Modulus Quantum Q5

[SurroundedByManatees]

Any love for the Modulus Q5-ers on here?

 

I bought mine a few weeks ago and haven't regretted it🙂

 

For a while I've been on the lookout for a 5 with narrower stringspacing like a Stingray. I marked the Modulus Quantum as very interesting (I like the way these graphite necks seem to respond) a while ago, but the 35" scale gave me doubts. Apparently there are 34" scale Q5 basses around, but I haven't seen them for sale anywhere. Not that they are super common in any form.

 

Anyway, 3 weeks ago a very attractive one (to my taste) popped up on reverb. I ignored my fear of the 35" scale and made a deal with the seller. A week later I had a beautiful second Modulus (my other one is a Funk unlimited) at home. It's a '96 model so it has no trussrod. The neck has just a little relief te accomodate the strings some room for vibration, the action is pretty low.

 

I am very positively surprised about the playability. The only other 35" I've played felt much less compact; it had a larger stringspacing, but probably also other balance. I don't have any trouble with the scale on the Q5 at all. So that's great.

 

Soundwise I like the Q5 very much. I have one with the EMG system. I like it, it's clear and tight, even and dynamic at the same time. The whole bass sounds well balanced from the B to the G string.

 

Some pictures because only text is pretty boring:

 

 

Anyone else owns or owned one? What are you're thoughts? Pictures are welcome too of course.

 

Edited February 1, 2024 by SurroundedByManatees

[Happy Jack]

I spent ages trying to find a Quantum neck in the early days of Basschat (so we're talking 2007-09 here) without success.

 

I love graphite necks (hence my Status Streamline) and I love the 35" scale (hence my Mike Lull) but putting them together has always been a bit of a problem.

 

Rob Green (Status) wouldn't even talk to me about it. 😂

[itu]

I had one with bartolinis. I sold it because of the 17 mm string spacing. Never got used to it. Now playing an MG Genesis 5 with 19 mm spacing.

 

Truss rod is useless with MG, Status, or Vigier. Carbon is king.

[SurroundedByManatees]

1 hour ago, itu said:

Truss rod is useless with MG, Status, or Vigier. Carbon is king.

 

My Funk Unlimited has a ´truss rod´. It´s actually not a truss, but only does 3 settings; neutral, a bit flatter or a bit more relief. I think I´ve left it neutral as the fretboard is almost flat with little relief. I did try it out though and there was a noticable difference in action when changinging the adjustment.

[Mrbigstuff]

I managed to have a lesson with Steve Lawson once (priceless experience) and he played one. You could just see how effortless it was for him to play and it had incredible clarity in each note. 
 

I’ve always been put off by the scale length though. I’m on 34” 5 string again and it’s just about comfortable but would probably prefer 33”.

[LeftyJ]

16 hours ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

 

My Funk Unlimited has a ´truss rod´. It´s actually not a truss, but only does 3 settings; neutral, a bit flatter or a bit more relief. I think I´ve left it neutral as the fretboard is almost flat with little relief. I did try it out though and there was a noticable difference in action when changinging the adjustment.

Same on my Status S2 Classics. I have my 5-string tuned down to A and with light strings (040-125) which in theory should sound and feel pretty floppy - but surprisingly doesn't. I've had to adjust the truss rod slightly to accommodate the lower tension and it works fine 

[tauzero]

I idly did a search on modulus and got a hit from Ebay, where I found this fantastic description:

 

Quote

Modulus Quantum is known for their bass guitars and Q5 with its stretchy steel strings creates an exceptional and unpredictable sound quality. Having a light weight body with rigid D- shaped shells that are made of carbon fiber; this bass guitar is absolutely non-conventional. The carbon telegraph fibers give out a crisp and warm sound creating a symphonic harmony. Geoff Gould (the creator) found modular graphite to replace wood used in the neck. This electric guitar by Modulus uses graphite, making the neck as well the bass guitar reliable and moisture resistant. All the notes can be distinctively heard in this Electric guitar by Modus as it gives you tonal range. For a sustainable, sinless and pure bass experience, the Modulus Quantum Q5 guitar is a must have.

 

I'm not sure what a sinful bass experience would be.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/78605811

[Kozmyk]

I got my Q5 in '96 and she's still my Top Bass, EMGs.
It has no truss rod and I learned pretty quickly that the string gauge dictates the neck relief.
Some A**hole at the shop tried to BS me that graphite necks don't bend ...
Anywhooo ... with 45 65 85 105 135 on there she plays like a dream.
Once, just once I had to lower the action with the bridge.

She'd been outside in storage for a few months while builders worked in my place.
I think the cold and humidity changes must've flexed the wood cos the relief stayed the same.

 

[G-bitch]

I tried a Q6 way back at the gallery, around 2002 perhaps. Still regret not buying that, but I was fixated on getting a custom shaker. Would love to get my hands on a flea 5 to try out, which I suspect would be more up my street now than a quantum.

[SurroundedByManatees]

The Quantum and Flea partly share the same playing experience imo, as they both have that agressive sound and fast response from the graphite neck that you get with a Modulus. 

 

I like them both but think I'd prefer the more versatile Quantum. The sound of a Quantum can hugely vary though, depending on pickups and preamp. My Q5 with EMG setup sounded totally different than the Q4 with Bartolini setup. Both very nice but totally different. 

 

I ended up selling my Q5 as the 35" scale started to trouble my left hand while playing longer sessions. My Q4 is also on sale now, and meanwhile I'm on the lookout for a 34" scale which would ideal for me....but haven't seen one for sale yet. 

[itu]

34" Quantums have 26 frets. They do exist but are rare just like wide neck 5s with 19 mm or 21.5 mm string spacing. TBX = through body experimentals are even rarer.

[Russ]

A Modulus is like a scientific instrument for producing sound. They're fantastic in almost every way. The only problem is that they're boat anchors - never played a Modulus that weighed less than 10lbs and my ageing back would not approve!

 

They do offer a lightweight option on the Funk Unlimited basses now using something called Rev-o-lite, which is some kind of composite material, but I've not had the chance to try one. Personally, when it comes to composite instruments, I'm looking forward to trying out the new Aristides range. They're not graphite, but, by all accounts, the material they use (something they call "arium") is equally solid and just as resistant to climate/humidy differences. 

[SurroundedByManatees]

Not all Moduli are boat anchors, though most seem to be on the heavier side indeed. My Q4 weighs about 4.3kg (9.47lbs) IIRC, and my BassStar 3,8kg (8.37lbs).