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Modulus Mob
- Thread starter rockstarbassist
- Start date
Regarding fret marker visibility, your best bet for a simple fix with good results is ... FretFX ... Attachable Illuminated LED Fret Markers .
You can get glow-in-the-dark paint or stickers, but the problem there is that the "active ingredient" in these kinds of things is phosphor. To get a good, bright, long-lasting glow, the phosphor needs to be kinda thick. At least 3mm. You could put some dots of phosphorescent paint on top of your existing side markers, but they won't be very bright or last very long. Same thing with the stickers.
You can search talkbass for this kind of thing and you'll see plenty of people who have tried stickers, or one or two coats of phosphorescent paint on top of dots, and they all end up reporting that it's really not helpful at all, not even worth the effort.
I've got a Warmoth necked bass that I built about 25 years ago; I drilled the side markers out about 4-5mm deep and filled the holes with phosphorescent paint, and it works really well. The dots will "charge" with just a little time in typical room lighting and will glow brightly enough to be clearly seen in dim lighting for well over an hour.
Also, phosphorescent paint is very flat, not glossy at all, and not terribly durable. If you don't put a topcoat of clear on it, it will get dirty very quickly, and it will wear very quickly. So, yeah, topcoating with some kind of clear is kinda mandatory.
So if you're up for that type of thing - taking out 3-4mm of your existing side dots and filling with phosphorescent paint, then a topcoat of clear - it will work well. Assuming you've already got the tools - a drill press and drill bits - it'll only cost a few dollars.
Also...., you could get some Luminlay to replace your existing side markers, or have a luthier do it for you.
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Oh, and regarding your high output level - you might try lowering your pickups a bit first.
I have only one knob for my pick ups/volume, and I guess I could lower that a bit, but I would be afraid that it takes away some of the umph/character it gives at full signal.... thanks for both responses though!
hey mob,
check out our debut EP that we released today. 4 tracks, 18 minutes, instrumental
You can download/purchase/stream at the link below. Recorded it with my trusty 1991 Modulus TBX 5.
Enjoy!
Spacecaps - Summer
spacecaps.bandcamp.com
check out our debut EP that we released today. 4 tracks, 18 minutes, instrumental
You can download/purchase/stream at the link below. Recorded it with my trusty 1991 Modulus TBX 5.
Enjoy!
Spacecaps - Summer
spacecaps.bandcamp.com
I meant lowering the height of your pickups so that they're a little further away from your strings. That'll bring the overall volume down a bit.
Nice Loveandbass... cool stuff.
Just realized, I recorded this tune on my trusty Modulus Q5 a few years ago. So great for this genre.
Roots Of Creation | Brian Sances
Brian is a great song writer and even better guitarist. Check him out.
Just realized, I recorded this tune on my trusty Modulus Q5 a few years ago. So great for this genre.
Roots Of Creation | Brian Sances
Brian is a great song writer and even better guitarist. Check him out.
Yeah, nice tones on those two links. I love the way high notes and harmonics ring out. tracked nearly ten years ago but check out the harmonics at the end of this song if you want. I could ring harmonics all day... haha
Anyone recall the name of the thread about changing the gloss finish to satin? I'm not using the right key words I think in the search.
So, I removed the EMG BQC system from my Quantum 5 and installed a Nordstrand 3B preamp.
I did not like the frequencies on the BQC, the mid sweep is something that I really do not like. I'm used to the Nordstrand preamp sound on my other bass.
Observations:
Had to use a EMG volume/tone pot and EMG Blend pot.
With the Nordstrand preamp, insertion loss is more prominent that with the BQC System when panning pickups.
I'm more happy with the Nordstrand EQ range, especially the mids, than with the BQC, but wells that is just me, I like the sound of the Nordstrand preamp.
My pickups are EMG 40CS, I'm still not really convinced I like that sound but is not something that I do not like either. In the future I might switch them by Nordstrand BigRig or Nordstrand Dual Blade 5, can't decide yet.
The default capacitor on the volume/tone EMG pot is not something that I like, I guess I will need to figure out how to bypass that default capacitor and add one of my own caps. But is not something urgent.
*Note: I was checking the BQC system that I removed from the Modulus Quantum 5, this is 1999 soldered version. It has a 50k volume pot and a regular 25k passive blend. I see the new BQC solderless system already include the ABC Blend. The master volume is not the new one with a board but a regular 50k volume.
Larry
I did not like the frequencies on the BQC, the mid sweep is something that I really do not like. I'm used to the Nordstrand preamp sound on my other bass.
Observations:
Had to use a EMG volume/tone pot and EMG Blend pot.
With the Nordstrand preamp, insertion loss is more prominent that with the BQC System when panning pickups.
I'm more happy with the Nordstrand EQ range, especially the mids, than with the BQC, but wells that is just me, I like the sound of the Nordstrand preamp.
My pickups are EMG 40CS, I'm still not really convinced I like that sound but is not something that I do not like either. In the future I might switch them by Nordstrand BigRig or Nordstrand Dual Blade 5, can't decide yet.
The default capacitor on the volume/tone EMG pot is not something that I like, I guess I will need to figure out how to bypass that default capacitor and add one of my own caps. But is not something urgent.
*Note: I was checking the BQC system that I removed from the Modulus Quantum 5, this is 1999 soldered version. It has a 50k volume pot and a regular 25k passive blend. I see the new BQC solderless system already include the ABC Blend. The master volume is not the new one with a board but a regular 50k volume.
Larry
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Hello everyone. My Vertex is back and needs a new home. Red. OHSC. Beauty really. Just can't use another 4 banger. Bartolini passive pickup and you know the rest. Over in the classifieds or shoot me a PM
1995 Modulus Quantum Bass Q6 Green Blue Burst 6 String Bass
Okay... Posted about this a couple weeks ago. Paid $1850, out the door. I have a week before I can no longer get a refund, and I need some opinion on if I should keep this. It has these issues:
1) Ad said it had a truss rod. There is NO truss rod...
2) Ad said 3-band preamp. The pick-up/preamp is a 2 band EQ, with Volume and Blend knobs, not a 3-band
3) Ad said Hipshot bridge. The bridge is not a Hipshot bridge.
4) There is crackling when I turn any of the knobs
5) The bridge height is pert-near maxed out on the low B and E strings
Other than that... It plays really nice. The action is perfect all across the board - LOW, no deadspots, and the only fret buzz I get is on the low B with very hard attack. It would seem to be in really good condition, especially for its age. Just typical wear and tear. Not even any buckle rash.
What I am really worried about is how much life does the neck/fretboard have left? Should I assume that since it isn't buzzing, it's okay and as long as I care for it, it will continue to be okay? Or should the height of the bridge on the E and B strings concern me? especially with no truss rod?
Okay... Posted about this a couple weeks ago. Paid $1850, out the door. I have a week before I can no longer get a refund, and I need some opinion on if I should keep this. It has these issues:
1) Ad said it had a truss rod. There is NO truss rod...
2) Ad said 3-band preamp. The pick-up/preamp is a 2 band EQ, with Volume and Blend knobs, not a 3-band
3) Ad said Hipshot bridge. The bridge is not a Hipshot bridge.
4) There is crackling when I turn any of the knobs
5) The bridge height is pert-near maxed out on the low B and E strings
Other than that... It plays really nice. The action is perfect all across the board - LOW, no deadspots, and the only fret buzz I get is on the low B with very hard attack. It would seem to be in really good condition, especially for its age. Just typical wear and tear. Not even any buckle rash.
What I am really worried about is how much life does the neck/fretboard have left? Should I assume that since it isn't buzzing, it's okay and as long as I care for it, it will continue to be okay? Or should the height of the bridge on the E and B strings concern me? especially with no truss rod?
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No Modulus has a truss rod. "newer" Mods have a relief system that people sometimes confuse with a truss rod. Ad states "Bi-directional relief adjusting truss rod" - they should have left "truss" out of the description. Actually they should have left the whole line out as it didn't exist in 95...
These are likely because of an inattentive seller. Saw four knobs, assumed 3-band eq and guessing on the bridge.
Likely needs to be cleaned, it is a 95 who knows how many times, if any, it's been cleaned in there.
That does concern me. It shouldn't have to be maxed out.
The seller didn't put any time into researching what they had as parts look to be lifted from descriptions of newer Quantums. Bad seller with poor information - definitely but all in all I'd say keep it. Invest in a new bridge and preamp (least I would) but even with the bridge concern you say it plays well and finish still in good shape too. I always assume some work will come with a new purchase and the pots needing cleaning is very minor.
Thanks! I got the feeling the seller just lifted the description off the current website. It did come with another preamp, but it is the same kind. There are some upgrades I'd like to do. Any suggestions for passive/active combo humbucks that would fit, and a 3 band preamp with sweepable mids?
I see the preamp on the picture that was removed, seems to be an EMG BQC system like the one it came on my Q5 which is bass/treble stack and Mid/Sweep stack. I guess that fits the 3band you are looking for. And it already have the EMG pickups is just a matter to re-wire it.
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Old ones did not have quick connect but the connections are easy to figure out.
Larry
Hi,
Yes there are many mods that's are lighter. Just have to search. I had a flea that was just a touch over 8lbs.
My Franken VJ is my lightest bass, weighing in at 7.5 lbs.
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That's not terrible. A lot of these basses were made before weight was as big a concern. My Q5 is like 9.5lbs, but it balances well and I have gotoh res-o-lite tuners and use a neoprene strap, so it's comfortable for a few hours of standing and playing.
