I have a mint 88 Modulus Quantum 4 with a blue swirl body(s/n 88657). Unlike all the Modulus Quantums{both 4 and 5) I see here with "Modulus" printed at the base of the fretboard. mine has Modulus printed on the headstock and not at the base of the fretboard. Says "Modulus graphite quantum" and the patent info underneath. Would this be considered an early version of the Quantum? Thanks for any info!
We need more experts, and better pics, but I hate to say, I don't think it's a Modulus. Just about everything is /differentwrong, from the neck joint, the logo, the bridge, it seems to be passive. The serial number's first digits are it's date of birth. I hope it an early one I've never seen. Most of the copies have painted necks, the graphite should be plainly visible, like the headstock on this one. The body shape is different in the upper cutaway. {}
Thanks for your reply. My modulus is active(just pulled the cover), the entire headstock and neck have the same headstock logo and graphite pattern as yours, just a darker color. The headstock reads "Modulus Graphite Products, US Patent 4,145,948. the serial number(in white on the rear) is 880676(I screwed up before). The bass is extremely light(just over 7 lbs) and came from an extremely reputable dealer.
yes, it's an early modulus. it's not a fake. for the complete make-up, check in with @GeoffGould who is the one who started the modulus graphite company here in the s.f. bay area. or you can contact him on his f.b. page. give him some time to answer since i'm sure he's a busy man with his schedule. hopefully he'll be able to pass on the info needed.
Thanks very much for your info! I found and 89 Quantum 5 with the exact same headstock and neck mount. Phew.....anyway, I shall contact Geoff. Thanks Again!
feel free to hang out over at the 'modulus mob' forum. there's a cr*p-ton of info also over there from others like myself who have owned and played geoff's basses (and some guitars) for decades. you'll find owners of the early moduli as well as owners of basses from the 'new' modulus graphite company that started up after their bankruptcy.
Please see additional post from another user....BTW there is a 5 string 89 quantum with the exact same headstock as mine, same darker graphite headstock and neck, same neck mount.... and a 2004 modulus flea bass with the exact same dark graphite. As suggested, I will contact Geoff Gould for more info on mine. Trouble is, in looking around it is hard to find info on the early quantums.
Thank you, again for all the great info! I will try the modulus mob forum. Have a great holiday season.
As others have already confirmed, that is indeed what a 1988 Quantum 4 should look like. Putting the logo at the base of the neck didn't start until after Modulus introduced the Quantum SPi ("Integrated Neck Joint") which was sometime in the very early 1990s. fwiw I own a 1988 Quantum-6 SPX and the headstock shape, logo, fingerboard etc all look more-or-less identical to yours. {} (I admit the logo's hard to see in this pic, but I think you get the gist.)
Thanks, Bob. Mine plays and sounds great. So light, as well. Happy holiday season to you. Thanks for the confirmation.
I, as well.....lol. Thanks though for your thoughts. I have done so much business with the store owner where it came from that it would not have been a problem if the reverse were true. Interesting how many variations on a theme, Modulus had. Even the 2004 fleas bass I saw had a similar neck(color) though not headstock. Have a great holiday season!
+1 on pnutz's response. Yup, it's absolutely an early Modulus, just before they went with the unworded logo on the headstock and a few other characteristics commonly associated with Quantums. I remember when the "Modulus Graphite" and "Modulus Graphite Products" were printed on the headstocks, just like yours. Nice find... enjoy!
ditto, again on the great group here. Thank you so much for the info and kind words....Happy holidays to you,
Based on its age, I'd expect it has no truss rod. Not a problem, many early graphite necks just relied on the extraordinary stiffness of graphite. Is it a 35" scale like the later ones too? I've owned a Q5 but always wished for a 4 string. Best luck with it. They're great basses. Also, that's a pretty quilted maple top you have there.
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