Modulus Mob

[edwinhurwitz]

No truss rod? Too much/little relief? I’ve only read great things about Erik (sp?) at warpedneck.com. Pretty reasonable price as well. You can search TB and you’ll find great reviews. No affiliation and I haven’t used his services myself as I wasn’t aware of him when I needed my Q5 replaned/refretted due to warpage that was beyond the truss rod’s capability.

Thanks! Wayyyyyy pre-truss rod. I'll check it out.

Upon inspection, it appears that their specialty is heat treating wood necks. We'll see what they say.

 

[markwrob]

Thanks! Wayyyyyy pre-truss rod. I'll check it out.

TBX or bolt on? The former, I'm thinking. A beauty.
ETA: sorry I didn't note the Alembic pups before. So that has me a bit confused.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

TBX or bolt on? The former, I'm thinking. A beauty.
ETA: sorry I didn't note the Alembic pups before. So that has me a bit confused.

Neck through before TBX was a thing. I added the Alembic pickups. I wanted a pickup close to the neck, as it originally came with the middle and bridge positions (with Bartolinis). It also came with a Bart preamp that the original owner, Roy Vogt, installed. The Alembics are clearer sounding, although the Barts were cool, too.

 

[JuanB]

Thanks! Wayyyyyy pre-truss rod. I'll check it out.

Upon inspection, it appears that their specialty is heat treating wood necks. We'll see what they say.

I talked to him as I have a Modulus that’s on the hairy edge of needing a replane/refret as the truss is basically maxed out. He’s done carbon fiber necks before. It’ll cost more than a wood neck.

The interesting thing about the bass that might need the work in the future is that the serial number is just 4 away from the bass that had the replane/refret. Must’ve had a bad batch of phenolic fretboards at that time.

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I talked to him as I have a Modulus that’s on the hairy edge of needing a replane/refret as the truss is basically maxed out. He’s done carbon fiber necks before. It’ll cost more than a wood neck.

The interesting thing about the bass that might need the work in the future is that the serial number is just 4 away from the bass that had the replane/refret. Must’ve had a bad batch of phenolic fretboards at that time.

Good news! My bass is pre serial number. The bad news is that I got a refret a couple of years ago! Oh well. At this point, I'll do what it takes to make it right.

 

[bubba-b]

I talked to him as I have a Modulus that’s on the hairy edge of needing a replane/refret as the truss is basically maxed out. He’s done carbon fiber necks before. It’ll cost more than a wood neck.

The interesting thing about the bass that might need the work in the future is that the serial number is just 4 away from the bass that had the replane/refret. Must’ve had a bad batch of phenolic fretboards at that time.

as one of many here with pre-1997, pre-truss rod moduli (moduluses?), keep us updated as most of us may or will need this service down the road and it's always nice to know who and where we can turn to when the poop hits the fan.

 

[GeoffGould]

I would work with someone who has access the PLEK system.
Please jog my memory. Did you get those pickups directly from Alembic, or from us at Modulus. I got them to make some of these pickups, in the same shape that I got Bartolini and EMG to make them. It looks like they currently use the same pickups in one of their own brands of basses.

 

[Bassinga]

as one of many here with pre-1997, pre-truss rod moduli (moduluses?), keep us updated as most of us may or will need this service down the road and it's always nice to know who and where we can turn to when the poop hits the fan.

My understanding is that warping is an issue which affects only a small percentage of Modulus basses. Does anyone have an idea of what causes the necks to warp over time? Is it environmental factors? Abuse by the owner?

 

[JuanB]

My understanding is that warping is an issue which affects only a small percentage of Modulus basses. Does anyone have an idea of what causes the necks to warp over time? Is it environmental factors? Abuse by the owner?

I'm the original owner of my 2009 Funk 4 Modulus. It's never seen any heat that would make me uncomfortable. I take very good care of my instruments. I have it on good authority that the phenolic fingerboards that were used were of varying grades throughout the history of the builds. Also, the orientation that the boards were cut out of the sheets of phenolic material turns out to be important as they are anisotropic in their shrinking properties. Basically, what happens is that some of the boards shrink over time, causing the bowing of the neck. I've heard heat exacerbates this problem but it seems mostly to be luck of the draw from my understanding.

Who knows what percentage of basses had this happen. Some people might not even notice. What we do know is that it happens to enough people for a significant number of us on TB to be aware of it and it's happened to me on two of my Modulus basses. One isn't bad enough yet to warrant any surgery, the other had a replane/refret done prior to finding out about warpedneck.com. Based on the serial numbers, they must've been completed within a few weeks of each other at most some time in 2009. I felt pretty unlucky and was about ready to give up on Modulus basses but I really love how they feel and sound. My 2006 Funk 5 is rock solid and hasn't moved a bit. I just received a 2022 Funk 4. We'll see how that holds up over the years.

 

[JuanB]

as one of many here with pre-1997, pre-truss rod moduli (moduluses?), keep us updated as most of us may or will need this service down the road and it's always nice to know who and where we can turn to when the poop hits the fan.

I believe that most Modulus basses are OK and won't experience this issue to a degree worth being concerned about. I'm not certain of that, but that's my feeling based on my conversations with some people in the industry and my understanding of phenolic materials. Phenolic boards come in different varieties and some degree of shrinkage is expected over time. Some of us get unlucky. If my Funk 4 goes over the edge, I might just get it replaned/refretted with stainless frets as I like the feel of stainless better. I'll also consider warpedneck.com as that's certainly a cheaper route. If it ever happens, I'll be sure to post here as long as I remember. I hope to never post about it.

 

[Bassinga]

I'm the original owner of my 2009 Funk 4 Modulus. It's never seen any heat that would make me uncomfortable. I take very good care of my instruments. I have it on good authority that the phenolic fingerboards that were used were of varying grades throughout the history of the builds. Also, the orientation that the boards were cut out of the sheets of phenolic material turns out to be important as they are anisotropic in their shrinking properties. Basically, what happens is that some of the boards shrink over time, causing the bowing of the neck. I've heard heat exacerbates this problem but it seems mostly to be luck of the draw from my understanding.

Who knows what percentage of basses had this happen. Some people might not even notice. What we do know is that it happens to enough people for a significant number of us on TB to be aware of it and it's happened to me on two of my Modulus basses. One isn't bad enough yet to warrant any surgery, the other had a replane/refret done prior to finding out about warpedneck.com. Based on the serial numbers, they must've been completed within a few weeks of each other at most some time in 2009. I felt pretty unlucky and was about ready to give up on Modulus basses but I really love how they feel and sound. My 2006 Funk 5 is rock solid and hasn't moved a bit. I just received a 2022 Funk 4. We'll see how that holds up over the years.

That's very interesting information. My search led me to an Alembic forum where a well informed gentleman explained in a very technical way how these necks are made. I will link it at the end for anyone interested.
So it's mostly a manufacturing "error" which causes these issues to appear. Hopefully my 2003 Q5 holds up to the test of time because I love it very dearly.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[edwinhurwitz]

I would work with someone who has access the PLEK system.
Please jog my memory. Did you get those pickups directly from Alembic, or from us at Modulus. I got them to make some of these pickups, in the same shape that I got Bartolini and EMG to make them. It looks like they currently use the same pickups in one of their own brands of basses.

I originally got the pickups for another project from Mica. That got shelved and years later I discovered them after getting this bass and decided to put them in. They aren't quite identical in shape to the Barts, so a tiny bit of carving had to be done.

 

[Modulus 96]

That's very interesting information. My search led me to an Alembic forum where a well informed gentleman explained in a very technical way how these necks are made. I will link it at the end for anyone interested.
So it's mostly a manufacturing "error" which causes these issues to appear. Hopefully my 2003 Q5 holds up to the test of time because I love it very dearly.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Someone asked a question in that alembic thread that didn't get answered: what's the difference between carbon and graphite? I had just thought that is was different words for the same thing....

I guess the difference is only in the form the carbon takes? Woven sheets vs "chips" perhaps?

 

[edwinhurwitz]

Someone asked a question in that alembic thread that didn't get answered: what's the difference between carbon and graphite? I had just thought that is was different words for the same thing....

I guess the difference is only in the form the carbon takes? Woven sheets vs "chips" perhaps?

Graphite is a crystalline form of carbon.

Graphite - Wikipedia

 

[StephenR]

Please jog my memory. Did you get those pickups directly from Alembic, or from us at Modulus. I got them to make some of these pickups, in the same shape that I got Bartolini and EMG to make them. It looks like they currently use the same pickups in one of their own brands of basses.

Geoff, you may, or may not, remember that I contacted you and Alembic about replacing the Barts that were in a new 1988 Quantum Five-string that I was interested in buying. I do not care for Bartolini pickups, after getting my first Alembic in 1983 I developed a preference for Alembic pickups and electronics. Purchase of the bass was only going to happen if I could get Alembic pickups for it. We called from the shop in NJ that was selling the bass and you confirmed that you had sent molds to Alembic of the pickup shape but hadn't ordered any pickups yet. Next call was to Alembic who confirmed that they had the molds and could make the pickups so I bought the bass. IMO the Alembic pickups brought it to life, it is a pretty amazing sounding bass. I had the electronics upgraded and updated in 2018, originally there were the three on/off switches for the pickups, volume and low-pass filter. I had them add a 3-position Q switch for the filter and the asymmetric bass and treble boost/cut circuit. I still need to have them add the threaded inserts so the pickups can finally be installed properly.

Below is a link to a page with lots of info about the various pickups Alembic makes. The ones in my bass (and Edwin's) are MXY humcancelling pickups. The AXY pickups are the same except in a larger housing. The Series pickups are true single-coil and designed to be used with the hum cancelling system installed in Series basses. The Fatboy pickups came later and there are also pickups designed to replace P- and Jazz bass pickups, except for the Series pickups they are all a humcancelling design.
Link Removed

 

[Bob_Ross]

originally there were the three on/off switches for the pickups, volume and low-pass filter. I had them add a 3-position Q switch for the filter and the asymmetric bass and treble boost/cut circuit.

Am I correct that ^^^that would make it the equivalent of Alembic's "Distillate" electronics (albeit w/ 3 pickups instead of 2)?

Gorgeous bass btw.

 

[StephenR]

Am I correct that ^^^that would make it the equivalent of Alembic's "Distillate" electronics (albeit w/ 3 pickups instead of 2)?
Gorgeous bass btw.

Thanks Bob!
My first Alembic was a Distillate. The Distillate electronics are Volume, filter, Q-switch and bass/treble boost and cut switches. Each switch provides 6db boost, flat, and 6db cut. There is a pickup selector switch that includes a standby mode. My Modulus has kind of pseudo-East meets West electronics, those combine filters and Q-switches with variable bass/treble controls. The bass and treble controls are asymmetrical, +6dB and -15dB, centered around 100Hz and 5KHz. The boost/cut switches offer one fixed setting for boost and one for cut. The asymmetrical controls are much more nuanced and powerful. The Alembic models without filter based electronics use the asymmetrical bass/treble controls, great for those that either don't like or can't wrap their heads around the concept of filter based tone controls.

 

[gwangi]

My understanding is that warping is an issue which affects only a small percentage of Modulus basses. Does anyone have an idea of what causes the necks to warp over time? Is it environmental factors? Abuse by the owner?

The phenolic fingerboard shrinks causing the neck to bow.

 

[bubba-b]

The phenolic fingerboard shrinks causing the neck to bow.

yeah, i just got word that the repair shop working on my modulus couldn't work on the bow in my neck.

i usually work with a local luthier shop here in california but their wait times have gotten more extended.

will reach out to the folks at twistedneck to see what's what.

any suggestions on luthiers or shops is truly appreciated.

 

[Ballin'bass]

Geoff, you may, or may not, remember that I contacted you and Alembic about replacing the Barts that were in a new 1988 Quantum Five-string that I was interested in buying. I do not care for Bartolini pickups, after getting my first Alembic in 1983 I developed a preference for Alembic pickups and electronics. Purchase of the bass was only going to happen if I could get Alembic pickups for it. We called from the shop in NJ that was selling the bass and you confirmed that you had sent molds to Alembic of the pickup shape but hadn't ordered any pickups yet. Next call was to Alembic who confirmed that they had the molds and could make the pickups so I bought the bass. IMO the Alembic pickups brought it to life, it is a pretty amazing sounding bass. I had the electronics upgraded and updated in 2018, originally there were the three on/off switches for the pickups, volume and low-pass filter. I had them add a 3-position Q switch for the filter and the asymmetric bass and treble boost/cut circuit. I still need to have them add the threaded inserts so the pickups can finally be installed properly.

Below is a link to a page with lots of info about the various pickups Alembic makes. The ones in my bass (and Edwin's) are MXY humcancelling pickups. The AXY pickups are the same except in a larger housing. The Series pickups are true single-coil and designed to be used with the hum cancelling system installed in Series basses. The Fatboy pickups came later and there are also pickups designed to replace P- and Jazz bass pickups, except for the Series pickups they are all a humcancelling design.
Link Removed

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Jeeeez that thing must have the most unique and versatile sound of any Modulus out there.