Craigslist Quality Find: Bassstar

[Lo-E]

I wasn't suggesting a fear of fretless, but a lot of players are fearful of damaging their boards using rounds. Just wanted to dispel that. The tonal difference is huge - for better or worse, depending upon the sound you dig. I've always been partial to rounds on ebony myself.

The 600-grit paper trick is mostly cosmetic, really. The tiny marks the rounds leave are unsightly but inaudible. Then again, life's too short for unsightly, innit?

 

[jim777]

A fretless with a whammy bar?

 

[bolophonic]

A fretless with a whammy bar?

That is exactly what I thought. Sweet bass, though.

 

[silvertone]

Frankly I have no idea why this thing has a Kahler Whammy - it's the way it came - but there's nothing to stop me from not using the wang bar. It just adds to the expressiveness.... There's another thread on TB right now in praise of Dead Round Wound strings - gotta say, the rounds on this bass are way overdue for replacement cause intonation is bizarre - but then again, I think a proper clean up and set up would help.

 

[Lo-E]

I think those knobs are original. They match the ones on a BassStar I played at Spam Ash last year. Those and the EMGs leave me thinking your bass is stock - weird as the Kahler might be!

 

[Tommygunn]

Oh my!! Killer bass!

 

[silvertone]

Liking the "Modulosity!"
Cranked it up last night through my Genz Benz Neo Pak and an Eden 210 XLT Cab.

 

[Lo-E]

Oh, my! Was it "Modulatious"?

 

[silvertone]

Yesterday I had Rich Hoeg (formerly of Modulus - the guy who built Bob Weir's Blue Lightening Bolt Guitar as well as several strats and teles for Bobby) do a set up on my Fretless Bassstar. Now this thing plays sweet with no buzz on the E-Flat and greatly eases my ability to intonate with little to no trouble.

BTW - he told me on these and most Q model Modulus basses, the Carbon Fiber necks are hollow and the fingergboards are Phenolic. Rich suggested this combination works well because there is very little shrinkage or expansion of the two materials due to weather whereas a wooden fingerboard would naturally be altered over time from weathering.

Fun times in San Francisco..... The only issue I have is this bass is HEAVY compared with my J Bass. Way more wood in the body.

 

[silvertone]

I'm perplexed at why Modulus Q 4, 5 & 6 basses have vanished from Ebay?
With the apparent demise of Modulus I guess peeps who own them must believe they've increased in value - which is valid. But since I have BAS for one it's a bit of a quandary.

Meanwhile 3 vintage Bassstar basses have surfaced:

A J bass with a Bad Ass II 21 Frets and a Bassstar neck:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPER-JAZZ-...L-/111186015173?pt=Guitar&hash=item19e333f3c5

A beautiful Koa bass with 3 PUPS a brass bridge and a Modulus Alembic neck:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Modulus-Ale...s-/200973212869?pt=Guitar&hash=item2ecaefdcc5

A sweet Neck through with a Maple Body:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Modulus-Ale...s-/200973212869?pt=Guitar&hash=item2ecaefdcc5


BAS IS Killing me...