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Modulus Mob

#9,821
I found this thread through corona-boredom and figured I would share my Modulus Flea. Its a 1999 truss rod model with the original Lane Poor pickup and Bartolini Pre-amp. I believe the color is called "metallic blue" which I think is a much more tasteful take on the popular flake blue, though I've never seen another with this finish. I bought it 8 or 9 years ago from a guy in California who had it professionally modded so it could be strung through the body, which I usually prefer.

Flea was my first bass hero when I bought this in high school. I still have tremendous respect and admiration for his music, but as I've discovered so many other great bassists I now usually find myself reaching for a Jazz Bass or a P with flats. I've recently come back to this bass and am really blown away by the tone and playability - Its a unicorn.

modulus.jpg
 
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#9,824
Hello Mobsters,
I have a question about flats on my new-old 89 SP fretless 5. Low B for me. 35 inch scale.

Presently it has D'Addario Chromes and they sound fine but I've been looking into getting a more flattish sounding set. Any opinions for make and models with a good b string?

I'm thinking to try LaBella 760FS or 760FL to give an idea where my head is at, but wouldn't shy away from LaBella LTF or TI JFs if folks here have good results with the low B.

Thanks in advance!

Your thoughts?
 
#9,826
RogerTheAlien said:
Hello Mobsters ! I've been on the hunt for a Funk 4 string for a bit now, was curious on the output of the LP pickups original vs legacy ?
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I don't have a way to compare them side by side, but from everything I've read and have been told they should be the exact same since they are using the original winding schematic. I have the Legacy in my FB5 and it's a fantastic pickup. The only hands on comparison I can make is between the Legacy and the Duncan humbucker that originally came in that bass, and they definitely are not the same.
 
#9,828
iriegnome said:
Hey fellow Mod Mob. Does anyone know how the graphite works in the Genesis models?
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How do you mean? My understanding is that it's a spine that runs through the neck and takes all the stress of the strings, so they could use softer tone woods for the neck. On the two i've owned, which were maple fingerboards and I believe alder necks, you could see the carbon fiber layer between the fingerboard and the neck, there was an exposed layer on the back of the headstock, a cf bar was visible on the front of the headstock, and the neck appeared to be two pieces and has a thin dark line between them.
 
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#9,831
MattLplaysBass said:
How do you mean? My understanding is that it's a spine that runs through the neck and takes all the stress of the strings, so they could use softer tone woods for the neck. On the two i've owned, which were maple fingerboards and I believe alder necks, you could see the carbon fiber layer between the fingerboard and the neck, there was an exposed layer on the back of the headstock, a cf bar was visible on the front of the headstock, and the neck appeared to be two pieces and has a thin dark line between them.
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How would you describe the sound as someone who's owned them? I haven't known anyone or seen anyone with a Genesis. Back when they were introduced I shrugged them off because I loved the Quantum tone as is.
 
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#9,832
The only person I know with a Genesis bass is Bill Laymon. Bill is a former member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage and charter member of the David Nelson Band, he currently plays with Edge of the West. Bill has been gigging with his Genesis bass since the early 90s. Below is a clip of Edge of the West at the Salmonfest Festival in Ninilchik Alaska a couple of years back. There are a bunch of Edge of the West videos on youtube where you can hear the bass including some of the tracks from their self-titled studio album. The wooden neck on the Genesis gives it a warmer sound than a Quantum bass but it still has a lot of punch from the graphite. There is a certain compressed sound to my neck-through Quantum bass that is missing from the Genesis so I can see a Genesis being desirable to someone who doesn't care for the sound of a pure graphite neck but desires the stability it affords.

 
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#9,833
StephenR said:
The only person I know with a Genesis bass is Bill Laymon. Bill is a former member of the New Riders of the Purple Sage and charter member of the David Nelson Band, he currently plays with Edge of the West. Bill has been gigging with his Genesis bass since the early 90s. Below is a clip of Edge of the West at the Salmonfest Festival in Ninilchik Alaska a couple of years back. There are a bunch of Edge of the West videos on youtube where you can hear the bass including some of the tracks from their self-titled studio album. The wooden neck on the Genesis gives it a warmer sound than a Quantum bass but it still has a lot of punch from the graphite. There is a certain compressed sound to my neck-through Quantum bass that is missing from the Genesis so I can see a Genesis being desirable to someone who doesn't care for the sound of a pure graphite neck but desires the stability it affords.

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Thanks for the info. I checked out a few and yeah, definitely prefer the regular Mod neck.
 
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#9,834
My new Q5 (from 99) sounds so good. When I swapped the batteries I noticed it has an EMG BQ-A preamp. The knob config is VOL, BAL, stacked mid w/sweep and stack bass treble

not sure which EMGs are in it but I’m assuming they’re DCs based on the sound and the standards.

this is my first truss rod Modulus
 
#9,835
loveandbass said:
My new Q5 (from 99) sounds so good. When I swapped the batteries I noticed it has an EMG BQ-A preamp. The knob config is VOL, BAL, stacked mid w/sweep and stack bass treble

not sure which EMGs are in it but I’m assuming they’re DCs based on the sound and the standards.
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Sounds like a EMG-BQC system. Look under the pickups for the ID of the pickups.
 
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#9,838
Been playing one of Modulus' brand new Revolite MJ5 Jazz basses the last couple weeks. All I'm gonna say is, I've owned Alleva, Sadowsky, and Mike Lull and this smokes anything I've played. With the bartolini pickups and preamp it still is the high fi super clean sound associated with these basses but with the aesthetic of a jazz bass. If you are thinking about buying a new one because you are a longtime Modulus player like myself don't hesitate my friends...this beauty is only 7 lbs!!
 
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#9,839
DeathDancer said:
How would you describe the sound as someone who's owned them? I haven't known anyone or seen anyone with a Genesis. Back when they were introduced I shrugged them off because I loved the Quantum tone as is.
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pickles said:
IMHO, bland.
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It's definitely different than the usual Modulus sound, more fundamental and less overtones. Not muddy, but not as balanced and "alive" as the regular graphite necks. IMHO, the stock bart pickups weren't the most exciting. On my last one, I had some brighter bart j's installed, and that did give it some life, but I think the Quantums are more what I am looking for. They are interesting basses though, and sometimes can be had for a steal. Mine have both been similar wood combos (i believe alder bodies and necks, with maple fingerboards), so there's probably some variation to the sound of different woods.
 
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