Tone Profile

Punchy, articulate, and aggressive with a prominent midrange growl and clear percussive attack, defining the song's iconic funk-rock groove. The tone is relatively clean, allowing Flea's dynamic slap and pop technique to shine through with minimal processing.

Production Credits

Signal Chain

Recording Notes

• Recorded at The Mansion in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, known for its unique acoustic environment.
• Produced by Rick Rubin and engineered by Brendan O'Brien, focusing on a raw, powerful, and live sound.
• Flea utilized his Wal Mach II bass, GHS Boomers strings (having recently switched from Rotosound), a Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp, and a Mesa/Boogie cabinet.
• The bass sound was captured using a blend of a DI signal and a microphone (Sennheiser MD421 or EV RE20) on the amp.
• According to engineer Brendan O'Brien, there was no EQ and likely no compression used on the bass during tracking, emphasizing the natural tone and Flea's dynamics.

Recreation Tips

• Use a bass with active electronics and a powerful, articulate pickup system (e.g., a Wal if accessible, or alternatives like a Music Man StingRay, G&L L-2000).
• Master Flea's aggressive slap and pop technique, paying attention to rhythmic precision, ghost notes, and dynamic range.
• Use fresh GHS Boomers roundwound strings (medium gauge, e.g., .045-.105) for the characteristic brightness and punch.
• Employ a Gallien-Krueger 800RB or a similar solid-state amp known for its fast transient response and clear, punchy tone, paired with a quality bass cabinet (e.g., 2x15 or 4x10).
• Recreate the DI/mic blend: send a clean DI signal and a mic'd amp signal to your interface/mixer and balance them. For the mic, try an MD421 or RE20 aimed at the edge of the speaker cone.
• Keep processing minimal. Focus on achieving the core tone through instrument choice, strings, playing style, and amp settings rather than relying on effects.

Original Gear

• Wal Mach II Custom Bass(Bass Guitar)
• Gallien-Krueger 800RB Bass Amplifier Head(Amp)
• Mesa/Boogie Bass Cabinet (e.g., Diesel or PowerHouse 2x15)(Bass Cabinet)
• Sennheiser MD 421-II Dynamic Microphone(Mic)
• Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Microphone(Mic)
• High-quality Active DI Box (e.g., Radial J48, Countryman Type 85)(DI Box)
• GHS Bass Boomers M3045 (.045-.105) Roundwound Bass Strings(Strings)