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Modulus Flea Bass

#21
I agree with Makalu, check out the Funky Monks DVD for the basses he used. There looked like an Alembic at times, a Wal at times and definitely used a MM5 on one track. I never got my hands on a Modulus Flea or a Flea bass but I'd love to take one for a cruise. Flea hooked up with Modulus after Dave Navarro joined RHCP because Dave was playing Modulus strat styles at the time. He openly hated anything strat like in look or tone in one interview I read back then. Dave never wanted to go after the Fruiscante tone, not because anything personal that I remember, but just that Dave was much more of a PRS type guy. Flea latched on for, as stated by Limeman, the ease of playing in different environments. I don't claim to be an expert but that was my 15 yr old memories of articles I read, feel free to correct me.
 
#22
Limeman said:
The Modulus Flea bass hit the market in late 1996, early 1997. Developed by Modulus with Flea, it was their combined take on the MM Stingray. The neck was revised around the 1999/2000 model year with a slightly thicker/chunkier feel and a truss-rod for adjusting neck relief. Still great sound but didn't play as nice - IMO/IME. Last year, the endorsement with Flea ended and Modulus began calling the bass the Funk Unlimited (FU for short... if you get the drift) and that is what is available now.

The Modulus Flea basses are exceptional instruments, especially for touring, as the neck remains stable no matter the temperature/humidity or how much you lay into/thrash/abuse it. My favorite pup/pre combo was the Bartolini pup/Aguilar OBP1 pre. Absolutely killed for my purposes. Others favor the Lane Poor pup/Aguilar OBP1 pre. The Bartolini pup/pre combo seems to be the least favored. Currently the FU bases come equipped with a Seymour Duncan pup/Aguilar OBP1 pre. This is decent combo, but no where near as good as the Lane Poor or Bartolini pup and Aguilar OBP1 pre combos.

As far as the "new" Flea Basses are concerned, they have been designed for the budget market and students, and just don't cut it - IME/IMO. Some do like them though... but they are a pale shadow in comparison to the Modulus Flea and are built in some sweat shop factory in China or Indonesia.

If you can find a '97 to 99' Modulus Flea (both FB4 and FB5) that is in good condition, snap it up. Sick, sick bass! :bassist:
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I just got a 1999 Modulus Flea bass. all I can say is WOW! how can I find out what kind of pre is in it?
 
#23
no picture, no bass. i got a pic!
 

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#30
The Flea basses (Modulus) while don;t sound very refined to my ear, absolutely cut like a MF out in the house in a live situation, and for that reason alone they are a truley memorable experience to weild, add in the ultra stable neck and you have one bad ass road warrior of a bass.

I had a '98 blue sparkle, while I don't miss the colour at all I miss that bass, it was a blast to play! I would buy a 5 in the JJ config in a heartbeat.......
 
#31
so what do you guys think about this configuration?

(i guess it´s the Funk Unlimited model) Flea 4 Flake Green/OBP-3 Pre-Amp/Matching Headstock/Seymour Duncan MM Pick Up/Bad Ass Bridge/White Pearloid Pick Guard

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(i love the flake/green finish)
 
#33
Shakin-Slim said:
I don't know why Flea Basses (the new colourful ones) get such a bad rap. He's just trying to make something that is accessible and available for young people as a beginner bass. Music isn't an elitist field. And the colours are funky as f***
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excuse me, but check thread title again ... we are not talking about Flea´s cheap "Fleabass", we are talking about the MODULUS Flea bass (now called Funk Unlimited bass).
 
#36
Actually Flea had nothing to do with the development of the Flea Bass, other than choosing a Lane Poor pickup, and signing on as the endorser/namesake. The bridge was changed also, it appears. The same bass existed for several years as the "Sonic Hammer", and it had a Bartolini soapbar pickup. The size and location of the pickup was the same, and there was no pickguard on the Sonic Hammer. I suppose the preamps could be different in the two models as well, but I don't know. It was offered with the option of a quilted maple top, or other exotic wood. Here's a purple one:

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