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New Stingray Special or New Flea Bass?
- Thread starter Mantis Tobaggan
- Start date
Ernie Ball strap! Hah!
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It is a lovely bass. I have not yet played it with my band but I am looking forward to playing it in the mix. The bass is very well built in my opinion. It is balanced and light, fit and finish is perfect. I like the sound of the bass, you can make it sound overdriven by cranking the controls of the bass or you can make it sound very pretty. The controls feel different from an Ernie Ball. The sounds that can be coaxed out of it are very Flea however. It feels like a nice blend between Fender and Ernie Ball. I am very happy with it. I think it is a nice, unique little Fender.
It is called a Bass Hanger. They work well on Ampeg 810 cabs. You can get them on ebay.
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That's a cool idea! Wish I'd have thought of it. I googled it and there are ton of alternatives. I may make one from a Hercules hanger I have laying around.
I don't know about that. Flea makes a ton of dough. I don't think that would be an incentive for him to play a bass on world tours that he's not getting off on.
Fender is a very respected company amongst most musicians. It should be no surprise that and artist would work with them to create an instrument just for them and then endorse it's place in the product line.
- May 20, 2000
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- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar Amplification, Spector, Dingwall, Tech 21 NYC, Darkglass
What I've heard is Flea wasn't happy with his relationship with EBMM and that led him to work with other companies for the past 20+ years. He already had a Fender signature jazz bass so it makes sense he would continue to work with Fender to give him an active bass as well.
It doesn't have to be a money consideration, I'm sure for someone as successful as Flea it's an ego stroke to have a bass with your name on it. I don't blame him. What matters more imo is that the bass in question be a good bass, and it seems Fender was able to work with him to deliver that.
NB Flea has still been pictured with EBMM basses in the last 20 yrs from time to time - as a legendary recording bass no doubt he still likes them.
This new Fender is surely simply a Stingray copy - with 2 band EQ - no great miracle there.
You can imagine Flea fans wanting these basses, but frankly, the result of the poll suggests given the choice, most people would buy the Stingray (Special) - rather unsurprisingly. The Stingray's a higher price, has higher end materials and more flexibility.
Will still be interested to try one when they appear.
It's interesting that Flea didn't insist on a graphite neck on this bass.
This new Fender is surely simply a Stingray copy - with 2 band EQ - no great miracle there.
You can imagine Flea fans wanting these basses, but frankly, the result of the poll suggests given the choice, most people would buy the Stingray (Special) - rather unsurprisingly. The Stingray's a higher price, has higher end materials and more flexibility.
Will still be interested to try one when they appear.
It's interesting that Flea didn't insist on a graphite neck on this bass.
I don't think that Fender released this bass under any pretense that they were revolutionizing the industry. It is just a well built, well spec'd bass with Flea's stamp of approval.
There's really no need to keep belaboring the obvious fact that it's designed to cop Stingray tones. Also, the materials are different, not necessarily higher end on the Music Man.
I'd be interested to see the sales figures of the Fender Flea Bass vs the Classic Stingray 4 it's designed to emulate. Incidentally, the Classic Stingray, which would be the more apt comparison with the Flea, has a street price $300 higher than the new Stingray Special.
As for the neck, it is quartersawn maple which is either an upgrade or simply unavailable from most other manufacturers.
I really like Fender basses, I think the are reliable and won't break the bank, I have been following Flea for a long time and to me this is the "perfect" combination of a Stingray with a Fender vibe. ( I always had issues with neck stability on my EB's and for one reason or the other always end up selling them ( I had 5)
Is it perfect ? no
Do I wish it had a pickguard? yes
Do I love the colors? No.
Overall I am looking forward to playing this bass
Is it perfect ? no
Do I wish it had a pickguard? yes
Do I love the colors? No.
Overall I am looking forward to playing this bass
Flea's Basses:
MusicMan Cutlass I (for first two albums) which featured a Modulus graphite neck.
Spector NS2 (Uplift Mofo album) with bolt on neck and J pickups.
Spector NS2 (Mothers Milk album) neck through with EMG P+J pickups.
An old short scale Teisco/SilverTone MB4 (Mothers Milk).
MusicMan StingRay (Blood Sugar Sex Magik album) and for some years of touring, not sure about Pickup and PreAmp brand.
Wal MkII (some of Blood Sugar Sex Magik recordings) and not on tour.
Alembic Epic (One Hot Minute recordings) but not on tour.
Modulus Flea Basses with Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar OBP-1 PreAmp (Californication album) and for at least a decade of touring.
1961 Fender Jazz Bass (Californication, By The Way, Stadium Arcadium, I'm With You, The Getaway)
Since 2017 he has added his Fender Flea bass with Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar OBP-1.
If you want what Flea has been rockin' live for quite a while...it's Lane Poor pickups and an Aguilar OBP-1 Pre ..on the bass of your choice.
....or a Modulus Flea with Lane Poor and OBP-1.
He has a Seymour Duncan MM pickup on one of his Modulus Fleas.
If you want what he has used on the last five albums, it's the pink 1961 Fender Jazz Bass said to be worth $35,000.
MusicMan Cutlass I (for first two albums) which featured a Modulus graphite neck.
Spector NS2 (Uplift Mofo album) with bolt on neck and J pickups.
Spector NS2 (Mothers Milk album) neck through with EMG P+J pickups.
An old short scale Teisco/SilverTone MB4 (Mothers Milk).
MusicMan StingRay (Blood Sugar Sex Magik album) and for some years of touring, not sure about Pickup and PreAmp brand.
Wal MkII (some of Blood Sugar Sex Magik recordings) and not on tour.
Alembic Epic (One Hot Minute recordings) but not on tour.
Modulus Flea Basses with Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar OBP-1 PreAmp (Californication album) and for at least a decade of touring.
1961 Fender Jazz Bass (Californication, By The Way, Stadium Arcadium, I'm With You, The Getaway)
Since 2017 he has added his Fender Flea bass with Lane Poor pickup and Aguilar OBP-1.
If you want what Flea has been rockin' live for quite a while...it's Lane Poor pickups and an Aguilar OBP-1 Pre ..on the bass of your choice.
....or a Modulus Flea with Lane Poor and OBP-1.
He has a Seymour Duncan MM pickup on one of his Modulus Fleas.
If you want what he has used on the last five albums, it's the pink 1961 Fender Jazz Bass said to be worth $35,000.
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I picked up a pink Flea active Fender this week. Good tones, feels great. Neck is like a Jazz but a hair thicker with a nice C back. Plays great. Personally I think the pickup is a bit hot - especially with the 18V pre, but you can't complain about the tone. I have a NBD post with sound samples as well.
That's a nice rig and a great NBD! How much influence did this thread have/not have?
