Modulus Mob

[UpperBout]

You wont damage any guitar doing this, especially a modulus. Is this your first bass?

Nope. Ive just read to many threads on tb and theyve turned me into. Neurotic old man!

Gotcha! I've done just this more times than I can count and have never damaged anything. I do every restring on every instrument this way. Good luck!

Tb-phobia

I agree that in general it's fine to completely remove the strings on most basses. There are probably a plenty of finicky necks/truss rods that don't like it much, and respond badly. If I had a bass like that, I'd probably hedge my bets by changing one string at a time. It's important to remember that a properly set up bass is a system of tension between the strings pulling up and the neck pulling back, so you wouldn't want to leave the string portion of that system out of the equation for an extended period of time, like several hours or overnight. Due to the special construction characteristics of Modulii, this is even less of an issue than with conventional neck construction.

Perhaps I'm becoming a neurotic old man...

 

[drewphishesp]

Ok all new hardware installed and this baby is a dream come true!!

I love it and it matches my new wedding ring!

 

[ModulusFan]

Agreed with not letting it set extended periods of time. However, twisting, bowing and other dimensional issues in wood occur due to changes in moisture content and how it was sawn out of the log of lumber. They become apparent after it dries to a normal moisture content (after improperly drying prior to milling) or it is kept in an area with ambient conditions much dryer or wetter than intended. Orientation of seasonal rings in the cut makes which way it is going to bow/twist/distort are very predictable. I don't believe truss rod tension can permanently bend wood...nit without some heat and moisture cycles at least. But still, I too would not want to leave truss tension on for a long period of time. Mostly due to that doesn't seem like a nice thing to do to an instrument that I'd assume you must like.

Carbon fiber does not have the same shrink/swell issues wood does as it isn't under varying tensions of the grain and annual rings like wood. That and carbon fiber is inherently stiff as it gets. Modulus of elasticity = a poop ton. Not only that, but the adjustments rods modulus uses do not act as a truss rod or straighten the neck in any way. They push up on the fingerboard making it straighter.

 

[drewphishesp]

So while changing out of the hardware on my modulus. I took out the pickups and realized they were emg 40cs and not 40dc. Has anyone used both? I cant really see what the difference is between them and their website doesn’t make it easy. Just curious as to what difference is. I know mike gordon uses the 40dc and I love his tone

 

[GeoffGould]

I blinked, and missed a ton o' posts! I love the "$15 ugly" comment!

 

[Bob_Ross]

It's important to remember that a properly set up bass is a system of tension between the strings pulling up and the neck pulling back, so you wouldn't want to leave the string portion of that system out of the equation for an extended period of time, like several hours or overnight.

While I will concede that anecdotes are not data, this cross-post from my experience might serve to assuage any paranoia:

Bought a second-hand Warmoth bass in 1996. No idea how old it was at the time, but, as the setup was perfect when I got it, I did not adjust the trussrod then.
In 2004 I decided to "repurpose" the body for a different instrument, so I removed the Warmoth neck and stuck it on a shelf in my closet
...where it remained for the next eleven years!
Then in 2015 I got a new Warmoth body, attached this old Warmoth neck to it, strung it up, and have been using that bass fairly consistently since



And I still haven't had to touch the trussrod.

And that was a wood neck! Pretty sure the Modulus neck will be fine if he leaves it unstrung for several days. Or weeks. Or years.

 

[drewphishesp]

so it seems fret noise is a bit more common with a modulus. Makes sense as the neck is metal. Is there any ways to help this besides lowering your highs a bit?

 

[GeoffGould]

the neck is not metal. It just doesn't need to have the highs goosed like you may be used to. I suggest you start off flat, turn up the bass a bit until you 'feel' it, then maybe back off the treble. If you have midrange, cut the area around 750.

 

[loveandbass]

Had a “breakthrough” moment at band practice the other night with the ole TBX. This relationship with this bass has been so interesting. Truly a roller coaster of sorts. In the end it’s best to let this bass just exist as it is. No need to try and “color” it.

 

[drewphishesp]

what strap locks if any is everyone using with their moduli? my schallers came undone while practicing yesterday

 

[BadWithNames]

what strap locks if any is everyone using with their moduli? my schallers came undone while practicing yesterday

I believe mine are Schallers, as well. Don’t really have much experience with straplocks, so I can’t recommend any substitutes.

Maybe try replacing the part that goes on the strap? Might be “cheaper” than installing a new system, as you could put the part that goes in the bass on a different bass.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

So while changing out of the hardware on my modulus. I took out the pickups and realized they were emg 40cs and not 40dc. Has anyone used both? I cant really see what the difference is between them and their website doesn’t make it easy. Just curious as to what difference is. I know mike gordon uses the 40dc and I love his tone

The 40dc is a dual coil ceramic bar magnet pickup, the cs is ceramic magnets with steel poles. It says on

what strap locks if any is everyone using with their moduli? my schallers came undone while practicing yesterday

I have dunlop dual designs on all my basses. Some people prefer one over the other, personally I feel if you use them right (and double check them every now and then for tightened screws and all), they all work well. I just have Dunlops because they came stock on some of my basses and I am all about universal parts.

 

[drewphishesp]

The 40dc is a dual coil ceramic bar magnet pickup, the cs is ceramic magnets with steel poles. It says on

I saw that, I just do not know what it means in laymens terms

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I saw that, I just do not know what it means in laymens terms

Sorry- I thought I'd deleted that. TB and the NSA in cahoots

On the EMG site, it says the CS tames some of the highs of the DCs (which I never thought were all THAT bright to beging with), so that's probably all there is. They're similar designs, just different flavors. If you have the quick connect set up, you can swap 'em and see pretty easily.

 

[GeoffGould]

generally, the CS is a little 'warmer' than the DC. I'm not sure what Modulus did after '95, but we used to use the dual-purpose Dunlop Straplok (which I still use) so some people may not even realize it's a locking system, since it also works as a regular strap button.

 

[larrygs]

The most practical I have used because of that double function exactly, If you forget your strap you can use the Dunlop buttons with any other strap, with other systems is not possible.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I have counter-sunk Dunlops on one and the dual-purpose Dunlops on the other. But I just use the dual-purpose ones like normal strap buttons, with Grolsch beer washers over the ends. Not really a fan of straplocks.

 

[BadWithNames]

I recant my previous statement. I have Dunlops. Not Schallers.

Thanks, GeoffGould, for making me realize my mistake!

 

[drewphishesp]

first band practice tonight with the new modulus...looking forward to it. should have some recordings to post for those who wanted to know how chromes sounded on it

blues band!

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I have counter-sunk Dunlops on one and the dual-purpose Dunlops on the other. But I just use the dual-purpose ones like normal strap buttons, with Grolsch beer washers over the ends. Not really a fan of straplocks.

I’m always tempted by the recessed ones, but too chicken to do it.