It's been a while! Hope everyone's great!
Back in 2006 I purchased a 1982 4001S intended for a full Squire makeover. I also purchased a 1963 Rickenbacker Lap Steel with a true magnetic horseshoe that I intended to have refit to be installed in my project bass, along with a proper toaster. I thought I could just swap the 4001S hi-gain bridge pup into the lap steel and none would be the wiser.
Well, I guess I'm a bit too much of a purist at heart. I don't play slide or lap steel style, but when I plugged it in to test the pickup, I heard a tone so sweet that I couldn't bare to change it. I had seen Steve Howe on a solo tour a while back where he closed the concert with three encores, all on a lap steel. That was my favorite part of the show, as I had not paid too much attention to his steel guitar work in the past, with And You And I being the exception, but I sat up and took notice that evening. Steve's tone was very clear and a bit sweet, even sentimental and as I heard my "new" Ric producing similar tones, I didn't dare change a thing.
Which turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the reissue horseshoe pup I found on ebay later that year turned out to be one with a clear, very bright distinct tone which ended up making my "new" 4001S very Squire-Like in tone, when strung with DR Highbeams, I got as close to a raw Squire tone as I could get without having to go very deep into the weeds of Chris's tone. Peter Greenwood, you know what I mean! That can be a very long journey!
I'm not suggesting that anyone else do as I did, but in this case I'm very happy to have left well enough alone, as dear old Dad used to say.
Most of you have seen this picture when Chris took my finished bass for a spin in 2009, but here it is again for context. I miss the hell out of this guy but am grateful for the legacy and friendship he left behind.
- 1982 4001S.jpg (142.69 KiB) Viewed 3724 times
