I know you guys are purists and like stuff to be stock but what's wrong with something modded with three holes that might sound a little better?
You don't do these things to a bass of such classic times.
Basses of such vintage rely on their faults and inefficiencies to create their charm and character - exactly why the used/vintage instrument marketing is thriving.
Mods such as these to create "a slightly better sound" for the sake of ruining the factory state of the instrument, after 35 years, is a shame.
Just a thought. You guys might not like modding vintage basses and instead would prefer doing it to modern ones, but in 30 years modern ones WILL BE VINTAGE TOO! Then what will you say? He he.
"Here he is, come to pay homage to the Rickenbacker display!" (Said to me by owner Bruce at the "Great House of Guitars" in Rochester, NY)
Mark wrote:
"You don't do these things to a bass of such classic times.
Basses of such vintage rely on their faults and inefficiencies to create their charm and character - exactly why the used/vintage instrument marketing is thriving.
Mods such as these to create "a slightly better sound" for the sake of ruining the factory state of the instrument, after 35 years, is a shame."
I have to agree with you, except that you have to remember this bass was probably modded when it was not a vintage instrument.
I know from my own experience with my two '73 4001's, that when my bass was still fairly new, I started modifying it. The most common modifications at the time were replacing the pickups and the bridge. The reasoning at the time was that some people wanted more bottom from the bass, to get a somewhat more traditional tone. In my case I loved that Rick sound, and that's why I bought mine, but I also wanted to get some other tones, and this was my only bass. Also bass amps were not what they are today, and it was harder getting a good bottom out of some amps.
The bridge issue is that the stock bridge/tailpiece sometimes has issues, such as the bridge leaning over, throwing off your intonation. Then there is the tailpiece warping. I solved the first issue by drilling two small holes for the bridge hight adjustment set screws to sit into, thus holding the bridge upright. I never had the second issue, but I had decided at the time that a more modern bridge would be a good thing.
Same with the pickups.
Looking back on it now, which is an easy thing to do, I would rather have them stock, warts and all, because it is a very original sounding and playing bass.
But in 1975 or '76, a '73 was not a classic bass... and it wasn't a new bass either! So you didn't feel so bad about modding it.
The original 60's and early 70's basses are few and far betweeen it seems. Like David said, original design faults (cap!) and trends at the time to improve the bass only seem bad when a vintage market has been established.
