oddjob
Well-known member
If you really wanted to be talked out of buying the Modulus. Let us know where you are at we will send 3 or more MM players over to your house to convince you.
tk
Heaven help him if he lives in the TX area
- Thread starter FREAKYSTYLEY
- Start date
Heaven help him if he lives in the TX area
EBMM7181
Well-known member
Heaven help him if he lives in the TX area
If he lives in the South....... Myself, Stanky, and Travis can tag team him.
Dr Stankface
Well-known member
You got that right.
Maybe Jason could join in too.
Maybe Jason could join in too.
mynan
Well-known member
You guys are giving Modulus way too much credit...
phatduckk
Well-known member
stingrays look cooler
high mileage
Well-known member
I used to have a Quantum 5 with EMG's. Nice bass, but the MM basses cut thru better (than anything, really). Mine didn't have a trussrod but it didn't need it. EMG's sound like EMG's, and the other options were Barts (agree with Caca's description on those) or the Lane Poors that haven't been made for a few years. I'd prefer a Bongo over a Q5, and with the price difference you can probably get a Bongo and a Stingray...
Edit after reading the post below - not every company out there takes care of their customers like the folks at EBMM.
Edit after reading the post below - not every company out there takes care of their customers like the folks at EBMM.
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AnthonyD
Well-known member
My One-Sided Opinion...
I don't know much about Modulus, nor the Flea bass...
I do know EBMM though...
Buy a Stingray - buy a couple of them.
From a company that cares, both before and after the sale.
From a company that believes in musicians, both before and after the deal.
From a company with a rich history and an equally impressive future outlook.
You will not find another musical instrument company with the same passion for their product, with the same respect for their customers, with the same drive to continue to make things better - not driven to simply make things "cheaper" or "easier" or "faster"...
Better - in all ways...
Buy a Stingray...
I don't know much about Modulus, nor the Flea bass...
I do know EBMM though...
Buy a Stingray - buy a couple of them.
From a company that cares, both before and after the sale.
From a company that believes in musicians, both before and after the deal.
From a company with a rich history and an equally impressive future outlook.
You will not find another musical instrument company with the same passion for their product, with the same respect for their customers, with the same drive to continue to make things better - not driven to simply make things "cheaper" or "easier" or "faster"...
Better - in all ways...
Buy a Stingray...
Music Man is a bass of good taste
organic is the real way to go MOther Nature and BP knows best
all the bass,
/PL
Why should I pick a Stingray or Sterling over a Modulus Flea Bass?
Hey FREAKYSTYLEY, depends on what your priorities are methinks, but it seems to me that Playing a Modulus is like having plainsex
Are Graphite necks worth it? I know I can get one for a stingray don't want to.
BESIDES THE PRICE, why should I pick a musicman over a modulus?
LOVE THE SOUND OF BOTH BTW..
organic is the real way to go
MOther Nature and BP knows bestall the bass,
/PL
SquidLizard
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2006
- Messages
- 237
I have a Modulus Vintage Jazz bass, and I used to have a Jazz 62 RI with a graphite neck (gorgeous bass, but sounded just like the Modulus and was too darned heavy). I like the feel of the graphite neck a lot. I don't find it to be sticky at all, mine are/were more of a satin feel.
I have never liked Bartolini pickups. There may be some models that sound okay, but I've gotten rid of basses with them because they're so blah. Boring and mediocre is how I'd put it. You can also get a Basslines pickup in the Flea, so that might make things better. But neither one of those has the power and tone that I've experienced with MM basses. Ye gods! That makes me wonder -- does Flea actually play a stock Flea bass or are the electronics modified?
Look, the electronics in the EBMM basses are THEIR electronics. They aren't farmed out to a pickup manufacturer, they're designed and developed in-house. This means the best possible electronics, designed for the bass they're going into. They have one of the pre-eminent design engineers in all of bass-dom in Dudley. Beyond the excellent customer service and other great features of their instruments, the electronics are the thing that make these basses stand out from their competition -- even competition that is much pricier.
Although looks are often a secondary consideration, they matter. Especially considering you're spending over $2k, Flea basses don't look like anything special. The sparkle finishes are nice, but that's about it. Sorry, I'm not trying to bash them, but look at that headstock. Yawn. Ditto for the pickguard. Different but not distinctive. Nothing about the Flea bass BUT the paint stands out. A Stingray LOOKS like a 'Ray. It has tons more style, IMO. There are a lot more color options. And you won't find a better fit and finish in any bass. The Flea bass's styling is just not happening. In terms of image impact, the Stingray is much stronger than the Flea.
Regardless of cost, you're getting a lot more with a Stingray. And if you play it a while and still want graphite, as Rob said you can get an after-market graphite neck and see if that's a good fit. You've still saved money, so then you can get a two-pickup 'Ray. And then go really wild and try a BONGO. Welcome to the addiction!
(Darn it -- now I owe Koogs five cents.)
Squid/Lisa
I have never liked Bartolini pickups. There may be some models that sound okay, but I've gotten rid of basses with them because they're so blah. Boring and mediocre is how I'd put it. You can also get a Basslines pickup in the Flea, so that might make things better. But neither one of those has the power and tone that I've experienced with MM basses. Ye gods! That makes me wonder -- does Flea actually play a stock Flea bass or are the electronics modified?
Look, the electronics in the EBMM basses are THEIR electronics. They aren't farmed out to a pickup manufacturer, they're designed and developed in-house. This means the best possible electronics, designed for the bass they're going into. They have one of the pre-eminent design engineers in all of bass-dom in Dudley. Beyond the excellent customer service and other great features of their instruments, the electronics are the thing that make these basses stand out from their competition -- even competition that is much pricier.
Although looks are often a secondary consideration, they matter. Especially considering you're spending over $2k, Flea basses don't look like anything special. The sparkle finishes are nice, but that's about it. Sorry, I'm not trying to bash them, but look at that headstock. Yawn. Ditto for the pickguard. Different but not distinctive. Nothing about the Flea bass BUT the paint stands out. A Stingray LOOKS like a 'Ray. It has tons more style, IMO. There are a lot more color options. And you won't find a better fit and finish in any bass. The Flea bass's styling is just not happening. In terms of image impact, the Stingray is much stronger than the Flea.
Regardless of cost, you're getting a lot more with a Stingray. And if you play it a while and still want graphite, as Rob said you can get an after-market graphite neck and see if that's a good fit. You've still saved money, so then you can get a two-pickup 'Ray. And then go really wild and try a BONGO. Welcome to the addiction!
(Darn it -- now I owe Koogs five cents.)
Squid/Lisa
Frankie5Angels
Well-known member
You shouldn't have to be "talked into buying" an EBMM bass. Playing one should be all the convincing you need. If you have to be talked into it, then you really don't want one.
RobertB
Well-known member
My guess is that you just haven't had a whole lot of experience yet ... not yet decided on which tone is most expressive for you, which bass has the best feel & playability for you, etc. I was the same way for a while. I knew that I absolutely loved my SR & that it was by far the best I'd heard & played so far, but I guess I was curious & compelled to continually challenge it up against other basses I hadn't tried yet, in case there was something out there I hadn't yet discovered that I might like even more. I tried pretty much everything I could get my hands on, including Modulus (including a couple of Fleas), and basses ranging from a few hundred bucks to 8000 bucks. All those have gone the way of the wind & all I have now is my 2 SR's. You could say that in the truest sense of the phrase, I satisfied my curiosity. I still respect the workmanship & artistry of some of the ones I tried, but ultimately it's about tone, isn't it? And EBMM basses have not just the best tone for me, but super cool looks & even more importantly, fabulous construction & playability.
Keep in mind that we don't just say these things about EBMM basses because we're biased towards them - it's the other way around. We're biased because of the EBMM characteristics we describe.
Ultimately, you'll just have to prove it to yourself. When you do, you'll be glad to stop thinking so much about "greener grasses" & just focus on your music.
bbernard
Well-known member
I have graphite necked alembic that plays great. Have had the bass since the early 80's and the neck has been like a rock. No trussrod Great feel (really not much different from wood), cutting and versatile tone. Having said that my first call bass is now a HH Bongo. Perfect range of tones for me (finger player in a variety of music styles).
My experience with Modulus is the same as I had with Pedulla. Look beautiful and sound fantastic plunking away by myself but I could never get them to work for me on the set. Lost in the mix, no personality.
If possible try the modulus in a band situation before buying (easier said than done).
My experience with Modulus is the same as I had with Pedulla. Look beautiful and sound fantastic plunking away by myself but I could never get them to work for me on the set. Lost in the mix, no personality.
If possible try the modulus in a band situation before buying (easier said than done).
strummer
Enormous Member
I'll give you reason:
See there was this punky bass player who got into kind of funky sounds too, had this little band called RHCP and this bass player well he played Stingrays, and that's it.
Then he got a little famous and well I guess he got some basses for free, maybe got some modifications too, like those free-basses-guys are wont to.
But then, then that li'l band got REAL famous, and the bass player, while still great in on stage performances, got this other manufacturer who said they'd pay him ****loads of money if he'd have one of their unsucessfull basses (Sonic Hammer anyone) dubbed the Flea Bass and play that. So I guess he liked the idea of having his name on a bass, and I think a lot of kids liked the idea of playing a Flea bass, but whicever way you look at it it's a slightly modified Sonc Hammer and he got paid to endorse it
So the bottom line: When flea had to choose basses and pay for them himself he played Stigrays, and so should you!
Edit: I am (maybe wrongly) assuming you are considering the Flea Bass because you are a huge Flea/RHCP fan, because frankly that is the only reason I could ever see for getting that particular bass. Sorry, but that's my opinion. Now there are many fine graphite necked instruments out there, but if you seriously wand a graphite necked instrument look at others than the Flea. Imho and all that of course
See there was this punky bass player who got into kind of funky sounds too, had this little band called RHCP and this bass player well he played Stingrays, and that's it.
Then he got a little famous and well I guess he got some basses for free, maybe got some modifications too, like those free-basses-guys are wont to.
But then, then that li'l band got REAL famous, and the bass player, while still great in on stage performances, got this other manufacturer who said they'd pay him ****loads of money if he'd have one of their unsucessfull basses (Sonic Hammer anyone) dubbed the Flea Bass and play that. So I guess he liked the idea of having his name on a bass, and I think a lot of kids liked the idea of playing a Flea bass, but whicever way you look at it it's a slightly modified Sonc Hammer and he got paid to endorse it
So the bottom line: When flea had to choose basses and pay for them himself he played Stigrays, and so should you!
Edit: I am (maybe wrongly) assuming you are considering the Flea Bass because you are a huge Flea/RHCP fan, because frankly that is the only reason I could ever see for getting that particular bass. Sorry, but that's my opinion. Now there are many fine graphite necked instruments out there, but if you seriously wand a graphite necked instrument look at others than the Flea. Imho and all that of course
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Moondog
Well-known member
Bravo Strummer! You Nailed it!
+1
+1
FREAKYSTYLEY
Member
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2007
- Messages
- 20
Played the Modulus today, there was nothing special about it, I actually didn't like the sound of the neck, but I think its because the action was set a little to high for me.. Im going to be looking for a stingray and OR sterling..
Thanks for the help Guys..
Thanks for the help Guys..
RobertB
Well-known member
In "fairness", Modulus does make a "satin finished" graphite/carbon fiber neck, in addition to the gloss version. It's not sticky feeling & does emulate the oil & wax finished feel reasonably well. That said ... it's still not an EBMM.
So it seems you've already made up your mind on a musicman, but i'll add my 2 pesos.
From my brief test drive with the flea bass, i have to say i was very underwhelmed. Not that it's a bad bass by any means, but there wasn't anything about the tone that really grabs me the way a musicman does. I think some other people have said this already, it was just bland. The feel of it is alright, but I don't like the graphite neck. For me it is definately not worth the 2500.
By comparison, I played a 79 (i think) stingray alongside it, and the sound of that thing blew me away. I wish i could afford it, but i can live with my sterling.
That's the only modulus i've played so i don't know if all are that way. i have a feeling it's the graphite neck that sucks the tone. I was just expecting a lot more from that bass.
From my brief test drive with the flea bass, i have to say i was very underwhelmed. Not that it's a bad bass by any means, but there wasn't anything about the tone that really grabs me the way a musicman does. I think some other people have said this already, it was just bland. The feel of it is alright, but I don't like the graphite neck. For me it is definately not worth the 2500.
By comparison, I played a 79 (i think) stingray alongside it, and the sound of that thing blew me away. I wish i could afford it, but i can live with my sterling.
That's the only modulus i've played so i don't know if all are that way. i have a feeling it's the graphite neck that sucks the tone. I was just expecting a lot more from that bass.
Rano Bass
Well-known member
IMO Flea sounded much better with his Stingrays than with the Modulus.
I checked both recently and really expected more from the Flea bass but the Ray killed it.
I checked both recently and really expected more from the Flea bass but the Ray killed it.
thunder
Well-known member
they are rare but, the namm 100 th ann bass, musicman cutlas 1 & 2. are made with a graphite neck. the namm bass (neck made by stylus) is better sound and made. the cutlas have that older mm sound (the necks are made by modulas). i love the graphite neck but, if your unsure about one get an after market grap. neck for a regular stingray and if you don't like it, put it on ebay (moises and stylus makes them for the rays).
