Dude as much as I like the color stain over quilt finishes that Modulus does so well, that Myrtle is as wild and psychedelic as anything a human could create.
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Whats the deal with Modulus?
- Thread starter MochomanXXL
- Start date
The path became clear to me when i started noticing that everytime i liked someone's bass tone, it was a Modulus. Not that they all sounded the same, but each time i would think "dang, that bassist has a great tone" i would look up and they'd have a Modulus in their hands. So I knew then what i had to do... 
I'm in agreement with what appears to be a general consensus - that the amp choice is key. I play a Q5 Semi-hollow and a Q6 fretless - both with Bartolinis - through a Aggie 659 pre. Plug it into my old SWR rig though, and they turn to crap. I love the sound through an SVT as well, though it's a bit more limited in range than the Aggie. Generally, i think they sound good through most higher end tube gear, and not so good through mid-range amps.
For me, the Moduli have immense low end, and a real flexible mid and treble response - i can dial as much or as little honk or bite as i want. Another bonus for me - the evenness of tone up and down the neck provides for better tracking through synth pedals like the Deep Impact.
I'm never more than 20 cents off when i go to tune, and rarely have to adjust the action or truss rod.
I like the tone of the chechen fingerboard too - warms it up a bit. As has been mentioned, the neck feels subtly different than a wood neck - i think it's better, but that's fairly subjective.
What i don't particularly like is the very modern look of many Moduli -
i prefer mine with a natural wood top.
Oh, and don't be scared of the price tags - i could never afford a new one. Buy used. I got both of mine for about a third of what they would list for.
So now i just need a few more.
I'm in agreement with what appears to be a general consensus - that the amp choice is key. I play a Q5 Semi-hollow and a Q6 fretless - both with Bartolinis - through a Aggie 659 pre. Plug it into my old SWR rig though, and they turn to crap. I love the sound through an SVT as well, though it's a bit more limited in range than the Aggie. Generally, i think they sound good through most higher end tube gear, and not so good through mid-range amps.
For me, the Moduli have immense low end, and a real flexible mid and treble response - i can dial as much or as little honk or bite as i want. Another bonus for me - the evenness of tone up and down the neck provides for better tracking through synth pedals like the Deep Impact.
I'm never more than 20 cents off when i go to tune, and rarely have to adjust the action or truss rod.
I like the tone of the chechen fingerboard too - warms it up a bit. As has been mentioned, the neck feels subtly different than a wood neck - i think it's better, but that's fairly subjective.
What i don't particularly like is the very modern look of many Moduli -
i prefer mine with a natural wood top.
Oh, and don't be scared of the price tags - i could never afford a new one. Buy used. I got both of mine for about a third of what they would list for.
So now i just need a few more.
This thread prompted me to plug my SweetSpot5 into my Mesa/Eden mini-rig last night. I was starting to fall away from it lately, remembering the tone to be too sterile & the action just not suiting me. I had adjusted the action a few weeks ago but hadn't played it since. A few observations:
-it is incredibly even up & down the board, and string-to-string, too
-it stays in tune for months at a time. I still can't quite believe it.
-the EMG is sterile--until you start digging into it. Then it will growl & burp like a linebacker
-this bass into a big tube head is really, really good. The highs are sweet, the lows are huge, and cutting through is never a problem (even with the treble control backed off fully)
-I forgot how good this thing can be.
-it is incredibly even up & down the board, and string-to-string, too
-it stays in tune for months at a time. I still can't quite believe it.
-the EMG is sterile--until you start digging into it. Then it will growl & burp like a linebacker
-this bass into a big tube head is really, really good. The highs are sweet, the lows are huge, and cutting through is never a problem (even with the treble control backed off fully)
-I forgot how good this thing can be.
i got my fb4 mainly through listening to fleas bass tone and loving it! but then i joined a 4piece rock/metal band!
fits in like a glove i have two basses this is by far my number 1! ( my second bass is a rick 4001! )had it from new and will never sell it! mines got a ba2 bridge, aggie pre with sd basslines pup.
i agree with schuyler though i have played my bass through some solid state amps and some of the lows were lost, but the rig i have atm may honestly never change!
the only thing i want atm is an 810!
fits in like a glove i have two basses this is by far my number 1! ( my second bass is a rick 4001! )had it from new and will never sell it! mines got a ba2 bridge, aggie pre with sd basslines pup.
i agree with schuyler though i have played my bass through some solid state amps and some of the lows were lost, but the rig i have atm may honestly never change!
the only thing i want atm is an 810!
No offense to anyone here is intended, but I would like to chime in with my perspective as a Modulus owner/player since 1991.
My two main points of disagreement with the majority opinion expressed here are-
1. EMGs in a Modulus sound fantastic! No, really, they do!
2. Amps are important, of course, but a solid state head or low budget amp won't always translate to bad tone with a Modulus.
I have owned Q5s with Barts and EMGS, and for years I was sold on the bart sound and wouldn't consider a Modulus with EMGs. Then I found an amazing Q5 that appealed to me in every way. It just happened to be EMG equipped. That bass turned that conventional wisdom on its head!
A good instrument is a tool for getting across your playing abilities and style, and a modulus excels at that, so much so that it may make you re-examine your technique.
A very good friend of mine played a Q5 through a Hartke kickback with a fishman pre in the line and got an amazing jazz tone that you would never guess originated from a graphite neck.
I played Q5s through an SWR SM900 and two Goliath 410s for years and it absolutely killed!
My point is, don't blindly buy into the party line about Modulus basses. Keep an open mind, and you may find some unexpected things work for you.
For those of you who are sharing your experiences and opinions that are the opposite of mine, I totally respect your opinions. This wasn't a bash, just offering an alternative view point based on years of experience.
My two main points of disagreement with the majority opinion expressed here are-
1. EMGs in a Modulus sound fantastic! No, really, they do!
2. Amps are important, of course, but a solid state head or low budget amp won't always translate to bad tone with a Modulus.
I have owned Q5s with Barts and EMGS, and for years I was sold on the bart sound and wouldn't consider a Modulus with EMGs. Then I found an amazing Q5 that appealed to me in every way. It just happened to be EMG equipped. That bass turned that conventional wisdom on its head!
A good instrument is a tool for getting across your playing abilities and style, and a modulus excels at that, so much so that it may make you re-examine your technique.
A very good friend of mine played a Q5 through a Hartke kickback with a fishman pre in the line and got an amazing jazz tone that you would never guess originated from a graphite neck.
I played Q5s through an SWR SM900 and two Goliath 410s for years and it absolutely killed!
My point is, don't blindly buy into the party line about Modulus basses. Keep an open mind, and you may find some unexpected things work for you.
For those of you who are sharing your experiences and opinions that are the opposite of mine, I totally respect your opinions. This wasn't a bash, just offering an alternative view point based on years of experience.
I've owned a number of basses over the years, and my two Modulus basses (one Q5 with EMGs and one SPI Custom Q5 with Barts) are OFF LIMITS in trade. Probably forever.
These basses, quite simply, can get me where I need to go.
They both sound fantastic paired with my Markbass LMII and Schroeder 1212L
These basses, quite simply, can get me where I need to go.
They both sound fantastic paired with my Markbass LMII and Schroeder 1212L
rockstarbassist
Inactive
They are awesome in every which way.
About the most reliable instrument you could take on the road with you.
There's a lot of ignorance and mis-information about them as a whole, usually by those who have never heard nor played one (and by play, I mean more than 5-10 mins with dead strings through a store practice amp).
Just like I can't stand to touch a Fender product, some are like that about Modulus. I just know at the end of the day, I'll still sound better...
And lots of people you already listen to use them, but you probably didn't know it.
About the most reliable instrument you could take on the road with you.
There's a lot of ignorance and mis-information about them as a whole, usually by those who have never heard nor played one (and by play, I mean more than 5-10 mins with dead strings through a store practice amp).
Just like I can't stand to touch a Fender product, some are like that about Modulus. I just know at the end of the day, I'll still sound better...
And lots of people you already listen to use them, but you probably didn't know it.
I am down to only two electric basses, both are Modulus Quantum 5s. One fretted and one fretless.
They are excellent basses. I have played nothing that I prefer better. They have a combination of tone, build quality and playability that I think compares favorably to anything out there, period.
They are built like tanks as well. I have been playing my fretted exclusively for six or seven years with no issues whatsoever.
But, they are expensive. VERY expensive new. So, when you start comparing them to other instruments out there in that price point, you are in some pretty exclusive company. IMO, they fairly compare.
They are excellent basses. I have played nothing that I prefer better. They have a combination of tone, build quality and playability that I think compares favorably to anything out there, period.
They are built like tanks as well. I have been playing my fretted exclusively for six or seven years with no issues whatsoever.
But, they are expensive. VERY expensive new. So, when you start comparing them to other instruments out there in that price point, you are in some pretty exclusive company. IMO, they fairly compare.
No offense to anyone here is intended, but I would like to chime in with my perspective as a Modulus owner/player since 1991.
My two main points of disagreement with the majority opinion expressed here are-
1. EMGs in a Modulus sound fantastic! No, really, they do!
QUOTE]
+1 on the EMG's in a Mod,.....with the BQC pre, with it's sweepable mids,...the Mod absolutely KILLS!!! I've always preferred that combo to the more popular Bart set-up in a Mod Q. Growly, burpy, cut thru a sea of mud tone,...NOTHING sterile about it!!!
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Prices are WAY down on them right now.
5-6 months ago they were easily 1500-1700.
Score now for in the 1200-1300 range!
Quantums, anyhow.
And don't forget about the sustain...they have an almost supernatural sustain that goes for DAYS and DAYS!
I had a beautiful VJ4, sold it, wish I had it back. Played great, could be set up ridiculously low, had barts w/ an aguilar pre, sounded great. GAS stinks sometimes.
I own an '06 Q5 that i bought locally from ebayer
chrisrush2112 I believe chris is a member If your out there buddy I still have the bass in same shape too. what a piece amber 5a flame maple top with gold hardware very beautiful.
It has so many great qualities they would be hard to list among them impervious to temp./moisture changes, playability and versatility. I still would like to try the Q5 with chechen board.
chrisrush2112 I believe chris is a member If your out there buddy I still have the bass in same shape too. what a piece amber 5a flame maple top with gold hardware very beautiful.
It has so many great qualities they would be hard to list among them impervious to temp./moisture changes, playability and versatility. I still would like to try the Q5 with chechen board.
I've been looking on e bay and they all are arround 1700 and up.
I'm looking for a Q5
rockstarbassist
Inactive
Look locally, Craigslist, on bassgear.com, and especially here.
I've seen some great deals in the last few months!
eBay and Modulus are bad for buyers because they're more rare in local markets. So ya gotta pony up.
You won't think that my Modulus graphite neck Q5 with EMG's sounds sterile when you wake up and your ears are pregnant.
You guys are inspiring me to get out my '91 Q5 (EMG's no truss rod) again. It was my main bass for a number of years and really loved the tone but I found myself needing the low B less and less due to the gigs I was getting so eventually she ended up in the vault. Getting re-acquainted should be fun....
