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Modulus Mob
- Thread starter rockstarbassist
- Start date
Been using these strings for years. Very low tension. Personally love them. You will have to lighten your touch though
I don't play with a heavy touch right now, but I'm sure I'll need to adjust a bit. It's an experiment of course. If I really don't like them, I'll sell them (since they cost a mint).
If you sell them let me know. However, I think you will love them. They play kind of like a half round. Flat feeling but with some more attack to them
Really amazing strings. The E is a bit light in feel but not it tone, surprisingly deep for and .89 gauge
I run Dean Markley Blue Steel ML 45 65 80 105 128 on the '94 Quantum 5.
Very fast, flexible feel, well- defined tone thru all ranges with perfect EMG growl
as needed. Best strings on all my basses except Slinky Cobalts on the SR5HP.
Bought it new and never had any probs with the board- no truss. Action's at about
3mm on B.
.
Are you measuring from the bottom of the B string to the top of the 12th fret and getting 3mm on your Q5? I'm getting 3mm at that spot but the action is still much higher than what I'm used to on other basses. I know it's all a matter of preference, I just wish I could lower it a bit more. While this won't work all the time, I did take Bruce's advice and tuned down a 1/2 step. That lowered the action a bit.
Honestly, the bass is otherwise incredible so I'll just deal with the higher action for now, though eventually I'll probably either have the bridge saddles shaved down or have the bridge sunk 1-2mm.
I really like Blue Steels. I use them sometimes on my Spector NS-2. If these T1 Jazz rounds don't work out, I'll pick up a set of those strings to try out on the TBX5.
Correct. The neck seems straighter than any of my other basses with no board "shrinkage". I assumed it was a characteristic of the composite design.
Internet research wasn't available at the time. An impulse purchase much like the Kramer aluminum neck earlier on. Guitar player friend of mine suggested the Blue Steels and I put them on. It's played as what I refer to as "fast" ever since and I haven't questioned. It's been my main player for years so I suppose it's what you get used to. I keep half D'Addario half rounds on the vintage instruments. Only concern is the beginnings of polyurethane loss on the back of the neck but I don't dare remove it to get it refinished
On my 95 Q4 with the TI Flats I measure from 1.5mm at the E string down to 1mm at the G string. Almost too low but it's a great action. The fairly stiff hex core steels were about 1mm higher and round nickels in between IIRC. I liked the sound of the TIs so they stayed. I don't have experience with the rounds on this one.
Just as an FYI: On my 1991 Q6 I had the same dreaded "15-year" neck relief issue, which, as has been said in the forum a number of times, is owing to the phenolic fretboard shrinking over time, not to the graphite composite. I would imagine that the contraction of the fretboard material gives the neck its backbow over time, kind of like geological forces wearing down stone.
Anyhow, I sent my neck to Jerry Dorsch at Graphite Guitars (he was formerly with Modulus), and he replaced the fretboard with a piece of phenowood he got from Zon. He also installed a truss rod, which is key because you always want the ability to make even the smallest adjustments. The tradeoff is that the neck is slightly thicker, because the original phenolic was super thin, so much so that it couldn't be planed level because there wouldn't be enough material left to install frets.
In any event, you said the neck relief is okay at this stage, but if it ever gets worse, you might consider surgery.
Thanks for the tips. Good to know a new fretboard is an option if needed down the road. My TBX is neck-thru though, so I think getting a truss installed would be out of the question.
So, I installed the Thomastik JR345 (jazz rounds) on my '89 TBX 5 the other day. The good news is that the lower tension (and gauge) of these strings has resulted in lowered action. At this point, it's almost right where I like it which is great! The bad news is that the A string (and less so the E) was completely dead right out of the package (not so great). I realize these strings are not super bright, however, the B, D and G strings all sound great and sound 'new' and 'bright' as round rounds should sound right out of the package. Anyway, I've contacted Thomastik-Infeld to see if I can get a replacement set (Musician's Friend won't do anything for me).
That's a shame. What it sounds like to me is the set was sitting for a while in the musiciansfriend warehouse. I had that happen but musiciansfriend had me return the set and then sent a new one. I would ask to speak to a supervisor. They are new strings they should honor their products
Yes, good point. I would have done so yesterday, but I was chatting with an MF employee online and I didn't have time to escalate. He said that once strings are opened that they don't accept returns or exchanges and that product defects need to be handled by the manufacturer. Lame. Anyway, I figured I would ping Thomastik and if they came through then great. You're right though - considering the price point, it's highly likely these strings were sitting at MF for a while. Not everyone is willing to spend $96 (w/ coupon) on strings. Honestly, I would not have either if it wasn't for the fact these are the lowest tension round wound strings on the market.
Yea and they are wonderful strings though. Let us k ow how thomastik pans out because I never personally have spoken to them and I only use TI strings. Worst case scenario talk to Jason at BSO he sells singles and you can just get the one dead string you need
And consider buying from Bass Strings Online where last year I was able to buy singles of the longer TI flats as well as TI sets for a good price.
Sadly yes I've had it happen to sets that are just packed in paper envelopes. Never had it happen to sets sealed in plastic
Yes, will do. I do really like the B, D and G strings. The E is kinda dead as well (not as bad as the A). Yes, BSO is great.
If I don't hear back from Thomastik soon I'm going to do just that. It is a bit painful though as an A and E string together will run me $43!
