Should I, or shouldn't I?
Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4
- markbass99
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 1267
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:23 am
David, the ones you have are non-magnetic and are for cosmetic purposes only. They do not cause the pickup to work.
The ones from the lap steel were actually magnetic, and made of a different type of metal that was more crystalline. If you tried to take them off the pickup, the pickup would stop working.
So, the eBay auction was apples versus your oranges, so to speak.
Still, definitely keep them, no matter what else you do. Do NOT sell them, because as so many others here have said, you will regret it later.
Of course, it is easy to fabricate replacements, just bend some soft flat stock aluminum, and optionally get it plated. Easy, just ask Dale, who has made them himself
The ones from the lap steel were actually magnetic, and made of a different type of metal that was more crystalline. If you tried to take them off the pickup, the pickup would stop working.
So, the eBay auction was apples versus your oranges, so to speak.
Still, definitely keep them, no matter what else you do. Do NOT sell them, because as so many others here have said, you will regret it later.
Of course, it is easy to fabricate replacements, just bend some soft flat stock aluminum, and optionally get it plated. Easy, just ask Dale, who has made them himself

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and sit in with the band whenever you can, to keep your chops up!
When I had my V63 I finally got the courage to take the shoes off for a while.
To me it made it a much better bass do to my playing style, as I pick directly above the bridge pickup, and I really didnt notice a change in tone.
But,,I just could'nt get beyond the look of the bass without the shoes...just didnt seem right, crazy huh????
So, I put them back on,, and decided to sell the bass.
Now forumite Sam Davis is enjoying it.
Thats the bad thing about being a player first, collector last. All my basses have to be top notch players.
The V was,,,except for the shoes.
Musicians are supposed to be nuts right?
To me it made it a much better bass do to my playing style, as I pick directly above the bridge pickup, and I really didnt notice a change in tone.
But,,I just could'nt get beyond the look of the bass without the shoes...just didnt seem right, crazy huh????
So, I put them back on,, and decided to sell the bass.
Now forumite Sam Davis is enjoying it.
Thats the bad thing about being a player first, collector last. All my basses have to be top notch players.
The V was,,,except for the shoes.
Musicians are supposed to be nuts right?
"Knowledge is Power"

