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I've tried almost everything ... whats next?

#81
pickles said:
Here is a pretty good example of what I mean by "modern mids", though the musical context is not at all what I do, thats the kind of focus and growl I like to hear on a modern bass. But this is of course much warmer than a Q5 (though less focussed).

http://www.mysteryfeet.com/_content/_news_pop.html

I'm gonna try me a Smith.

And a newer Zon ...

And a Roscoe, 34" and 35" scales ...

And a Flea 5 J+MM ...

Thanks for the fresh gear inspiration.

:hiding:

And a nod again to PhilBiker, who of course, is right that I should be spending this time practicing. My practice rig these days is bass->cord->cafe water-> sennheiser 555 ... so I hear it all, baby! The good the bad and the ugly. :bassist:
Click to expand...

You might take a look at the hanewinckel basses. I think they get a great sound in that vein.
 
#82
zombywoof5050 said:
All basses are different, even from the same makers. If you tried one and didn't like it, that doesn't neccessarily mean that you wouldn't like that model, it may just mean that you didn't like that particular specimen of that model. And how many different brands/types of strings did you try on each one, and how long did you let the strings break in? Did you also try a lot of different amp setups with them? I'm sorry if I'm sounding like a smartass, I'm really not trying to be. It's just crazy that you haven't found anything worth hanging on to. I wish you the best of luck in your quest.
Click to expand...

You're right one the money, but I DID do all of my due diligence. I have a closet FULL of lightly used strings as a result, and a bedroom full of amps and cabs. I typically kept each bass for a few months and did lots of rehersals will all of them, and gigs on a few.

And I have found a few things worth hanging onto ... this Hamer and this Fender. Both absolutely wonderful at what they do. I like the Hamer better than any other J style bass I've used!
 
#83
jzucker said:
Sounds to me like you want a Smith. You should contact Todd Fortier and see if he'll sell you the one I sent back to him. The only issue is that they're neck heavy. If your style includes a forearm holding the body down, you might be in luck...
Click to expand...

Already did brother! Mailed the check out yesterday :hyper:
 
#84
I have been using a Modulus Q5 for the past 4 years or so and bought a Roscoe SKB 3005 last week. The Roscoe has the low end clarity that is very close to the Q5 plus it has the playability and "wood tones" that my old MTD 535 had. The Roscoe reminds me a lot of my MTD in the way it plays and feels. I sold my MTD because it was too tame and did not have a really strong low end. Even after playing my Q5 for the last few years the Roscoe feels better in my hands and seems to have better playability even after just a few days of playing. I really like the 18mm string spacing on the Roscoe, the Q5's 17mm gets too tight sometimes. I am going to keep my Q5 a while until the "honeymoon period" wears off on the Roscoe so I don't make a move that I regret. But so far so good. I also tried a Sadowsky metro MS5 for a couple of days before the Roscoe and did not like the 19mm spacing. I also felt the B string was not as tight and focused as any of my 35" scales (there are plenty that don't agree with this though). The modern 5 might be a good choice, especially with an alder body. The Sadowsky construction was probably the best of any bass I have owned.

For reference my Q5 is alder with a lacewood top and bartolini p/ups w/ 3 band EQ. The Roscoe is mahogany with madrone top and chechen fingerboard, also with bartolini p/ups and 3 band EQ. My MTD was swamp ash.

I hope this helps some
 
#85
blmeier7 said:
I have been using a Modulus Q5 for the past 4 years or so and bought a Roscoe SKB 3005 last week. The Roscoe has the low end clarity that is very close to the Q5 plus it has the playability and "wood tones" that my old MTD 535 had. The Roscoe reminds me a lot of my MTD in the way it plays and feels. I sold my MTD because it was too tame and did not have a really strong low end. Even after playing my Q5 for the last few years the Roscoe feels better in my hands and seems to have better playability even after just a few days of playing. I really like the 18mm string spacing on the Roscoe, the Q5's 17mm gets too tight sometimes. I am going to keep my Q5 a while until the "honeymoon period" wears off on the Roscoe so I don't make a move that I regret. But so far so good. I also tried a Sadowsky metro MS5 for a couple of days before the Roscoe and did not like the 19mm spacing. I also felt the B string was not as tight and focused as any of my 35" scales (there are plenty that don't agree with this though). The modern 5 might be a good choice, especially with an alder body. The Sadowsky construction was probably the best of any bass I have owned.

For reference my Q5 is alder with a lacewood top and bartolini p/ups w/ 3 band EQ. The Roscoe is mahogany with madrone top and chechen fingerboard, also with bartolini p/ups and 3 band EQ. My MTD was swamp ash.

I hope this helps some
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Yea, I'd say that helps A LOT!!! Thanks! You made exactly the same assessments I did about the Q5 and MTD, and found a bass that combines their better qualities!

Thats it ... I'm shoppin' for a used roscoe! Time to start reading threads about which model to look for ...

Also, keep me posted on if/when the honeymoon wears off.
 
#87
Have you thought about getting a body made from bubinga for your Quantum? I'm getting that done for both of my Q5 SS fretted/fretless basses because I think bubinga can go some way towards compensating for the lack of lower mids.

I've also got a couple of Smiths which are great basses. Now if I could get the growl and fundamental of the Modulus with the meaty treble of the Smiths I'd be a happy chappy.

I've found the Smiths have an inherent scooped character, so they suit amps which are relatively neutral sounding. I sold my SWR BAss350 and went for an Eden because the SWR scooped colours + the Smith scooped colouring lost almost all the mids completely. An SWR SM400 sounded fantastic with my fretted Modulus Q5SS BTW.

Have you considered the concept of matching bass and amp also? I've found it can make a real difference.

I've also tried an eminence loaded GK RB400 1x15 combo which was equally lush with all my basses. I'm still coming to terms with that experience.
 
#89
I just tried a Dingwall Afterburner. The setup was nice and the strings were a bit dead, but I could tell 2 things. 1. the fanned frets are not all that hard to play. A little wierd when jumping between positions but otherwise not a big deal. 2. I really did not care for the tone, and the controls were very very strange.
 
#90
Aaaaaaaand I got a Q5 with barts and an aggie on the way :hyper:

Thanks everybody! I'm going to keep looking for a roscoe and a flea 5 to try out in person ... but in the meantime I'm gonna have some NICE basses to play :D
 
#93
pickles said:
Never even seen one. Any dealers in southern california?

I know there are lots of exotics out there I have not tried ...
Click to expand...

>>> Pete Hanewinckel is in Southern California, in Orange County, I'm sure he'd be happy to have you come by the shop and check out his stuff. If you get down to Orange County, you should also check out Salwender International, he's the distributor for Vigier and Sandberg basses, they're close to Anaheim stadium. I tried a couple of Sandbergs last week and was very, very impressed.

Good luck,
Slug
 
#94
slugworth said:
>>> Pete Hanewinckel is in Southern California, in Orange County, I'm sure he'd be happy to have you come by the shop and check out his stuff. If you get down to Orange County, you should also check out Salwender International, he's the distributor for Vigier and Sandberg basses, they're close to Anaheim stadium. I tried a couple of Sandbergs last week and was very, very impressed.

Good luck,
Slug
Click to expand...

Awesome ... thanks for the info! Those sandbergs with the MM and P pickups look sweet.
 
#96
Update on my silly thread:

Tried a smith CR5: all mids, no bite or impact, and the B wasn't up to my standards.

Tried a late model Q5 with barts, and I think they sorta ruined the quantum design by adding that trussrod. It was a nice, growly bass, but again where is the impact and articulation? The neck was also thicker and heavier, which was a drag.

Tried a Roscoe 6'er and just couldn't play the big neck. Liked the bass otherwise, might still try to find a 5.

Tried another Zon (which is for sale now). Another truly wonderful bass, but I still can't get down with the neck relief. I really just like a near-flat relief profile, I must be in the minority on that.

Tried an RB5 which I really liked in a lot of ways, but the 19mm spacing and thick neck were hard on my hands. I want something a little sleeker.

My short list now consists of:

Modulus Flea 5 MM+J

A pre-trussrod quantum with EMGs, then get some nordies or something made for it. The bartos are in a different position and I like the EMG positions better.

A pedulla of some manner. I'm especially thinking about trying to find a rapture with the PJ setup or a thunderbolt.

Go back to a G&L L2500 or SR5. I know I like these a lot.

Lakland 55-94, Sadowsky Modern, Sadowsky PJ. I know these all have 19mm spacing, but otherwise I think I'd love them, so I've been contemplating giving one a go. The RV5 and UV70 were some of my favorite basses of the bunch I've tried.
 
#100
Taming of the shrew? I don't know the story ...

At this point, this thread is more about the dark side of GAS than it is about finding an instrument. I pretty much bumped it to make fun of myself.

Never seen a conklin in person to try out. What made you suggest it?

I think a Sadowsky 24 is going to be my next target.
 

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