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Flea Bass.

#41
You know, I think we all need to stop and look at the pic of him and the kids up there and ask ourselves who he's REALLY making this bass for...

Do you see ANY adults in there? Some of you might think it's a marketing gimmick but Flea really loves kids and helping them learn about music and succeed in it as well. This bass is more than likely made for kids so they can get a decent, budget instrument that won't have horrible intonation or make them feel discouraged by the poor quality affecting their playing abilities.

I applaud him for doing this, we have tons of basses that fit us perfectly that get churned out with all types of different pickups, preamps, neck sizes and wood types....for a kid who knows nothing about all that stuff, this seems ideal. Most kids parents wont shell out money for a setup on an instrument and most kids would be scared to try and do it themself. So everyone can have their opinion and like them or not, but lets not be selfish and diss this when it really wasn't meant for us older guys with longer arms and fingers. I can think of about 3 basses that are made that would fit my sister's hands (shes only 4'11" tall, so she has tiny hands) so adding another one to the market is nothing but good in my opinion....even better if it's actually a decent instrument.

Just my $0.02 =/
 
#44
Mr_Sore_Fingerz said:
You know, I think we all need to stop and look at the pic of him and the kids up there and ask ourselves who he's REALLY making this bass for...

Do you see ANY adults in there? Some of you might think it's a marketing gimmick but Flea really loves kids and helping them learn about music and succeed in it as well. This bass is more than likely made for kids so they can get a decent, budget instrument that won't have horrible intonation or make them feel discouraged by the poor quality affecting their playing abilities.

I applaud him for doing this, we have tons of basses that fit us perfectly that get churned out with all types of different pickups, preamps, neck sizes and wood types....for a kid who knows nothing about all that stuff, this seems ideal. Most kids parents wont shell out money for a setup on an instrument and most kids would be scared to try and do it themself. So everyone can have their opinion and like them or not, but lets not be selfish and diss this when it really wasn't meant for us older guys with longer arms and fingers. I can think of about 3 basses that are made that would fit my sister's hands (shes only 4'11" tall, so she has tiny hands) so adding another one to the market is nothing but good in my opinion....even better if it's actually a decent instrument.

Just my $0.02 =/
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+1.

Would I want one for myself?? Probably not. But I don't believe I'm the target market for these basses, either.

Would I want one for my kids?? Absolutely---if I get a chance to play one and if it feels/sounds like a decent instrument. Heck, my 7 year old daughter is a bigger Flea fan than I am---she'd go crazy if she got a "Fleabass".
 
#45
He sponsors a free music school in CA which provides instruction and instruments for kids. Some kids who pick bass, actually end up with Flea as a teacher. Pretty cool considering he could sit on his pile of cash and be a pompous ass if he wanted too (the article also says he's attending USC for music theory and trumpet).

Apparently he was bothered by kids coming in with entry level basses in such bad condition that even he couldn't play them. He got together with Frusciante's tech and designed this leaning towards Leo's Jazz. He has artists lined up to design the finishes on the next bunch if these colors don't appeal to you. He also claims, the MMs, Modulus and Fender are not going to be used on his solo CD or the RHCPs tour.

If he's putting quality stuff in the hands of kids. it's all good. I don't see it as a sham, he has to know if he put out crap just to make a buck, he'd be outted quickly.
 
#47
If the bass is marketed for kids, then I say good for him, he's doing something productive. If the bass is being marketed for serious bass players, then I say that it is the UGLIEST bass I've ever seen and would never buy one.
Either way, it is not an attractive bass.
 
#49
kenlacam said:
If the bass is marketed for kids, then I say good for him, he's doing something productive. If the bass is being marketed for serious bass players, then I say that it is the UGLIEST bass I've ever seen and would never buy one.
Either way, it is not an attractive bass.
Click to expand...

Have you seen the press release and photos? There's no "if." These ARE marketed towards kids wanting to learn to play bass.

Kudos to Flea. I probably will not buy one (unless they had a cool purple finish :)), but if they do turn out to be good instruments then cool.
 
#53
If I see one around, I'm certainly going to give it a try. If it does play like Flea claims and sounds half decent, then I'd be tempted to invest as it's almost a bargain. Some of us can't afford the expensive stuff and see things like this as a godsend.

Even the colours are starting to grow on me. I'd be tempted to get the green/pink (or whatever it was) one and play metal on it :D
 
#55
cybersnyder said:
Yes. But they're kinda ugly.
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Yeah. And the ocean is kinda moist.

Those things are so blindingly grotesque, I don't know where to start: the nauseating colors, the cartoonish body and headstock shape, the sloppy pickguard shape...

What's WITH all the ugly sig basses now? Stanley's 'Spellbinder' bass is ridiculous-looking, too. The guy is seven feet tall and designs a micro-bass. He looks silly with it. This all started with Entwistle's 'Buzzard'. I think there's a silent competetion for the fugliest sig bass.
 
#56
bovinehost said:
"Hey, you kids get off my lawn!"

What the hell, I think it's a great idea. AND I like the colors.

So there. Old farts!

Jack (in his fifties)
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It is a great idea. It's not marketed at "us," it's for kids who would otherwise wind up with some junk with unplayable action. (They do kinda look a tad like Stingrays...). I like the colors too, but then again like Jack, I have & love the Bongo.
 
#57
TimWilson said:
Yeah. And the ocean is kinda moist.

Those things are so blindingly grotesque, I don't know where to start: the nauseating colors, the cartoonish body and headstock shape, the sloppy pickguard shape...

What's WITH all the ugly sig basses now? Stanley's 'Spellbinder' bass is ridiculous-looking, too. The guy is seven feet tall and designs a micro-bass. He looks silly with it. This all started with Entwistle's 'Buzzard'. I think there's a silent competetion for the fugliest sig bass.
Click to expand...

The sig basses are not designed for you, i hope you know that. They're designed for the artist, who is famous enuff to have a bass named after him.
Obviously those basses are not for you, get over it ;)
 
#60
I think it's great what Flea is doing here... Too many on this board seem to think he is trying to make a bass comparable to his Modulus or MusicMan from back in the day, but if you do a little research it's spelled out in black and white for you. He is making an affordable yet quality instrument that is easy for kids to get into music with. You will notice there is just one pickup and two knobs, this makes it easy to familiar kids with volume and tone adjustment. They are "fun" looking and definately a worthwhile endevor in this age of Guitar Hero. Imagine a kids parents buying a Ritter, handing it to the 10 year old child and telling them to go learn some grooves, they wouldn't know where to start.
 

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