Replacement Pickup for Modulus Flea Bass

[Steve K]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to replace the stock Seymour Duncan pickup on my Modulus Flea Bass for something with a little bit more warmth and less sterility. Right now, to me at least, I find the tone of the bass to be not very "natural" sounding with a very clanky high end, odd mid presence, but a usable low end. It's running through an onboard Aguilar OBP-2 preamp as well.

Right now, I'm looking at either going with a Nordstrand or Aguilar replacement pickup. Both pickups seem to be geared towards that "classic Stingray" sound and I'm wondering how that would pair with the natural sound of the Modulus. Would the carbon fibre neck suit either of those two pickup/preamp combos?

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[gonzkal]

Hi Steve,

Sorry, can't comment on the Norstrand and Aguilar pickups, since never tried them, but I can share with you my experience of replacing the stock pickup of my FB5: I wanted more tonal possibilities so had another J-style installed (in neck position) in addition to the MM humbucker. I went for the Delano FE/J combo, details Invalid Link Removed. With a push/pull for selecting the MM's single (outer) coil or both coils in parallel, I'm very happy with all the different sounds I can get, really a great upgrade. I would say that my bass sounds even less than a classic Stingray now than it used to with the stock pickup.

About that "clanky" high end, "sterile", "not very natural" sound: I feel this is mainly due to the carbon fiber neck. Changing pickup will surely alter your sound, but I'm not convinced it can "create warmth" that wasn't there in the first place. I may be wrong, but would guess you'll never be close to a vintage Stingray sound with a carbon-fiber neck.

 

[mysteryclock]

Modulus just announced they're installing the Lane Poor Legacy Modulus Pickup in that model bass now. You might want to contact them and see if they'd sell you one. IIRC, the Lane Poor was the sound for that bass, but became unavailable over time.

 

[Bioflava]

Hey folks... did @Steve K ever replace his pickup? I've got a Modulus Flea 4 and I'm thinking about the same move.,,