Modulus Mob

[Ballin'bass]

Hey guys, my Q5 has been for sale for a bit.

Am I asking too much for it or is the market just trash right now?

That thing is beautiful, your price is right. I just sold my Q4 with AAAA quilted maple top, LP pickups and John East preamp for quite a bit less than it should have gone for. I kinda regret letting it go for so little. Don't drop the price quite yet. Try listing it on Reverb, much bigger audience.

 

[bassmike2010]

That thing is beautiful, your price is right. I just sold my Q4 with AAAA quilted maple top, LP pickups and John East preamp for quite a bit less than it should have gone for. I kinda regret letting it go for so little. Don't drop the price quite yet. Try listing it on Reverb, much bigger audience.[/QUOTE

It's on reverb with a price drop

 

[Bill Murray]

That thing is beautiful, your price is right. I just sold my Q4 with AAAA quilted maple top, LP pickups and John East preamp for quite a bit less than it should have gone for. I kinda regret letting it go for so little. Don't drop the price quite yet. Try listing it on Reverb, much bigger audience.

Better off dropping the price by $200-$400 rather than going to Reverb.

 

[Modulus 96]

Hey guys, my Q5 has been for sale for a bit.

Am I asking too much for it or is the market just trash right now?

There is a red q5 that you can pick up for around $2500 at the Bass Shop Seattle right now, smoking deal I think, but it doesn't have the top yours has.

But in general I think 3k is good. 2900 would be better, imo, just to get under that mental $3k number.

Better off dropping the price by $200-$400 rather than going to Reverb.

Some people, like myself use Reverb to see what is out there then attempt to circumvent Reverb.

When an instrument is listed on reverb, I check to see who's selling it, then contact the seller directly (ie, the store).... Or search talk bass or search in general to see where else it's listed for potential cost savings. Many times what is on reverb is on talk bass.

Take away: It doesn't hurt to use reverb due the additional exposure you'll get in Google searches.

 

[MarTONEbass]

There is a red q5 that you can pick up for around $2500 at the Bass Shop Seattle right now, smoking deal I think, but it doesn't have the top yours has.

But in general I think 3k is good. 2900 would be better, imo, just to get under that mental $3k number.



Some people, like myself use Reverb to see what is out there then attempt to circumvent Reverb.

When an instrument is listed on reverb, I check to see who's selling it, then contact the seller directly (ie, the store).... Or search talk bass or search in general to see where else it's listed for potential cost savings. Many times what is on reverb is on talk bass.

Take away: It doesn't hurt to use reverb due the additional exposure you'll get in Google searches.

That's a good strategy. My Reverb price is already higher than it is here. If Reverb charges 6%, that's $180 so I think I'm good there.

Good point about making it $2900. I don't think I'd turn down that offer, but putting there and standing firm could work too.

 

[Bill Murray]

There is a red q5 that you can pick up for around $2500 at the Bass Shop Seattle right now, smoking deal I think, but it doesn't have the top yours has.

But in general I think 3k is good. 2900 would be better, imo, just to get under that mental $3k number.



Some people, like myself use Reverb to see what is out there then attempt to circumvent Reverb.

When an instrument is listed on reverb, I check to see who's selling it, then contact the seller directly (ie, the store).... Or search talk bass or search in general to see where else it's listed for potential cost savings. Many times what is on reverb is on talk bass.

Take away: It doesn't hurt to use reverb due the additional exposure you'll get in Google searches.

There is a red q5 that you can pick up for around $2500 at the Bass Shop Seattle right now, smoking deal I think, but it doesn't have the top yours has.

But in general I think 3k is good. 2900 would be better, imo, just to get under that mental $3k number.



Some people, like myself use Reverb to see what is out there then attempt to circumvent Reverb.

When an instrument is listed on reverb, I check to see who's selling it, then contact the seller directly (ie, the store).... Or search talk bass or search in general to see where else it's listed for potential cost savings. Many times what is on reverb is on talk bass.

Take away: It doesn't hurt to use reverb due the additional exposure you'll get in Google searches.

Only if someone doesn’t buy the bass on Reverb… if they do the buyer will loose a couple hundred right off the bat. Either that or they have to list it at a higher price to account for fees.

 

[Modulus 96]

List at a higher price to account for fees.

[Edit] I should add that my comment on contacting the seller directly - do that outside of reverb. Stores are easy to find online.

 

[Bill Murray]

List at a higher price to account for fees.

[Edit] I should add that my comment on contacting the seller directly - do that outside of reverb. Stores are easy to find online.

for stores sure, but if I made an offer on reverb and the seller offered me a better deal to buy on another site that wasn’t backed up and only accepted private payment, I’d be pretty skeptical. Plus we’re dealing with a Modulus, I’d be shocked if someone wanted one of these and wasn’t on talkbass or at least checking these classfields.

Reverb used to be sweet but these days I avoid them, especially as a seller.

 

[Ballin'bass]

There is a red q5 that you can pick up for around $2500 at the Bass Shop Seattle right now, smoking deal I think, but it doesn't have the top yours has.

But in general I think 3k is good. 2900 would be better, imo, just to get under that mental $3k number.



Some people, like myself use Reverb to see what is out there then attempt to circumvent Reverb.

When an instrument is listed on reverb, I check to see who's selling it, then contact the seller directly (ie, the store).... Or search talk bass or search in general to see where else it's listed for potential cost savings. Many times what is on reverb is on talk bass.

Take away: It doesn't hurt to use reverb due the additional exposure you'll get in Google searches.

That's what I do too

 

[MattLplaysBass]

Sadly, like everything else, it's getting more expensive to use. They sent an email today about raising their credit card processing fees, but that's because the credit card companies are charging them more. I have sold things on Reverb that didn't sell on here, but always at a higher price to cover my fees and charges. Plus they charge sales tax now as well, which here in Chicago adds another 10% to anything I buy. TB is still the way I prefer, but if it ain't moving here, there's other options. I've had good experiences buying things off FB marketplace lately, but I've always used PP goods & services for things being shipped, just in case.

 

[MarTONEbass]

Sadly, like everything else, it's getting more expensive to use. They sent an email today about raising their credit card processing fees, but that's because the credit card companies are charging them more. I have sold things on Reverb that didn't sell on here, but always at a higher price to cover my fees and charges. Plus they charge sales tax now as well, which here in Chicago adds another 10% to anything I buy. TB is still the way I prefer, but if it ain't moving here, there's other options. I've had good experiences buying things off FB marketplace lately, but I've always used PP goods & services for things being shipped, just in case.

All good points, Fred. I'm glad my question sparked this discussion, all the replies have helped me put the sale into better perspective. I have also sold things on other platforms for more money, and relatively quickly but lately it's all slow! The issues of sales tax is a huge one. It wasn't too long ago we didn't have to worry about it at all with online sales, for better or worse. Ebay and Reverb are last resorts for this type of sales for that reason alone. I'd much rather sell here than anywhere else, but a local deal from CL or FB Marketplace is tax-free as well. Ultimately, a person's money goes farther on those sites than Ebay or Reverb, so it makes sense they are gaining traction in this economy. Heck, my local historical society used to have one flea market all year and that's recently expanded to three or four well-attended flea market events a year.

 

[bassmike2010]

All good points, Fred. I'm glad my question sparked this discussion, all the replies have helped me put the sale into better perspective. I have also sold things on other platforms for more money, and relatively quickly but lately it's all slow! The issues of sales tax is a huge one. It wasn't too long ago we didn't have to worry about it at all with online sales, for better or worse. Ebay and Reverb are last resorts for this type of sales for that reason alone. I'd much rather sell here than anywhere else, but a local deal from CL or FB Marketplace is tax-free as well. Ultimately, a person's money goes farther on those sites than Ebay or Reverb, so it makes sense they are gaining traction in this economy. Heck, my local historical society used to have one flea market all year and that's recently expanded to three or four well-attended flea market events a year.

I quit selling items on Ebay over the "value added tax" they charge sellers.
Let alone the 10% listing charge. Shipping label charge. Attention to detail
on the listing layout. Unless you have a store with large turnover you can
find yourself losing money. Buyer has the upper hand in any dispute.
Marketplace is full of people posting items that they aren't selling but
listing for original sellers to get a commission. So when you contact a
local seller hoping to meet up to purchase, IF they reply, you find you're
buying and paying for shipping from another entity. Lot of FB scams otherwise
out there. And larger purchases are reported to IRS. And CL?
You might want to meet in a well lit pkg lot. Strapped.

 

[Thir13teen]

So I picked this up used at GC & was wondering if anybody happened to have a Modulus catalog from 1997? I'd like to know what fingerboard options they offered in that year as well as type of pups offered. The lighting makes 2 of the pics too dard (for the body). It looks more like the lighter color in person. I've been wanting a Modulus since around 1992 & this came around at a good price and it's my main & only bass right now.

Any help is appreciated. Cheers!

 

[Bill Murray]

So I picked this up used at GC & was wondering if anybody happened to have a Modulus catalog from 1997? I'd like to know what fingerboard options they offered in that year as well as type of pups offered. The lighting makes 2 of the pics too dard (for the body). It looks more like the lighter color in person. I've been wanting a Modulus since around 1992 & this came around at a good price and it's my main & only bass right now.

Any help is appreciated. Cheers!

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Sweet! It looks a lot like it could be Cocobolo.

 

[landrybass]

I think they used Chechen a lot for a wood option fingerboard.

 

[iriegnome]

Very much looks like Rosewood. Maybe Chechen (which is still rosewood), but rosewood.

 

[Thir13teen]

Sweet! It looks a lot like it could be Cocobolo.

I didn't even consider that, thanks .

 

[Thir13teen]

Very much looks like Rosewood. Maybe Chechen (which is still rosewood), but rosewood.

My guess was Chechen but who knows?

 

[MattLplaysBass]

I think chechen and granadillo were the ones they used most @GeoffGould would probably know for sure

From the quantum .pdf manual I have

“Fingerboard
Most Modulus basses offer the option of a wood or composite fingerboard, providing players a choice of feel, look and sound. Genesis guitars and basses feature granadillo, chechen or maple fingerboards.

Composite boards are denser and harder than a wood fingerboard, offer similar performance to ebony and will not shrink or crack. The harder material adds a bit of extra high end sizzle on fretted basses, and a tighter focus to the sound of fretless instruments.

Granadillo and chechen are ecologically sustainable, independently-certified Mexican hardwoods with similar characteristics to rosewood and pau ferro. They add a touch of warmth to the midrange of the instrument and provide a more traditional look and feel than a composite fingerboard.”

 

[Thir13teen]

I think chechen and grenadillo (both central and south american rosewoods were the ones they used most… @GeoffGould would probably know for sure

I actually asked Geoff but since he left Modulus in 1995 & my instrument was built in 1997 - he couldn't say for sure.