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Flea Bass Tone - don't know where to put this

T

tomjonesrocks

May 18, 2011
5
1
#1
I've been obsessed with this YouTube clip - don't know where the full performance is from (would love to know that as well).

Found this YouTube because I'm a huge Claypool fan - but this Flea tone has been hard to get out of my head. Is this a MuTron? Envelope Filter?

It's about 22 seconds - but just sounds like such a "complete" effect - is it synth Anyway would love to know more how to get near this sound:


Sorry if this isn't the right forum. Seemed closest to an effects question -
 
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#4
I believe his current board has the old big-box Q-Tron.

In that clip, it's the DOD FX25. That was my first envelope filter and after trying a bunch of MuTron clones, I always end up back with the FX25.

Be aware: it's a bandpass filter, so during part of the sweep, it can get very thin. I use a dry blend with mine, but otherwise I try to keep it out from really extreme quacks.
 
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#8
cardinal said:
I believe his current board has the old big-box Q-Tron.

In that clip, it's the DOD FX25. That was my first envelope filter and after trying a bunch of MuTron clones, I always end up back with the FX25.

Be aware: it's a bandpass filter, so during part of the sweep, it can get very thin. I use a dry blend with mine, but otherwise I try to keep it out from really extreme quacks.
Click to expand...

Ordered an FX25 after the clip on Reverb. Even vintage models are affordable - have to try it at those prices.

The comment is interesting because it sounds anything but thin in the clip.

Thanks!
 
#9
tomjonesrocks said:
Ordered an FX25 after the clip on Reverb. Even vintage models are affordable - have to try it at those prices.

The comment is interesting because it sounds anything but thin in the clip.

Thanks!
Click to expand...



Just a word of caution ; the DOD is capable of some really extreme, rapid sweeps - the kind that could easily blow a speaker.


I own both the DOD, and the Mutron III. There's some useful overlap, but they both have different characteristics.

The Mutron is more refined, but even bypassed it incurs some HF loss.

The DOD is much more reactive, and capable of being very extreme, but it has the advantages of running off a single battery, or conventional PSU, as well as being smaller, cheaper to replace, and doing a pretty similar job.
 
#10
JohnArnson said:
Beside that Claypool eat Flea for breakfeast any day both in terms of technical skills and level of creativity.

Flea is massively overrated.
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giphy.gif
 
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#11
tomjonesrocks said:
Ordered an FX25 after the clip on Reverb. Even vintage models are affordable - have to try it at those prices.

The comment is interesting because it sounds anything but thin in the clip.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hope you love it! It's one of my must-have pedals.

The two knobs are deceptively simple, so be patient with it while you're setting it up with your specific bass.

To me, it gets thin only if you really let it sweep up very high, which Flea doesn't let it do in this clip. You can avoid it by being careful with how the controls are set and, like any envelope filter IME, learning just how to "play it" to make it do what you want.

Have fun and don't give up on it if takes a while to get set right!
 
#12
The first clip sounds like there’s and envelope in there. I’m not an effects user, but that’s what it sounds like. I’m sure there are many drugs in that chain, though.

As for the duel, Flea will lose against Claypool every time, imo. Claypool is just built too strong for soloing in a massively creative way. No hate on Flea though, I’d rather listen to Flea any day of the week. Flea has created some beautiful bass lines over the years, and I much prefer him.
 
#14
symbolic_acts said:
not even an RHCP fan but its literally undeniable how much influence Flea has had on the electric bass community. not overrated at all

technical skills aren't everything
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Well, he is undeniable a very popular bass player, but does that make him a better one?

It really only underlines my claim that he is massively overrated.

What you say is like: "Yes, but don't forget just how massively overrated he actually really is".

And in my opinion just proves how little by far most people know about music.
 
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#15
JohnArnson said:
Well, he is undeniable a very popular bass player, but does that make him a better one?

It really only underlines my claim that he is massively overrated.

What you say is like: "Yes, but don't forget just how massively overrated he actually really is".

And in my opinion just proves how little by far most people know about music.
Click to expand...
Flea overrated? He's no Jaco, but his contributions are deservedly valued by the bass community. If you're comparing Les Claypool to Flea, sure, Les likes Flea, and I've never been able to sit through a whole Primus Album.

Have you heard his playing on the Joshua Redman album 'Momentum'? He seems to play in 9/8 quite comfortably on that version of The Crunge. Brian Blade and Flea make a good rhythm section. Meshell Ndegeocello is the other bassist on that album.

How about the first Mars Volta record? He plays some really impressive passages throughout the whole album. Roulette Dares comes to mind, you wouldn't know it was Flea if you didn't read the liner notes.

As far as Flea goes, I think his contributions to RHCP songs are relatively simple or reserved, they are a pop band after all. He's a monster trumpet player, theres a recording somewhere of him playing Donna Lee. He also held his own at the Stanley Clarke school days jam.

People talking from a behind-the-keyboard-High-Horse with nothing to prove themselves is overrated though.
 
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#16
DarkStar90 said:
Flea overrated? He's no Jaco, but his contributions are deservedly valued by the bass community. If your comparing Les Claypool to Flea, sure, but Les likes Flea and Ive never been able to sit through an entire Primus album.

Have you heard his playing on the Joshua Redman album 'Momentum'? He seems to play in 9/8 quite comfortably on that version of The Crunge. Brian Blade and Flea make a good rhythm section. Meshell Ndegeocello is the other bassist on that album.

How about the first Mars Volta record? He plays some really impressive passages throughout the whole album. Roulette Dares comes to mind, you wouldn't know it was Flea if you didn't read the liner notes.

As far as Flea goes, I think his contributions to RHCP songs are relatively simple or reserved. He's a monster trumpet player, theres a recording somewhere of him playing Donna Lee.

People talking from a behind-the-keyboard-High-Horse with nothing to prove themselves is overrated though.
Click to expand...
 
#17
JohnArnson said:
Well, he is undeniable a very popular bass player, but does that make him a better one?

It really only underlines my claim that he is massively overrated.

What you say is like: "Yes, but don't forget just how massively overrated he actually really is".

And in my opinion just proves how little by far most people know about music.
Click to expand...

lol you must be a joy at parties bud
 
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