bart for a Duncan".

To be honest I really like the sound of the modulus funk unlimited 4 and it has a similar combo of Bart preamp and Seymour Duncan pickup

I'm just saying I don't know your reasons for it because I can't for sure say I've heard that combination. Not belittling your choices. :p

Haha ok fair enough. I'm really not sure what that would run me to put that into whichever bass I chose though. Anybody have any ideas or other opinions?

Ibanez ATK!! ATK305 perhaps.

Look up the prices of the parts you want. Then talk to anyone you know who has experience with a soldering iron. :p Or ask for a quote from a local tech who does those kinds of upgrades. If you know the combo and sound you want, you're going to most likely be disappointed if you compromise.