Fender Flea Active VS Modulus Flea VS MusicMan StingRay Special comparison videos

[libanass]

Hey guys!

For those interested in listening to these 3 phenomenal basses side-by-side to help you picking your favorite, I made these 2 videos and creating this thread so you don't miss them!

Hope you enjoy it! And don't forget to subscribe to my channel if you're interested to hearing more stuff like this!
Also let me know which one is your favorite in the polls and why in the comments after listening to both videos!
Elie

First video is a Fender Flea Active vs a 2003 Modulus Flea with Lane Poor pickup and OBP3 preamp


This second video is a brand new MusicMan StingRay Special Aqua Sparkle with an ebony fretboard and the same Fender Flea Active (both stock basses)

 

[gbrooding]

Cool video. My son is really wanting a Fender Flea, I just forwarded your videos to him. Nice to see the comparisons. Thanks!

 

[libanass]

Cool video. My son is really wanting a Fender Flea, I just forwarded your videos to him. Nice to see the comparisons. Thanks!

Thank you! I hope this helps him!

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Modulus is my fave by far. Sounds super deep and complex and the Fender sounded boxy

 

[filwitheneff]

Very cool comparisons! I had been considering a MM Stingray, and I think these videos have convinced me to get one. I didn't dislike any of them, but the Stingray was the clear winner to my ears.

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Modulus had a certain warmness the Fender didn't have. To me the Fender and Stingray were indistinguishable.

 

[libanass]

Very cool comparisons! I had been considering a MM Stingray, and I think these videos have convinced me to get one. I didn't dislike any of them, but the Stingray was the clear winner to my ears.

Thank you!

You want the new Special too?
You definitely won't be disappointed!

 

[libanass]

The Fender Flea is a killer bass on its own!
I'm quite surprised it didn't get any vote so far!

 

[filwitheneff]

Thank you!

You want the new Special too?
You definitely won't be disappointed!

I got my eye on a Stingray Special in Charging Green with the roasted maple.

 

[Hudsobass]

I love the Stingrays and the Modulus basses, but I thought the Fender Flea was more warm than the other two. Yeah, maybe a little boxy, but definitely warm.

 

[mmbongo]

The Stingray really started to shine at :50 of the second video. The Fender became muddy and unfocused.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

I would love to see a 2 band Stingray in that mix. But for the money the Fender does very well.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

@libanass

So if you were going to write up a comparison, how would compare them in tone, quality and price?

Thanks

 

[TrevorG]

Cant help thinking the biggest difference is the maple and rosewood finger boards. Can't imagine how bright the MM would be with a maple neck. Fender Flea jumped out for me.

 

[Rev. Cornelius]

Cant help thinking the biggest difference is the maple and rosewood finger boards. Can't imagine how bright the MM would be with a maple neck. Fender Flea jumped out for me.

I may be wrong but the MM fingerboard may be Ebony.

 

[TrevorG]

I may be wrong but the MM fingerboard may be Ebony.

Still very much closer in tone to rosewood than Maple.

 

[libanass]

@libanass

So if you were going to write up a comparison, how would compare them in tone, quality and price?

Thanks

Quality wise, I would surprisingly say the Fender is a bit better. Especially that the neck is quartersawn (same wood necks Fender uses on their CS!!), while the StingRay, is just soft unfinished maple which will probably move after every single gig.

The Fender sounds amazing, but it's not really a true genuine StingRay tone. It is a bit cleaner, and calmer I would say.. Has really nice natural lows that will fit any mix fantastically well.

The price of the Fender is a rather nice bang for the buck compared to the StingRay, in my own opinion.
However, in terms of ergonomics, balance and body contours, I would say the new StingRay Special is a beast (I am talking about the post 2018 models like the one I have). Even though the Fender is also great, but does not stand up to the StingRay

I also personally prefer the looks of the StingRay over the Fender.

Still very much closer in tone to rosewood than Maple.

Ebony is even brighter than maple!
Maple tonally sits in-between rosewood and ebony in terms of brightness.

 

[TrevorG]

Ebony is even brighter than maple!
Maple tonally sits in-between rosewood and ebony in terms of brightness.

Really surprised to read this as I have a bass with an ebony finger board and don't find that to be the case.

 

[libanass]

Really surprised to read this as I have a bass with an ebony finger board and don't find that to be the case.

There are many things that come to play of course, woods, electronics, pickups position, strings, action, etc..

Here is a quick guide on Fodera Tonewoods: Ebony = brightest of all fingerboards
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I do find the ebony to give a particular bright tone in its own character, a bit different from the bright you get on maple. But ebony is far away from rosewood!

 

[jmattbassplaya]

The Fender sounded nice, albeit a little muddy at times. The Ray sounds like a Ray so no surprise. The Modulus had the most clarity but seems to lack the low mids I like. I sold a couple Flea’s because of this issue as i felt the body of the notes would get lost in a mix and all I could hear was the high end and the lowest of lows. What were the electronics in this one?