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Modulus Mob

I don't have a pic handy, but it's the most traditional-looking of any Modulus neck joint I can recall. Looks very much like a typical old Fender: Squared-off body on the three sides of the neck pocket, a rectangular metal plate with four bolts (hex bolts rather than wood screws), the only thing particularly unique about it is that the back of the neck remains perfectly flat for a couple inches past the neck pocket. It's the combination of that flat section of the neck and the squared-off body around the neck pocket that prevents it from fitting in the form-fit TBX case...and that had me worried the TBX wouldn't fit in the Anvil case.



I'm not gonna lie, it may be too much for me! Definitely the widest neck of any bass I own, and hence far more difficult to control. For the first time in 45 years of playing bass I'm considering cheating [sic] and getting one of those fuzzy string mutes to prevent unwanted open string resonances. But I also view it as a challenge -- and/or an indication that I need to practice more. That sound though, holy crap, I don't think I could ever part with it! Freakin' amaze-balls...
There’s a white one on Reverb atm, so I seent it now. I agree with your description, very interesting.
 
I'm new to the forum - just reading through the 450+ posts - awesome! It's Friday!! Woohoo!

modulus2.jpgModulus.jpg
 
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Hey Mobsters.

I purchased this 1990 Q6 used a few years ago and it is a bit of an oddball. It has EMG pick ups but I cannot identify the pre-amp. Looking closely it has BT-10A printed on it and a small switch on the other side. I think this may have been an after market installation as the blend control is wired backwards. The pre-amp is two band, bass and treble. Note the disconnected ground wire from the bridge. EMG pickups would not need that so I wonder if the bass came with different pickups originally. I emailed the old Modulus company and it drew a blank with them. Anybody have any idea what that pre-amp might be?
I am considering gutting it and installing a three band Aguilar circuit with Aggie pick-ups.
Modulus Q6.jpg
Modulus Pre Amp.jpg
Modulus Pre amp flipped.jpg
 
Hey Mobsters.

I purchased this 1990 Q6 used a few years ago and it is a bit of an oddball. It has EMG pick ups but I cannot identify the pre-amp. Looking closely it has BT-10A printed on it and a small switch on the other side. I think this may have been an after market installation as the blend control is wired backwards. The pre-amp is two band, bass and treble. Note the disconnected ground wire from the bridge. EMG pickups would not need that so I wonder if the bass came with different pickups originally. I emailed the old Modulus company and it drew a blank with them. Anybody have any idea what that pre-amp might be?
I am considering gutting it and installing a three band Aguilar circuit with Aggie pick-ups.
View attachment 3350547 View attachment 3350549 View attachment 3350550
That's an original EMG BTS preamp, bass-treble-separate knobs. I've got an old BTC (concentric), looks very similar.

The little switches change the character of the treble EQ curve. The old ones are a little different than the current model.

Switches Center Frequency
1 2
on on 2.1khz
on off 3.5khz
off on 4.5khz
off off 7.0khz

I kinda recall getting the pickup wires backward when I first installed mine way back when, resulting in a backward blend control. Maybe the instructions weren't real clear about which solder pads were for neck and bridge.
 
Hey Mobsters.

I purchased this 1990 Q6 used a few years ago and it is a bit of an oddball. It has EMG pick ups but I cannot identify the pre-amp. Looking closely it has BT-10A printed on it and a small switch on the other side. I think this may have been an after market installation as the blend control is wired backwards. The pre-amp is two band, bass and treble. Note the disconnected ground wire from the bridge. EMG pickups would not need that so I wonder if the bass came with different pickups originally. I emailed the old Modulus company and it drew a blank with them. Anybody have any idea what that pre-amp might be?
I am considering gutting it and installing a three band Aguilar circuit with Aggie pick-ups.
Geoff installs his blends controls backwards on his g. gould basses
 
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Geoff installs his blends controls backwards on his g. gould basses
All the Modulus basses were "backwards" while I was there. There are actually a few others who do it the same way. It's no big deal, it's easy to reverse, especially now with the plug-in connectors. My basic attitude was the blend knob was a tone control, not a car stereo knob. I think if you were asked what way do you turn a knob "up," you'd say clockwise (excepting the modern kids who don't know what clockwise means!). If I told you to choose whether 'deep' or 'bright' should be 'up,' I think you'd probably choose bright. That is what 'backwards' is!
 
All the Modulus basses were "backwards" while I was there. There are actually a few others who do it the same way. It's no big deal, it's easy to reverse, especially now with the plug-in connectors. My basic attitude was the blend knob was a tone control, not a car stereo knob. I think if you were asked what way do you turn a knob "up," you'd say clockwise (excepting the modern kids who don't know what clockwise means!). If I told you to choose whether 'deep' or 'bright' should be 'up,' I think you'd probably choose bright. That is what 'backwards' is!

Hi Geoff,
Interesting! I never thought of it that way. It has never bothered me actually but I was curious about it. One quick question. Would Modulus have installed the bridge ground wire without hooking it up to have the option easily available if one were to change to a different pick up that required it?
 
Hi Geoff,
Interesting! I never thought of it that way. It has never bothered me actually but I was curious about it. One quick question. Would Modulus have installed the bridge ground wire without hooking it up to have the option easily available if one were to change to a different pick up that required it?

yes the couple moduli I have had all had it installed but not used
 
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All the Modulus basses were "backwards" while I was there. There are actually a few others who do it the same way. It's no big deal, it's easy to reverse, especially now with the plug-in connectors. My basic attitude was the blend knob was a tone control, not a car stereo knob. I think if you were asked what way do you turn a knob "up," you'd say clockwise (excepting the modern kids who don't know what clockwise means!). If I told you to choose whether 'deep' or 'bright' should be 'up,' I think you'd probably choose bright. That is what 'backwards' is!
Oh wow I’m imagining the late night wide eyed conversations that led to this lol
 
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