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Fender '62 RI vs. Modulus Genesis VJ

Fender '62 RI vs. Modulus Genesis VJ

  • Fender

    Votes: 88 62.0%

  • Modulus

    Votes: 45 31.7%

  • other (state in post)

    Votes: 9 6.3%
  • Total voters
    142
A

ArpeggiFish

Feb 24, 2008
182
0
#1
Hi,

I can't decide! For those of you that don't know, Genesis basses have a carbon fiber core with soft wood surrounding it. I really need help. Both would be about the same price. I want something to get real gritty funk, to a great rock tone. From Rage to Beatles, I play most styles of music. I prefer fingerstyle, but I thump/pluck a lot.

Thanks

Arpeggi
 
#9
In my case I'd be biased toward a Modulus, although given what you're looking for I agree with the above assessments that the Fender would probably be the better candidate.

I've never played a Genesis, just the Q4/5. I'm curious to know what those play/sound like...
 
#12
Genesis hands down.
Click to expand...
+1
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A lot of people are not familiar with the very different tone you get from the wood/graphite hybrid Genesis neck. I own one and would tell you this: The Genesis VJ sounds nothing like the full carbon VJ. The Genesis combines real warmth (from the wood, often lacking in carbon necks) with exceptional harmonics and sustain (from the carbon spar). The difference between the Genesis neck and the many "carbon reinforced" necks is this: The tension on the Genesis neck is fully supported by a carbon infrastructure (the spar) that runs from the heel to the top of the headstock. It is visible on the back and along both edges, where it extends the full width of the fingerboard. It's my understanding that if you stripped the wood off the whole back of a Genesis neck (preserving the bits necessary to bolt the neck to the body) and just left the carbon and the fingerboard, the neck would support the string tension and be playable. In that sense, the Genesis is a principally graphite neck with wood while graphite reinforced necks are principally wood with added graphite.

I like graphite necks alright, but the Genesis is really a step above in terms of versatility. BTW: If you want it to clank and grind like a graphite, you can get it to do that too. :D
 
#13
I once had a Genesis VJ (Bartolini PUPs and preamp), a Fender Deluxe Jazz, and a Fender MIJ '62 RI with Dimarzios Js.

Sorry to say the cliche, but the Modulus was "sterile" in comparison, very stiff and compressed. Not agressive or smooth, just a very neutral-sounding bass. It generated a very clean note, but no growl, no character. And I didn't like the neck profile, which was a bit hefty and the 12' radius wasn't comfy to me either. And it was pretty heavy too.

I like the sound of Quantums, like when Oteil played one, or Mike Gordon, though, so nothing against graphite or Modulus. I think that a big part of the reason why the VJ I had didn't speak was more because to the Bartolini system. I could bet the some Nordstrands with an Aguilar pre would have sounded a lot better.
 
#17
A fender 62' RI could be made modern sounding without a doubt. I think that if you want oldschool and modern, your best bet is to hotrod a 62' RI w/ new pickups and an audere preamp. You then could have a great modern tone but also a great oldschool tone.

However what your looking for I found in a custom warmoth build.
 
#18
I didn't like the Genesis VJ (used it for a couple sets at blues jams), it seemed to me the neck pup was too close to the neck and it just didn't sound or feel "right". Maybe because I play a Fender Jazz quite a bit, the 62 ri felt and sounded more like home. From what you've stated that you're looking for go with the Fender (JM$.02).
 

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