Flea's current distortion pedal

[ghostrider]

I checked out some recent rhcp recordings and Flea's new distortion sounds terrible to my ears. Any thoughts on it?

 

[beggar98]

This rig rundown is pretty recent and shows him using a Melekko B:assmaster along with his old MXR Micro Amp (jump ahead to about 5:35). Not sure what you're hearing on the record, though.

 

[aens_wife]

Ugh. I know I'm in the minority most places, but I really don't like the B:Assmaster on bass. I haven't heard Flea using it, but if that is the tone, then I'm with you.

It is ok on guitar, I guess. We borrowed one from Devi Ever a while back and I just couldn't get into it. Not nearly enough low end for me and not nearly as thick as I like.

 

[rr5025]

I checked out some recent rhcp recordings and Flea's new distortion sounds terrible to my ears. Any thoughts on it?

When I first heard the new album I thought his tone overall was awful. I assumed it was because of the switch to acoustic though because I had no problem with his GK tone. So maybe that could be what you're hearing too.

 

[ghostrider]

This rig rundown is pretty recent and shows him using a Melekko B:assmaster along with his old MXR Micro Amp (jump ahead to about 5:35). Not sure what you're hearing on the record, though.

Yeah I'm talking about his tone live cause when he hits the distortion, the sound is grating to my ears. It sounds very thin.

 

[ghostrider]

Ugh. I know I'm in the minority most places, but I really don't like the B:Assmaster on bass. I haven't heard Flea using it, but if that is the tone, then I'm with you.

It is ok on guitar, I guess. We borrowed one from Devi Ever a while back and I just couldn't get into it. Not nearly enough low end for me and not nearly as thick as I like.

Whatever distortion pedal he's using live sounds terrible to me.

 

[ghostrider]

When I first heard the new album I thought his tone overall was awful. I assumed it was because of the switch to acoustic though because I had no problem with his GK tone. So maybe that could be what you're hearing too.

Yeah I prefer the gk over the acoustic, but live his tone with distortion sounds terrible to me

 

[ghostrider]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=/watch?v=TaX59Y9bP3M&v=TaX59Y9bP3M&gl=US
This is a prime example of it. Check out the intro solo.

 

[ghostrider]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=/watch?v=TaX59Y9bP3M&v=TaX59Y9bP3M&gl=US

 

[Flump]

Yeah I'm talking about his tone live cause when he hits the distortion, the sound is grating to my ears. It sounds very thin.

I just saw them at Lolla a few days ago, and the distortion at the beginning of Around the world was exactly like you describe it. Extremely thin and harsh.

 

[patplaysbass]

Well last I saw him (two months ago at Bonnaroo) he was back to GK. I honestly can't remember if he used distortion at all during the show, but maybe someone else who's seen them recently can chip in?

 

[patplaysbass]

I just saw them at Lolla a few days ago, and the distortion at the beginning of Around the world was exactly like you describe it. Extremely thin and harsh.

Was he using his GK or Acoustic rig?

 

[MAMMOTHvolume]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=/watch?v=TaX59Y9bP3M&v=TaX59Y9bP3M&gl=US
This is a prime example of it. Check out the intro solo.

Is that a spoof? Thats worse than a gene simmons solo haha.

The distortion isn't very heavily blended in but it does sound a bit bee hive

 

[EskimoBassist]

The distortion isn't very heavily blended in but it does sound a bit bee hive

Well he DID used to use an ODB-3, so go figure!

 

[mouthmw]

When I first heard the new album I thought his tone overall was awful. I assumed it was because of the switch to acoustic though because I had no problem with his GK tone. So maybe that could be what you're hearing too.

I think it was established that he only used the Acoustic rig live (for a while). For all we know, the album was recorded with his GK rig or something else entirely. And yes, he is back to using GK live, the Acoustic affair was short lived.

 

[Epitaph04]

Sounds okay to me. Not my favorite distortion tone ever, but I think it sounds decent enough.

 

[parmezans]

Sounds fine. Consider that his bass is a Modulus Funk. That's what might be bothering you.

 

[Ron Now]

that's definitely the assmaster in those videos. Sounds like it with a good amount of clean blend.

Twangy highs with a ugly sounding midrange honk in the fuzz.

 

[tigerbass]

Ugh. I know I'm in the minority most places, but I really don't like the B:Assmaster on bass. I haven't heard Flea using it, but if that is the tone, then I'm with you.

It is ok on guitar, I guess. We borrowed one from Devi Ever a while back and I just couldn't get into it. Not nearly enough low end for me and not nearly as thick as I like.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[ghostrider]

Sounds fine. Consider that his bass is a Modulus Funk. That's what might be bothering you.

No I like the tone of a modulus, but his switch from his boss pedal to that malekko(?) pedal was a bad choice. It just sounds bad to me.