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Modulus Mob

This might just be a new (negative) record for a used '06 FB4 :eek:

Modulus FB-4 Electric Bass Free Shipping

...but thank god it has free shipping!
can't remember if i saw it here or elsewhere but certain eBay sellers from japan basically:

1. scout their local gear that aren't available for sale internationally
2. list and sell that gear as their own
3. mark up the price to make a profit
4. if/when the gear sells, the seller then purchases the local gear to be shipped out

one particular bass i saw from japan was listed for three times what i paid for it thru the g.c. website. that bass remained unsold.

but, as the old saying goes, "it only takes one buyer". wasn't that long ago that a couple of modulus tbx 5's sold in the $5k-$6k range.

i wouldn't pay that much for one but apparently if someone really wanted that particular bass (for example, a financially-comfortable international buyer with limited access to gear) and can afford the price tag, it's a sale.
 
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wasn't that long ago that a couple of modulus tbx 5's sold in the $5k-$6k range.

i wouldn't pay that much for one but apparently if someone really wanted that particular bass (for example, a financially-comfortable international buyer with limited access to gear) and can afford the price tag, it's a sale.

How about a domestic buyer with access to anything/everything that's available? There still aren't that many TBX basses for sale out there to make it a buyer's market.

For the record, I'd happily drop $5k on an original early 1990s Quantum 5 (or 6) TBX in good condition with a straight neck...because A) it's worth it to me, and B) because that's still a crap-load cheaper than a new modern Quantum 5 (or 6) TBX. And arguably a better looking bass.

But I'll be damned if I'm going to spend all my free time scouring the classifieds waiting for one to show up that's more "reasonably" [sic] priced.
 
Have a look here Invalid Link Removed search for Geoff Gould and Modulus. Check out the price on the new G. Gould's, they are going for far more than what they retail for here. But of course I'm sure the dealer had to pay some sort of import tax etc. and also needs to make a profit.
 
I'm honestly just glad I bought my moddys when I did, from the people I did (2/3 of them from tb). I got them at points in time where they were priced at the absolute minimum that they would ever go for on the market (considering the immaculate condition of all of them) and they are all fantastic examples of top notch Modulus build quality.

The price hike from the company seems to be driving up used prices, as a trend. I'm just glad I got what I needed before that started happening. I bet you'd be hard pressed to find a Q4 newer than 1999, in pristine condition, for $2k anymore.
 
Hello Mob - so I'm in the midst of a Modulus / P Bass project, and am looking for suggestions on what pickup to use. I'm definitely going with Bartolini, but am undecided on the model - does anyone have any experience or feedback to offer with P bass pickups paired to a graphite neck? Or, does anyone know what model Modulus uses in their Funk Persuasion line? I'm guessing they've done their homework and chosen one that nicely complements their necks...

For reference: Invalid Link Removed

Anyone? I'm thinking of going with a pair of 8S pickups unless I hear otherwise. ;)
 
But I'll be damned if I'm going to spend all my free time scouring the classifieds waiting for one to show up that's more "reasonably" [sic said:

no worries there. since they are a rare bird, once one does pop up, it's usually posted here.

Have a look here Invalid Link Removed search for Geoff Gould and Modulus. Check out the price on the new G. Gould's, they are going for far more than what they retail for here. But of course I'm sure the dealer had to pay some sort of import tax etc. and also needs to make a profit.

nice find on this site. yikes on the prices. some of those gould's are earlier models with the 5-knob, three-band eq layout. must mean they're not moving as well as they'd hope.

that's ok tho. when i'm next in japan, instead of basses, i'm hunting for 70's die-cast collectibles like shogun warriors and gattiger... :D
 
Man, what's up with the classifieds for used Modulus basses? I'm surprised it's so hard to move something right now. I know that's the case for all brands, but jeez.
sign o' the times. the market did seem to heat up when modulus went back online but seems to have cooled considerably.

guess it's all about having a certain 'it' factor that makes it desirable.

like the q5 that had the kld top a while back. that sold pretty quick.

the q5 with the lane poor's on reverb is pretty rare. don't see lp's with the m4 / emg40 dimensions much (if at all) these days.

$3k is a bit out of my comfort zone tho.

still very curious how the lane poor's compare next to barts / aggies / nordy's.

are flea's still moving? iirc, the ones with the 'flea grin' on the headstock was the desirable one?
 
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sign o' the times. the market did seem to heat up when modulus went back online but seems to have cooled considerably.

guess it's all about having a certain 'it' factor that makes it desirable.

like the q5 that had the kld top a while back. that sold pretty quick.

the q5 with the lane poor's on reverb is pretty rare. don't see lp's with the m4 / emg40 dimensions much (if at all) these days.

$3k is a bit out of my comfort zone tho.

still very curious how the lane poor's compare next to barts / aggies / nordy's.

are flea's still moving? iirc, the ones with the 'flea grin' on the headstock was the desirable one?
I've had both. IMO, the FU is a superior bass to the Flea.
 
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What's different about them in your opinion?

The neck profile was quite a bit different. My 97' Flea had a very chunky neck. It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was a baseball bat. My FU has one of the sweetest necks I have ever played; it's very svelt and quick. My Flea also weighed around 10lbs IIRC, whereas my FU is a little over 8lbs.
 
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goggle'd 'modulus tbx bass' just to see what pix pop up and stumbled across this on the grateful dead board:

tbx.jpeg


my mind immediately began to race on building the ultimate double neck! :bassist:

the link is a few years old so don't know if they're available. but, oh, the possibilities!!!

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
"...I've had both. IMO, the FU is a superior bass to the Flea."

I currently own several original Flea basses and several FU4's.
While they are both great, my favorites are the pre-truss rod Fleas equipped with the Lane Poor. Original Fleas (1996) have extremely svelte necks vs the chunkier FU4 neck (think Sterling vs. Stingray) and have 100% useful tone across the entire range of EQ.
That said, the FU4's are great, particularly when equipped with the Seymour Duncan Bassline/Aguilar preamp combo, which is hot.

Honestly, I think either one could be a desert island bass for me!
 
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I know it's not mod, but I think tomorrow is the day I pull the trigger on a GGi5.. Fingers crossed.. Might happen, might not..
Hey, I'd say it's close enough to be worth this thread's time and interest. Are you getting one of the ones on ebay or reverb? Got another deal going on? I'm actually very curious to know what you think of it compared to mods. I've never seen one in person.
 
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Wow, speaking of Glenn Gould basses, I just looked into their pricing.

I find it interesting that GG basses are still able to offer the same price bracket that Modulus used to offer. A full custom ggi4 is well under $3k. And he's still using the same materials and methods to make the necks and the electronics and body work are still top notch.

... So I'm having a hard time understanding why the phoenix company that is Modulus is so much higher priced... Doesn't seem to make sense.
 
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