BenHorne Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 What do you guys think, do I need the EBMM Stingray when I got the Modulus Flea? I also have a Ric 4003, this one stays, but that is because I can never get the sound and feel of the Ric with the Flea. The Ray, however, may be quite similar to the Flea. Or is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budget bassist Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 they're totally different beasts, keep both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 The MM will likely be more versatile than the Flea and on that basis you'll almost certainly miss it if you let it go (the MM can do most of what the Flea can do but not vice-versa). Obviously the Flea feels a bit different and if set up correctly is an absolute dream to play compared to even the best 'ray I've owned. In my experience the older Flea's are better instruments. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted December 27, 2008 Author Share Posted December 27, 2008 Thanks for your reply. I've only tried a '97 flea, but am going to buy a '01 with sd bassline. I hope I get the same feel as the '97 I tried.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GStar Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 I've just bought a '97 Flea, w/Lane Poor; I'm very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathewsanchez Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 [size=7]DON'T SELL IT!!![/size] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 [quote name='GStar' post='364269' date='Dec 27 2008, 04:38 PM']I've just bought a '97 Flea, w/Lane Poor; I'm very happy.[/quote] MB1. ............Oh! No Your Not! Panto Season Again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 Hi...... I've had 5 Flea Basses and 11 Stingrays !!!! Few instruments can play as well as a fettled Modulus Flea Bass..... however tonally they can be a bit thin in a band, I've struggled to get a Flea to carry any weight to the D & G (using some of the best amplification out there) Ironically...... even in the context of a Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute i've found the instrument wanting, all that said.... I'd have another at the drop of a hat !! A good Stingray without question provides a more usable tone..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GStar Posted December 27, 2008 Share Posted December 27, 2008 [quote name='MB1' post='364320' date='Dec 27 2008, 05:48 PM']MB1. ............Oh! No Your Not! Panto Season Again! [/quote] I'm behind you! But i'm not the dame in drag where ever he, err, she, Came from!? On Topic, I haven't had a chance to use the Flea in a gig situation yet, practise in a couple weeks gig in under a month so i'll see then. Surprised to hear about them sounding "thin" i thought they were known for cutting and punching through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 At the risk of getting a <slap> , I wonder how the 'Ray would sound with a Graphite neck on it when compared to the Modulus flea sig. Better still a Sterling with a Graphite neck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flychris Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 take a ray with barto pickups and pre, and then you'll have your flea... But it's barto and, yes, less versatile than a simple ray the only interest in having the modulus is the modulus graphite neck ... And I'm in love with graphite neck but it's not for everybody. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 [quote name='Lfalex v1.1' post='364657' date='Dec 28 2008, 10:44 AM']At the risk of getting a <slap> , I wonder how the 'Ray would sound with a Graphite neck on it when compared to the Modulus flea sig.[/quote] Better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted December 28, 2008 Author Share Posted December 28, 2008 Argh, this is not what I wanted to hear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GStar Posted December 28, 2008 Share Posted December 28, 2008 [quote name='BenHorne' post='364765' date='Dec 28 2008, 12:44 PM']Argh, this is not what I wanted to hear...[/quote] I guess it all depends on what you prefer playing... I tried a number of different basses before buying the Flea because i enjoyed playing it the most. If the 'versitility' is an issue, then i'd ask myself what kind of sound i need, will i be gigging with a reggae band one week, rock another and pop another? Add onto that if you're DI'ing into a PA and you can loose a lot of your tonal options into the sound engineers desk. If you want a Flea, have tried a Flea, enjoyed playing it and got a sound out of it you liked; get it. Same with the 'Ray imo. I've found that even if i have found settings on my amp, with my cab set up how i like it and the settings on my bass how i like it... once i come to gigging i could be using someone elses backline, or P.A, in a completely different room etc and at the mercy of the sound engineers fingers. Long winded, and imo which could be completely wrong... i'd get the bass i enjoy playing the most and play with amps/cabs/effects etc to get a sound i like, if i havent already found it with the bass itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Buy one and gig it. That's my advice. But buy second hand so you don't lose much/anything if you decide to sell it. I wouldn't have the basses i do now if I hadn't tried lots of other basses in [b]gig[/b] situations. That's the most important thing, how it sounds when you play it live. I bought a Flea & and a Thumb NT5; used them for one gig and then sold both of them. Back to the original question - I've had 7 Stingrays but only one Flea. The Flea sounded light and brittle compared to the warmth of the Stingrays but I had the strings about 2mm off the fretboard and it played like a dream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 I very nearly bought a F bass earlier this year - and would have had to sell my Ray4 to finance it. In the end it didn't happen but in some ways I'm glad. I've rediscovered the Ray, I found that while I hate the sound of it at home or while recording nothing much beats it live. Like some of the guys above I love graphite necks - not so much for the sound/feel but for the stability and fantastically low action you can get. On this basis if I get GAS again I think I would stick with the Ray and stick a Status neck on it and get the best of both worlds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 Yes, the thing is that the Flea is really a great bass to play. I will buy one, second hand, I'll get it in a month. I guess I'll descide what to do with the Stingray then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 another +1 for the ray with a graphite neck, i havnt played a modulus to compare against, but my stingray is the best instrument iv played, and it sounds pretty nifty to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted December 30, 2008 Author Share Posted December 30, 2008 I thought about the Status neck. Then I would have to send my ray to your little Island all the way from Norway to get Status to fit it. (I would prefer Status to fit the neck..) This would mean that I would never use the original neck again, and then I would have a Stingray that probably would be very close to the Flea, so I'd lose the versatility of the Stingray. (If a Stingray w/status neck = a Flea sound- and playwise) But I have to admit, the graphite stingrays are very sweet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martthebass Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 (edited) [quote name='BenHorne' post='366379' date='Dec 30 2008, 04:42 PM']I thought about the Status neck. Then I would have to send my ray to your little Island all the way from Norway to get Status to fit it. (I would prefer Status to fit the neck..) This would mean that I would never use the original neck again, and then I would have a Stingray that probably would be very close to the Flea, so I'd lose the versatility of the Stingray. (If a Stingray w/status neck = a Flea sound- and playwise) But I have to admit, the graphite stingrays are very sweet.[/quote] Don't disagree - I probably would get Status to fit the neck on my 'precious'. Having said that it was a simple swap out on my old (now departed) Fender Jazz. You could sell the Ray neck (should be £100 - 150) or keep it to one side to refit if you ever sold the Ray. If my old Jazz was anything to go by, no versitility was lost, the sound just became more 'focussed' and the playability was much improved. The basic sound was still retained. I think Bassmankev would probably agree with this for the Ray conversion? Edited December 30, 2008 by martthebass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Crap, the deal went down the toilet, so I did not get a hold on the Modulus Flea. Well, reading the thread Stingray vs.Status makes me consider the Status. How would the Status compare to the Modulus Flea? Both are graphite necks, and therefore they might be more comparable than the other two? I guess the fact that the mod is a one trick pony, and the Status is more versatile regarding sound, would be a comment on this. But how are they regarding playability? Any thoughts? I visited Liverpool this week, that was a great city. I had a deal with a basschatter to buy a sparkling blue flea, but he suddenly was not able to meet me after all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Status? Playability? You won't find a better playing instrument, IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenHorne Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Does the Status compare to the modulus? They are in the same price range.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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