What bass guitar did Flea use on Californication?

Flea used a Music Man StingRay bass on 'Californication.' This has been his primary bass throughout much of his career and is well-documented as his main instrument during the Californication album sessions.

How to get Flea's bass tone on Californication?

Use a Music Man StingRay bass through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp with a SansAmp PSA-1 for additional tube saturation. Blend a direct input signal with the amplified sound and apply moderate compression to even out the dynamics.

What amp did Flea use for Californication bass sound?

Flea used a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp head for the Californication bass recordings. This amp is known for its clean, powerful sound and has been a staple in his rig for many years.

Did Flea use effects on Californication bass?

Yes, Flea used a SansAmp PSA-1 preamp which added tube-style saturation and grit to his bass tone. The recording also likely used compression during mixing to enhance sustain and even out dynamics.

Where was Californication bass recorded?

The bass for 'Californication' was recorded at Village Recorder in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Rick Rubin with Andrew Scheps as the engineer.

bass guitar from "californication" by red hot chili peppers

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Tone Profile

A clean, round, and slightly compressed bass tone that provides a solid foundation for the song. It has a smooth low-end and clear mid-range, allowing the bassline to be both felt and heard distinctly in the mix.

Shop This Rig

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Music Man StingRay(instrument)
Gallien-Krueger 800RB(amp)
SansAmp PSA-1(processing)

The Story

Flea recorded the bass for 'Californication' using his signature Music Man StingRay bass through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp head and SansAmp PSA-1 preamp. The recording was done at Village Recorder in Los Angeles with Rick Rubin producing and Andrew Scheps engineering. The final tone likely combined a direct input signal with the amplified sound to capture both the clarity of the bass and warmth of the amp.

Production Credits

Producer: Rick Rubin

Engineer: Andrew Scheps

Recorded at: Village Recorder (Los Angeles, CA)

Signal Chain

Instrument: Music Man StingRayShop on Reverb

Amp: Gallien-Krueger 800RBShop on Reverb

Processing: SansAmp PSA-1Shop on Reverb

Recreation Tips

Start with a Music Man StingRay bass for its distinct punch and clarity.
Use a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp model or similar amp known for its clean and powerful sound.
Incorporate a SansAmp PSA-1 to add grit and saturation.
Apply moderate compression to even out the dynamics and enhance sustain.
Blend a DI signal with the amped signal to achieve a balance of clarity and warmth.

Original Gear

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Music Man StingRayShop on Reverb(guitar)
Gallien-Krueger 800RBShop on Reverb(amp)
SansAmp PSA-1Shop on Reverb(pedal)

Substitutions & Recommendations

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

Alternative to: Music Man StingRay bass

More affordable version of Flea's signature bass with the same distinctive humbucker pickup and punchy tone character

Gallien-Krueger MB800Shop on Reverb$600-$700

Alternative to: Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp head

Modern GK head that maintains the clean, powerful sound character of the 800RB in a lighter package

Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI V2Shop on Reverb$200-$250

Alternative to: SansAmp PSA-1 preamp

Provides the same SansAmp tube amp simulation and DI capability in a pedal format for the PSA-1's grit and saturation

IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5Plugin Boutique$150-$200

Alternative to: Complete signal chain

Includes accurate models of StingRay basses, GK amps, and SansAmp processing for the complete Californication bass sound in software

Sources

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