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.

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.

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.

• 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

Available since: June 2016

Item number: 393407

Colour: Pink

Soundboard: Alder

Neck: Maple

Fretboard: Rosewood

Frets: 20

Scale: Longscale

Pickup System: JJ

Elektronic: Passive

Incl. Case: No

Incl. Gigbag: Yes

Signature: Flea

Body: Alder

Pickups: JJ

Electronics: Passive