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Modulus Mob
- Thread starter rockstarbassist
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2003
- 11,589
- 18,607
- Disclosures
- A-Designs Mike Lull GK Tsunami Cables GHS Strings RMI Basswitch Nordstrand Pickups Darkglass
Wow. I so did not need to see that! It's probably a good thing I just ordered the parts for a new Warmoth fretless build, because that's my only excuse for not jumping all over this BassStar!
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I recently posted here about a cocobolo topped mid-90’s Modulus Q5 I bought from a TB’er with a problematic carbon Fiber Neck.
According to my luther, somewhere along the way the neck had been “baked,” in a misguided attempt to repair a severe case of bowed alignment.
After a reasonable negotiation with the seller I redeemed a bit of the cost of this bass and put it toward repair work from my local luthier: Rich Hoeg.
Rich was at one time a Sr. engineer and builder for Modulus (having built many a Q5 and noteable guitars for Bob Weir including the Blue Lightning Bolt and several Strats and Teles.)
Rich maintains good contacts with Joe Perman (formerly the man to see about anything Modulus related). I was in luck as Joe happened to have a NOS noin-truss rod Q5 neck in his stash of Modulus parts.
So after a couple of weeks patiently waiting, Rich worked his magic and this bass was reborn and resurrected and is now in fine playing condition.
It’s a very nice, but very different beast, both feel and sound-wise when compared with my Fender Jazz bass. Tonally the Q-5 seems more “hi-fi,” when compared to the bluesy, funky growl of the Fender J. It has a broader palate with the B string and every note is very true and “piano-istic,” from the low-B to the highest notes up the neck.
The neck width will take some getting used to but the profile of it is nice and slim and there’s zero neck dive.
>>>Happily thumpin’ in SF
(Left to right – Bassstar Fretless w EMG’s and Kahler tremolo bridge, Q5 with cocobolo top and new neck (EMG pups), stock ’96 Deluxe American Jazz Bass. In the background: Genz-Benz NeoPak 3.0 with an Eden 2x10 XLT down below and an SWR LA 15 in the middle.)
According to my luther, somewhere along the way the neck had been “baked,” in a misguided attempt to repair a severe case of bowed alignment.
After a reasonable negotiation with the seller I redeemed a bit of the cost of this bass and put it toward repair work from my local luthier: Rich Hoeg.
Rich was at one time a Sr. engineer and builder for Modulus (having built many a Q5 and noteable guitars for Bob Weir including the Blue Lightning Bolt and several Strats and Teles.)
Rich maintains good contacts with Joe Perman (formerly the man to see about anything Modulus related). I was in luck as Joe happened to have a NOS noin-truss rod Q5 neck in his stash of Modulus parts.
So after a couple of weeks patiently waiting, Rich worked his magic and this bass was reborn and resurrected and is now in fine playing condition.
It’s a very nice, but very different beast, both feel and sound-wise when compared with my Fender Jazz bass. Tonally the Q-5 seems more “hi-fi,” when compared to the bluesy, funky growl of the Fender J. It has a broader palate with the B string and every note is very true and “piano-istic,” from the low-B to the highest notes up the neck.
The neck width will take some getting used to but the profile of it is nice and slim and there’s zero neck dive.
>>>Happily thumpin’ in SF
(Left to right – Bassstar Fretless w EMG’s and Kahler tremolo bridge, Q5 with cocobolo top and new neck (EMG pups), stock ’96 Deluxe American Jazz Bass. In the background: Genz-Benz NeoPak 3.0 with an Eden 2x10 XLT down below and an SWR LA 15 in the middle.)
Attachments
Oh, the front preamp is the actual preamp, the one towards the jack is actually just a mid boost only and may be a low to High converter as well. I still don't really know.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
It's hard to see for sure what Bart electronics are in there and how they are wired, but 25k pots are the ones you want if the pickups are buffered before they hit any pots, as you would see in the TBIBT or other Bart setups.
I am working on getting better pic's. No numbers or anything on them. Mid boost one has 3 wires (purple, brown and green). Bartolini has never seen either of the preamp's in my bass. Nor do they have wiring diagrams for it
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
View attachment 393652
just picked this up yesterday from a fellow tb'er. and just dropped it off to dan ransom to work some mojo ('custom' neck and barts).
so as soon as i get it back, will put the modulus neck up for grabs either here or evilbay.
or keep it, buy another moddy, and take those two necks and make "my tribute to derek smalls" double-neck bass.
now, where did i leave my cucumber?...
Isn't the neck THE reason for getting a Modulus???
I'm gonna go with "Because back when that bass was made, Modulus was winging it." But admittedly that's just a hunch.
Fellas, there is a GORGEOUS '08 Q5 on eBay right now. It's in Pennsylvania, and I am pretty sure it's a Chechen top.
Great shape, cosmetically beautiful. This is the closest piece of Chechen to my personal bass I've ever seen. Someone snag it!!
Great shape, cosmetically beautiful. This is the closest piece of Chechen to my personal bass I've ever seen. Someone snag it!!
There's also a '96 FB4 on there right now and it's RARE Cracks me up how people use 'rare' on FS ads these days.
Cracks me up how people use 'rare' on FS ads these days.
