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Another Flea Active Jazz Video

Mid fifties.
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I had the opportunity to play one of these basses about a week or so ago.

My thoughts are that I'll be surprised if this instrument is still in production this time next year. The preamp was noisy and not very flexible, it has just one sound and it's just "meh" when compared to a music man or his previous Modulus basses. After playing it back-to-back against an Elite jazz and a MIM Player's jazz, the neck and fretwork are surprisingly similar to the new MIM Player series and not really at all like the Elite. Not that that is a bad thing - if the bass were priced at $800, but it's priced at closer to $1700. The finish on the body is also satin and very thin, the slightest of bumps would leave a noticeable ding.

Overall, it would be a decent bass if it were maybe half the price, but as it is, I'm not gonna bother even if they made a 5 string version.
 
There is so much hate on Flea around? Not the greatest solo, not even the greatest Fender youtube video. But come on, it is Flea, he is nuts and thats how we love him.

I like the guy, I really do but he just seems like he's trying too hard. Like, it just seems forced to me. He's trying to keep up with a larger than life image of himself that he made decades ago. I don't think anyone would blame him if he toned it down a bit.
 
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I don’t hate Flea. I just think he can do much better at showing what his new signature Fender Jazz can do.
It kind of feels like that to me. I dont mind his looks, he can look anyway he wants. Being 50 something does not mean you cant dye your hair yellow, wear orange suit and jump around in the desert while playing silver bass. His playing here is kind of sloppy, but i guess it was not supposed to be a demo, rather his showcase. Definitely this video seems redundant to me, since they just recycled week or so old video, instead of putting out a proper demo. I just felt that so many people around had the need put him down. I am not gonna persuade anyone, you can love and hate whoever you want, I just thought he was more of a bass celebrity. Thats all.
Edit: I was rather reacting to the hate on his "visage".
 
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I had the opportunity to play one of these basses about a week or so ago.

My thoughts are that I'll be surprised if this instrument is still in production this time next year. The preamp was noisy and not very flexible, it has just one sound and it's just "meh" when compared to a music man or his previous Modulus basses. After playing it back-to-back against an Elite jazz and a MIM Player's jazz, the neck and fretwork are surprisingly similar to the new MIM Player series and not really at all like the Elite. Not that that is a bad thing - if the bass were priced at $800, but it's priced at closer to $1700. The finish on the body is also satin and very thin, the slightest of bumps would leave a noticeable ding.

Overall, it would be a decent bass if it were maybe half the price, but as it is, I'm not gonna bother even if they made a 5 string version.

That’s bad. It really looks nice.
 
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I don’t hate Flea. I just think he can do much better at showing what his new signature Fender Jazz can do.
Of course he can.
I might be crazy but I think he sounded pretty good on Blood Sugar Sex Magic, Aeroplane, My Friends, Soul To Squeeze, Scar Tissue, Dani California, etc, etc, etc, so I have to question this.

Other than that, imagine this as a G&L with an MFD pickup and an active/passive switch.
 
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