6stringbassist

That's actually very helpful, thank you. I wouldn't be using the valve preamp all of the time, it'd be nice to have it in my rack though, and I don't really want to buy a poweramp to go with it. I am considering changing the Epifani head though, I'll see how it goes.

Hi Thanks, but I'm not really after an overdiven sort of sound, just a thicker, warmer sound.

I'm currently using an Epifani UL502 head. I'd like to get a valve preamp to somehow incorporate into my rig, it'll hopefully give me loads more tonal options, not that I'm lacking in that department, but I do like that valve sound. The question is, what's the best way of connecting them together, I've read somewhere about putting the valve pre into the effects loop of the Epi, but how does that work ?. And where do I plug my bass into, the Epi or the valve pre.

Hi Thanks for the advice, I really mean that. It is something that people need to be careful of, don't try and save a few pounds more by using a cheaper means of shipping, and make sure that the item is fully insured. That was something I was careful about, I chose a dealer with a good reputation, and they're shipping it with either FedEx, or UPS, the one in the photos here was brought over by UPS.

Mark Kings Status Kingbass has a 16.5mm string spacing, it's the same as his Alembics were, he felt comfortable with it, and so carried it over on to his Status. My Modulus Q6 has a 17mm spacing, and I find it very comfortable to play, but I don't slap.

[quote name='tempo' post='73999' date='Oct 14 2007, 12:31 AM']why do you want any more than 4 strings? ^_^[/quote] Why do you want less ?. Personal preference, I'm also very used to having 6, I really couldn't manage on anything less than a 5 string now. I play a lot of jazz, and a lot of what I play is in Eb and Bb, the lowest Eb on a 4 string bass is only a semitone lower than the lowest note on a guitar, having a nice deep low Eb is so cool, plus it means I don't have so many position changes to make when playing while following a chord chart, ever seen a page from the real book ?.

Nice, I'll be in touch then.

Mmmm that's nice, he used to work for Alembic didn't he, I see you have one of those too.

[quote name='metaltime' post='73745' date='Oct 13 2007, 01:12 PM']I have a rick turner i have a rick turner. its a fine instrument indeed i have a electroline bass if thats the model you mean or is it a different one andrew[/quote] He makes a semi acoustic model, it's a 5 string fretless that I'm after. This is a picture of one.

[quote name='SMART' post='72256' date='Oct 10 2007, 04:22 PM']Chris We'd all love to be able to buy our dream instruments as soon as we would like and I for one would perhaps feel the same way if the bass I dreamt of was only available on a long lead-time. Perhaps some real context to the availability of Modulus instruments in the UK would be helpful for everyone after reading the above and related thread I have looked at over the past few days. We've been working exclusively with Modulus now for nearly 10 years (our 10 years anniversary with them and the Turner workshop in 2008). Some years ago now, Modulus took a decision to shed its production of Genesis guitars and concentrate fully on bass guitar manufacture. As a result of a lot of inventory tying up a large sum of cash flow Modulus decided to reduce inventory to nil and only make to custom order. They have purposely kept the company to a relatively small size in instrument manufacturing terms in order to control costs better for the bean counters but more importantly to be able to maintain their passion for the highest quality instruments that can be produced for bass players which invariably suffers when companies grow too fast or just plain grow. A smaller size company meant that quality control at every level to the highest standards could be maintained. We never have any issues with the quality of any instrument that comes over as a direct consequence of this passion for excellence in every detail. As you can imagine, working closely with our friends at the SimS Custom Shop over the years we have seen and experienced practically every high-end instrument there is and I have to say that the quality of Modulus basses is second to none, every instrument that we receive we just google over. The quality and finish of the neck is just astounding; the guy that specialises in the frets at Modulus has been doing the same job for over 14 years and it shows! So you'd like more stock in the UK to get rid of those current long lead-times (currently running at 6 months for standard finishes and 12 for the flake finishes on the Flea Bass - the longest lead-times we've experienced from Modulus for at least the last 7-8 years due to a surge of demand in the US market; BTW the same lead-times also apply to US dealers and if any of them say different they are just saying that to get an order or they simply have stock soon to arrive that has already been on order for several months, there is no fast track dealer in the USA!)? Firstly, Modulus make strictly to custom order which as I have explained naturally restricts stock availability (think Aston Martins or Morgan cars....or the wonderful WAL basses from Pete the Fish Stevens). Secondly, whenever in recent times we do actually have some free stock that has been ordered specifically to try and bridge the gap it usually is swept up by a dead keen bass player and so then back to square one!! Note that the Flake finishes are only run about twice a year and fill up really quickly. It's the contamination and cleanup time that restricts these finishes - usually at least a day to clean up a constantly in use spray shop at Modulus (they don't sub out work!!) and so the longer lead-times for the flake runs. With a high-end bass and custom ordered instrument it is not unusual to ask for a commitment from the buyer for something he or she has specifically ordered in some monetary terms, thus the commitment that we ask for to sort out any time wasters or customers who will not honour their order when ready, is to ask for a perfectly reasonable 50 per cent pre-payment with the balance due just prior to final shipping. It's an equitable arrangement for all involved in ordering custom built instruments. The whole process is as smooth as possible for us, Modulus and especially the customer who'll have a hassle-free experience in sourcing one of the best bass guitars available today. To boot, if there are any movements in the Dollar/Pound exchange rate in the period from order to delivery we will always try and reflect that in the final total price which includes a Modulus hard case and 24 hour UK mainland delivery. In most cases our final prices (that may possibly be less than our website prices due to currency movements) will be less than if you sourced a new instrument heavily discounted by a US dealer say from Bass Alone in San Diego as we absorb the freight, import duty and VAT that will invariable add 25-30% to any US dealer discounted price. I'd strongly encourage anyone who is thinking of ordering a new Modulus to talk to us as well and not leave us out of the equation. We're here as the official Modulus importer and reseller and have one of the best workshops in the world behind us for any set-ups, repairs, etc - the SimS Custom Shop. We're equally as passionate about these superb instruments as Modulus are themselves and will always strive to do our very best to support old and new customers - we like to aim for the same service, support and attitude that we'd look for ourselves if we were customers. Ian Morton S.M.A.R.T Distribution[/quote] I can confirm the 6 month wait time for US shops, but they are instrments that are worth waiting for. Turner workshop ?. That wouldn't be Rick Turner would it, builder of those fantastic looking/sounding renaissance instruments, I was about to order one of those from the US.

[quote name='Bassman7' post='73530' date='Oct 12 2007, 07:33 PM']My last six was a Modulus Quantum which was just awesome but even pre-owned it will cost! Nice dream though....[/quote] My main bass is a Modulus Q6, it's quite simply the BEST 6 string I've ever played. Slightly out of your budget, but you only need a 50% deposit to order, and there's a 6 month wait for them. Mine is fitted with the John East U-retro Deluxe preamp, which I highly recommend.

[quote name='Steve Lawson' post='71533' date='Oct 9 2007, 01:03 PM']Sorry guys, not this year - apparently they aren't booking any 'solo' players, but are focusing on bands... got a few gigs coming up though, if you're interested - see [url="http://www.stevelawson.net/gigdiary.shtml"]http://www.stevelawson.net/gigdiary.shtml[/url] cheers Steve www.stevelawson.net[/quote] Shame, that just about rules out pretty much everyone that I wanted to see, no Michael Manring, Steve Lawson, Janek (the star performer at last years bassday), Gary Willis, Jeff Schmidt...oh well.

Sorry for any offence...honestly, I've deleted my previous reply. I didn't mean it to come across quite the way it did, you were very helpful in your reply to me. My reply was done in a bit of a rush, after reading it through I was going to edit it but had to go out. I certainly didn't mean to infer that they had any superior knowledge or care regarding Modulus basses, you have a very fine reputation, you are afterall the UK distributor for one of the worlds finest instrument manufacturers. I was about to go abroad at the time, and wanted to get the ball rolling on my order before I went, the US store were very prompt in replying to all of my emails I therefore felt obliged to order from them, I'm now about a month into a 6 month wait for my bass. I suppose really I should have phoned you, but I honestly just didn't have the time during your office hours, an email is quick and can be done anytime. I totally agree with you about Modulus basses, they are fantastic instruments, I love mine, and I will certainly will buying another in the very near future...... after I get my fretless that is. I really love the sound of Steve Lawsons semi hollow body Q6, and one of those is next on my list, and I will be contacting you early next year, I'll try and be a bit more patient next time...promise.

[quote name='Bassman7' post='71400' date='Oct 9 2007, 06:55 AM']Hey, where did you manage to pick up a beauty like that in the UK? Must go there!![/quote] Hi I got it from the States. I'm getting a fretless one made as well, that too is coming from the States. I'm saving about £500 (even after VAT etc).

I'm after a rackable compressor, and it's between the following. DBX160A DBX166XL Ashly CLX52E Drawmer DL241 The 160A is something of an industry standard, and seems to be pretty easy to use. The 166XL has more features, but is £120 less. The other two are a bit of an unknown. So does anyone have experience of any of them, and which one is the quietist, and least coloured one.

I used them for a bit, I found them to be all middle, no real low end (no depth of low end anyway, mostly low mids), and they didn't have a great top end either. I also found the tension to be too much, I use a medium gauge, but I like a string to be quite flexible. I've gone back to using DRs, they sound so much fuller across all the frequencies, and are really flexible, they just respond to the nuances of your playing more, they let you play . At the end of the day you either like something or you don't, and with Elixirs there seems to be a pretty even split between people who like them, and those who don't, there are dozens of threads on talkbass about them.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='69269' date='Oct 3 2007, 09:55 PM']Not for headless basses surely? They aren't really the norm.[/quote] But he offers them for sale, so you'd think he would have them to hand, or at least order them in suficiently early enough, must be just me I suppose.

Aren't tuners something that he should have a stock of ?.

I've been using an Epi 3x10 for a few months now, it's one of the newer series 2 cabs. It's a great sounding cab, it has a really nice bass response without being 'boomy', and a nice high end, it's a bit big though, that's the only real thing wrong with it, it's probably a bit bigger than some 4x10's. They do have their own sound though, so you do need to try it before you buy it.