New Fender Flea sig.

[Bikingbasser]

Looks fantastic in every way to me!

 

[I am Soma]

i am probably missing the verbiage right in front of me but is this a USA model?

 

[Sixgunn]

there is some info and general chit chat about it here:

New Fender Flea sig.

(not to be forum police or anything )

You're right. No talking about it here. y'all.

 

[FunkHead]

The pink one at Thomanns almost looks like it has a Quarter-Sawn neck. That would be a nice touch....
And I guess pink would be the logical choice for color as far as true collector status.

 

[JimmyM]

I seem to recall that Flea left Modulus before they folded. They continued to produce the Flea model, rebranded as the 'Funk Unlimited'. Some discussion was had over the initials of the new bass at the time, as if it inferred some acrimony between the two parties. Flea moved on to that honkey-tonk budget bass, and backed that product for a little while before it disappeared.

On the subject of Flea and his basses, what did he record 'Californication' on? Was it a Modulus?

Mostly. Used his concentric pot Jazz on a couple, too. But I don't really follow Modulus' history, or Flea's for that matter, so I certainly could have gotten the timeline wrong.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

i am probably missing the verbiage right in front of me but is this a USA model?

$1600+ USD would be one helluva expensive Standard model. I'm thinking this has to be American, given the price point.

 

[JimmyM]

$1600+ USD would be one helluva expensive Standard model. I'm thinking this has to be American, given the price point.

$1700 in the US, and it is made in the US.

 

[Bassosaurus]

I agree this should have been his sig. model from the get-go. I dig it! Playability/ergonomics of a J-bass with the stingray sound.

I also like the Silver better, but at least the Shell seems to be a tannish pink (not too obnoxious of a pink). I think they'd both look better with RW boards but a lot of folks seem to be digging maple these days and Flea gets what HE wants.

 

[Chiliwailer]

Even as a fan, I don’t get it, but I’m happy for those who do.

I used to have a Modulus FB4, I liked that it was stock and pretty much the same bass that Flea used, so you really got ‘that’ sound and the fun of knowing the bass feels just like his. But the typical Fender USA basses feel nothing like the CS basses, so it seems to me like it’s not at all like what he’d be gigging with. For my two cents worth, Mexican would have made more sense if it isn’t like what he plays anyway, because then more people could have afforded the Flea vibe.

I generally question signature models anyway for similar reasons!

 

[consectaneus]

The pink one at Thomanns almost looks like it has a Quarter-Sawn neck. That would be a nice touch....
And I guess pink would be the logical choice for color as far as true collector status.

The neck is quartersawn. Agree--nice touch!

 

[fauxtoe]

Even as a fan, I don’t get it, but I’m happy for those who do.

I used to have a Modulus FB4, I liked that it was stock and pretty much the same bass that Flea used, so you really got ‘that’ sound and the fun of knowing the bass feels just like his. But the typical Fender USA basses feel nothing like the CS basses, so it seems to me like it’s not at all like what he’d be gigging with. For my two cents worth, Mexican would have made more sense if it isn’t like what he plays anyway, because then more people could have afforded the Flea vibe.

I generally question signature models anyway for similar reasons!

Feel wise, that's hard to say. When they do a signature model they typically try and stick pretty close to what they are basing it off of. Jason Smith created Flea's CS basses and I'll ask him how comparable they really are. The one major difference that I'm sure Fender tried to replicate was the pickup. Flea is using the Legacy/Lane Poor pickup and that is one tough monster to try and clone. Modulus had Seymour Duncan try and do it when LP shut down, but as someone who has Modulus basses with both the SD and Legacy pickups, there is a noticeable difference between the two. The Legacy is much, much smoother with way more clean growl. You can dig into it and it responds in kind. The treble rolls on and off almost like a passive tone control where on the SD it's a little harsh.

 

[IReallyLoveFlea]

Does anyone know what went wrong and why isn't it out yet?

 

[vates]

Did they actually release it? Any reviews?

 

[faulknersj]

Fender Flea Bass Active – Made in USA – Satin Shell Pink – Brand New Model – ETA November 2018

Description


It takes a bass of unusual power to keep up with Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea’s hyperkinetic playing style—a bass like the thunderous Flea Jazz Bass Active. Sporting a custom-shaped Jazz Bass body and a hot Fender humbucking pickup mated to an Aguilar OBP-1 18-volt preamp, this bass cranks out massive output, perfect for pounding a stadium with the power of funk.

The rock-solid quartersawn maple neck sports a comfortable “C”-shaped profile that works well for any playing style; the custom-carved heel makes it effortless to access the upper register. The fast-playing 12-16” compound-radius fingerboard sports 22 medium jumbo frets and a bone nut for enhanced tuning stability.

Other features include a 4-saddle HiMass™ bridge for enhanced sustain, vintage-style disc string tree, lightweight vintage-style tuning machines with tapered shafts and 5-bolt asymmetrical neck plate with custom Flea artwork. Includes vintage-style G&G hardshell case and Certificate of Authenticity.

Product Specs
Model Name
Flea Jazz Bass Active, Maple Fingerboard, Satin Shell Pink

Model #
0192602728

Series
Artist Series

Country Of Origin
US

Color
Shell Pink

Body
Alder

Body Finish
Satin Polyurethane

Body Shape
Jazz Bass®

Neck Material
Quartersawn Maple

Neck Finish
Satin Polyurethane

Neck Shape
“C” Shape

Scale Length
34″ (864 mm)

Fingerboard
Maple

Fingerboard Radius
12″-16″ Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm)

Number of Frets
22

Frets Size
Medium Jumbo

String Nut
Bone

Nut Width
1.620″ (41.15mm)

Position Inlays
Black Dots

Truss Rods
Standard

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Humbucking

Controls
Master Volume, Treble, Bass

Pickup Configuration
H

Bridge
4-Saddle HiMass™

Hardware Finish
Nickel/Chrome

Tuning Machines
Fender® Lightweight Vintage-Style Keys with Tapered Shafts

Control Knobs
Knurled Dome

 

[faulknersj]

Here is the listing I found...

Invalid Link Removed

 

[meatwad]

I dig it! Serious GAS now, bro. Thanks.

Edit for details -

It's likely been done before, but I have always wanted a Jazz with a MM pickup.

I'm 100% a sucker for matching headstocks.

Despite the controversy over what benefits do, or do not exist, I can appreciate the Fender "BA" bridge.

Aguilar preamp? Heck yeah!

I'd have to go for the silver model, though. Personal preference. YMMV.

 

[ThudThudThud]

Congratulations, Fender. You've made a Stingray.

 

[Yahboy]

The Overprice Flea JazzRay

 

[somebrains]

Fender branded Lane Poor MM?

 

[faulknersj]

The feature I love is actually the quartersawn neck. I have a Sterling with a humbucker in that same position and that bass sounds amazing...