flea's sound

[devon128]

i was just wondering if anyone knows exactly what flea used to use when he played stingrays, ie like, strings, amps, effects... and how to get that exact sound that he used to have. thanks

 

[bovinehost]

While not exactly a big Flea fan, I would guess that to get his exact sound, you would need to have Flea's brain and hands.

 

[Bo.cox]

from what i know, flea uses or use to use a galien krueger amp. i found that the sound on the album freaky style is more of an overdriven dirty sound, my trace elliot gp12 smx makes a similar as flea with my sting 5! get yourself some stiff steel strings, makes slap easier!! if you want that funky sharp sound with the deep bottom end, 4x10 will produce it!!

 

[sdguyman]

I believe that GK sponsors him. Everytime I have ever seen the Chili's play there was a full stack of GK equip. and cabs

 

[ebb soul]

While this response is in no way about Flea's sound, might I suggest a trick I discovered recently that might work with other amps. Plugged my MM into an old fender dual showman. Talk about snarl and growl! But yet good tight tone....could scare hippies at a thousand paces!!

 

[Estin]

i've see Flea using Mesa/boogie amps and cabinets with his MM basses before as well. 4x10's and 1x15's on bottom. we all know he's using modulous basses now.

 

[Shockmask]

If you are talking about what you hear live, a Stingray for and an EMU-tronic emulator (not sure if that's the name) with a Galien Kruger rig should get you started. If you are talking about recorded stuff, you will need a Wal bass. Flea recorded extensively with a Wal bass that he said was great in the studio, but wasn't great live (can't remember why).

 

[devon128]

anyone know what kinda strings he uses?

 

[hands 5]

Seems to me that if you boost every knob (treble,treble,bass)all the way up !you would get that type of a sound.But,I could be wrong.

 

[atdi 900]

to get flea's sound you need two things, his fingers and a GK.

 

[Cutlass I]

I have seen him use (2x15 + 2x10) x2 boogie + GK.

Strings.. well, for some add's, you saw him earlier on posters with .50 EB strings.. which should match up to his very agressive style of playing that made EB change the position of the brigde to make the strings go in a straight line and made the grooves in the saddles deeper...

I have tried a GK800 with my SWR8x8.. superduper fast and tight.. WOW..

 

[elysiantrap]

i know he played w/ a 6x10 with a boogie head, and a 2x15 with a boogie head.

 

[fifthorange]

Flea uses GHS, and has been using them. i think he has signiture sets now

 

[bovinehost]

At the risk of repeating myself, I would guess that to get his exact sound, you would need to have Flea's brain and hands.

You might have to wait on the hands, but I do think he's pretty much done with the brain.

 

[fire]

Flea NOW uses:

Modulus Flea Bass (mostly)
GK 2001RB heads
GK 410 RBH's
GK 115 RBH's

Flea used to mainly use:

Ernie Ball Stingrays
GK 800RB
Mesa 2x15 Roadready's
Mesa 2x10 Roadready's

Flea has used:

Trace Elliott Cabs
Peavey Cabs
Spector
Guild
Fender Jazz
Wal (for bssm)
Alembic Epic (for ohm)

probably a ton more that I am missing.

Flea has used a slew of different brands but his sound has always been very recognizable (at least I think so) so Bovine is right in saying that you need his hands and brain. and yeah his brain is probably pretty fried by now.

 

[Lync]

To my ears his sound hasn't been as good recently as it was on Blood Sugar Sex Magic....could it be because he now uses Modulus?

 

[hands 5]

If you are talking about what you hear live, a Stingray for and an EMU-tronic emulator (not sure if that's the name) with a Galien Kruger rig should get you started. If you are talking about recorded stuff, you will need a Wal bass. Flea recorded extensively with a Wal bass that he said was great in the studio, but wasn't great live (can't remember why).

,and from what I've been told he still does use Wal basses in the studio.

 

[fifthorange]

Flea had a unique sound that will never be forgotten, thats all we can hold true. he is a great bass player, i dont see the cause of further analyzing his sound. just enjoy the music.

 

[el_santo]

Flea's sound revealed

Hi Guys,

I'm using a Sterling Ray 4 S.U.B. series.

The secret of flea's sound is not a big SECRET is basicly tree things...

1.- "The most important" the EXTREMELY LOW ACTION setting of his basses (I've tested that, just hear a flea's solo and you will hear the high Bass fret buzz).

2.- ----> """"The aggresive technique, the way he touch the strings""""

3.- EXTREMELY high treble setting

Maybe number 4.- """((Gallien-Krueger power))""" that amps have a particular punchy sound (I've tested using my GK mb-500 head with 2x10 cab)


I've tested with a Yamaha rbx-375 having similar results obviously in my two basses using ernieball Strings :-D

 

[Gravesend Black]

Very informative after 9 years of silence in this topic