Fender Flea Sig Bass RDWRN SH B-Stock
Electric Bass
- Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) signature model
- Type: Offset
- Body: Alder
- Neck: Maple
- Neck shape: C
- Fretboard: Rosewood (Dalbergia latifolia)
- Scale: Long scale
- 20 Vintage frets
- Pickups: 2 Dual pure vintage 64 J-bass single coils
- Special neck plate with artwork by Flea
- Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
- Colour: Faded pink shell
- Includes gig bag
Sometimes the search ends where it started
Many seasoned bass players end the quest to find "their" sound by choosing an electric bass from the instrument's earliest days - in other words, a vintage bass. Red Hot Chili Peppers' bass maestro Flea is no exception, and was fortunate enough to come into possession of a 1961 Fender Jazz Bass that, interestingly, features pickups from 1964 and embodies everything he has ever looked for in a bass. What makes it more unique still is that it is finished in Shell Pink, a colour that Fender used only extremely rarely at the time, and Fender's Mexican-made Flea Signature Bass now means that fans and players alike can also get their hands on an exact reproduction of this one-of-a-kind instrument.
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Incredibly close to the original
The Flea Signature Bass is manufactured at Fender's plant in Mexico and features the same components as the original: An alder body with a C-shape maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets and "reverse action" machine heads. The two high-quality 1964 Pure Vintage single coil pickups are made by Fender USA and, as on Fender's earliest Jazz Bass models, are governed by two "stacked" knobs on which the top section controls the pickup's volume, while the outer ring (which is incremental for better orientation) controls the tone. Both the nitrocellulose lacquer on the body and neck and all of the hardware parts have been artificially aged to give the bass real vintage flair, and the only indication that this is an artist signature model is the stylised "Flea" signature that is discreetly engraved into the neck plate. The scope of delivery also includes a gig bag.
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it
The Fender Flea Signature Bass is a faithful reproduction of the company's Jazz Basses from around 1961 in every respect. The dizzyingly high prices demanded for original instruments on the vintage market mean that these gems are now usually far beyond the means of mere musicians - fortunately, however, the Flea Signature Bass now gives them a chance to get their hands on a bass with the same desirable qualities without spending a fortune. The "Roadworn Series" represents the pinnacle of Fender's Mexican-made basses and combines affordable volume-production quality with custom shop finesse. Since the relicing is carried out according to a template as part of the manufacturing process, the wear does not vary from bass to bass, but the instrument will pick up the player's individual "mojo" with every gig and every drop of sweat, and will become unique in no time at all.
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About Fender
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
60 years and still going strong
Virtually all Fender Jazz Bass afficionados agree that basses from the early 1960s have a particular magic about them, and this is due in no small part to the neck profiles used at the time, which for many bassists represent the abolute pinnacle of playing comfort. While the artificial ageing may be part of a larger, popular trend, it may not be important to everybody with regard to looks and aesthetics - however, the sound and playability of the Flea Signature Bass do not suffer in any way as a result.
In the spotlight
Ageing, relic, and roadworn
Terms like "Ageing", "Relic", and "Roadworn" refer to the process of artificially ageing instruments. When it comes to guitars and basses, this includes the look and feel of all the components, which after decades of use display significant signs of corrosion and wear due to sweat, climatic exposure, and the rigours of transport and life on the road. Driven by the frequently exhorbitant prices that older, used instruments now fetch on the vintage market (not despite but often precisely because of their worn appearance), "ageing" has now become an art form in itself as well as a popular trend. Many of the instruments that have been perfectly aged in this way are now virtually indistinguishable from the vintage originals - apart from in price, of course.
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