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Modulus Mob

#1,284
basswave said:
It had a twist and I actually picked up this bass used (thinking I could resolve this with some bridge adjustments and different tension strings) well it still had some issue after that and it was resolved by modulus.

Its my main 5 and totally dig it.
Click to expand...

So, Modulus removed the board, added a truss rod and put a new board on it? Or did the neck get replaced?
 
#1,285
iriegnome said:
So, Modulus removed the board, added a truss rod and put a new board on it? Or did the neck get replaced?
Click to expand...

Replaced the neck...but this was an extreme example.
They do not normally do that.

Did this bass ever function ok for you in the past?

Is this a new issue?
 
#1,287
My Genesis is now available in the TB classifieds.

P1030661.gif


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=711024

I love it but I'm looking for something a bit different.

Still keeping my Q5, after some recent mods, I can honestly say it is the most unique sounding Modulus I have encountered!
 
#1,291
iriegnome said:
Has anyone in here had any problems with the "No Truss Rod" necks? Since mine is a neck through with no truss rod, my frets had to be removed, the bridge sunk a little into the body and the board worked on before the frets were put back in.
Click to expand...

I have a Q5 built in 1998, which I understand is the last year before Modulus started putting truss rods in them. The neck was never supposed to "move," but it did. In 2005, the relief got so bad that it wasn't much fun to play and getting the intonation set correctly was impossible. I sent it back to Modulus for warranty work (the neck is warranted "for life" for the original owner only). I was hoping they would just swap out the neck for one with a truss rod, but they worked on the existing neck instead (which took several months). I later read somewhere (and I'm not sure whether it's true) that the bodies were custom fit to the necks (at least at one point), which could explain why they didn't just replace the neck.

Here's another reason to believe it isn't a one-in-a-million problem. At one point, I was thinking about trading it for something else, and consulted a dealer which will remain nameless but is well known to most of us (or at least those who frequent the internet). Their first question was, "is the neck straight?" That's not the question knowledgeable people ask when there isn't an issue.

Although it was hard getting Modulus' attention, they ultimately made it right. I mentioned the communication issue to my local shop, and their response was that Modulus has good people, but they are a small shop with everyone wearing a lot of hats, which sometimes makes them seem unresponsive. In other words, "keep at it, and they will come through."

Oh, and UPS damaged the hardshell case (but luckily not the bass) in transit. UPS (not Modulus) ended up buying me a new case, and a few weeks later listed my old one on e-bay in great condition (or words to that effect). You really had to look closely at the pictures they used to see the corners/feet knocked out and the related damage. Now there's a class act...
 
#1,292
Wow, now there is a story of persistance! When I bought my Bassstar the neck looked like someone took a screw driver to the frets to remove them. The action was so high your fingers could fit under the strings!! Anyway, I shipped it out to someone to have the frets/neck repaired finsished and made to be playable. Well, unfortunately, when I got the bass back it was not good at all. Fortunately, my local luthier is a bass guy. He removed all the frets again, flattened the neck, sunk the bridge a little into the body and the replace the frets again! Now the bass plays like the wind and is really solid. The neck is perfectly straight and I just love it.
 
#1,293
mbrain said:
I have a Q5 built in 1998, which I understand is the last year before Modulus started putting truss rods in them. The neck was never supposed to "move," but it did. In 2005, the relief got so bad that it wasn't much fun to play and getting the intonation set correctly was impossible. I sent it back to Modulus for warranty work (the neck is warranted "for life" for the original owner only). I was hoping they would just swap out the neck for one with a truss rod, but they worked on the existing neck instead (which took several months). I later read somewhere (and I'm not sure whether it's true) that the bodies were custom fit to the necks (at least at one point), which could explain why they didn't just replace the neck.

Here's another reason to believe it isn't a one-in-a-million problem. At one point, I was thinking about trading it for something else, and consulted a dealer which will remain nameless but is well known to most of us (or at least those who frequent the internet). Their first question was, "is the neck straight?" That's not the question knowledgeable people ask when there isn't an issue.

Although it was hard getting Modulus' attention, they ultimately made it right. I mentioned the communication issue to my local shop, and their response was that Modulus has good people, but they are a small shop with everyone wearing a lot of hats, which sometimes makes them seem unresponsive. In other words, "keep at it, and they will come through."

Oh, and UPS damaged the hardshell case (but luckily not the bass) in transit. UPS (not Modulus) ended up buying me a new case, and a few weeks later listed my old one on e-bay in great condition (or words to that effect). You really had to look closely at the pictures they used to see the corners/feet knocked out and the related damage. Now there's a class act...
Click to expand...

That seems to be the common story regarding Modulus and bad necks. It def isn't a one in a million problem. There are a bunch of stories about bad necks.
 
#1,294
ChrisPbass said:
That seems to be the common story regarding Modulus and bad necks. It def isn't a one in a million problem. There are a bunch of stories about bad necks.
Click to expand...

Ok let me just add a little to this and clarify a couple of points to those who might have had a bad neck.

The strings used from the Factory are D'Addario XLs

These strings have some of lot less tension then some of the others strings out there. Most if not all of the Stainless strings have more tension and good number of the nickles...With this being said if a neck is starting to bow to much and you cannot adjust the relief than you have to start looking at the other factors.

Strings being the easiest to start with.

I would recomend installing a set of D'Addario XL and then see how the bass is a day or so.
 
#1,295
iriegnome said:
Wow, now there is a story of persistance! When I bought my Bassstar the neck looked like someone took a screw driver to the frets to remove them. The action was so high your fingers could fit under the strings!! Anyway, I shipped it out to someone to have the frets/neck repaired finsished and made to be playable. Well, unfortunately, when I got the bass back it was not good at all. Fortunately, my local luthier is a bass guy. He removed all the frets again, flattened the neck, sunk the bridge a little into the body and the replace the frets again! Now the bass plays like the wind and is really solid. The neck is perfectly straight and I just love it.
Click to expand...

The Basstars had a very different formula used and most of them are still used to this day.

I never did hear back from you with the questions I had...but that cool. The necks are supposed to bend with tension and if a neck was left with strings on it that had to much things like this can occur.
 
#1,296
basswave said:
Replaced the neck...but this was an extreme example.
They do not normally do that.

Did this bass ever function ok for you in the past?

Is this a new issue?
Click to expand...

Since I have only owned the bass for 2 years, I don't really have an answer to this, but I can only assume that the neck was getting funky, which is why the old owner removed the frets.
 
#1,297
ChrisPbass said:
That seems to be the common story regarding Modulus and bad necks. It def isn't a one in a million problem. There are a bunch of stories about bad necks.
Click to expand...

It would be handy to know precisely what percentage of necks this happened to. While it's definitely not "one in a million" -- as evidenced by a quick thread search there are at least half-a-dozen or maybe a dozen examples among TB users alone -- but I think the question should be is it a one in a hundred problem (probably not), one in a thousand (perhaps), or one in ten thousand (has Modulus even made 10,000 instruments in total?) ?
 
#1,298
Hoover said:
It would be handy to know precisely what percentage of necks this happened to. While it's definitely not "one in a million" -- as evidenced by a quick thread search there are at least half-a-dozen or maybe a dozen examples among TB users alone -- but I think the question should be is it a one in a hundred problem (probably not), one in a thousand (perhaps), or one in ten thousand (has Modulus even made 10,000 instruments in total?) ?
Click to expand...

Over 10,000 yes...
 
#1,300
ok im a total Modulus convert... a small story...

im really a Fender jazz trad guy...BUT....i traded my beloved CS jazz which was a corker, and i loved it...i swapped it for the VJ..not pictured anymore, but its bart/bart/ quilt top..

to start ive played Nords, Pensa's, Sei's, Sadowsky's, ..straight up this is the best jazz ive ever played for playability....

its so comfortable, light, never goes out of tune of course.. the sustain is so good i can pluck a note and leave it for 1.30 seconds (ive timed it) and it will still be ringing through my Aguilar..

ive got to be honest the tone got some getting used to after Fender, ...its modern but i wanted a modern sounding jazz... punchy, clear yes.... clinical no i put some DR Low Riders on it and it killed... these basses really respond to what ever you throw at them...you can use a light touch and it will give you a super clear tone....but digging in will give you an aggressive modern growl....

the slap is biblical through my Aguilar...only a Sukop or a Sadowsky i played sounds better...wonderful punch and snap from this bass...this is a £2500 bass as to the £ 4000 + Sukop.... i want to add some mids to it so a John East pre is on the cards....i thought my old Sei was good quality...I took this bass to bits.. and its quality...take the cavity plate off..its very tidy, totally copper shielded...the bits where the screws hold the cavity plate down have got bits of copper shielding against the screws to stop interference..the back of the cavity plate has copper shielding also. no gap in the neck at all....

take the neck off and the screws that hold the neck on have sunken fixings in the body to hold the screws...both pups cavities are shielded.. its a wonderful instrument that has been so well put together.... i love this bass, ...class USA construction...you can tell i love this bass....its the best ive seen for detail apart from a Sei and a Pensa....Modulus really go to great lengths for a great instrument... ive got to be honest the details that this bass has for construction are more that ive seen in any other jazz bass... l love it and always will.... wonderful electric bass... (with a J East pre)
 

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