Terrible. When the guard was removed and the new birds eye added, the distance from the top to the strings wasn't added into the equation so the added distance 'thinned out' the tone. It's not much or a distance, but it made a huge difference. Even the thumb hold is a stretch because I'm more of a finger player than a pic guy.
The Model one was designed as a neck pickup so the bridge placement of the same model (which was there when I got it and possibly added by Orr himself along with the Kahler) isn't the best place for it. Still better than the crap-o-la pickups that originally came with it.
Gibson basses aren't the greatest and never will be. Couple that with a shorter scale, lousy Gibson frets, weakly placed pickups and a truss rod that makes Rickenbacker rods a breeze and you've got a great bass to look at but not the best performance wise. Remember, there's a reason the originals only lasted just over a year and why it took Gibson 30 years to figure out why.
You asked so I have to be honest.
I'm not knocking this bass for whoever has it and if they still have it, they must like it. I just know from personal experience that it's a looker and a mildly playable bass. Not the best for every situation but of course that depends. All that maple = weight but the size and decent balance make up for it. I'm used to Fender basses all around so the shorter scale isn't my thing.
After writing this I probably lost my chance but lets be honest, I'm not expecting miracles. I just want to know where she's been all these years. If I ever were to get a chance to get it back then it'll be for posterity rather than the best recording bass of all time.
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