Flea Fender Custom Shop Bass

[lowfreqgeek]

I know what a Stingray is, but who's this guy "Flea"?

 

[Mastermold]

Doesn't he play a vintage Jazz every once in a while?

61 Jazz I think.

 

[hover]

Ugh, yawn, why they gotta always be sparkly? (rhetorical question).

 

[mmbongo]

Wow! That was kinda dumb business wise. A Flea signature MM StingRay would have sold big time.

Read it again though. I remember hearing about it before, years ago. I believe he wanted the Stringray to become the Flea. So there would be no more Stringrays, only Fleas.

 

[mmbongo]

And if Fender wanted to really make a bass that sounded like Flea, it would be a Wal clone since that's what he recorded with.

 

[vegas532]

I think I know what the next Signature model is going to be. lol

 

[Double Agent]

And if Fender wanted to really make a bass that sounded like Flea, it would be a Wal clone since that's what he recorded with.

Actually he was all over the map with what he recorded with. He did use a Wal on most of BSSM but a SR5 on Funky Monks and Under the Bridge. On Mother's Milk and Uplift Mofo Party, he used a Spector NS-2. Not sure what he played on Freaky Styley.

After BSSM, he used an Alembic on One Hot Minute (spacing out on the exact model, but I want to say it was an Orion). Then the Modulus, mixed in with lots of other basses, on subsequent albums.

He did always use the Stingray live though until the Modulus days came along, and it's the bass he is most commonly associated with. Not really a stretch to bass a Flea sig on a Ray.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Actually he was all over the map with what he recorded with. He did use a Wal on most of BSSM but a SR5 on Funky Monks and Under the Bridge. On Mother's Milk and Uplift Mofo Party, he used a Spector NS-2. Not sure what he played on Freaky Styley.

After BSSM, he used an Alembic on One Hot Minute (spacing out on the exact model, but I want to say it was an Orion). Then the Modulus, mixed in with lots of other basses, on subsequent albums.

He did always use the Stingray live though until the Modulus days came along, and it's the bass he is most commonly associated with. Not really a stretch to bass a Flea sig on a Ray.

it would never occur to me to record with one bass and play live with a whole 'nuther bass. Even if I was paid to play that bass live, I'd then record with it. But who am I?

 

[elBandito]

I didn't listen to too much chili peppers after BSSM, but the wal tone on that album is one of my all time favorites. I lusted after a stingray, until I found out he mainly used it for live shows.

 

[Fxpmusic]

Why in the world did they photograph that with an SWR logo in the shot????
Sheesh.
There is no one with a brain in the marketing department I guess.

It seems this is just a guy that works at Fender's personal Instagram.

 

[Outlaw_son]

A Fender Fleabass? I"ll take one please!

 

[makaspar]

It's probably a 1 off - personally, I'd be surprised if it was signature. The account is from a custom shop guy, and he has a ton of finished projects posted.. Here's the inlay:

 

[GMC]

I'm surprised he doesn't give Rob a call from Status Graphite. I'm sure they could make THE definitive Flea bass. Carbon graphite neck, MM pickup, active EQ...pretty much all the things Status Graphite does well.

 

[FenderBender82]

First and second time I saw flea play live I thought he sounded off from the albums. Then when I started playing a stingray I found I could never quite get his sound.

Later on I read an interview with flea where he reviled that in most of his recordings he uses an old pink Alembic bass that what given to him as a gift.

So if he were to ever start another signature line I think he needs to call Alembic up.

 

[cnltb]

If they clean up the fingerboard this might look good!

 

[Chrishi87]

Update:
It seems like this is his new main Bass - according to the pictures of his recent Gigs.

 

[rulefuzz]

a p body would be nicer imo

 

[Jughead6]

Update:
It seems like this is his new main Bass - according to the pictures of his recent Gigs.

Link?

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Here's a pic off the instagram- it's what the kids are using these days.

Speaking of kids, I wouldn't let them by Anthony with that 'stache and haircut, but that's just me...

 

[RoeyHaviv]

Actually he was all over the map with what he recorded with. He did use a Wal on most of BSSM but a SR5 on Funky Monks and Under the Bridge. On Mother's Milk and Uplift Mofo Party, he used a Spector NS-2. Not sure what he played on Freaky Styley.

After BSSM, he used an Alembic on One Hot Minute (spacing out on the exact model, but I want to say it was an Orion). Then the Modulus, mixed in with lots of other basses, on subsequent albums.

He did always use the Stingray live though until the Modulus days came along, and it's the bass he is most commonly associated with. Not really a stretch to bass a Flea sig on a Ray.

I was going to say a similar thing.
My favorite flea tones came from the Wal and NS2