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Modulus Mob

#9,681
NBD! Well weekend I guess, had it since Friday. 2005 Modulus Q5, figured walnut top, bartolini pickups, and an Aguilar preamp.
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Absolutely loving it, but have had a hard time making a slight neck adjustment. I’ve read that it takes a while to move into its new position, but it mentions nothing about this in the Q5 owners manual. Not a lot of info out there really so I figured this was the best place to ask. Does it just take a while? Or does it just need a lot of adjustment to make a difference?
 
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#9,683
Stantor said:
NBD! Well weekend I guess, had it since Friday. 2005 Modulus Q5, figured walnut top, bartolini pickups, and an Aguilar preamp. View attachment 3727781 View attachment 3727782 Absolutely loving it, but have had a hard time making a slight neck adjustment. I’ve read that it takes a while to move into its new position, but it mentions nothing about this in the Q5 owners manual. Not a lot of info out there really so I figured this was the best place to ask. Does it just take a while? Or does it just need a lot of adjustment to make a difference?
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There’s a “dead spot” in the truss rod where it doesn’t do anything, you may be there. I’ve always turned it a 1/4 turn and left it overnight. Takes awhile, but better safe than sorry. But in my experience, once it is through the dead spot, it adjusts pretty quickly.
 
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#9,684
MattLplaysBass said:
There’s a “dead spot” in the truss rod where it doesn’t do anything, you may be there. I’ve always turned it a 1/4 turn and left it overnight. Takes awhile, but better safe than sorry. But in my experience, once it is through the dead spot, it adjusts pretty quickly.
Click to expand...
Yea I think I managed to get past the dead spot earlier. The neck definitely needs to be straightened a bit, too much relief (I think that’s the right term, the center of the fretboard needs to come towards the strings a little to be straight). There’s some buzz around the 20th fret on the g and the 12 on the B. I’ve adjusted the saddles a bit and it helped but it’s not perfect. I’ve probably made about 1/2 turn so far so I guess I’ll wait it out. And go much slower next time lol. Honestly, setup isn’t my strong suit. Don’t know a ton and also don’t have a lot of the tools, so I’m just tryin to get it close until I can take it to a local luthier. Thanks for the reply!
 
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#9,685
Stantor said:
Yea I think I managed to get past the dead spot earlier. The neck definitely needs to be straightened a bit, too much relief (I think that’s the right term, the center of the fretboard needs to come towards the strings a little to be straight). There’s some buzz around the 20th fret on the g and the 12 on the B. I’ve adjusted the saddles a bit and it helped but it’s not perfect. I’ve probably made about 1/2 turn so far so I guess I’ll wait it out. And go much slower next time lol. Honestly, setup isn’t my strong suit. Don’t know a ton and also don’t have a lot of the tools, so I’m just tryin to get it close until I can take it to a local luthier. Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...
The pdf of the manual I have has the factory set up specs for string and pickup heights, so hopefully that will help. I've gotten better with setups just from doing them more, but it still takes me awhile.
 

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#9,687
I don’t have any fret buzz currently, however I have had to file a couple of frets that were high using the short side of a credit card as a “fret rocker” to locate the high spots on a fret and using a black magic marker to mark what area of a fret needed filing. You set the credit card on the shortest side on top of three frets at a time and move up and down the fretboard to locate any rocking in level areas. If it doesn’t rock back and fourth and remains flush then you do not have any high spots. If you are able to rock the card back and fourth then you have located a high spot that would require the area of the fret that needs filing. Once the card no longer rocks back and fourth you are all set and I use a fine sandpaper 120 grit to polish the fret and move on. Youtube stew Mac and phillip McKnight that demonstrates how to easily fix. Take baby steps and you will be good. You may have to do this multiple times, however it is best to take off a little each time than removing too much.

Here is an example, however I do not use the fret rocker or fret kisser. I use a credit card, black magic marker, a flat metal file, sand paper and masking tape to cove the fingerboard. It makes a big difference when everything is set just right and you have a high spot causing havoc.



This is just one issue. The nut could be cut to low could be another issue. The videos stew Mac has out there are helpful in fixing yourself. Where I live I don’t trust anyone to touch my Modulus.
So I do all my own work with excellent results.
 
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#9,688
bshaze said:
I don’t have any fret buzz currently, however I have had to file a couple of frets that were high using the short side of a credit card as a “fret rocker” to locate the high spots on a fret and using a black magic marker to mark what area of a fret needed filing. You set the credit card on the shortest side on top of three frets at a time and move up and down the fretboard to locate any rocking in level areas. If it doesn’t rock back and fourth and remains flush then you do not have any high spots. If you are able to rock the card back and fourth then you have located a high spot that would require the area of the fret that needs filing. Once the card no longer rocks back and fourth you are all set and I use a fine sandpaper 120 grit to polish the fret and move on. Youtube stew Mac and phillip McKnight that demonstrates how to easily fix. Take baby steps and you will be good. You may have to do this multiple times, however it is best to take off a little each time than removing too much.

Here is an example, however I do not use the fret rocker or fret kisser. I use a credit card, black magic marker, a flat metal file, sand paper and masking tape to cove the fingerboard. It makes a big difference when everything is set just right and you have a high spot causing havoc.



This is just one issue. The nut could be cut to low could be another issue. The videos stew Mac has out there are helpful in fixing yourself. Where I live I don’t trust anyone to touch my Modulus.
So I do all my own work with excellent results.
Click to expand...


Man, I'm with you. However, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject. I just don't really know where else to go if Flea's old guitar tech (and was with Rage and KISS), that was suggest by Modulus, spent four hours on it exclusively and couldn't get the buzz out. It's a 2007. It is wonderful in every way besides this buzz on the C of the A string and the F of the E.
 
#9,689
carsonchilders said:
Man, I'm with you. However, I am not very knowledgeable on the subject. I just don't really know where else to go if Flea's old guitar tech (and was with Rage and KISS), that was suggest by Modulus, spent four hours on it exclusively and couldn't get the buzz out. It's a 2007. It is wonderful in every way besides this buzz on the C of the A string and the F of the E.
Click to expand...
My guy that I use does amazing work with all of my Modulus basses and guitars, as well as my guitar players modulus guitars and basses. My Moddy basses (I have 12) have no dead spots, buzzes, or anything of the sort. 100% sorted out by my guy. To date, I can estimate between just me and my guitar player he has worked on 40 Modulus for just us. He does amazing work. I highly recommend him. PM me for his contact info. Call him. talk to him. See what he says. People ship basses to him from all over the world to work on.
 
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#9,690
iriegnome said:
My guy that I use does amazing work with all of my Modulus basses and guitars, as well as my guitar players modulus guitars and basses. My Moddy basses (I have 12) have no dead spots, buzzes, or anything of the sort. 100% sorted out by my guy. To date, I can estimate between just me and my guitar player he has worked on 40 Modulus for just us. He does amazing work. I highly recommend him. PM me for his contact info. Call him. talk to him. See what he says. People ship basses to him from all over the world to work on.
Click to expand...

Thank you I'll do that.
 
#9,697
The action that is set on all mine is insanely low. Most bass players when I hand them my basses can't play them. The action is too low for them. I have a very light left hand touch. The super low action helps to play 4 hour or longer sets without any muscle issues in my left hand.
 
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