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Rickenbacker vs. Modulus
- Thread starter acbasser
- Start date
Wow, two completely different basses. Not even in the same universe IMO. How about this: What are you looking for in the bass? Type of music you play? General tone you want to achieve?
I own both a Ric 4003 and Modulus Q5. Both are amazing instruments, but they are very different from each other.
4003: Neck through, all maple, passive. Tone is aggressive sounding, with a vintage flavor. If you've heard a Ric on a recording, that is what they sound like. I definitely recommend playing one first as they are not for everybody. If you're used to Fender style basses like most are, the neck and body shapes may feel strange. It's very much a love/hate bass.
Q4/5/6: Bolt on, graphite neck, active, very modern. They make a killer bass, but you might have a hard time getting one now. If you want to buy new, it might be impossible. We don't know yet. Anyways...the playability is incredible and you can have a few options for pickups and preamps which can get you different sounds. They are very modern sounding, with a very clear sound and piano like sustain. I will never part with my Q5.
I own both a Ric 4003 and Modulus Q5. Both are amazing instruments, but they are very different from each other.
4003: Neck through, all maple, passive. Tone is aggressive sounding, with a vintage flavor. If you've heard a Ric on a recording, that is what they sound like. I definitely recommend playing one first as they are not for everybody. If you're used to Fender style basses like most are, the neck and body shapes may feel strange. It's very much a love/hate bass.
Q4/5/6: Bolt on, graphite neck, active, very modern. They make a killer bass, but you might have a hard time getting one now. If you want to buy new, it might be impossible. We don't know yet. Anyways...the playability is incredible and you can have a few options for pickups and preamps which can get you different sounds. They are very modern sounding, with a very clear sound and piano like sustain. I will never part with my Q5.
Well, I'm not going for any particular sound... just something to build my bass sound around. I had the brief opportunity to play a Q5 in Chicago, and it felt quite nice. However, I didn't get to plug it in. On the other hand, I have not played a Ric in a long time... I do love the sound, though. The finishes on both are stellar, but both are exceedingly rare. One point, however - if I decided to get a Modulus, it'd be much more to my liking to have a custom built one, if possible... I checked out the Modulus Guitars catalog, and they offer some seriously gorgeous finishes and woods that I never see. So custom in that case is brilliant. Then again, I haven't heard much from Modulus lately... other than Flea's new custom bass he just had built.
I'd go Modulus. Since I switched to composite-neck basses last year, seasonal / temperature / humidity / etc neck snergellies have been totally absent. Plus I love the absolutely even response.
I'm a Ric fan as well, of course. Nothing looks cooler than a mapleglo Ric!
I'm a Ric fan as well, of course. Nothing looks cooler than a mapleglo Ric!
if money isnt that much of a consern why not get both???
This. You can't get very much more opposite than those two, so since money is of no concern get both.
Interesting that you happened to pick the two companies with the worst track records for service, though. And it appears that Modulus has gone out of business on top of that. I'd skip both and get a nice Spector, G. Gould, Zon, Sadowsky, or Fodera.
I was browsing the specs on the Modulus Quantum,
And I thought to myself, "Why don't you just buy an Ibanez BTB"
They just released the prestige model,
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However what made me think of it was the Bartolini pickups, and the scale.
I've tried a few of the BTB and they have a great feel and can get a variation of tones, especially if you're looking for more strings, they've got a good range of instruments.
Well that was my thought,
Coincidently though I just purchased a Ric and I am waiting to hear how it sounds.
And I thought to myself, "Why don't you just buy an Ibanez BTB"
They just released the prestige model,
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
However what made me think of it was the Bartolini pickups, and the scale.
I've tried a few of the BTB and they have a great feel and can get a variation of tones, especially if you're looking for more strings, they've got a good range of instruments.
Well that was my thought,
Coincidently though I just purchased a Ric and I am waiting to hear how it sounds.
Which sound? The Chris Squire Ric sound? The Paul McCartney Ric sound? The Bruce Foxton Ric sound? The Mark Hudson Ric sound? The...
That very well might not be possible.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/modulus-still-business-968185/
That's a pretty pointless question, since nothing can be done about the one major variable there...having those guys' hands at the end of your arms. They were all working with essentially the same bass, no?
I've owned several modulus basses,not the Quantum however. I liked the 2 i had,but always felt they were a bit lacking in tonal character(like most of the graphite neck basses i've played). I'm always happiest with the feel and the sound of Ric basses,tho. I think it is a good step to go for the c64,as the binding free body,pickups,and slim necks on these make for a terrific sounding player. I presume you are looking at a specific bass,but the v63 would also be a good choice with pretty much the same features in a "normal" configuration. Also i can't stress what great basses the 4004's are. (I've got 2)
I have both a 4003 and a Q6. I think the Q6 is a more versatile bass, both in that it has 6 strings and the OBP-3 preamp. That said, if you are primarily a 4 string player, the Ric can achieve a lot of different tones even with its passive electronics.
My recommendation. If you are a 4 string player, go with the Ric as you probably have a bigger universe of basses to choose from. If you want 5 or 6 strings, the Q is the way to go.
Bones
My recommendation. If you are a 4 string player, go with the Ric as you probably have a bigger universe of basses to choose from. If you want 5 or 6 strings, the Q is the way to go.
Bones
I own both. You cannot compare since they are really apples and oranges. Other than the fact they are basses, they are totally different. I bought my Ric on a whim and it sits. I just don't really like the feel of the neck, the scale length is to short, the neck is wide (for me), but there are many thousands of people who love them. Well made, great tone pretty cool vibe to their look. I have 3 Modulus'. I prefer my Bassstar neck through. Similar to a TBX. Very old. Clean, bright, heavy tone and 35" scale. The neck fits my hand well. The spacing is super tight on my bass and I like it that way.
Just one humble opinion on the basses I own..
Just one humble opinion on the basses I own..
For any other bass I'd probably agree, but imho the Rick 4001 gets a more varied sound in the hands of different players than nearly any other iconic model. You can't honestly tell me that McCartney's Rick sounds like it was cut from the same cloth as Squire's...and if I were so enamored of the sound of one of those gents that I bought the same model bass they played, and then wound up with the sound of the other guy, I'd be pretty depressed. Or at least confused.
...which in fact is how I first encountered thie weird phenomenon some 35 years ago: I was totally into the sound that Chris Squire and Jon Camp got out of their Rick 4001s, so I bought a Rick 4001...and it didn't sound anything like their basses! It did however sound reasonably close to McCartney's.
So what's your point? The guy says he is interested in a Ric. You name a bunch of different players of Rics who have their own signature sound, all made on Rics, asking WHICH sound he likes. But obviously no matter who's personal tone he likes, the answer is simply "buy a Ric" because as far as equipment is concerned, that's all that can be done. If he answered "Lemmy" or "Geddy" would the right answer now be "Buy a Modulus"? No. Still the Ric. They player's tones may be different from each other but they're still distinctively Ric.
What makes it sound like one artist or another may be because of a variation in that specific one that came off the production line...or it may be because of that artist's technique...but neither of those things can be bought by him anyway.
I believe that is exactly the point he was making. Take the same bass, put it into the hands of 3 different players, and wind up with 3 different tones. I.E. the bass doesn't matter, it's in the hands.
Unless I'm not understanding what you're saying.
and another thing is
...which is completely not the question here. Clearly if he is undecided between a Ric and a Modulus he is not attempting to cop someone's specific tone.
...which is completely not the question here. Clearly if he is undecided between a Ric and a Modulus he is not attempting to cop someone's specific tone.
I own 5 Ricks, each a different model, and 2 Modulus basses, a Q4 and a Q5 (both with EMGs, I figure God made EQ for a reason). 
Yes Ricks and Modulus are quite different in many ways. While I don't have a C64 I do have a CS, which is the most aggressive sounding Rick I have. It's a tough choice to make, which to buy, and as you can tell I failed.
Seriously both are great basses, spend some time playing both and decide which one you think works for you and the music you play.
Yes Ricks and Modulus are quite different in many ways. While I don't have a C64 I do have a CS, which is the most aggressive sounding Rick I have. It's a tough choice to make, which to buy, and as you can tell I failed.
Seriously both are great basses, spend some time playing both and decide which one you think works for you and the music you play.
Get a rick just cause they are awsome looking and sounding! and yeah! if i had the money i would def get one!
