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Is Modulus still in Business?

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#582
g4string said:
:D. Sad but true.

If I were Zon, I would start a massive marketing/advertising campaign to lure in ex-moduli fan-bois.

I would market and sell replacement necks for old modulus guitars.

And I would market/advertise myself as "the go-to guy" for all things ex-modulus.

All of this assuming modulus folds. If they do fold, there will be a void in the market. Maybe not a huge void, but a void nonetheless. Whether or not filling that void through after-market service can be profitable is the million dollar question. If modulus folds, Zon would be the only modern graphite/carbon fibre guitar manufacturer currently operating (that I know of). If were Zon, I would be drafting an aggressive campaign to steal some of that biz through through new guitar sales (and if possible, aftermarket support for old modulus guitars).
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Well, that sounds like a plan, except that Zon necks don't sound anything like Modulus necks. They're OK, but I'd never buy one. I'd rather play a wood neck than a Zon. There's no reason for a person who wants the Modulus sound to buy Zon. I wouldn't go to them for aftermarket support because they aren't building the kind of neck I want.

It also seems to me that Zon aren't the kind of company to go for cheap opportunism. It's nice that they have supportive fans, but circling the smell of death like vultures doesn't seem to be their style.
 
#583
edwinhurwitz said:
Well, that sounds like a plan, except that Zon necks don't sound anything like Modulus necks. They're OK, but I'd never buy one. I'd rather play a wood neck than a Zon. There's no reason for a person who wants the Modulus sound to buy Zon. I wouldn't go to them for aftermarket support because they aren't building the kind of neck I want.

It also seems to me that Zon aren't the kind of company to go for cheap opportunism. It's nice that they have supportive fans, but circling the smell of death like vultures doesn't seem to be their style.
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Good post Edwin... agree completely. Very doubtful that anyone wanting the Modulus sound is going to be happy substituting a Zon.

Offering aftermarket support for necks that you don't have the molds and jigs to build/replace seems like a huge stretch, too.

My guess is that Zon is satisfied that they cater to a different market than Modulus. Company has been successful and around a long time.
 
#586
Direct Box Rox said:
Zon should run a clinic for how to properly run a graphite neck bass company. Their first client should be Modulus...
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It may be a niche market, but I see Zon's share of it as sufficiently different from the Modulus customer base that there is little overlap between them, and the business argument for Zon to encroach on the old Modulus territory is pretty shaky.


Consider that Zon's graphite operation is a pretty small thing. last I heard, Joe Zon had waiting lists and has habitually struggled to meet deadlines (referring back to a UK bassist who ordered a Hyperbass and waited a long, long time for it). Where is the time, the staff and the money to work on Modulus stuff going to come from? He'd have to expand his business massively, which is always risky, for little reward.


And that isn't even considering the Modulus IP. Would they just sell it off so anyone with the considerable amount of cash required could make a mould and start tooling up their old necks? I doubt it. This is all speculation though, since they haven't even announced that they've gone under.



It's a shame, I've never owned a Modulus but I have enjoyed those I've heard and played. I've owned a Zon and whilst it was a beautiful thing I never gelled with it. OTOH, I've had a few Status Graphite basses and they are just fantastic.
 
#587
edwinhurwitz said:
It also seems to me that Zon aren't the kind of company to go for cheap opportunism.
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Bingo! That was the first thing I thought of as well. I have never met Joe Zon, but have great friends who have and all of them say he is a great guy to deal with and a plain old good person. That is more important to me (talking long term relationships in music or anything else), then tripling your business to make a buck.

When I decided to sell 3 basses (including a Pedulla) to fund my first Carbon fiber instrument I did my research and found a store near Boston that had both brands. I played a Zon 5 string and my current Q5, both in the same ballpark price wise. I agree with Edwin, they sounded and played totally different from each other and in the end I picked Modulus.
 
#588
Bipslapper said:
Bingo! That was the first thing I thought of as well. I have never met Joe Zon, but have great friends who have and all of them say he is a great guy to deal with and a plain old good person. That is more important to me (talking long term relationships in music or anything else), then tripling your business to make a buck.

When I decided to sell 3 basses (including a Pedulla) to fund my first Carbon fiber instrument I did my research and found a store near Boston that had both brands. I played a Zon 5 string and my current Q5, both in the same ballpark price wise. I agree with Edwin, they sounded and played totally different from each other and in the end I picked Modulus.
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I agree I am much more of a Modulus fan than a Zon fan. And I have talked with Joe and he is a great guy and very customer service based. I wish I liked his instruments more. And I wish Modulus had half the customer service that Zon has. I think I have one of the last Modulus basses made from the factory. And with it being a 19mm spacing unlined fretless I think it makes it real rare.

I just worry about it's warranty if in fact Modulus is gone. I have heard in rumor mill that all their equipment and materials has been seized. But that's rumor.

I just wish that Modulus would make some kind of statement. I am sure that they have heard of this thread by now. I know being an owner of one of their basses it would make me feel better to know what's up. Even if they say they are going out of business.
 
#589
I have had nothing but great customer service from Joe Perman at Modulus regardless of anyone elses experiences with them.

Debate on customer service to one side, their basses are second to none.
I didn't start playing music to contemplate the different customer service issues of various bass manufactures.....I started playing bass for the sound!
Modulus to me is that sound!

I would rather have the ultimate bass from a company that has mud slung around it's customer service reputation than to have a lesser bass (in my humble opinion) from another company that has a perfect customer service record (which doesn't exist).

I hope Modulus pull through whatever their current situation may be.
 
#590
davidjbass said:
I agree I am much more of a Modulus fan than a Zon fan. And I have talked with Joe and he is a great guy and very customer service based. I wish I liked his instruments more. And I wish Modulus had half the customer service that Zon has. I think I have one of the last Modulus basses made from the factory. And with it being a 19mm spacing unlined fretless I think it makes it real rare.

I just worry about it's warranty if in fact Modulus is gone. I have heard in rumor mill that all their equipment and materials has been seized. But that's rumor.

I just wish that Modulus would make some kind of statement. I am sure that they have heard of this thread by now. I know being an owner of one of their basses it would make me feel better to know what's up. Even if they say they are going out of business.
Click to expand...

Stunning bass Dave. Glad to hear you are rockin' again, bro!
 
#591
lang3735 said:
I have had nothing but great customer service from Joe Perman at Modulus regardless of anyone elses experiences with them.

Debate on customer service to one side, their basses are second to none.
I didn't start playing music to contemplate the different customer service issues of various bass manufactures.....I started playing bass for the sound!
Modulus to me is that sound!

I would rather have the ultimate bass from a company that has mud slung around it's customer service reputation than to have a lesser bass (in my humble opinion) from another company that has a perfect customer service record (which doesn't exist).

I hope Modulus pull through whatever their current situation may be.
Click to expand...

Ok, we can close the thread after that post. Couldn't have said it better....been trying for 2 months! Good post.

Joe P is a really cool guy. Spoke to him several times. Yeah, we get hung up on 'companies' but these companies are people and they deserve our best wishes, regardless of the speculation.
 
#594
I'm another one who prefered the Modulus sound to the Zon, though I liked the Zon as well. I really liked the last Q6 I had - it wasn't exactly what I was looking for at the time but it was a fine instrument absolutely. I may get another in the future if used prices don't skyrocket now.
 
#596
hmm, if modulus can't afford $12.00 a year for a url then they sure as hell can't afford timber-hey what happened to all of the glue!
and let's not forget about the tobias collaboration; although i think martin guitars would be the best purchaser, even though i prefer gibsons!
 
#599
Just think; if Modulus was quasi-successful operating the company like the 3 stooges and having very d-baggy customer service - what could have it become if they had outstanding customer service? Or ran the business like some of their successful competition?

Nice job bringing the TBX back only to have the company collapse in failure.
 
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