What bass did Flea use on By The Way?

Flea used his signature Music Man StingRay bass on 'By The Way'. The StingRay has been his primary instrument throughout most of his career with the Red Hot Chili Peppers and provides the punchy, aggressive tone he's known for.

What amp did Flea use to record By The Way?

Flea used a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amplifier for the 'By The Way' recordings. This solid-state amp head was known for its clean, powerful sound and became a staple of his rig during this era.

How to get Flea's bass tone on By The Way?

To recreate Flea's tone, start with a Music Man StingRay or similar bass with active electronics and a humbucker pickup. Run it through a solid-state amp like a Gallien-Krueger for clean power and definition. Use fingerstyle technique with occasional slap bass elements and light compression to even out dynamics.

What makes the StingRay bass sound so punchy?

The Music Man StingRay's punch comes from its active 2-band EQ preamp and ceramic humbucker pickup positioned near the bridge. This combination provides strong output, aggressive midrange character, and excellent note definition that cuts through dense mixes.

Did Flea use effects on By The Way bass tracks?

The bass tone on 'By The Way' appears to be primarily the direct sound of the StingRay through the GK amp, likely with some studio compression. Flea's approach on this album emphasized the natural character of his bass and amp combination rather than heavy effects processing.

bass guitar from "by the way" by red hot chili peppers

by the way

red hot chili peppers

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Tone Profile

A punchy and defined bass tone with a slightly aggressive edge, providing a solid foundation for the song's energetic rhythm.

Shop This Rig

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Music Man StingRay(instrument)
Gallien-Krueger 800RB(amp)

The Story

Flea recorded 'By The Way' using his signature Music Man StingRay bass through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amplifier. The album was recorded at Cello Studios in Los Angeles with Rick Rubin producing and Ryan Hewitt engineering. The StingRay's active electronics and humbucker pickup provided the characteristic punch and definition, while the GK 800RB delivered the clean, powerful solid-state sound that became a hallmark of Flea's tone during this period.

Production Credits

Producer: Rick Rubin

Engineer: Ryan Hewitt

Recorded at: Cello Studios (Los Angeles, CA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Music Man StingRayShop on Reverb

Amp: Gallien-Krueger 800RBShop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Music Man StingRay bass for its distinctive punch.
Use a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp or a similar solid-state amp to get that clear, powerful sound.
Experiment with fingerstyle playing and slap bass techniques to capture Flea's energy.
Use a touch of compression to even out the dynamics and add sustain.

Original Gear

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Music Man StingRayShop on Reverb(guitar)
Gallien-Krueger 800RBShop on Reverb(amp)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Sterling by Music Man Ray4Shop on Reverb$400-$500

Alternative to: Music Man StingRay

Budget version of Flea's bass with similar active electronics and humbucker pickup that delivers the characteristic StingRay punch

Music Man StingRay SpecialShop on Reverb$2,200-$2,500

Alternative to: Music Man StingRay

Current production StingRay with the same active preamp and ceramic humbucker that defined Flea's aggressive, punchy tone

Gallien-Krueger Legacy 800Shop on Reverb$800-$900

Alternative to: Gallien-Krueger 800RB

Modern recreation of the classic 800RB with the same clean, powerful solid-state sound and biamp design

Darkglass Alpha OmegaShop on Reverb$250-$300

Alternative to: Music Man StingRay active tone

Can add the aggressive midrange bite and definition to passive basses to approximate the StingRay's active character

Neural DSP ParallaxPlugin Boutique$100-$130