Chiliwailer

Damn, that's going to be expensive... Looks like it's a CS bass with Aguillar pickup and preamp. I'll miss the Modulus sound, but then it's been 18 years so a change can't be bad. (Edit, or is it nearly 20? Wow time flew) I found some pics...

Looks lovely, great colour. Congrats The difference is that the '59's have bigger necks, very chunky.

Top 5 inspirational to progress, rather than start playing would be Flea Aston Barrett Robert DeLeo Sly Dunbar Billy Talbot

[quote name='solo4652' timestamp='1465669627' post='3070138'] So - get radical - step outside of the "normal" bass shape....Go on, be creative... [/quote] http://youtu.be/7Oo2H-W7d6A

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1465687785' post='3070275'] What's the script with Modulus for UK players at the minute? Has anyone ordered one since the new operation has kicked in? They've jumped in price, and I'm led to believe they're only building a couple of basses a month? [/quote] A good friend of mine bought the 2nd and 3rd basses they made since the resurrection by Planet Bass, there were both FU4's and honestly I couldn't tell any difference between them and them and the original Modulus ones. They were expensive (you can ask Planet Bass for a price list), and they took a while to come but I think that was because they were just setting up again. Can't see any FU5's on their site now, but I noticed a very cool FU4 in a PJ set up, Mmmm.....got me dreaming now...

I'm not usually one to post reviews but having owned my first Ray HH for around 2 months now I'm well impressed. I'm not looking to write a killer review, just give an idea of the scope and hopefully help someone out who is considering one. Background - As an 18 year old a second hand Ray 4 was my first 'proper' bass and I cut my teeth on that one, loved it. I've owned others and Sterlings and Sabres and always enjoyed MM basses. (I sold my original one 7 years ago when I sold all my gear for a deposit on a flat). Fast forward to now and I fancied another Ray but needed a 5'er. 2 pickups was now needed too as I was reluctantly letting go of a 2 pickup Thumb 5 and I like the variation. My bass is a 2013/4, ash body, maple board, Alnico pickups, HH version. Currently strung with rounds, but also sounded amazing with Thomastiks. Rounds are staying on though as I'm reliving my youth with it [URL=http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/chiliwailer/media/image_zpsgpgmplo5.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah227/chiliwailer/image_zpsgpgmplo5.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] The bass has a 5 way pickup selector switch: Position 1 - Bridge pickup, regular Stingray sound as it's wired in parallel. Sounds great and does exactly what you expect. I often start in this position when noodling around but after dialling in positions 3 and 4 I rarely go back to it. Position 2 - Outer coils of both pickups. Very articulate sound, clean, sharp and very much a regular single coil sound as both pickups have only one coil on the go. Jazz Bass / StingRay love child. Position 3 - Both pickups with all coils on. Sounds absolutely huge, love it! For me it sounds so-so when solo'd but really comes alive in a mix. Position 4 - Similar to position 2 but the inner coils. It's still more articulate than the dual coil modes but this position is softer and warmer then position 2, sounds great with FX too. Position 5 - Neck pickup. Has a more woolly sound and with the right EQ and amp settings or preamp can a great tone that's sounds almost like a passive bass, though I must stress it may take some initial work to find the setting that does this for you. [URL=http://s1381.photobucket.com/user/chiliwailer/media/image_zpsnshfsjek.jpeg.html][IMG]http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah227/chiliwailer/image_zpsnshfsjek.jpeg[/IMG][/URL] So with that many great tones, why would I ever buy a single pickup one again?! Slapping with the neck pickup there didn't take long at all to get used to, and it's great having a thumb rest up that end too. I bought this bass as a tool, but am becoming much more fond of it than I thought I would. If I only had to have one bass, this could cover it all for me as long as kept my JHS Colour Box for the old school tones. Edited for pics - to induce GAS...

Has anyone heard I'm Beside You? (The B side album to I'm With You), the new tunes sound like a continuation of that to me.

And another... http://youtu.be/I7rlCyvHejY

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1465497704' post='3068826'] My Hayman is uncomfortable and not particularly easy to play, but I don't care - because it sounds brilliant. It's not much fun to sit and noodle with (especially if you're tired), as it's a slab body and the action won't go low enough - but at a gig it's utterly fantastic. It repays an attacking kind of technique - you have to work hard at it to get the best out of it, but it is absolutely worth it. [/quote] Sounds just like my old heavy MM Sabre that had a twisted neck and high action, but man did it sound amazing. Uh oh, here comes the GAS, be strong now Chili.... (BTW, If I could afford and be able to store loads of basses then I wouldn't even be posting here....).

[quote name='project_c' timestamp='1465289039' post='3066727'] energy levels are low and I have trouble concentrating, that same bass sounds very different, I can't connect with it and start finding problems with the tone or the setup. I think it's all down to the physicality of the instrument, it responds to your playing by reflecting whatever mood you project into it. [/quote] Those 2 points remind me of when I nearly sold my Modulus Flea a couple of times. If my energy is low then I get absolutely no joy from that bass, however rather than leading to GAS it used to lead to thinking of putting it up for sale without having another bass that was GAS lead in mind to replace it. These days I just pick up my P Bass which I find I can play in any mood. IMO, continual GAS is more of an ugly psychological thing... 'If you're always wanting then you're never getting' type scenario, and usually just a sideways move. With thousands of amazing basses out there it's an easy trap to fall into and get caught up in. I sold my collection a while back to buy my flat, and then 3 years ago started to rebuild. It was fun, and the GAS was fun too for a while as I bought and sold some great basses to see which ones would stick. Now it's gone on too long and GAS feels like my enemy, especially as I have 4 great basses and the best balance of basses that I've had since the collection I sold to buy my home. For guys like us, I believe it's a case of the right collection of basses to suit mood and the style of the day.

Yet another perfect deal with Davie, always a pleasure

I'm with you, I had TI's on my 89 Thumb 5, which has EMG's and for my tastes they were an incredible combo. Seriously miss that tone, especially the neck pickup sound but sadly I need to move on the bass

The stamps came in use in the late 60's and the pole piece tops are not rounded, so I'm pretty sure these aren't from 66. I've had a fair few 1966 P Basses and all had hand written dates. The early 4 digit never did seem to have a way of dating that appeared clear to me. But early 70's seems fair. I'm not great with colours, but the pickup winding is usually burgundy. Can't tell if yours is burgundy or black? (The wires have been changed so it made me have a look).

I went down to 2 last year, which felt good for a while. Back up to 4 now, which has been my self impossed limit for about 5 years now. I like having the ability to enjoy different tones and styles. I have two with flats, two with rounds. I don't miss the ones I sold, they felt more like tools than keepers and were fun to own but not regretful to sell, just easily replaceable bits of wood aren't they really? In all my years of playing my Lull is the only one that ever felt like a true keeper. The rest are just useful, until they are not!