Dropped my Modulus Bass

[Vrocipes]

Hello,

I had a bit of misfortune with my Modulus FU today when the bass wall holder gave out, causing the bass to fall down vertically onto a plastic box, and then flip over onto the neck/fingerboard. I have attached some images to show you how I found it and the wall holes where the stand was placed.

I am concerned that there may be some neck breakage or damage resulting from the fall. While I have not noticed anything apart from some plastic bits on the strings and the bass plays fine, I am worried about possible "internal" damage. This bass means a lot to me, and this incident has shocked me quite a lot.

I would really appreciate your opinion on it, does carbon neck break easily? (easier than wood?) Would I be able to see it from the outside if there is some internal damage? Would I hear it?
As I said, on the outside, neck looks perfectly fine.
It is probably a bit of my OCD but just wanted to hear your opinion, because I was quite shocked when it happened :/
Thank you!

 

[bholder]

Carbon fiber necks are far stronger than wood and ought to be virtually indestructible under those conditions (wasn't that far to fall, and fall was somewhat broken up). Other than wounded pride and maybe some scratches, I'm betting it's ok.

 

[steveinohio]

It’s fine. If you don’t want it getting dinged up keep it in the case when your not using it. Lesson learned.

 

[31HZ]

If it plays well, then it's fine. Wall mounts are fine, but they always have to be attached into a stud or some kind of reinforcement beyond the drywall, fwiw.

 

[Stylee Mousse]

Agree re above
These hangers are mounted to lengths of board that are screwed into the studs.

 

[Killing Floor]

The hard points on airplanes are made of that material. It’s substantially stronger than steel in most applications. I’d check it. Sight the neck and look for any finish stress marking but most likely it is fine.

 

[bholder]

There are suitable drywall hangers available, but not the cheap ones, and you have to be careful to install them correctly. The advantage is better spacing control. I like @Stylee Mousse 's solution - best of both...

 

[bholder]

The hard points on airplanes are made of that material. It’s substantially stronger than steel in most applications. I’d check it. Sight the neck and look for any finish stress marking but most likely it is fine.

Yeah if anything I'd check the wood around the neck / body joint - that's more likely to give than the neck, to be honest. If that's good and sighting along the strings / board looks right, she's good to go.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

View attachment 5073623 Agree re above
These hangers are mounted to lengths of board that are screwed into the studs.

I did the same with the board attached to studs, don't trust wall anchors.

Your bass may be fine this time but why take the chance. YMMV

 

[TrevorG]

It could have had worse places to land. I think you got off very lightly. I wouldn't worry but you've put me off ever hanging up any of my basses!

 

[songwriter21]

Hello,

I had a bit of misfortune with my Modulus FU today when the bass wall holder gave out, causing the bass to fall down vertically onto a plastic box, and then flip over onto the neck/fingerboard. I have attached some images to show you how I found it and the wall holes where the stand was placed.

I am concerned that there may be some neck breakage or damage resulting from the fall. While I have not noticed anything apart from some plastic bits on the strings and the bass plays fine, I am worried about possible "internal" damage. This bass means a lot to me, and this incident has shocked me quite a lot.

I would really appreciate your opinion on it, does carbon neck break easily? (easier than wood?) Would I be able to see it from the outside if there is some internal damage? Would I hear it?
As I said, on the outside, neck looks perfectly fine.
It is probably a bit of my OCD but just wanted to hear your opinion, because I was quite shocked when it happened :/
Thank you!

View attachment 5073588 View attachment 5073589

Ouch. One reason as to why I'm not a fan of hangers.

 

[ComesATime]

Hello,

I had a bit of misfortune with my Modulus FU today when the bass wall holder gave out, causing the bass to fall down vertically onto a plastic box, and then flip over onto the neck/fingerboard. I have attached some images to show you how I found it and the wall holes where the stand was placed.

I am concerned that there may be some neck breakage or damage resulting from the fall. While I have not noticed anything apart from some plastic bits on the strings and the bass plays fine, I am worried about possible "internal" damage. This bass means a lot to me, and this incident has shocked me quite a lot.

I would really appreciate your opinion on it, does carbon neck break easily? (easier than wood?) Would I be able to see it from the outside if there is some internal damage? Would I hear it?
As I said, on the outside, neck looks perfectly fine.
It is probably a bit of my OCD but just wanted to hear your opinion, because I was quite shocked when it happened :/
Thank you!

View attachment 5073588 View attachment 5073589

I'm not a luthier, but I'd imagine damage to the extent you're worrying about would be quite apparent. Not ideal, but there are far worse surfaces for it to land on, and the strings+frets likely would have prevented most damage to the fingerboard itself when it hit the edge of the bin.

Before I invested in strap locks, my main P-bass took a couple tumbles during some heavy shows-- some onto soft surfaces, but a couple onto concrete, and the neck on the modulus seems to be of a higher construction standard in terms of both craftsmanship and material.

My bass is perfectly fine aside from a half-dollar-sized chip of paint along the bottom edge of the body that mocks me every time I look at it -- happened during a celebratory fist pump after getting through a tougher part during a recording session. Talk about wounded pride...

 

[Isaac_James]

I have a few wall hangers that go into studs with long screws, but I have one hanger that I couldn't position onto a stud and had to go into drywall. Generally speaking I trust these sorts of drywall anchors to do the job for me - I've used them to hold up shelves that are a lot heavier than a bass guitar and they're rock solid. Relatively easy to spackle and paint over as well if you decide you don't want your hanger or shelf in that spot any longer.

Toggle bolts aka Molly bolts work too but then you're left with a big empty hole in the drywall if you take it out.

 

[buzzbass]

I'm sure it's fine. Good thing that plastic bin was there to break the fall somewhat.

PS, always make sure to place those wall hangers in a stud with long wood screws

 

[KevInDaBassment]

View attachment 5073637

Nice display! A work of art, for sure!

 

[Thumpin6string]

If there are no cracks or stress fractures, it should be OK. Graphite necks are very strong and stable. That is why I built me 6 string with one. That said, I always store my basses in hard cases. They stay clean and can't get damaged.

 

[dutchwife]

It looks completely ruined to me. Fixing that wall may cost a bit too so if you'd care to send the bass to me for disposal I'll help out with Home Depot fees...

 

[logdrum]

I have a carbon fiber mountain and I can do pretty decent jumps for an older man. My son punishes his bike more to the point that he has blown one shock (could be a shock defect though) but he regularly thrashes his carbon fiber cranks, into rocks at speed. Other than scratches, no breakage. Carbon fiber is tough. If that is a solid neck even less to worry about. The carbon fiber frame and cranks I am talking about are hollow

 

[MVE]

My Fender Power Jazz Bass Special once bounced end over end down a flight of concrete steps.
The finish got a few large dings, including one to the graphite plate at the end of the headstock, and one of the metal plates that are part of the tuners is bent, but that was all 25 years ago and it has played just fine ever since.
I think it even improved the tone and mojo a bit.

 

[Fonkamex]

I used to have similar problems with my hangers. Since I got a stud detector my problems are solved. There are plenty of models some are really cheap: Link Removed