Modulus Mob

[carsonchilders]

Here’s some screenshots of the PDF of the modulus manual I found on the Internet. It should help with your set up.

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very helpful

 

[songwriter21]

Please buy this, so I don't!

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[Thir13teen]

Please buy this, so I don't!

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Damn. If I were a 5 string guy I'd buy it. However, GC is where I bought my used Modulus VJ bass from this past summer (and my SWR SM-400

 

[rogerbmiller]

Hey everyone. Wanted to get some opinions here.

I just picked up a Q5 that is equipped with Bartolini pickups and 3 band preamp.

As is often my experience when Bart pickups are paired with a Bart preamp, the sound is kinda blah. The mids are too dirty and the bass lacks a certain punch and clarity that I prefer. I can tell this thing is just going to get lost in the mix.

So my question- has anyone here swapped the preamp on their Q5 but kept the Bart PUPs? If so what did you use and how did you like the results.

Thanks.

RBM

 

[Modulus 96]

Am interested in this question, my Bart-equiped q5 sounds weak as well.

 

[fauxtoe]

Hey everyone. Wanted to get some opinions here.

I just picked up a Q5 that is equipped with Bartolini pickups and 3 band preamp.

As is often my experience when Bart pickups are paired with a Bart preamp, the sound is kinda blah. The mids are too dirty and the bass lacks a certain punch and clarity that I prefer. I can tell this thing is just going to get lost in the mix.

So my question- has anyone here swapped the preamp on their Q5 but kept the Bart PUPs? If so what did you use and how did you like the results.

Thanks.

RBM

After a 10 month affair with my Q5 and its Bart preamp, I’m probably going to kick the Bart to the curb once an ACG becomes available. I have not been able to tame it down enough for my liking and tonal options are slim. It’s probably a combination of the pups as well since I have a Bart 3 band in my FB5 with its Legacy pup and it’s fine in that bass.

 

[bubba-b]

Hey everyone. Wanted to get some opinions here.

I just picked up a Q5 that is equipped with Bartolini pickups and 3 band preamp.

As is often my experience when Bart pickups are paired with a Bart preamp, the sound is kinda blah. The mids are too dirty and the bass lacks a certain punch and clarity that I prefer. I can tell this thing is just going to get lost in the mix.

So my question- has anyone here swapped the preamp on their Q5 but kept the Bart PUPs? If so what did you use and how did you like the results.

Thanks.

RBM

My “sound “ are Bart dual coils into an Aggie obp-3. My favorite.

 

[fauxtoe]

The one thing that I found recently that punched up my Q5 was by accidentally discovering that my Tech21 YYZ pedal does a fantastic job of making it sound like a Wal from when Geddy and Flea used them. There's something in that circuitry that both tames down the highs and punches up the mids and lows just at the exact right frequency.

 

[rogerbmiller]

My “sound “ are Bart dual coils into an Aggie obp-3. My favorite.

Interesting. I have that combo in one of my FU5s but with Bart single coils. It is definitely the most present of by Bart equipped FUs.

Also interestingly, my Modulus Genesis 5s are all stock. One has Bart single coils and a 2b Bart pre. The other has the DCs and a 3 band pre. Both sound great which makes me wonder if there is just something about the combination of Barts and an all graphite neck that don't go together well.

There is a part of me that is thinking of converting my Q5 to all EMG- DCs and the BQS.

I just feel EMGs and graphite are like peanut butter and jelly. My Gould basses all sound stellar to my ears.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I don't remember if the stock Modulus Bart 3 band has the push/pull mids? I've been through a few pre's on my Q5 (has Emg 40DCXs and BQC currently, which is nice), but one that I had in it had those, and that helped a lot.

I am a fan of the Bart NTMB pre (have it in several of my basses), I think it's a pretty neutral pre and allows the pickup character to come through (several different pickup settings). I do prefer the EMG setup in my Q5 though...

 

[fauxtoe]

I don't remember if the stock Modulus Bart 3 band has the push/pull mids? I've been through a few pre's on my Q5 (has Emg 40DCXs and BQC currently, which is nice), but one that I had in it had those, and that helped a lot.

I am a fan of the Bart NTMB pre (have it in several of my basses), I think it's a pretty neutral pre and allows the pickup character to come through (several different pickup settings). I do prefer the EMG setup in my Q5 though...

I think that, in the case of a Q5, neutral may not always be a good thing. It’s almost too neutral. Mine does not have a push-pull mid, but I think it would greatly benefit if it had a mid sweep. Actually I think every active electronic bass should have one.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I know at least one godfather of graphite who'll disagree with you about the mids I like sweepable mids, but if you don't know what you're doing, you can get yourself in trouble.

 

[Thir13teen]

The one thing that I found recently that punched up my Q5 was by accidentally discovering that my Tech21 YYZ pedal does a fantastic job of making it sound like a Wal from when Geddy and Flea used them. There's something in that circuitry that both tames down the highs and punches up the mids and lows just at the exact right frequency.

I'd be curious to try a YYZ pedal w/ my Modulus VJ. I use a Tech 21 Bass VT pedal (ver 2) and it sounds pretty amazing. I bought my bass used so all I know is that it has EMG jazz pickups w/ the poles exposed. I assume there is an EMG preamp in it but I'm not sure.

 

[Thir13teen]

Interesting. I have that combo in one of my FU5s but with Bart single coils. It is definitely the most present of by Bart equipped FUs.

Also interestingly, my Modulus Genesis 5s are all stock. One has Bart single coils and a 2b Bart pre. The other has the DCs and a 3 band pre. Both sound great which makes me wonder if there is just something about the combination of Barts and an all graphite neck that don't go together well.

There is a part of me that is thinking of converting my Q5 to all EMG- DCs and the BQS.

I just feel EMGs and graphite are like peanut butter and jelly. My Gould basses all sound stellar to my ears.

My Modulus VJ has EMG's and I think it sounds amazing (through a Tech 21 Bass VT pedal & an SWR SM-400).

 

[fauxtoe]

I'd be curious to try a YYZ pedal w/ my Modulus VJ. I use a Tech 21 Bass VT pedal (ver 2) and it sounds pretty amazing. I bought my bass used so all I know is that it has EMG jazz pickups w/ the poles exposed. I assume there is an EMG preamp in it but I'm not sure.

I have been very impressed with the YYZ pedal and I think you would be too if you can try one. It’s one of the more unique offerings I’ve seen in a while with the way the EQ is programmed.

 

[BruceWane]

I think that, in the case of a Q5, neutral may not always be a good thing. It’s almost too neutral. Mine does not have a push-pull mid, but I think it would greatly benefit if it had a mid sweep. Actually I think every active electronic bass should have one.

The mid frequency in Bartolini 3 bands can be set to different frequencies using different capacitor values. By default, i.e. installed with no capacitors, the mid frequency is 250hz, which is kinda low IMO.

My experience/opinion - 400hz is a good mid frequency center for adding thickness without excessive bass flab. 800hz is good for adding cut and definition without excessive treble/clank. These are pretty typical frequencies for preamps with switchable mids.

So.... you could add switchable mids to your preamp for the cost of a couple of capacitors and a push-pull pot. The capacitor values are in the preamp wiring diagrams at bartolini.net .

There's not really any way to add a sweepable mid to your preamp. There is such a thing as a variable capacitor, but they're pretty rare, and expensive, and too large to fit in your control cavity.

 

[MattLplaysBass]

The mid frequency in Bartolini 3 bands can be set to different frequencies using different capacitor values. By default, i.e. installed with no capacitors, the mid frequency is 250hz, which is kinda low IMO.

My experience/opinion - 400hz is a good mid frequency center for adding thickness without excessive bass flab. 800hz is good for adding cut and definition without excessive treble/clank. These are pretty typical frequencies for preamps with switchable mids.

So.... you could add switchable mids to your preamp for the cost of a couple of capacitors and a push-pull pot. The capacitor values are in the preamp wiring diagrams at bartolini.net .

There's not really any way to add a sweepable mid to your preamp. There is such a thing as a variable capacitor, but they're pretty rare, and expensive, and too large to fit in your control cavity.

yeah, i think the pre-wired Bart pre I had was 250/800...

 

[fauxtoe]

The mid frequency in Bartolini 3 bands can be set to different frequencies using different capacitor values. By default, i.e. installed with no capacitors, the mid frequency is 250hz, which is pretty low.

My experience/opinion - 400hz is a good mid frequency center for adding thickness without excessive bass flab. 800hz is good for adding cut and definition without excessive treble/clank. These are pretty typical frequencies for preamps with switchable mids.

So.... you could add switchable mids to your preamp for the cost of a couple of capacitors and a push-pull pot. The capacitor values are in the preamp wiring diagrams at bartolini.net .

There's not really any way to add a sweepable mid to your preamp. There is such a thing as a variable capacitor, but they're pretty rare, and expensive, and too large to fit in your control cavity.

Which is why I'll be switching the whole thing out eventually for an ACG. The Bart has hit its limits and once I start fighting with it...adios. I've grown fond of the sounds available through filtered preamps (Wal, Alembic, etc), and combining that with the graphite neck I think will put me on the path to a lot of very nice tones to work with.

 

[bubba-b]

wow, has anyone visited the lowend site lately? don't know if it's from a store closing or a very, very nice personal collection but there's 16 modulus and 3 gould basses listed. the prices are a bit steep but it made for some drool-worthy window shopping.

i was a bit stunned to see one of the gould's listed that had the neck of one of my previous basses on another gould body. very bizarre.

 

[GeoffGould]

What site is this?