Gear Envy: Modulus Genesis 5-String Bass
What is it?
Why does it rock?
It’s built like a beast, the neck is a carbon fiber composite (which is to say that the sound is even and smooth no matter where my fingers are fretting), and the tone is killer without having to fuss with the EQ knobs.
How did it become my weapon of choice?
My first bass was a used beat-up Fender Jazz bass. Red. It had character, but essentially sucked as an instrument. After playing for several years, and getting some lessons here and there, I felt confident enough to get something better. So I started researching and visiting a lot of guitar stores. I tried out a lot of good basses but nothing struck me as the one I was looking for so, for years, I just searched.
Three years later, I randomly found myself at the now defunct Mars Music store near Troy, Michigan. I did my usual round of trying out basses that I thought might have potential but was, again, disappointed… Until I saw the Modulus Genesis hanging real high on one of their walls (why do guitar stores do that? don’t they realise people don’t look up there?). After the employee climbed a giant ladder to get it down, I plugged it in and realized it had the playability and tone I was looking for. True, it was massively heavy and twice as much as I was hoping to pay for a bass, but I couldn’t turn it down - it was the end of an epic search. I managed to get a decent hunk of change discounted on it and drove home a happy man. That was seven years ago.
Geek specs:
- 22-fret, 35” scale
- composite carbon fiber/alder neck
- maple fingerboard
- 2 active Bartolini J-pickups
- quilt maple top/alder body
— Eugene Limb
Music Envy : Album of the Week
The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
Song Highlight: Sea Legs
I’m definitely no Shins expert, but I love James Mercer’s eerie vocals on top of unconventional off-center pop arrangements as much as the next indie-pop fan. There’s a strange allure to his music that I’ve always had trouble describing. I wasn’t even sure I liked it much at first, but I couldn’t help but listen to it over and over.
From ‘Wincing the NIght Away’, ‘Sea Legs’ stands out for me because, in addition to the band’s characteristically lush, hypnotic melodies, this song has a quality that interested me most about the Shins in the first place: it’s surprising. In an album with mostly upbeat pop songs, ‘Sea Legs’ breaks the flow and introduces a tone that’s not simply different, like ‘Black Wave’ (which takes on a darker sound - a more typical route to go), but sort of… funky… while maintaining melodious pop sensibilities. The 40-second intro builds on a tight groove established by the drums, acoustic guitar, and bass, which carries throughout the track and grows in sophistication as it interacts with full-bodied vocal arrangements, both smooth and rhythmic synths, lavish guitars and strings, and something resembling a flute. Needless to say, the underlying rhythm is what makes this song uniquely interesting and mesmerizing, but the song would get old quickly without the dynamics that are so well-executed by the vocals and strings. It’s a song that keeps revealing more to me every time I listen to it.
— Eugene Limb
It’s been a long time coming.
I’ve been playing guitar in bands for the last 14 years. From “The Search for the Yetti” to “the breakup? album” I’ve enjoyed creating music in the studio. I’ve always hesitated at the idea of playing live because of my shyness. In 2003, I played my first live show in the 2nd floor of an old church on Ashland Avenue, but it hasn’t been until the last few months that I have really begun to enjoy it.
I think the best way to share this is to breakdown a clip of hwn doing our thing. The song is called “Mesmerize” and was filmed at hwn’s last show of 2009.
Reasons why I love this clip :
1. (0:07 seconds–0:12 seconds) The WOO!
About an hour and half before showtime, the band was sitting in the green rooms warming up. I received a text from my father saying “Your aunt is coming.” I was happy that she was coming this night because we were playing her favorite song, “Mesmerize.” I looked to my right and saw Darby (our drummer) smiling wide. Hesitantly I asked him what he was thinking. He just laughed and said “Well, we can all expect a big ‘WOO!’ during the first break.” At the time I just thought he was being silly, but sure enough the first break hit and out came a “WOO!” It’s really the crowd interaction that makes being on stage so much fun. For future reference, we encourage all woos.
2. (2:39 seconds) The Stand-Off!
I didn’t notice this during the show, but the audience sure did. At about 2:35 Joe decides to conquer Eug’s bass world and promptly struts over. I think it’s Joe’s body language that really gets me. His chest puffs outward and says “I am rock.” It’s like watching a nature show. The cheers make me think that the audience agreed with him. It is also quite possible that the cheers are for Eug since we all know Eug is everyone’s favorite.
3. (3:00 seconds-3:37 seconds) The Solo!
I can only tell you how inspired I am by Joe’s guitar playing these days. But at 3:00 he really just lets it all hang out. The next 22 seconds is balls to the wall, fret-melting-solo perfection, and just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, Joe shows us level 11. The guitar goes up and over while the knees drop down. Who can top that? I try to show some love @ 330 with a little bow down hand dap.
4. (2:15 seconds-end) The Rhythm Section!
Mesmerize was born in the studio amid synthesizers, acoustic guitars, and a wall of effects. The transition from album to live was not an easy one. We struggled to find an arrangement that gave the song the credit it deserved. It wasn’t until Darby found the fine line between keeping the groove going and funking up the beat that we were able to make the leap. But what I want to focus on is the energy the rhythm section provides in the vamp out. Joe and I are really able to let loose during this section but this wouldn’t be possible if it were not for Eugene (who is beast on bass) and Darby (who brings the thunder). It is really the energy of these two that pushes and pulls us through 2 minutes of guitarmageddon.
Although I haven’t yet reached my goal to perform flawlessly on vocals I think this performance stands the test of a few months time. Learning to appreciate the energy and interaction between the band/the audience/the music is what makes performing worth it.
Thanks for reading. We hope to see you out at our next show to kick off Twenty-Ten.
hwn’s Rock’n’ Roll Bailout show
— El Presidente, Jason Abraham
Happy Birthday Eugene!
Gear Envy: Modulus Genesis 5-String Bass
It’s been a long time coming.
