Fleabass

"Fleabass" is the name of the instrument company that Flea, the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, started in 2009. His goal was to start a music company that could provide young people with high quality bass guitars for affordable prices. Flea then closed down the business stating that he was not enjoying the 'business side of things'.

Models and Designs
Fleabasses are very distinct from other brands because of their bright colors and unusually shaped pick guard. They were available in a standard "Touring Bass" (formerly called Model 32) which has a 34-inch scale length, or a "Junior Model" which has a 30 inch scale length. Both have 20 frets, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, and alder body. These models were available in four different color schemes. "Sunny Bass"(yellow/orange), "Water Bass" (orange/blue), "Punk Bass" (pink/green) and "The Wild One" (white/black).

The cheaper "street" bass was available in black & white, silver & black, blue & white and white & black. The street bass came with exactly the same hardware as the touring bass but has a basswood body and uses a lower grade plastic for the pick guard.

Each Fleabass touring bass and junior model came equipped with GHS Strings. Comes in a black tweed gig bag with embroidered logo, input cable, and adjustment tools; as well as an instructional video hosted by Flea himself. Some of these extra features (input cable, adjustment tools and instructional video) were not included in the "street bass" model of the Fleabass. Fleabasses were assembled in China with the band's guitar tech often going there for quality control.

Production and Availability
The short life of the Fleabass company led to a rather small number of units being produced. According to a local dealer who carried the line, a representative from the sub contractor/manufacturer, The Music Link, based in San Francisco, stated the total number of FleaBass guitars produced for the entire U.S. market was less than 2000 total units, including the Street Bass and both of the touring Models 32 / 32 Jr. combined. There was a single prototype bass amplifier that never went into production.