Drool is right. Wow!!
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Modulus Mob
- Thread starter rockstarbassist
- Start date
You've most likely got EMG 40DC pickups. You can look on the bottom of your pickups, should be a sticker with the model number on it. EMG makes a whole bunch of different models in the "40" shape, so you might want to just go to a different one of those.
Back in '96 I'm pretty sure all they made was the 40DC, the 40P5, and the 40J. Now there's a lot more variations - Invalid Link Removed.
The 40DC is probably the brightest of the bunch. All the CS variations are warmer. I've put a lot of years on a 40P5/40J set. The 40P5 is very ballsy, in-your face, but not bright like the DC. It's a nice pickup for rock. I've played a little with a 40TW and like it - two pickups in one, switchable between a 40JCS and a 40CS. I played a Spector that had one of these in the bridge position, with a J at the neck, and it was fat, thick goodness...
Note that all of these, even the "single coil" J styles (actually a stacked humbucker), are dead silent, one of the things I really like about active EMGs.
the 'negative nelly' part of me wonders what happens if 'cites' comes in and says there's a particular part of the body that's on the no-no list and we're confiscating the bass for testing? you'll probably get your refund on the $7g but:
1. you'll never get to even sniff the machine.
2. either the bass is wrecked during testing or someone in the loop keeps it for themselves.
the 'curious charlie' part of me wonders what the 'b' string on a 34" modulus (graphite neck) sounds like. i've played a few 34" zon sonus fivers and the 'b' string didn't feel floppy or sound dead like most long-scale fivers i've played (wood necks).
@micgtr71 take also a look on Nordstrand Big Rigs, that is what I will use to replace the EMGs 40CS on my Q5.
I guess that depends on what type of ebony it is? I doubt modulus would knowingly use endangered wood, with that whole conservation thing they had going on?
I would probably just have one built at that price what's a couple grand more at that point right? Plus it's missing LED's
on the bright EMG setup: you may have some dip switches on your preamp that adjusts the freq range and Q.
Greatings! I just recently purchased a 94 Q6 with Bartolinis. While they sound good, I have a set of lane poor soap bars that will fit but not sure if I should swap them. The LPs are a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil neck pickup. I would most likely swap the bart preamp for an Aguilar OBP3 which is what the LPs were paired with in the last bass they were in. What would you guys do?
Btw these are original lane poors not the new legacy pickups.
Nice find! Cool color.
The LPs are not a straight swap with the Bartolini route- usually you have to open it up slightly. The LPs are a straight swap for EMG-equipped basses, though. Just FYI.
That said, I'm a huge fan of two setups on Qs. I love LP humbuckers in Quantums (and have two), and I love the all-Bartolini setup. They're night and day different. The Bartolini's are warm, full, round and dark, while the LPs are clear and crisp. They're totally different sounds, so you would have to make the decision on the sound you are going for.
I don't think the LP humbucker/single coil combo is going to be that great, though. You might get some weird, out-of-phase sounds if you try to blend the neck/bridge.
The LPs are not a straight swap with the Bartolini route- usually you have to open it up slightly. The LPs are a straight swap for EMG-equipped basses, though. Just FYI.
That said, I'm a huge fan of two setups on Qs. I love LP humbuckers in Quantums (and have two), and I love the all-Bartolini setup. They're night and day different. The Bartolini's are warm, full, round and dark, while the LPs are clear and crisp. They're totally different sounds, so you would have to make the decision on the sound you are going for.
I don't think the LP humbucker/single coil combo is going to be that great, though. You might get some weird, out-of-phase sounds if you try to blend the neck/bridge.
GeoffGould
Commercial User
I think the CITES thing will eventually work out, but right now there's a lot of confusion. When we first started using cocabola at Modulus, the source of the wood was actually recommended by the Rainforest Action Network at the time. The idea was this small firm paid locals to bring out individual logs of cocabola, without burning down the forest to make grazing land for cattle. Eventually the business of eco certifications got kind of tangled, and that was no longer RAN-approved. Also, new species got added to CITES that used to be OK, like bubinga, and all rosewood, even rosewood that's sustainably farmed. I think the main deal is to be aware of when you cross borders. Nobody's going to confiscate your bass at the local bar. I'm trying to create a "Grand Tour" designation in my own line with phenolic fingerboards, plastic position markers, and obviously sustainable body woods (maple, ash, alder, etc.) We will still make cocabola-topped basses, but players will need to be aware of the traveling risks. Players from other countries can still get exotic wood basses, but there's a lot of paperwork and border delays involved.
Ordered Nordstrand Big Rigs for my Modulus Q5, once I have them I will let you know how it goes. The Big Rigs will replace the EMG 40CS that came original. I'm also replacing the EMG Preamp with a Nordstrand preamp 
Bigrig 5 Dual Coil
Bigrig 5 Dual Coil
Aw crap... I have an upcoming Eastern European tour next year and was planning on bringing my cocabola-topped Modulus. This is gonna suck if I can't bring that bass.
GeoffGould
Commercial User
That is just something I would have never in a million years ever thought about. When I toured Jamaica, I never even thought that the wood on my bass might come into question. Since I carried it on to the plane, it never even got looked at by anyone through customs. Maybe I got lucky?
I'm really interested in your thoughts in this as I've been pondering putting in some Fat Stacks to replace the same pup and pre combo you have in my 97' Q5. The Big Rigs would be a solid option though.Ordered Nordstrand Big Rigs for my Modulus Q5, once I have them I will let you know how it goes. The Big Rigs will replace the EMG 40CS that came original. I'm also replacing the EMG Preamp with a Nordstrand preamp
Bigrig 5 Dual Coil
@fishstix I will let you know once they arrive (custom 17mm takes 2 weeks), I will record sound samples. I considered the Dual Blades but after speaking with Carey, my option changed to BigRigs.
If you don't mind me asking, what input did Carey have that influenced your decision?
@fishstix Is not that he told me a lot haha, I was looking a good balance of Lows and Highs, he recommended me the Big Rigs since those have a clearer and more present top end. I felt the dual blades to be darker, (those were my other option) Bartolini style.
I have Big Blades on my Ibanez and used to have NJ5s on another Jazz, so I was not looking for the same sound but something that will benefit the tone of the Q5. Listening to the samples of the BigRigs, I really liked that sound and I think it will be a really good match for the Q5.
I have Big Blades on my Ibanez and used to have NJ5s on another Jazz, so I was not looking for the same sound but something that will benefit the tone of the Q5. Listening to the samples of the BigRigs, I really liked that sound and I think it will be a really good match for the Q5.
