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Flea, Photo: Stefan Brending (2eight)

Photo: Stefan Brending (2eight) · CC BY-SA 3.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by Flea. Every item links to its public source.
31 items · Last checked

What bass does Flea play?

Flea has said he records with his 1961 Fender Jazz Bass and plays the Fender Flea Jazz Bass Active, his signature model, and that he switched to Ampeg SVT amps in 2022. Premier Guitar's 2017 Rig Rundown showed Fender Custom Shop Jazz basses, Gallien-Krueger amps and GHS Boomers strings.

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What gear Flea uses: a sourced gear guide

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Stage

6 items

Basses

11 items

Amps

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Pedalboard

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Trumpet

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Records that shaped me

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Questions

About Flea's gear.

What bass does Flea use?

In 2025 Flea said he has recorded every record on his 1961 Fender Jazz Bass since he got it. His Fender signatures are the Flea Jazz Bass, a copy of that '61, and the Flea Jazz Bass Active. Premier Guitar's 2017 Rig Rundown showed a Fender Custom Shop Jazz as his No. 1 live bass.

What amp does Flea use?

He told Bass Player in 2022 that he started playing Ampeg SVTs in the studio for Unlimited Love and was switching to them live. Premier Guitar's 2012 and 2017 Rig Rundowns showed three Gallien-Krueger 2001RB heads with GK 4x10 and 1x15 cabinets.

What strings does Flea use?

Premier Guitar's 2012 and 2017 Rig Rundowns showed GHS Boomers, and the 2017 rundown named his signature set at .045 to .105. GHS sells it as the Flea Signature Bass Boomers set.

What is on Flea's pedalboard?

Premier Guitar's 2017 Rig Rundown showed an MXR Micro Amp, an Electro-Harmonix Q-Tron, a Malekko B:assmaster, a Boss GEB-7 equalizer and a Wilson Effects Freaker wah, with a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus and a Radial SGI-44. The 2012 board also had a Moog Moogerfooger 12-Stage Phaser.

What trumpet does Flea play?

Flea told DownBeat in 2026 that he has played his C trumpet for 30 years and bought a Monette flumpet, a cross between a flugelhorn and a trumpet, which he said has a beautiful sound. He plays trumpet on his solo album Honora.

Does Flea have a signature bass?

Yes. Fender makes the Flea Jazz Bass, a recreation of his '61 Jazz Bass, and the Flea Jazz Bass Active, which he has said is great in the studio. Premier Guitar's 2012 Rig Rundown also showed his Modulus Flea Bass and a Fleabass from his own bass line.

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Flea
About this guide · Last checked

Flea is the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, raised in Los Angeles and known for slap and melodic lines on Fender Jazz basses. This guide covers the basses, amps, strings and pedals he has talked about or been shown using, from his '61 Jazz Bass and Ampeg SVTs to the Modulus and Gallien-Krueger touring rig.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. Flea didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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