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Which Duncan MM pickup is used on Modulus Flea Bass

K

KPAX

Inactive
Mar 22, 2005
1,134
25
www.unhingedrocks.com
#1
I have a 2002 Modulus Flea Bass with a Bartolini pickup and NTBT preamp. I'm not happy with the "thin" sound of the D and G strings - especially with a pick.
I notice Modulus has switched to a Duncan MM pickup on the latest Flea Basses.
Duncan offers 3 MM style pickups:
SMB-4a alnico
SMB-4a 3-coil alnico
SMB-4d ceramic
Which is used on the Flea Bass?
 
#2
I posted this in the other thread but here ya go...

The SD's that come in Modulus basses are SD pickups made custom for Modulus. After Lane Poor went out of business, Modulus sent a LP to SD to copy while adding enhancements Modulus wanted. You can't buy a Modulus Seymour Duncan...yet. When I talked with Modulus in November 2005, they said they were trying to work with SD to sell a Modulus SD.
 
#5
What's the history after the Lane Poors weren't available?
Was Modulus unhappy with the Bartolini from my period?
I've wondered if it's my bass. I love the bass - it plays great, the neck is awesome and without an amp, all the notes sound very even ... but with the amp, I'm not happy with the D and G string sound a lot of the time.
I've been hoping its just the pickup and not the bass. Is this a nown problem with the Flea Bass with Bartolini pickup?
 
#6
KPAX said:
What's the history after the Lane Poors weren't available?
Was Modulus unhappy with the Bartolini from my period?
I've wondered if it's my bass. I love the bass - it plays great, the neck is awesome and without an amp, all the notes sound very even ... but with the amp, I'm not happy with the D and G string sound a lot of the time.
I've been hoping its just the pickup and not the bass. Is this a nown problem with the Flea Bass with Bartolini pickup?
Click to expand...

I believe barts are still available as an option. It's just preference really. I've never been too sure why some Flea's had bartolini written on it and some didn't. Guess that's something for me to find out sometime.

Most people love the LP's. I've had both the basslines and the LP. They sound nearly identical. If you want a new pickup, ask around on here and people would be happy to recommend one. I'm not sure what your issue with the D & G string is but changing string/pickup height can make a difference.
 
#11
FunkyMonkCP said:
Thanks for the offer but I always keep things like that on hand for possible future use. I think I'm going to hold on to it.

If you really aren't happy with your Bart, ask around here and you'll get some good replacement suggestions. I've heard good things about Nordstrands.
Click to expand...

that's what he's doing..."asking around here"

can you get him the DCR (DC resistance) value for that spare pickup you have...and can you tell us if the magnet is alnico or ceramic?

If we have those two parameters, from specs only, it's not too difficult to come up with a close match. Reasons: magnet type gives a decent indication of the magnetic field, DCR gives a decent indication of the number wraps around the bobbin (it's the relationship between mag field, inductance, resistance, and capacitance, along with aperture, that really determines the sound of a pickup)

MM shapes are fairly standard size-wise, so changing the magnets and the number of wraps, and wire-gauge are usually the 3 things that pickup makers "tweek" to get different sounds...we'll assume a std wire gauge of 42...



In addition, Carey Nordstrand, an incredibly helpful man, may have some knowledge about what you're after. Carey frequents this site frequently. Also, his company is very good at answering questions via email...why don't you try contacting him.
 
#13
yeah, I have barts too, and the E string is very loud, and we can hardly hear the others if you don't low the bass down, but you've said, thin. If you want basslines or lane poor, it's ''thinner''... but, as far as I know each note is full, and rings perfectly like other notes.
Lots of people prefer Barts, but I dislike them just like you, they make my bass sound very dark, and with a very different Modulus Flea 'tone', anyway, I think they are great pickups, but just not for that bass for me
I bought a Lane poor pickup and I'm waiting to receive it, then I'll make soundclips to see the difference with my Bartolini, if you're interested.

PS: My Bartolini doesn't have 'Bartolini' written across the pickup, I don't really know why, even that I'm sure it's a Bartolini. I guess those are custom Bartolini for Modulus just like basslines and Lane poors wich were also made custom for the Flea bass! :eyebrow:
 
#14
labanass said:
yeah, I have barts too, and the E string is very loud, and we can hardly hear the others if you don't low the bass down, but you've said, thin. If you want basslines or lane poor, it's ''thinner''... but, as far as I know each note is full, and rings perfectly like other notes.
Lots of people prefer Barts, but I dislike them just like you, they make my bass sound very dark, and with a very different Modulus Flea 'tone', anyway, I think they are great pickups, but just not for that bass for me
I bought a Lane poor pickup and I'm waiting to receive it, then I'll make soundclips to see the difference with my Bartolini, if you're interested.

PS: My Bartolini doesn't have 'Bartolini' written across the pickup, I don't really know why, even that I'm sure it's a Bartolini. I guess those are custom Bartolini for Modulus just like basslines and Lane poors wich were also made custom for the Flea bass! :eyebrow:
Click to expand...

Hey thanks for weighing in. Yeah, string balance is another way to describe what I don't like about the Bartolini on my Flea. The D and G dont come through withe same power and fullness. I'm very interested in the Duncan MM pickup made for the Flea - it sounds like the Lane Poors are hard to find. I'll call and talk to Nordstrand too. Thanks.
 
#15
KPAX said:
Hey thanks for weighing in. Yeah, string balance is another way to describe what I don't like about the Bartolini on my Flea. The D and G dont come through withe same power and fullness. I'm very interested in the Duncan MM pickup made for the Flea - it sounds like the Lane Poors are hard to find. I'll call and talk to Nordstrand too. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Lane poors aren't only hard to find, they are expensive too.
Modulus basslines and Modulus Lane poors sounds almost the same.
Nordstrand is the one wich is very similar to the Musicman Stingray pickup, but I really don't know how it does sound on a Flea. Some people say they are wonderfull, but they wont really give you the clarity of the Lane poor as the Modulus bassline would.
hey, why don't you try Q tuners?
 
#16
labanass said:
Lane poors aren't only hard to find, they are expensive too.
Modulus basslines and Modulus Lane poors sounds almost the same.
Nordstrand is the one wich is very similar to the Musicman Stingray pickup, but I really don't know how it does sound on a Flea. Some people say they are wonderfull, but they wont really give you the clarity of the Lane poor as the Modulus bassline would.
hey, why don't you try Q tuners?
Click to expand...

When you say Modulus basslines and Modulus Lane poors sounds almost the same, which Basslines model do you mean?
The alnico SMB-4a?
or the ceramic SMB-4d?
 
#19
KPAX said:
When you say Modulus basslines and Modulus Lane poors sounds almost the same, which Basslines model do you mean?
The alnico SMB-4a?
or the ceramic SMB-4d?
Click to expand...


You should ask Modulus if they could get you one, but I'm not sure if that's possible.
the best think to do, ask or find a Flea owner if he wants to sell his pickup.
just one think, why are you so sure you want this pickup?
I belive Bassline has a thinner sound than Bartolini.
 
#20
labanass said:
You should ask Modulus if they could get you one, but I'm not sure if that's possible.
the best think to do, ask or find a Flea owner if he wants to sell his pickup.
just one think, why are you so sure you want this pickup?
I belive Bassline has a thinner sound than Bartolini.
Click to expand...

Your'e right IMO the basslines PU is thinner sounding than the Bart, you accurately proved that with your'e sound recordings in your other thread about this same topic.

To the original poster, you'll have to wait for either modulus or SD to market a modulus SD PU, it is very different than the other SD PU's in their range, custom wound in fact. IMO that won't happen soon - modulus doesn't even sell pickguards separately. Or join the legion of us searching for those LP's out there, good luck with that......they are as common as "rocking horse excrement".

Alternatively, if you are looking for an all around quality tone and aren't particularly "hung up" on the LP sound, many respected opinions here give a strong nod towards........DELANO.
 

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