New Fender Flea sig.

[johnson79]

I'm surprised by the pricing. I was totally thinking it would be about $2k.
Plus, it comes with an OBP-1 preamp, and in pink! I don't need one, but I want one!

 

[Thundar]

I just saw this bass in an email from Fender! Holy Cow! I could care less that its a Flea Signature model or even a Fender...that is one awesome looking bass! Especially the Inca Silver! Now I have to find one to play!

 

[mouthmw]

Nut width 1.620" ?!!
Same than a 70' p-bass right ?

Nice, now that I like! 1.5" is just too thin for me.

 

[Clemouze]

Nice, now that I like! 1.5" is just too thin for me.

I Guess this is an error
Flea played 62 jazz bass and modulus flea bass wich have both a jazz style nut width so.. maybe a reminiscence of a stingray nut width ?

 

[mouthmw]

I Guess this is an error
Flea played 62 jazz bass and modulus flea bass wich have both a jazz style nut width so.. maybe a reminiscence of a stingray nut width ?

Maybe, although I'm thinking it might be an error and that it actually has a jazz width A neck.

 

[Rlbragg15]

Based on the photos, it looks to be more of a 1.5" jazz style neck width. Although, when I had his model Modulus, the neck was more in line with that 1.62" listed width, which felt between a Jazz and a Stingray. The biggest thing for me will be that 12-16" compound radius.

 

[Clemouze]

Based on the photos, it looks to be more of a 1.5" jazz style neck width. Although, when I had his model Modulus, the neck was more in line with that 1.62" listed width, which felt between a Jazz and a Stingray. The biggest thing for me will be that 12-16" compound radius.

Ho ?
In my flea bass it feels like a J width !
I read that the 2007 version ( mine ) is 1.56" (edit)

 

[Rlbragg15]

Modulus FU4 necks are 1.56" at the nut which is between a Jazz and a Ray, like I stated above. The neck also felt more like a D shape than C.

 

[lloganbracee]

I am a big fan of Flea and the RHCP.

I waited for this bass cause this is what he plays ACTUALLY while gigging.

The jazz bass that was released before was only present in video clips and commercials...

I mean... he did record a 29 track album with it. Songs like “Hump De Bump” wouldn’t be the same without a burpy sounding JB loaded with flats.

 

[Clemouze]

I mean... he did record a 29 track album with it. Songs like “Hump De Bump” wouldn’t be the same without a burpy sounding JB loaded with flats.

Yeah and the first part of Stadium Arcadium tour

 

[lloganbracee]

Yeah and the first part of Stadium Arcadium tour

The output of his vintage Jazz might not have been enough to keep playing live, but he clearly loved the sound & the feel. I think that bass deserves all the love it gets.

 

[Clemouze]

The output of his vintage Jazz might not have been enough to keep playing live, but he clearly loved the sound & the feel. I think that bass deserves all the love it gets.

But in the live videos in which he played it , it sounds good !
Maybe because it is a remix and in true live the sound was not the same ?

 

[howlin]

I think it's a longer neck - it's got 22 frets, and if the body is a standard shape that'd mean more butt left over. It might not fit into some standard cases, though.

That's NOT the way it works. They just add another fret to the butt end of the neck - usually an overhang.

 

[micguy]

That's NOT the way it works. They just add another fret to the butt end of the neck - usually an overhang.

Typically, that’s how it’s done (I have basses like that), but adding a fret on the butt end means the last fret would be further onto the body. Seeing where the 22st fret is on that bass, it doesn’t look like that’s what they did here. My guess is the neck is longer on the other end, which would also explain why the bridge is further from the butt end of the body.

Another alternative is that the body isn’t a standard Jazz body. Then all bets would be off as to where things line up.

 

[Skullie]

Back in November of 2016 I asked Jason Smith, the Fender Custom Shop Master Builder who built/builds all of Flea's CS basses, why the bridge looked shifted away from the edge of the body. Click on the thumbnail to check out his response.

 

[Rlbragg15]

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[lloganbracee]

But in the live videos in which he played it , it sounds good !
Maybe because it is a remix and in true live the sound was not the same ?

I always thought it sounded great, too. However, my understanding from what I’ve gathered here is that he needed more output, which is why he’s using this new model live.

Either way, that Vintage Jazz was incredible.

 

[taught]

I mean... he did record a 29 track album with it. Songs like “Hump De Bump” wouldn’t be the same without a burpy sounding JB loaded with flats.

You're right. I ignored a couple of facts before, thanks for pointing it out.

 

[JohnnyTog]

No graphite rods in the neck ?

 

[Rlbragg15]

I would think it's constructed like Fender's recent Select necks...quartersawn maple with graphite rods.