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Whats the deal with Modulus?

#81
RobJ said:
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....
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IME (which has been a lot if I do say so myself!) the pre-truss models are where it's at.

I do not like the more hollowed out current designs. I can definitely tell a difference in both.
 
#83
I've got a Flea bass with the lane poor pup and the bart preamp, and I've yet to find a bass that I love more than it. I got an outstanding deal on it, and I can't ever imagine anytime where I will ever sell it. And you can quote me on that.

Hoover said:
+1
...unfortunately, I learned the hard way: For the first 15 or so years that I owned my Modulus Quantum-6 SPX I was using it with an SWR SM-400 head. I loved the clarity & consistency of tone, but it always seemed just a bit too transparent, like it was a 2-dimensional sound without any weight or heft. When I switched to an Acoustic Image Focus head, not only did my amp literally lose 20lbs but sonically it was like my Modulus gained 300lbs! Suddenly it was fat & round & hefty...without sacrificing any of the clarity or sparkle.

I'd be scared to play my Modulus through an SVT...because then I'd have to buy an SVT!
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I play mine through an Sm-400, and I feel the complete opposite. I can't say enough good things about the Modulus-SWR combo.
 
#85
Modulus's are simply amazing. I was in the market for a Lakland, EBMM or J bass when I was hunting for a new bass. Modulus hadn't even crossed my mind because of the high price. I finally got time to go play one and happened to find great deal. I haven't looked back since then.

The graphite neck is amazing. I can play a practice, but the bass in the case, throw it in the car and drive around for 2 weeks (cold nights and hot days), take it out and I won't have to tune it in the slightest. I also haven't seen a situation where is hasn't sounded good. It's a super versitle bass.

I am not sure why it didn't sound too hot when you played it. I suppose everyone has a different ear and has a different opinion on what sounds good. It could be what you played the bass through. I run mine through a 4 x 12 aggie cab with a 500 watt aggie head.
 
#86
VroomVroom said:
I hear you, but unfortunately those also seem to be the models most affected by the warpage of the phenolic layers - I remember having to make mine playable again via the bridge saddles. Definitely a bummer, as I had those strings down there. :D
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Fortunately my Q5 has never had any neck or fretboard issues and has always been rock solid when it comes to stability. I sure hope it stays that way.
 
#87
Mine did the warpage tango on me after owning it for about 10 years,...:eek:...picked it up one day, started playing and went ***!?!?!?!??!?...to Modulus credit, gave them a call, verified I was the original owner, shipped it off and got it back with a new neck, with the "intonation adjustment" rod installed. Still cracks me up that they won't call it a truss rod,...props to them though for honoring thier lifetime warranty. New neck = no charge!!!:hyper::bassist::D
 
#88
Had an early 90's Q5 for a while (no trussrod) with Bart PU/preamp. Loved that bass (and got it for a great deal)...but then I started playing longer scales and sold that bass to fund a different bass (which I eventually sold to get yet another bass). When I got the bass, the hardware had some wear to being on a cruise boat for a while so I ordered fresh hardware directly from Modulus complete with logos (they don't normally do that, or so they claimed).

I recorded an album switching between my Q5 and my Lull M4V and the engineer was in love with the modulus. He thought it sounded so good that he would crank just the DI bass signal and marvel at the clarity that the Q5 had with just a DI.

I got my modulus on this board and sold it here and have seen it trade hands a few times since. Every time it is up for sale I have no cash, but do hope to bring back the specific bass I had at some point in the future.

As for Gordon and the phish sound. Mike's early tone came from his Languedoc hollowbody bass with Morch electronics. The Morch stuff is killer (I just picked up my 3rd Morch bass!!!) and VERY versatile. I think the Modulus fits better with Mike's tone, but I really loved the tone of that Languedoc bass he used to use.
 
#89
h60 said:
I've owned a Q5, and I agree. It was the most versatile bass I've ever owned or played. To this day I wish I never sold it. Now I look at them and think I'll never be able to afford another.
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Stole the words right out of my mouth. I miss my old Q5 (natural, quilted top, Barts). The only bass I've found that's more versatile is my Line6 Variax. Someday, I will buy another.
 
#90
cosmicevan said:
I recorded an album switching between my Q5 and my Lull M4V and the engineer was in love with the modulus. He thought it sounded so good that he would crank just the DI bass signal and marvel at the clarity that the Q5 had with just a DI.
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A few weeks ago I did some studio recording with my Modulus Q5 for the first time since I got it. The engineer (Conrad Uno in Seattle) loved the sound of it so much, that he also used the DI signal only. We had a cab miked up, but he preferred the DI signal. The raw tracks sound great so far - so fat and full, like a super muscular P-bass in punch, with that Modulus top end growl.
 
#91
There is a used VJ bass with Barts at the local Guitar Center
I was planning on trying it some quiet weekday afternoon when it isn't kiddie heavy metal time but this thread has me concerned.

I am very happy with the sound of both of my 70's Fender Jazz basses (one stock, one with Dimarzio's).

Is it fair to say that the Modulous sound is very different than a Fender J?
Am afraid to touch the Fenders and would really like to have low action and a rock solid, straight neck.
 
#92
Jim C said:
There is a used VJ bass with Barts at the local Guitar Center
I was planning on trying it some quiet weekday afternoon when it isn't kiddie heavy metal time but this thread has me concerned.

I am very happy with the sound of both of my 70's Fender Jazz basses (one stock, one with Dimarzio's).

Is it fair to say that the Modulous sound is very different than a Fender J?
Am afraid to touch the Fenders and would really like to have low action and a rock solid, straight neck.
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Don't be afraid of playing a new bass... heck, be more afraid of how annoying trying to hear/feel a nice axe at GC will be!
 
#93
Jim C said:
There is a used VJ bass with Barts at the local Guitar Center
I was planning on trying it some quiet weekday afternoon when it isn't kiddie heavy metal time but this thread has me concerned.

I am very happy with the sound of both of my 70's Fender Jazz basses (one stock, one with Dimarzio's).

Is it fair to say that the Modulous sound is very different than a Fender J?
Am afraid to touch the Fenders and would really like to have low action and a rock solid, straight neck.
Click to expand...

The VJ's are amazing.
I'd be scared if I were a diehard Fenferite! :D
You will be assimilated! :D


hehehehe... ;)
 
#94
I believe what the senator meant to say, was that I'm not "afraid" of my Fenders, only that changing the neck would would just kill the mojo of 2 very fine intsruments.

However, this idea of using 105 SS roundwounds with low action is something that I've never been able to get with these little wimpy, wood necked, basses, and am thinking that some drastic plastic could be way cool.

Had an early Steinberger back in the day and it sounded nothing like a J bass.

So for the un-answerable question: Can I get my J bass sound with a Modulus?
Huh, can I?
God knows that it will be impossible to tell at my local GC and that it would mean buying the bass and taking it home for a test in a civilized enviornment.
 
#95
BWB said:
The amazing thing about Oteil back then with ARU was watching him play his Modulus 6 stringer live with a Peavey Mark III and some kind of no-name 4x10 cabinet as his bass rig. That was his live rig for years.
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This is very true. I was blown away when I first heard him in '91 or '92 and then my band did some shows with ARU. I couldn't believe the tone he got. I still found something a little weird about it until my epiphany some years later.

Edwin
PS It's all in the hands!
 
#96
elgecko said:
Moduli have a very rich/open sound that cuts through the mix in just about any musical situation. Unlike wood, they have amazing string-to-string/fret-to-fret eveness, they have absolutely no dead spots, and they won't go crazy when subjected to temperature differentials. In fact, unless I physically move a tuner, they stay in tune almost indefinitely. Modulus basses have, on rare occasion, been known to bring sight to the blind :P
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+1 !!!! I miss my Q5, Blue quilt!!
 
#100
The Modulus Genesis is one of the few basses that stands out to me as being the most solid feeling instrument I've ever played.

I remember going to see a band in Canada, nero, quite a bit a few years back. Their bass player played a Q5 and after awhile broke out his classic '62 Jazz for part of the set, and I always found everyone got a lot more riled up with the J Bass but intensely wowed with that great big 5 string sweet spot punch.
 

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