If you’re wondering if Fender Flea Signature Road Worn Jazz Bass is worth it or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that unique model. Surely, it’s a perfect guitar for all fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers, but is it actually worth the money?
The truth is that Fender Flea Signature Jazz Bass offers an amazing value. It sounds, looks and feels absolutely great. Although it’s not a cheap guitar, it’s definitely one of the best Mexican-made Jazz Basses that are manufactured by Fender.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this Jazz Bass so good and so popular. Firstly, we’ll start with the overview of the specifications of that model. Additionally, we’ll investigate the main pros and cons of that bass. Hopefully, this guide will help you figure out if this Jazz Bass is a good fit for you.
Overview – Specs & Pricing
Fender Flea Signature Jazz Bass is a high quality 4-string bass guitar designed for the most demanding bassists out there. This model is based on the original ’61 Jazz Bass which was used on some of the most famous RHCP records. And in fact, it’s one of the most popular signature basses made by Fender!
What makes this guitar so cool and popular? Well, the guitar features an alder body, a comfortable C-shaped maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. The thin and smooth neck guarantees an enjoyable and comfortable playing experience, so this guitar allows you to practice for hours without getting tired.
The manufacturer equipped this bass with a pair of Pure Vintage ’64 pickups which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Whether you’re into blues, rock, funk or jazz, you’ll definitely appreciate the amount of different tones that you can get with these pickups.
It is also worth mentioning that the Flea Jazz Bass looks awesome from the outside too. It’s available in Road Worn Shell Pink finish, which has a really nice, vintage vibe. Surely, all lovers of vintage gear will fall in love with that design.
When it comes to pricing, it’s not exactly a cheap guitar, but that’s totally understandable. Guitars from the Signature Series are always a bit more expensive. Still, the Flea Jazz Bass is definitely worth every cent. It looks and sounds amazing!
Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.
Pros And Cons Of Flea Jazz Bass
Although Fender Flea Signature Series Road Worn Jazz Bass is generally a fantastic guitar, just like all other Mexican-made Fenders, it has its own advantages and disadvantages. Don’t worry though – the cons of that bass aren’t too serious.
Pros
- Great Tone
- Perfect For RHCP Fans
- Comfortable Neck
- Road Worn Body
- High Versatility
- Perfect Setup
Cons
- Quite Expensive
- Similar Quality To Less Expensive J Basses From Player Series
As you can see, the Flea Jazz Bass has a lot of great advantages. It’s definitely one of the best looking Jazz Basses that are currently made by Fender. There’s something really cool about that vintage road worn design. Additionally, this guitar sounds and feels absolutely amazing!
On the other hand, the high price seems to be the biggest disadvantage of that model. Overall, it features a similar quality as other basses from the Player Series by Fender. So the higher price is a result of the unique look and the fact that it’s branded as the Flea bass.
However, I’m positive that the price won’t discourage fans of Flea and Red Hot Chili Peppers from getting this guitar. Although it’s not cheap, it’s definitely worth the money. I wouldn’t say that it’s overpriced. That’s for sure!
Here’s an another sound demo.
Who Is It For?
Fender Flea Signature Series Road Worn Jazz Bass is suitable for both amateur and more intermediate bass players. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re an advanced musician or not – you will definitely appreciate the uniqueness of that instrument.
Just like any other Jazz Bass manufactured by Fender, this is a really versatile guitar. That being said, it’s not only suitable for playing rock music (like Red Hot Chili Peppers), but it’s also great for other genres as well. Whether you’re into funk, jazz, blues or indie – this guitar will do the job.
Of course, this Jazz Bass will be ideal for any huge fan of Flea and RHCP. If that’s your favorite band, this is probably one of the best basses that you can possibly get.
Since it’s a high quality bass, it’s very often used by professional musicians. This guitar is perfect for band rehearsals, live gigs and studio sessions. If you’re a working musician and you play the bass for a living, this guitar will be an excellent fit for you.
Overall, the vast majority of bass players will immediately fall in love with that guitar. There’s just not much to complain about! This bass looks, sounds and feels absolutely magnificent. That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out.
Here’s an another sound demo.
Flea Jazz Bass vs American Professional Jazz Bass
A lot of bass players wonder whether they should choose the Signature Flea bass or a bit more expensive American Professional Jazz Bass. The truth is that it’s not that easy to pick a clear winner of that battle!
Both of these guitars feature a fantastic quality. If you’re looking for the best sound quality, the American Professional Jazz Bass may be a better choice. But if you’re a huge fan of Flea and RHCP, there’s just no other way – the Flea Bass is designed for you.
Here’s a really good video that compares both of these excellent bass guitars. Feel free to check it out to see the main differences between them.
Cheaper Alternatives
If you don’t like the sound of Fender Flea Jazz Bass or you simply can’t afford it right now, that’s not a problem! The market is full of other really good and affordable basses, so there’s plenty of model to choose from. Of course, it all depends on what kind of music you want to play and how much are you willing to spend.
Here’s a few more bass recommendations based on my own experience.
Firstly, I highly encourage you to consider getting the Fender Player Plus Meteora Bass. This is a brand new model which is becoming more and more popular every month. It’s a Mexican-made offset bass which offers an absolutely amazing value for the money. It may not be that cheap, but it’s definitely worth checking out.
Alternatively, you can also consider getting the Fender Player Jaguar Bass. This is an another excellent Mexican-made bass which offers a really good sound and a fast, comfortable neck. To be honest, all basses from the Player Series are great, so whether you decide to choose the Precision Bass, Jazz Bass or Jaguar, I’m sure that you won’t be disappointed.
Additionally, there’s also Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass, which is a really underrated bass made by Fender. Not many bassists are aware of how good this guitar actually is! It’s a bit more affordable than the Flea Road Worn Jazz Bass, so it’s a great alternative for those who are searching for the best value for the money.
Still, there’s only one Flea Bass and it’s truly one-of-a-kind. That being said, if you’re a huge fan of that famous bass player and you love Red Hot Chili Peppers, no other guitar will satisfy you as much as the bass reviewed in today’s article. That’s for sure!
FAQ
Where is Fender Flea Signature Series Road Worn Jazz Bass made?
Fender Flea Signature Series Road Worn Jazz Bass is manufactured in Mexico.
What is a signature guitar?
Signature guitar is a guitar dedicated to a specific well-known guitarist with a large following. These models are created in collaboration with the artist and they’re often different than any other guitars available on the market.
Where can I learn more about Fender guitars?
If you want to find out more about this legendary manufacturer of guitars and guitar amplifiers, make sure to check out the official website of Fender.
Summary
As you can see, Fender Flea Signature Road Worn Jazz Bass is a truly amazing bass guitar. I’m positive that the vast majority of bassists will immediately fall in love with that model. And what’s important, you don’t even have to be a fan of Flea to become a huge admirer of that guitar!
What do you think of that bass? Would you add it to your own collection or do you think that it’s overrated? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
Thanks for checking out today’s review at Bass Punch, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more bass recommendations, you may also like:
