Modulus Custom Shop

[FlyingFinn]

Hello everyone,

Im about to buy Modulus Custom Shop 63' Jazz Bass from early 90's. Active, graphite neck, golden hardware, schaller tuners, EMG pick ups, Bad Ass bridge, sunburst finish etc.

There is total of 7 of these basses in the world as far as I know, 5 of them are fretless and with different finish. Seller said its kinda heavy, so Im just wondering what wood the body might be? Another question is regarding the price, Im about to buy it for 1200 euros(1700 us dollars), you guys think its a good deal?

Thanks in advance, sorry for the wording.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I'd like to see some pics of that...

 

[FlyingFinn]

Couldnt find the pic from the exact bass, but here is the black fretless one. Not very good pic though. Also forgot to mention that price is roughly equal to what used EBMM Stingrays goes in finland.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

I've never heard bad things about those early Modulus Jazz basses. I always said if I had the money, I'd scoop one up. They seem to hold value pretty good too. Can you play it?

If it plays good, sounds good, and speaks to YOU, then go for it!

 

[iriegnome]

Wouldn't this be a Bassstar?? Those were bassically Fender bodies with Modulus necks. Mainly they were 4 string. Very rare in 5 string.

 

[FlyingFinn]

Wouldn't this be a Bassstar?

Wouldnt there read Bassstar somewhere? I dont know, please enlighten me.

And to the guy asking if I can try out the bass, sadly I cant, so I just need to trust on you guys and my own instinct.

 

[Hoover]

Im about to buy Modulus Custom Shop 63' Jazz Bass from early 90's.

I've been a Modulus fan since the late 1980s, bought my Quantum-6 SPX in 1988, have paid fairly close attention to the company & their literature since back when they were on Folsom Street... and I've never heard the term "Modulus Custom Shop"

Up until the early 1990s every Modulus instrument was arguably "semi-custom" ...which is another way of saying they were all "semi-stock". Finishes & parts could change, but body shapes and (especially) neck profiles were pretty much off-the-shelf. They were however most likely "built-to-order" back in those days.

All of that is sort of a roundabout way for me to suggest that if you don't have a really clear picture of what the seller is selling and if you don't have an opportunity to see it/play it in the flesh, mmm, maybe you should Proceed With Caution. Saying that something is a "Modulus Custom Shop" instrument could be misleading and/or disingenuous.

 

[FlyingFinn]

Im not really worried about term "custom shop" as it was the fretless seller who used it. After hours of searching the web im pretty confident that the bass in question is some of the first "full modulus" basses after the bassstar era.

Someone posted this on some random thread three yeara ago:

"Early Modulus graphite necks had a Fender headstock, and were called "BassStar". Originally they were produced as a part to be added to other instruments, then Modulus starting producing full instruments using these necks. I think this all happened around the late 80s, early 90s."

 

[TonyP-]

I've been a Modulus fan since the late 1980s, bought my Quantum-6 SPX in 1988, have paid fairly close attention to the company & their literature since back when they were on Folsom Street... and I've never heard the term "Modulus Custom Shop"

Up until the early 1990s every Modulus instrument was arguably "semi-custom" ...which is another way of saying they were all "semi-stock". Finishes & parts could change, but body shapes and (especially) neck profiles were pretty much off-the-shelf. They were however most likely "built-to-order" back in those days.

All of that is sort of a roundabout way for me to suggest that if you don't have a really clear picture of what the seller is selling and if you don't have an opportunity to see it/play it in the flesh, mmm, maybe you should Proceed With Caution. Saying that something is a "Modulus Custom Shop" instrument could be misleading and/or disingenuous.

+1 I don't won't to ruin your stoke on this...I just want you to know that a Modulus custom shop never existed.

 

[sleepy_monkey]

Looks like a BassStar to me as well.

I also have never heard of "Custom Shop" Modulus basses...I honestly don't think they exist...I have paid very close attention to Modulus basses and history since I bought mine...doesn't make me an expert, but with all of the other Modulus owners here, we definitely make at least 1 expert put together. ;-)

Probably a nice bass though.

As far as saying there are 7 of the basses made, Modulus usually has no idea how many of them are made, but they can guess. Did the same thing on my 1989 pre-TBX 4 string. They 'guessed' there were less than 10 of them, but who knows.

 

[FlyingFinn]

Trying to make myself clear:

There was 2 Moduli(spelling?) for sale, black fretless and sunburst fretted. The guy with fretless was selling his bass as a "Modulus Custom Shop", but I bet he just wasnt familiar with the terminology. The seller with fretted sunburst(the one im about to buy) never said anything about custom shop. But they are basically same bass, just different color and other is fretless. Confusing I know but as you see english aint my native language.

Quoting myself

Someone posted this on some random thread three years ago:

"Early Modulus graphite necks had a Fender headstock, and were called "BassStar". Originally they were produced as a part to be added to other instruments, then Modulus starting producing full instruments using these necks. I think this all happened around the late 80s, early 90s."

Im quite confident the bass in question is one of these early 90's "full" Moduli. Any thoughts ?

 

[FlyingFinn]

Gonna pick up the bass tomorrow together with Aguilar AG500, ill post some pics, thanks for the answers.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

they're tough to find. i'd snatch it up. hopefully u can sit and play it for a couple minutes, just to make sure it's not all jacked up.