Modulus Mob

[BIGREDSIX]

Joe - you should just buy my Bart/Bart Q5 and experiment with it yourself!

 

[cajunrocker]

I'm checking out a Modulus Q5 with chechen board, barts and the bart 3-way preamp. I dig it in many many ways, but I'm not entirely satisified with the tone. Historically I've not favored the bartolini pickups as I find them kind of "compressed" sounding, although that characteristic probably blends well with the native sound of the Q5.

I've searched talkbass and found some entries discussing the Aguilar OPB-3 preamp as an alternative to the Bart NTMB, but am hoping for more -- or more recent -- input on this question. Anyone out there replaced one with the other or played the two side by side, and in a position to flesh out their thoughts on the difference in sound?

Thanks!

Before I bought my Q4 (Dec. 2008), I AB'd both the Bart NTMB & the Aguilar OPB-3 through a Glockenklang rig (Soul Head & Heart-Rock Head with a 410 & a 212) & an Epifani rig (UL-902C with a 310 & a 212) at The Perfect Bass. I found the Aguilar had more balls & greater range of usable tones. It didn't take long to get the sound I wanted with the Aguilar.
I didn't find that the Bart PUs sounded compressed with either the Bart or the Aguilar pres.
I haven't used the Bart pre on a gig but the Aguilar pre is fantastic, imo.
Hope this helps somewhat Joebone.

Cajunrocker

 

[donnybrook]

Guys, posting following email thread per ChrisPbass. I'm new, so if this is wrong, tell the correct way.

Cheers,

Daniel


Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisPbass
dude! you must give any modulus history you have in the tbx thread.

Ha!

Well, let me qualify this by saying that, for the 6-odd years that I worked at modulus, I was a drummer and didn't actually start *playing* bass until years after the fact. That said, I clearly remember making that 6 fretless.

The problem with the tbx and the reason that they were ultimately discontinued, was the manufacturing process demanded that they be made as one-offs outside the traditional manufacturing process. The truth was, Joe hated doing it, so he trained me.

The tbx orders would come down and I'd just wait for a slow week as far as regular production, and I'd go to the back and work for about 2.5-3 days, to get 'em from raw neck shell-and-body halves to the spray booth.

I always really loved grinding the bottom of neck where it connected to the body; getting the swoop from the neck into the curve of the lower and upper horns was a very artistic process.


We stopped doing them, I recall, some time around when Geoff left the company and before we moved to Novato...

True story: one of Entwhistle's wierd-ass looking basses sat in the corner literally COVERED in dust for years after we made a mold of it for a tbx that, to my knowledge, never got completed.

Now that I play, I really wish I'd just taken it home because I'm guessing it just got dumpstered.

As I write about it, I have to laugh. It's been years since I thought about that ( I've long since gone on to less dirty work), but looking at my hands, I see the scars on all my knuckles from stuffing my hand in the edge-sander while rushing a neck for Jeff Ament.

Good times.

Cheers,

Daniel

 

[lofreek]

Add me to the list. I now have three Modulii, if you count my newly arrived Peavey B Quad 5, which has a Modulus neck. I also have a Genesis 5.

I am working on a deal for another Q6, so I might have Modulus number four in the next few days.

The Q6 I am sporting in the photo has Lace Alumitone pickups and is totally passive and completely awesome. I bought this baby new in 1992, and the Alumitones have taken it to a HNL - hole nutha level. Prior to the Alumitones, I had various EMG and Lane Poor pickups, EMG and Aguilar electronics, and now I am finally truly happy with it.

 

[Plantbrain]

I'm on the list: 6 with a nice flame maple + gold pimpin hardware.

I initially had it, then said I could not deal with the 6 spacing of the strings, then forced myself to try to get use to things. I sold the bass, then the guy who bought it was a total clown. Loosened the truss, did not realize it goes two directions, whined, that it fretted out on the top strings, shipped it back.

This bass loves me, I let it go and it came back!
Must be a sign.

So I shall keep it.
It plays funk and rock really well, good for tapping, double thumbing and most techniques. The lower end has some issues in the tone but perhaps I could do more and adjust things to get a better sound there that I like.

I'd love a TBX, who wouldn't?
I might stop by the Novato shop sometime to see if I can get some modifications done, in my neck of the woods.

Tom

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'm on the list: 6 with a nice flame maple + gold pimpin hardware.

I initially had it, then said I could not deal with the 6 spacing of the strings, then forced myself to try to get use to things. I sold the bass, then the guy who bought it was a total clown. Loosened the truss, did not realize it goes two directions, whined, that it fretted out on the top strings, shipped it back.

This bass loves me, I let it go and it came back!
Must be a sign.

So I shall keep it.
It plays funk and rock really well, good for tapping, double thumbing and most techniques. The lower end has some issues in the tone but perhaps I could do more and adjust things to get a better sound there that I like.

I'd love a TBX, who wouldn't?
I might stop by the Novato shop sometime to see if I can get some modifications done, in my neck of the woods.

Tom

Sweet. What are the low end issues?

 

[ChasFL]

Can I join in here. I've had a 2000 Modulus Genesis 5, Flame maple Quilt 5A finish with Bart J's pickups, NTMB Active, for about 8 years now and it has been my main bass ever since. It has the lowest action I've ever played. This is my ultimate bass. I also have a Fender Jazz 4 I play once in a while to mix it up, plus an electric standup and acoustic 5 seen here in the picture, but the Mod Genesis 5 is my main bass.

I really enjoy the Genesis wood neck over the Quantum's carbon fiber neck but that's just personal preference as it seems the Quantum is a much bigger seller. Some people mentioned that the neck feels chunky or larger than other 5's, plus a more substantial body to it, but that's what I like about it. I definitely have found my ultimate bass to date.

 

[Plantbrain]

Sweet. What are the low end issues?

Different tone to that of the upper ranges. More "woof", less "punch" than say the ex Factor or even the stick/Warwick etc.

Moves a hellva lot of air, but less on the tone.

I can likely fix this somehow(I need to sit down and get serious about the tone in the lower ranges). It's not the strings(same on some of the other basses), they are kept nice a new. PU are correctly adjusted. I like a punchy brighter tone than some bassist.

I like a fat lower end, and high range in the tone. As the tone changes as you get loud, I reduce the lower end with mids more.
It's partially aesthetics also, my goal for tone is different than others, say a reggae bassist. This is a really good instrument for many styles, no doubt about that.

A good bass will be able to play many tones. I think a good bassist also is able to pull many tones out of most any bass. So I blame myself to some degree and have not given the bass a fair shake either just yet.

It's not the bass, it's the bassist.

Still getting to use to it.
Might be 10-20 years till I do
I love the thing. So I have to sit and figure out how to get the sound out that I want, or come up with a sound I like and can live with.

I might also have to accept that each bass cannot be all things and if I want a certain sound, feel etc, I have to use another bass that "speaks" how I want.

But this is a really nice bass no matter how you cut it, but it's different than many other basses, I've owned 2 so far.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Plantbrain]

Can I join in here. I've had a 2000 Modulus Genesis 5, Flame maple Quilt 5A finish with Bart J's pickups, NTMB Active, for about 8 years now and it has been my main bass ever since. It has the lowest action I've ever played. This is my ultimate bass. I also have a Fender Jazz 4 I play once in a while to mix it up, plus an electric standup and acoustic 5 seen here in the picture, but the Mod Genesis 5 is my main bass.

I really enjoy the Genesis wood neck over the Quantum's carbon fiber neck but that's just personal preference as it seems the Quantum is a much bigger seller. Some people mentioned that the neck feels chunky or larger than other 5's, plus a more substantial body to it, but that's what I like about it. I definitely have found my ultimate bass to date.

Is that a NT bass? Or BO?

Tom

 

[ChasFL]

It's a bolt on.

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Anyone looking to sell/trade their Flea 4 or 5 sparkle? I know this is a stretch, but I thought I would try. I miss my Fleas!!!!

 

[sleepy_monkey]

I wonder if that 'equipmant' guy on eBay realizes he is single handedly driving the prices of used Modulus basses down. I mean, if he took all of his off then there might be 5 Modulus basses on eBay...if he listed them one at a time I think he would have better luck. :scowl:

 

[IdealWay]

I wonder if that 'equipmant' guy on eBay realizes he is single handedly driving the prices of used Modulus basses down. I mean, if he took all of his off then there might be 5 Modulus basses on eBay...if he listed them one at a time I think he would have better luck. :scowl:

amen, that guy is poop!... imo

 

[The_Owl]

Me wants:

I can't deal too good with narrow spacing. A Wide Q5 like this would suit me great, and the price is great too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Modulus-WIDE-Quantum-5-string-Q5-case-fits-vj-q4-4-6-q6_W0QQitemZ290325052295QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item4398b8bb87&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A3|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

 

[ChasFL]

Just checked on eBay and the prices seem OK. I bought my Genesis in 2001, pristine condition, for $1400 and the prices are now are averaging $2K. Seems alright.

I'm surprised though that the Genesis doesn't seem more popular. I prefer the wood neck over the graphite fiber neck of the Quantum, but it seems the Quantum is the Modulus of choice, and then the Flea second.

 

[Mulebagger]

I just saw on the Modulus website that they killed their link to the Genesis model. I've had a number of different Modulus basses in the past but my main two are a fretted and fretless Genesis. I use my Q6 and VJ for solo shows. I've had a few Q5's but that spacing was just too tight for me. I'd love to have the one on ebay, but I think it's like 21mm spacing and that would be too much. Basically a Q6 with 5 strings.

 

[Schweedy]

Hey guys sign me up, I've had my black 5 string flea with white pearl pickguard (always meant to get a black pearl one for it so i could match stefan lessard... but now i kinda like the white better) since june of 2005... got it for a decent price on ebay, and have loved it ever since... My only regret was buying the 5 string for 1400 instead of shelling out a bit more for the blue flake four string they had up... but hey i don't even remotely consider myself a five string person but i still love the hell out of it(the b-string has actually become my thumb rest of choice)

(sorry about the photo quality, but all i have for a camera is my phone and it's awful)

 

[ChasFL]

I just saw on the Modulus website that they killed their link to the Genesis model. I've had a number of different Modulus basses in the past but my main two are a fretted and fretless Genesis. I use my Q6 and VJ for solo shows. I've had a few Q5's but that spacing was just too tight for me. I'd love to have the one on ebay, but I think it's like 21mm spacing and that would be too much. Basically a Q6 with 5 strings.

I saw that the Genesis link was down previously also but they seemed to have fixed it now. MODULUS WEBSITE

That's a nice collection of Mods you have there. I have just one, a fretted Genesis similiar to the finish pattern of yours 2nd from left, but with the clear maple neck of yours 3rd from the left.

One thing I had a question on is that I don't seem to see there being a difference in the description of the finish of a clear finish Quilt 5A for the flame maples, yet some seem more like tiger stripes such as mine and yours 2nd from left, and then others that seem to have more of a broken pattern such as yours 3rd from the left.

Do you know if these are two distinct different types of finish patterns or just variations of the same.

 

[TonyP-]

Just to throw it out there.

I'm putting my Fretless Q6 with Audre and Cocobolo top in the classifieds.

Check it.

 

[rockstarbassist]

Anyone looking to sell/trade their Flea 4 or 5 sparkle? I know this is a stretch, but I thought I would try. I miss my Fleas!!!!

Have you seen my FB4 MM/J? It's not sparkle, but it's got a AAAAA quilted top in deep velvet burgandy or something.
It's a ridiculous piece, but I'm damn well broke ATM. I have to move something in the arsenal, and it can't be the MTD or Charvel...

Oh and peeps who want in the Mob, PM me! That's how I can keep track of everythin'.