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Modulus Q5 maybe too clean...How to warm it up?

SteveC

SteveC

Supporting Member
Nov 12, 2004
31,664
46,798
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NE ND
#1
I have a modulus Q5 that I love. I love how clean and precise it is. I won't say sterile, but it is clean. I use a Genz Benz Shuttle combo - FET pre, no tube.

I'm wondering how to go about "roughing" up my sound a bit. I don't want an SVT type sound - never liked Ampeg. I lean to a more modern tone but would still like some "warmth" in my sound.

Many of my gigs where I would want a "less clean" tone are PA supported - pop/rock cover band, church contemporary service, stuff like that. I don't want overdrive or distortion, just warmth - if that makes sense.

I was thinking maybe a DI would be the way to go. I can use it at church where we don't use stage amps, and on other gigs where I use a DI and my amp is just for a stage monitor or where it's just my amp for a small venue.

Anyway, it looks like a Summit TD-100 is popular, as are REDDI boxes. I am thinking the REDDI would maybe be too much color. Both are expensive. Are there cheaper options? ART maybe?
 
#3
Yeah, the Sansamp is a thought. They seem to be a little too colored though. I don't want that clanky SVT thing. I seem to remember the "Tube Pre" setting was not bad. I wouldn't rule one out and they are easy to find used and inexpensive. Plenty of people use them so they can't be all bad I guess.
 
#4
The ART gear I find to be pretty blurry and muddy, probably not what you want.
The new VT pedal (a sansamp) supposedly is less clanky than the other sansamps, so that might be one to try out.
Other than that, I'd say it's a matter of preamps, though I can't recommend a specific one.
Some sort of tube compressor could add a bit of warmth and punch, too.
 
#5
The REDDI sounds great (online anyway) but it's pretty expensive for a casual user like me. I have not ruled out an Avalon U5. Great warmth considering there's no tube - and can be had for a more reasonable price.
 
#8
SteveC said:
I have a modulus Q5 that I love. I love how clean and precise it is. I won't say sterile, but it is clean. I use a Genz Benz Shuttle combo - FET pre, no tube.

I'm wondering how to go about "roughing" up my sound a bit. I don't want an SVT type sound - never liked Ampeg. I lean to a more modern tone but would still like some "warmth" in my sound.

Many of my gigs where I would want a "less clean" tone are PA supported - pop/rock cover band, church contemporary service, stuff like that. I don't want overdrive or distortion, just warmth - if that makes sense.

I was thinking maybe a DI would be the way to go. I can use it at church where we don't use stage amps, and on other gigs where I use a DI and my amp is just for a stage monitor or where it's just my amp for a small venue.

Anyway, it looks like a Summit TD-100 is popular, as are REDDI boxes. I am thinking the REDDI would maybe be too much color. Both are expensive. Are there cheaper options? ART maybe?
Click to expand...


So much you can do! First, the Shuttle cabs are a bit 'sterile' sounding to me, so a more warmly voiced cab could help a lot (Aguilar DB112, Bag End SD115, Accugroove Tri112, EA Wizzy, etc., etc.).

Second, the Shuttle heads, especially the small FET Shuttle, is about as far away from 'warm' as you can get. There are many heads that are nice and warm but still clean... Aguilar AG500, Markbass LMII, Eden WT405, Thunderfunk TF550b, etc., etc.

IMO, being familiar with both your rig and your bass, you have a 'mix and match' problem. I've never personally found a 'pedal' to be a fix for anything myself, although that new SansAmp SVT type pedal seems to be the best in the bunch.

IMO!

K
 
#9
EBS overdrive pedal. Warm yet modern and clear. And it does not suck mids like the Sans Amp. In fact I do not like the Sans Amp sound in a band situation but I love the EBS.

The U5 is a good product, but I am not sure I would look to for significant warmth enhancement. I run EBS overdrive into a U5 and get very pleasing results.
 
#10
I agree with Ken. I loved my two Modulus basses when I was using Eden gear. I disliked them on my Genz equipment. The upper-mid response of the graphite coupled with the upper-mid accentuated voicing of the Genz heads made for a very cold sound. The low-mid voicing of the Eden heads and cabs balanced it all out very well.

My 2 cents.
 
#12
KJung said:
So much you can do! First, the Shuttle cabs are a bit 'sterile' sounding to me, so a more warmly voiced cab could help a lot (Aguilar DB112, Bag End SD115, Accugroove Tri112, EA Wizzy, etc., etc.).

Second, the Shuttle heads, especially the small FET Shuttle, is about as far away from 'warm' as you can get. There are many heads that are nice and warm but still clean... Aguilar AG500, Markbass LMII, Eden WT405, Thunderfunk TF550b, etc., etc.

IMO, being familiar with both your rig and your bass, you have a 'mix and match' problem.

K
Click to expand...

Eublet said:
I agree with Ken. I loved my two Modulus basses when I was using Eden gear. I disliked them on my Genz equipment. The upper-mid response of the graphite coupled with the upper-mid accentuated voicing of the Genz heads made for a very cold sound. The low-mid voicing of the Eden heads and cabs balanced it all out very well.

My 2 cents.
Click to expand...

That isn't what I wanted to hear. I really like my GB Combo. Small, light, loud and good (although not super warm) tone. I like a clean, modern sound - hence the Modulus - but like a little warmth as well.

No one is complaining, so maybe I should just leave well enough alone. I don't really want to get a new amp. I am trying to make EQ/playing adjustments to "warm" it up - for lack of a better term.
 
#13
SteveC said:
That isn't what I wanted to hear. I really like my GB Combo. Small, light, loud and good (although not super warm) tone. I like a clean, modern sound - hence the Modulus - but like a little warmth as well.

No one is complaining, so maybe I should just leave well enough alone. I don't really want to get a new amp. I am trying to make EQ/playing adjustments to "warm" it up - for lack of a better term.
Click to expand...
What pups are in the Q5? Barts are the warmest in the Quantums.
 
#14
It's the Bart/Bart combo - my favorite. I might be hearing things, too. I went from my Yamaha - with Bart pre and pups - to this. It may be I just need to get used to hearing this bass. Although, it did sound nice at church through the Pod "Aguilar" model.
 
#15
The Quantums definitely have their own thing going on. And it's not that I instantly disliked them on the Genz equipment, but I just got tired of them in general. I definitely used the tube channel to warm things up, and did a lot more EQing with the Mods. Other basses instantly sounded good through the Genz gear.
 
#17
I think there's more to it than EQ. The Modulus basses just have a certain something going on in the upper mids that you either dig or don't dig. The Shuttles are the same, so it becomes a compound issue if you don't like it. I'd suggest giving it some time and see how things go, but in the end some things just don't sound good together to some players.
 
#18
Eublet said:
I think there's more to it than EQ. The Modulus basses just have a certain something going on in the upper mids that you either dig or don't dig. The Shuttles are the same, so it becomes a compound issue if you don't like it. I'd suggest giving it some time and see how things go, but in the end some things just don't sound good together to some players.
Click to expand...

I like the sound of the Q5 a lot. It's even up and down the neck, in my climate the graphite is great. It sounds great, and like I said, no one is complaining, and it may just be that I need to "get used" to all the clarity and definition I have again.

I'm not in a hurry to get rid of the GB combo. We'll see how it goes. I just thought I'd pick the collective brain of TB and see what came up.
 
#19
DavePlaysBass said:
EBS overdrive pedal. Warm yet modern and clear. And it does not suck mids like the Sans Amp. In fact I do not like the Sans Amp sound in a band situation but I love the EBS.

The U5 is a good product, but I am not sure I would look to for significant warmth enhancement. I run EBS overdrive into a U5 and get very pleasing results.
Click to expand...

I don't really want overdrive. Maybe I don't need anything except to get used to how this bass sounds again.

I've had a U5 before and thought that it made anything sound great.
 

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