Modulus Mob

[Ballin'bass]

It is quite a rarity. That makes it really cool. That is what I like about it. The color and top are really unique as well. My Silverburst Q5 was originally a SS, but the previous owner pulled out the center pickup and put in 2. The rear pickup is in the Turbo SS Position. I could always just pull the neck pickup and put it into the center SS hole that is already there. However, I would prefer an original one

You'd prolly get close to the original design if you put the neck pickup in the ss spot, though it's hard to say for certain without seeing the route of the bridge pickup. If I were you, I'd try that out to see if you're into the sound of the turbo style. They are TOTAL midrange machines. I put a u-retro preamp in mine and I have to keep the bass control at 50% boost, constantly, just to bring up the low end to an acceptable level. I think it does a really good job of making up the difference but it was a costly upgrade and it's very necessary in order for me to be able to use it in band situations. I'm glad the u-retro works well because otherwise, even though it does have a BADASS (I stress that word) tone, I might not ever have a practical use for the sound of the bass. That said, with the John east preamp, it's now one of the most uniquely voiced and USABLE basses I own, especially for heavier/louder rock music. But it would also work for lots of other things as well. Jazz, funk, solo, reggae, prog, etc.

I will also say that putting the Nordstrand big splits into it made it into a TOTALLY different sounding instrument. In a good way. They give a really hot, defined, edgy tone with a lot of growly breakup when you dig in hard. I can try to dig up some sound samples of mine if you're interested, iriegnome.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Get a room, you two!

 

[iriegnome]

Ah, Modulus love blossoming in the Mid-Summer air

 

[Ballin'bass]

So i was talking to a guy on Facebook about the old Bassstar necks and he was saying he ended up selling his on ebay because of how heavy it was. He said it could have doubled as a baseball bat or lethal weapon, which leads me to believe that they were solid all the way through back then, and not hollow?

What do those of you who own BaSSStar's have to say about this? Are they noticeably heavier than the more recent (90's - present) KLD necks that are hollow?

 

[iriegnome]

My Bassstar, as you know, is a preTBX neck thru. It is about 9 pounds on my bathroom scale. Not sure if that is neck or body. Since most Bassstar items were necks, I would love to hear more about them. I had started a Bassstar club, but very few people seem to want to talk that much about them.

 

[Bob_Ross]

which leads me to believe that they were solid all the way through back then, and not hollow?

I don't know about BassStar necks specifically, but I do know a bit about how carbon fiber objects are fabricated, and I don't believe it would be practical nor cost-effective to build a solid neck.

 

[Ballin'bass]

I don't know about BassStar necks specifically, but I do know a bit about how carbon fiber objects are fabricated, and I don't believe it would be practical nor cost-effective to build a solid neck.

Well, I thought status necks were solid...

 

[Ballin'bass]

My Bassstar, as you know, is a preTBX neck thru. It is about 9 pounds on my bathroom scale. Not sure if that is neck or body. Since most Bassstar items were necks, I would love to hear more about them. I had started a Bassstar club, but very few people seem to want to talk that much about them.

I think they are just so rare these days that there aren't enough people to start a strong group with.

 

[Slpbass81]

Does anyone remember what the Modulus Funk basses went for in the US before?

This is what they are currently asking for and the price seems absurd for what you get:

Modulus Funk Unlimited 4, MM+J ($4,299.00)
Alder Body
No Pickguard
Satin Finish Body
34" Scale, 22 Frets
Phenolic Fretboard
Satin Finish Neck
Top & Side Dot Inlays
Bartolini MM+J Pickup Configuration
Bartolini NTBT Preamp
Hipshot B-Style Bridge
Chrome Hardware
Modulus Hardshell Case
Planet Bass Pricing: $4,299.00 USD

Options:

Add Exotic Wood Top: Starting at $600.00
Add Ash Body Option: $100.00 (only available on custom order)
Add Gloss Finish Body: $300.00
Add Matte Black Finish Body: $300.00
Add Flake Finish Body: $400.00
Add Transparent Finish Body: $300.00
Add Pearl Pickguard: $75.00
Add White or Black Pickguard: $65.00
Add Body Matching Headstock: $300.00
Add Gotoh GB350 Ultralite Tuning Keys x 4: $120.00 per set of 4
Add Gloss Finish Neck: $100.00
Add Bartolini NTMB Preamp: $50.00
Add Aguilar OBP-1 Preamp: $100.00
Add Aguilar OBP-2 Preamp: $125.00
Add Aguilar OBP-3 Preamp: $150.00
Add Epifani 3-Band Preamp: $275.00

Current build time is approximately 4 months. The down payment required to place the order is 25%. We don't collect sales tax on a bass shipped outside the state of Minnesota. If you have any questions, please let us know.

 

[loveandbass]

When you consider fender custom shop basses are north of 2k, this seems ok

 

[Bob_Ross]

Well, I thought status necks were solid...

I'd be curious to see how they do that, what the layup schedule and raw pre-preg type is...and then how they manage to actually make a solid form! Does Status claim any advantage of a solid neck over a hollow one?

 

[Ballin'bass]

I'd be curious to see how they do that, what the layup schedule and raw pre-preg type is...and then how they manage to actually make a solid form! Does Status claim any advantage of a solid neck over a hollow one?

Not that I know of. I just heard from various sources that they were not hollow. Not sure if it's solid graphite or some other kind of core. Not even positive it's correct.

 

[Ballin'bass]

Does anyone remember what the Modulus Funk basses went for in the US before?

This is what they are currently asking for and the price seems absurd for what you get:

Modulus Funk Unlimited 4, MM+J ($4,299.00)
Alder Body
No Pickguard
Satin Finish Body
34" Scale, 22 Frets
Phenolic Fretboard
Satin Finish Neck
Top & Side Dot Inlays
Bartolini MM+J Pickup Configuration
Bartolini NTBT Preamp
Hipshot B-Style Bridge
Chrome Hardware
Modulus Hardshell Case
Planet Bass Pricing: $4,299.00 USD

Options:

Add Exotic Wood Top: Starting at $600.00
Add Ash Body Option: $100.00 (only available on custom order)
Add Gloss Finish Body: $300.00
Add Matte Black Finish Body: $300.00
Add Flake Finish Body: $400.00
Add Transparent Finish Body: $300.00
Add Pearl Pickguard: $75.00
Add White or Black Pickguard: $65.00
Add Body Matching Headstock: $300.00
Add Gotoh GB350 Ultralite Tuning Keys x 4: $120.00 per set of 4
Add Gloss Finish Neck: $100.00
Add Bartolini NTMB Preamp: $50.00
Add Aguilar OBP-1 Preamp: $100.00
Add Aguilar OBP-2 Preamp: $125.00
Add Aguilar OBP-3 Preamp: $150.00
Add Epifani 3-Band Preamp: $275.00

Current build time is approximately 4 months. The down payment required to place the order is 25%. We don't collect sales tax on a bass shipped outside the state of Minnesota. If you have any questions, please let us know.

As I have heard it from Tony at planetbass, there is basically two guys in the shop making them currently. The drastic increase in price reflects the costs of economic inflation (which modulus didn't adjust for, for the longest time, hence why they went bankrupt), the cost of raw materials, and the workmanship and time it takes for just 2 guys to produce the current basses. It makes sense to me that they cost so much these days because of the limited staff and each neck has to be hand shaped and autoclaved then coated in polyurethane, then they have to make each body, no assembly lines or factory cut body blocks. They use some pretty fancy schmancy top woods when you opt for the upgrade.

So it makes sense they cost boutique prices.

That said, I cannot afford that kind of price tag, no matter what the bass, hence I buy used. You can find good condition moddys from past years for around half the price of the new ones. I feel much better about owning them that way, plus I can feel confident that the resale value will stay roughly the same. Not that I plan to get rid of any of them .

 

[Slpbass81]

As I have heard it from Tony at planetbass, there is basically two guys in the shop making them currently. The drastic increase in price reflects the costs of economic inflation (which modulus didn't adjust for, for the longest time, hence why they went bankrupt), the cost of raw materials, and the workmanship and time it takes for just 2 guys to produce the current basses. It makes sense to me that they cost so much these days because of the limited staff and each neck has to be hand shaped and autoclaved then coated in polyurethane, then they have to make each body, no assembly lines or factory cut body blocks. They use some pretty fancy schmancy top woods when you opt for the upgrade.

So it makes sense they cost boutique prices.

That said, I cannot afford that kind of price tag, no matter what the bass, hence I buy used. You can find good condition moddys from past years for around half the price of the new ones. I feel much better about owning them that way, plus I can feel confident that the resale value will stay roughly the same. Not that I plan to get rid of any of them .

I guess it's the idea of a production bass all of a sudden being produced at boutique prices. I'm sure they crunched the numbers before but buying a brand that went bankrupt then selling them in that high of a price range is not the best idea to me.

I bought a Q5 used for $1,500 in 2013 and sold it for $2,200 which I thought was a good turnaround but maybe if I held out I could have gotten more.

 

[iriegnome]

I guess that is the problem. I don't intend on selling mine. At all. I intend to keep finding them. But, I prefer the older ones. Pre-1990 or even earlier. I sold one of my Genesis', but I don't like them, so I will be selling my Fretless and replacing it with a Q5, preferably with an older one. When I do sell my G5 Fretless, it will be at a fair price, not an over inflated market price. I realize this group is pretty tight all around. We all seem be talking within the same circles about our Mod's

 

[gwangi]

Does anyone remember what the Modulus Funk basses went for in the US before?

This is what they are currently asking for and the price seems absurd for what you get:

Modulus Funk Unlimited 4, MM+J ($4,299.00)
Alder Body
No Pickguard
Satin Finish Body
34" Scale, 22 Frets
Phenolic Fretboard
Satin Finish Neck
Top & Side Dot Inlays
Bartolini MM+J Pickup Configuration
Bartolini NTBT Preamp
Hipshot B-Style Bridge
Chrome Hardware
Modulus Hardshell Case
Planet Bass Pricing: $4,299.00 USD

Options:

Add Exotic Wood Top: Starting at $600.00
Add Ash Body Option: $100.00 (only available on custom order)
Add Gloss Finish Body: $300.00
Add Matte Black Finish Body: $300.00
Add Flake Finish Body: $400.00
Add Transparent Finish Body: $300.00
Add Pearl Pickguard: $75.00
Add White or Black Pickguard: $65.00
Add Body Matching Headstock: $300.00
Add Gotoh GB350 Ultralite Tuning Keys x 4: $120.00 per set of 4
Add Gloss Finish Neck: $100.00
Add Bartolini NTMB Preamp: $50.00
Add Aguilar OBP-1 Preamp: $100.00
Add Aguilar OBP-2 Preamp: $125.00
Add Aguilar OBP-3 Preamp: $150.00
Add Epifani 3-Band Preamp: $275.00

Current build time is approximately 4 months. The down payment required to place the order is 25%. We don't collect sales tax on a bass shipped outside the state of Minnesota. If you have any questions, please let us know.

Ask what the current price of a Quantum 6 string is, you'll FREAK!!!!

 

[Ballin'bass]

Yea I look at the basses as keepers. If I don't like it, I buy it used so I can make my money back if I need to sell it. Thankfully I've got all I crave by the modulus company including an older, unique beauty that is mine and mine alone. So my next and last actual bass purchase will be a fender precision. Just cause I wana be able to cop that tone and the American standards are really nice basses. I already have a wonderful music man.

But I digress. My point is you have to look at what the instrument actually IS to determine if it's actually worth it to you. Not what it's objective value "ought to be" according to the current market. You'll never be 100% happy with your instruments if you look at it that way.

But I do think it's more worth your money to go with a used moddy. Slpbass, your desired bass (flea bass/funk unlimited), USED, will require you to at least have 2k ready to go when you find one available. Way she goes.

 

[Ballin'bass]

I guess it's the idea of a production bass all of a sudden being produced at boutique prices. I'm sure they crunched the numbers before but buying a brand that went bankrupt then selling them in that high of a price range is not the best idea to me.

I bought a Q5 used for $1,500 in 2013 and sold it for $2,200 which I thought was a good turnaround but maybe if I held out I could have gotten more.

You are possibly right about it being a faulty business plan. But we, here on this group, are enthusiasts. Ours is not to question why, ours is to feel joy over a cool company continues to exist against the odds.

 

[Slpbass81]

Yea I look at the basses as keepers. If I don't like it, I buy it used so I can make my money back if I need to sell it. Thankfully I've got all I crave by the modulus company including an older, unique beauty that is mine and mine alone. So my next and last actual bass purchase will be a fender precision. Just cause I wana be able to cop that tone and the American standards are really nice basses. I already have a wonderful music man.

But I digress. My point is you have to look at what the instrument actually IS to determine if it's actually worth it to you. Not what it's objective value "ought to be" according to the current market. You'll never be 100% happy with your instruments if you look at it that way.

But I do think it's more worth your money to go with a used moddy. Slpbass, your desired bass (flea bass/funk unlimited), USED, will require you to at least have 2k ready to go when you find one available. Way she goes.

I don't plan on buying one in the future. They are not really the sound I go for. I contacted them because I wanted to see what their whole business was about. Even though it is not my sound I think Modulus makes beautiful basses. I was disappointed they could not be picked up by a company that could invest more money into the brand and make them on a larger scale than 2 guys building some basses. At that pace I don't see much innovation from Modulus which is a dissapointment.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I am not a business person (Although I like giving people the business), so I may not understand all of this, but it's not the way I would do things.

That being said, Modulus basses have always been very high quality, and if you can charge more for a wooden neck bass and still sell them, then why not give it a shot? Worst comes to worst, they can always have a sale or offer discounts.