Stingray vs. Modulus Flea comparison

Modulus sounds much better, but that's about the worst sounding Stingray I've heard.


After gaining much, much gas for a Modulus.

 

Is that even a legit-Stingray? The truss adjustment is up at the headstock, which I know is the way it was until the late 80's...but the lighting is so bright...hard to get a good look.

 

The Ray is an 86, which I believe does have the headstock adjustment.

 

I think the Ray has much more character. Understand that basically anything that Flea plays is based on the Ray, and personally i think the only reason he's played anything different is dependent on who's willing to put money in his pocket.

 

Yeah it's a real 2-band Ray from about late 80's era.
Bullet truss adjustment, mute bridge, string tree in the A&D string position, and you can see part of the Ernie Ball logo.

 

I figured it probably was...thanks for confirmation though.

 

Yeah I love my Modulus Flea. I have one with the Duncan MM p/u and aguilar obp-1 preamp.
The people that say they have no low end are absolute idiots. I have to cut my low end on my amp when my bass eq is set level when I go to the FLEA. The high end is really sparkly! I never put the bass eq treble higher than 1/5 of the way past center, Its too hi fi at times, but its nice to have the option to push it.
I try a musicman EVERY time im in a store that has one so I can't deny the quality of those basses. I think that largely the choice comes from preference. The MM has so much vintage poppy punch to it and that almost strangled high end that I really like. Sometimes the Modulus is almost too bright on the high end.
That being said I bought my modulus for $750, and could easily sell it for a profit and buy a MM. I WILL NOT DO THAT.
The modulus is unique, its great to get some of the punch that the MM offers but it is by no means an either or for me. I want both! Especially since I have punchy basses with wooden necks so im not missing out on the character that wooden necks give. The modulus' graphite neck seems to scoop out the mids before eq-ing at all so that is a drawback, but I still prefer the mod' cause its got more under the hood than you need, and the neck is soooooo buttery and fast! nobody ever talks about how awesome the neck is!