bass guitar from “give it away” by red hot chili peppers | ToneDB
give it away
red hot chili peppers
bass guitar
AI generatedv1.0
Tone Profile
A punchy and aggressive bass tone with a bright, slightly overdriven character that cuts through the mix. It emphasizes the attack and articulation of the bass, providing a driving force for the song.
Gear
- Music Man StingRayinstrument
- Reverb$2199Sweetwater
- Gallien-Krueger 800RBamp
- ReverbSweetwater
- Neumann U47microphone
- ReverbSweetwater
- Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DIprocessing
- ReverbSweetwater
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The Story
Flea's bass tone on "Give It Away" was recorded at The Mansion studio in Los Angeles for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" album, produced by Rick Rubin and engineered by Brendan O'Brien. The aggressive, punchy sound came from Flea's signature Music Man StingRay bass played through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB head. The recording used both a direct input signal and a miked amplifier to capture both the clean fundamental tone and the warmth of the amp, with additional character added by a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI for slight overdrive and tonal shaping.
Production Credits
Producer: Rick Rubin
Engineer: Brendan O'Brien
Recorded at: The Mansion (Los Angeles)
Signal Chain
Instrument: Music Man StingRay
Amp: Gallien-Krueger 800RB
Microphone: Neumann U47
Processing: Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
Recreation Tips
- Start with a Music Man StingRay bass or similar instrument with active electronics.
- Use a Gallien-Krueger 800RB or similar solid-state amp known for its punch and clarity.
- Experiment with a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI to add a touch of overdrive and shape the tone.
- If miking the amp, try a Neumann U47 or similar large-diaphragm condenser microphone.
- Play with an aggressive fingerstyle technique to emulate Flea's playing style.
Original Gear
- Music Man StingRay(guitar)
- Gallien-Krueger 800RB(amp)
- Neumann U47(mic)
- Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI(pedal)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Music Man StingRay bass
Licensed version of the StingRay with the same active humbucker pickup and 3-band EQ that gives Flea's signature bright, punchy attack
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Gallien-Krueger 800RB amp head
Modern version of the 800RB with the same solid-state punch and clarity that defined the original tone
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI
Updated version of the exact same unit used on the recording, providing the signature overdrive character and DI capability
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Neumann U47 microphone
Faithful recreation of the U47's large-diaphragm condenser sound that captured the amp's warmth and presence
ReverbSweetwaterAlternative to: Complete signal chain
Digital recreation that models the StingRay bass, GK amp character, and DI processing in a single plugin
ReverbSweetwaterFrequently Asked Questions
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