Bass Player, August 2001
Review on Flea J5 (34" scale 5 string bass) bass
made by Modulus.
This test and review were preformed by Bass Player's staff.
Electronics.
Our Flea (the one that Modulus sent to bass player for review) came
equipped with optional passive electronics made by Villex --- features an innovative
design that provides less noise than most passive electronics. Its middle
control relies on a unique passive circuit that interacts with the pickup's coils. The J5's volume and tone
control functions as traditional, but the unique midrange control interacts to
offer wide range of tones. -----
Sound
J5 sounded rich smooth and well balanced. ------- The Villex pickups
enhance the bottom end , providing solid lows with huge fundamentals. The B
string is well controlled and sounds fatter and warmer than a 35" scale B. The
mids are strong and authoritative, and highs are tastefully extended without
sounding twinkly.
I played the J5 on an outdoor R&B gig through a Hartke HA 4000 head
and Eden D 410XST cab. With the bridge pickup soloed, the J5's strong low mid punch
really kicked the band. Dynamic accents were effortless.
For finger style I preferred the mid knob full up for maximum punch and
fullness. Cutting the well-voiced mid control enhanced clarity for slapping. A
cornucopia of tones can be harvested from the deceptively simple controls. Jugging the mid
control and treble knobs with different pickup setting revealed the Villex tone
control systems fascinating active nature, as careful knob twiddling can produce
tones ranging from a lean squawk to a corpulent bellow.