Fender Unveils Flea Signature Jazz Bass
Fender has teamed up with bass legend Flea to release the Flea Signature Jazz Bass. The new model is a recreation of the bassist’s Shell Pink 1961 Jazz Bass he received from a fan and used to record the Red Hot Chili Peppers albums Stadium Arcadium and The Getaway.
“Shell Pink is the rarest of Fender’s classic Custom Color finishes, and Flea’s ’61 Jazz Bass is quite possibly the only one in existence,” the company shared. “We’ve carefully recreated his personal instrument’s exact faded shade as it exists today, and then applied an eye-catching Road Worn nitrocellulose lacquer finish that perfectly replicates Flea’s playing wear. A special neck plate engraved with Flea’s own artwork commemorates the inspirational player behind this instrument.”
In addition to replicating its appearance, the Flea signature bass features vintage-accurate electronics with a pair of American-made Pure Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass pickups and stacked concentric controls. Its bridge has four threaded steel “barrel” saddles that Fender says adds a touch of crispness to enhance attack.
The Fender Flea Signature Jazz Bass will be shipping soon with a street price of $1,199.99.
Fender Flea Signature Jazz Bass Specs:
| Body: | Alder |
| Finish: | Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Neck: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Neck Shape: | “C” Shape |
| Scale Length: | 34″ (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard Material: | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 7.25″ (184.1 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Vintage-Style |
| Nut Material: | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.5″ (38.1 mm) |
| Position Inlays: | Aged White Dot |
| Pickups: | American Vintage ’64 Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Stacked Concentric Controls Volume 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Tone 2. (Bridge Pickup) |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle Vintage-Style |
| Hardware Finish: | Nickel/Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Fender Vintage-Style |
| Pickguard: | 4-Ply Tortoiseshell |
| Control Knobs: | Knurled Chrome/Black Concentric |
| Neck Plate: | Special Flea Neckplate |
| Strings: | Fender USA, NPS, (Gauges .045 – .105) |
| Case: | Deluxe Gig Bag |
Nice bass! I personally hope they also offer that new silver Fender he has been using on the road. With the Fender Jazz bass body, but with a MM pickup rather than two single coil pickups.
$1200 for a Mexican made bass? I guess it does have American pick ups. But they weren’t charging much more than that for American Standards a year ago. And I still don’t personally get the road worn thing when it will look exactly the same as every other one of these they put out. But hey…to each their own and more power to them. Gotta make money just like everyone else. And I bet this will be a big seller..possibly even more than their Geddy Lee model in the long run.
The strings are US too – Ha A bit pricey in my book for a Mexi.
My Fender signature bass will be out soon.
Seriously, I get it but really, who doesn’t have a signature bass?
I think Janet in Accounting is still waiting for hers. Oh, and maybe Frank, but he’s an intern.
I love this bass. I don’t know which is cooler, concentric pot Jazz Basses, or Seventies Jazz Basses.
I’m pretty sure it makes no difference, but why not put 1961 spec pickups on a 1961 style bass instead of 1964 pickups? Everyone original 1960 or 61 Jazz I ever heard sounded great.