How is this bass sound accomplished? (Flea)

[swartzfeger]

Originally Posted by Spoiled

Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie [Official Music Video] - YouTube

Does anyone know how they got this bass sound. The bass guitar seems to be all over the place, but it's still not bothering the other stuff. Would be interesting to know if they used some unusual technique to accomplish that.

Hate to give an answer that most of the time seems obvious/snarky, but most of it comes from Flea's fingers. One of the few things I do on this miserable rock reasonably well is play bass. Sounds perfect and seamless when done with skill, amateur hour when not nailed with precision.

Tight Motown-style eighth note finger pumping, not too close to the bridge for just enough body, not too close to the neck so it's not flabby, add compression to flavor. New strings can have too much harmonic overtones, so roll off the treble a bit.

Nothing spectacular there, just classic tone and technique

[glenn Taylor]

The amp in the video almost looks like a acoustic 360. The cabinet I think has a 18" folded design. I had a 370 which had a similar design. The suggested mic position for this amp was like the top right of the cabinet. I have no idea what he used on the recording,but the sound has that acoustic 360\370 sound. Jaco Pastorius always used to use acoustics. My bass pod has a 360 setting. GT

[jwh1192]

sweaty fingers and a big amp .. and Flea's brain attached to the fingers ...

i could hear them from my house 8 blocks away that day ... thought it was a garage band a few doors down until the wind blew in the right direction. then you knew it was outside and loud ... haha thanks for sharing ...

[nevefreak]

he uses a ton of compression

but his plucking fingers are the sound

nothing you can't get though,

just play overly aggressive and hard

[Slikjmuzik]

That Chad Smith is one sick goovelayer too...