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Flea Basses on Musiciansfriend
- Thread starter gonzorob
- Start date
it is flea we're talking about here... a bit eclectic... i think the bases are evidence of that.
it is more money than a squire... however, it seems like these basses are going to be more along the lines of a vintage modified or classic vibe quality than the basic affinity squires... the squires are about $100 or $150 less...
maybe i am an idealist/optimist, but i would like to think (and do to be honest) that flea's got his heart in the right place.
it is more money than a squire... however, it seems like these basses are going to be more along the lines of a vintage modified or classic vibe quality than the basic affinity squires... the squires are about $100 or $150 less...
maybe i am an idealist/optimist, but i would like to think (and do to be honest) that flea's got his heart in the right place.
Everybody is ragging on these, and nobody has played one...
What if this bass is stellar?
I hope it gets kids off of Rockband and Guitar Hero!
What if this bass is stellar?
I hope it gets kids off of Rockband and Guitar Hero!
Well it's different but I would be disappointed if it was just another Fender looking axe (and I am a Fender guy btw). I dig the orange myself, especially if I could take the pickguard off.
From the website:
Here's hoping...
From the website:
Here's hoping...
You have to think of it this way: Flea is rich, and he's famous for playing bass. He probably doesn't buy a lot of basses, because a company would consider it an advertisement to have a their bass in his hands. The ones he does buy are probably old, rare, and expensive. Since he's rich, he doesn't flinch at the prices.He has probably also seen the downturn in the economy, and although it gotten a lot worse in the last few months, it's been going on this track for quite a few years.
So, he sees that things in general are more expensive, he's out of touch with what a regular bass cost because he gets them free, and he's putting his name as and advertisement for some company's basses. That company is telling him "well, your name is on it, so we understand you want your cut from every bass that is sold." What they're not doing is reminding him how much a bass costs, so they're going to gouge consumers to make money on his name. He's off in la la land and they're the bad guys, at least that's what I'd assume.
It's a fairly ugly bass, but if it plays good and has a decent sound, I'm sure there's a market for this. Personally, I feel that the price is just a bit too high, but I want to actually play one before I pass complete judgment on these. Fretless would be a nice option to offer as well.
I'd like one in the Blue/Orange Gulf Oil colours - reminds me of the old Ford GT40 Le Mans car! Not sure I'd pay the retail price for one tho.
I'm a kid and i wouldn't play one of these. I love Flea, but these are so ugly. People automtaicly assume children don't like instyle things. 
I like his concept, but for me, $ 500 dollars is NOT a beginner bass (if you ask my cheapskate parents thats pro level custom shop gear) Dosen't look to high quality either. I'll be going with Schecters for my next bass, becuase there the same price point but a LOT nicer and overall better.
I like his concept, but for me, $ 500 dollars is NOT a beginner bass (if you ask my cheapskate parents thats pro level custom shop gear) Dosen't look to high quality either. I'll be going with Schecters for my next bass, becuase there the same price point but a LOT nicer and overall better.
The color can be made more mainstream easily enough. I'm sure its a good quality product. I hope Flea is successful with this. I read the Bass Player interview and he talked about all the young bass players he saw with bent necks and lousy basses. If he can produce a very good quality instrument for $399 - power to him. Don't forget, one of them is basic white and black. My guess is that's the color that will get all the sales.
Nothing a good chiropractor can't fix.
Seriously though, my first impression after seeing the bass was "eewww". But then after looking at it for awhile it began to grow on me. It almost looks like the bass was made from a freehand drawing Flea might have done on a paper napkin in a diner while discussing this project with 'investors'. I will have to play one of these before I can pass judgement but one things for sure... it's out of my price-range. I hope it isn't out of the range of parents wanting to buy a bass for their aspiring young bassists.
I like the idea but if I ever get a chance to play one in the store and it has a bad setup or has the nut cut too high, or is way out of intonation then I will be pissed off.
$700 retail price for a beginners bass? That seems like a little bit much to me given that you can get a good quality bass for around $200. I just don't understand what justifies the price, other than the word 'Flea' printed on the headstock. In fact does that even justify $700?
No, as I understand the marketing (and remember, you're not supposed to understand the marketing or it doesn't work its magical mojo
), this is supposed to be a PROFESSIONAL QUALITY bass at a reasonable price, not a cheapie beginner's bass.Now, the truth is that there's no reason why you can't make a truly gigworthy bass for this price if you get past the false-scarcity racket in which you make the low-end unnecessarily and conspicuously crappy in order to sell more expensive basses at a higher profit margin, but I have no idea if he's succeeded or not.
He has succeeded in making a conspicuously hideous, awkward-looking bass, which seems to be something of a mistake to me -- and I think the market will bear me out, especially since the marketing has misfired and everyone thinks this is an overpriced student bass.
this organization is also nonprofit so Flea is making no money.
kudos to him for being one of the good guys.
kudos to him for being one of the good guys.
NPO's still make money to pay their employees. I wouldn't be surprised if Flea was making money as an employee of the company from all of this. Given his attitude and reputation about putting his name on things in the past, I would be shocked if he was doing this for free.
Purely speculation on my part, but its also speculation to suggest that the converse is true, unless of course you're Flea or you do the accounting for Fleabass.
