Hi all!!!
How can i set my new pedal (DOD FX25) for Flea old filter sound?
I'm driving a MMSR4 (93) through GK 500mb.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Flea sound question.
- Thread starter cristian MM93
- Start date
Hi all!!!
How can i set my new pedal (DOD FX25) for Flea old filter sound?
I'm driving a MMSR4 (93) through GK 500mb.
I think on a lot of the Blood Sugar tracks he typically used a boss bass OverDrive pedal ahead of it. Sir Phyco Sexy comes to mind. If memory serves me right, he typically used a very high range setting like 3-4 o'clock and simply set the sensitivity to an appropriate level depending on your bass volume, bass, treble settings. One other key to getting his sound with that pedal is that Flea is notorious for playing very hard and that pedal works on dynamics of the player. When you play harder you have a greater dynamic range for the pedal to react to.
In these videos he is playing the DOD FX25 though.
flea bass solo 4 - YouTube
Try everything set at 12 o' clock. He's playing really really hard. That's what helps his treble cut through the envelop bubble.
flea bass solo 4 - YouTube
Try everything set at 12 o' clock. He's playing really really hard. That's what helps his treble cut through the envelop bubble.
I think I recall something somewhere regarding him also using old almost dead batteries, but that's just something sticking it's head up out of my memory.
Flea has recorded with a few different filters including the Bassballs, Boss Autowah, FX25 and a MuTron III with dying batteries (that's on Sir Psycho Sexy) and for quite a few years he's used a Qtron when playing live.
The example I use for his FX25 sound is the break of "Power of Equality" off Blood Sugar Sex Magik. You can hear it at the 1:58 mark here:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Power Of Equality - YouTube
Scrappersa has it right that he's playing hard. He's slapping with a pretty aggressive attack to boot. And in this case using a pretty hot bass (a Wal).
I'd try setting the frequency of the DOD at around 1 o'clock and then adjust the Sensitivity until you get the filter to open the way you want based on your bass and playing style.
Good luck.
Oh, and just because I think it's worth noting that Flea doesn't seem to have many hangups about gear, you can hear the same break live where he's using his Modulus and (what sounds to be) a Qtron.
The break is around 2:30
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Power Of Equality - YouTube
Sure, the filter sound is very different if you're really listening but it still sounds like the recorded version. Point being that technique/attack plays a huge role. For people chasing a particular tone of course the gear plays a huge role, but don't forget how much the hands always factor into things.
The example I use for his FX25 sound is the break of "Power of Equality" off Blood Sugar Sex Magik. You can hear it at the 1:58 mark here:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Power Of Equality - YouTube
Scrappersa has it right that he's playing hard. He's slapping with a pretty aggressive attack to boot. And in this case using a pretty hot bass (a Wal).
I'd try setting the frequency of the DOD at around 1 o'clock and then adjust the Sensitivity until you get the filter to open the way you want based on your bass and playing style.
Good luck.
Oh, and just because I think it's worth noting that Flea doesn't seem to have many hangups about gear, you can hear the same break live where he's using his Modulus and (what sounds to be) a Qtron.
The break is around 2:30
Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Power Of Equality - YouTube
Sure, the filter sound is very different if you're really listening but it still sounds like the recorded version. Point being that technique/attack plays a huge role. For people chasing a particular tone of course the gear plays a huge role, but don't forget how much the hands always factor into things.
Regarding the dying battery Mutron story - I've heard this many a time, and have always loved the sound on Sir Psycho Sexy. Has anyone tried this to confirm the story? Has anyone modded a Mutron (or Q-Tron?) to have a voltage sag control? And where does the story come from?
I wish I could track down the sources but I remember a print interview with Flea where he talked about it and then a video interview with Rick Rubin mentioning it and saying that they actually replaced the batteries for a take and decided it sounded much better before and put the dead batteries back in.
Hello!
I´m new in the forum. I´ve search but found an anwser for what i´m about to ask. How does flea makes that sound in Power of Equality? I´m not talking about the solo (he uses a envelope filter) but the sound for the verses. Thanks for your attention!
Cheers
I´m new in the forum. I´ve search but found an anwser for what i´m about to ask. How does flea makes that sound in Power of Equality? I´m not talking about the solo (he uses a envelope filter) but the sound for the verses. Thanks for your attention!
Cheers
That's just a Wal run direct to the board. Aggressive fingerstyle on the verses and slap on the chorus.
