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Vintage basses: Could it Be?
- Thread starter Rob S
- Start date
Excellent perspectives & stories!!! I had some of that Mojo Matic stuff - but it dried up in the can, so I tossed it.
To the old time luthiers, some boards were more resonant than others. Even from the same forest or tree they
could tell what would be best. Stradivarius had that knack & given that Alchemy was the physics of his day, it is
easy to think in terms of mystical mojo. The University of Chicago studied & copied 1 of his violins. They used all
the modern test equipment known at the time to get everything down perfect. Their copy came in a close second
to the original. Of course this was chalked up to the original having 300 years on it!
Now a solid body electric may never gain such distinction. Mine, being 30 - 45 years old now - well I can't compare
them to anything out there now. You bring yours & I'll bring 1 of mine. Let's fill the room with random people. Half
will decide yours wins & half will prefer mine - even before we plug them in ;-)
I actually did a temporary trade. 2 BCR Eagle basses. Both Koa. His had the non reversed P pickups. That was the
only difference. So, then I knew: I prefer non reversed P pickups. I sold that bass & bought the 1 in my sig !!!!!!!!
To the old time luthiers, some boards were more resonant than others. Even from the same forest or tree they
could tell what would be best. Stradivarius had that knack & given that Alchemy was the physics of his day, it is
easy to think in terms of mystical mojo. The University of Chicago studied & copied 1 of his violins. They used all
the modern test equipment known at the time to get everything down perfect. Their copy came in a close second
to the original. Of course this was chalked up to the original having 300 years on it!
Now a solid body electric may never gain such distinction. Mine, being 30 - 45 years old now - well I can't compare
them to anything out there now. You bring yours & I'll bring 1 of mine. Let's fill the room with random people. Half
will decide yours wins & half will prefer mine - even before we plug them in ;-)
I actually did a temporary trade. 2 BCR Eagle basses. Both Koa. His had the non reversed P pickups. That was the
only difference. So, then I knew: I prefer non reversed P pickups. I sold that bass & bought the 1 in my sig !!!!!!!!
okcrum
in your chest
Not to compare my P bass with the Vieuxtemps, but you cannot hear these kinds of instruments and deny that they are much more than the sum of their parts. Whether they have a "soul," or whether the soul of previous players is imprinted on them, who knows. Can the same can be said of certain vintage (electric) basses? Maybe, but there is vintage and then there is 275 years old. Does such an instrument, at a certain point, become a living thing? Physicists, feel free to chime in.
okcrum
in your chest
Well, the Panormo bass my old teacher had was pretty outstanding. A pizzicato open E would get louder for about 5 seconds on the damn thing.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,588
- 221,964
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Interesting how this topic is resurgent in many different but related threads over and over again. To begin with, wondering shows imagination and inquisitiveness and I'm there with you. Everyone comes from a different place when dealing with intangible realities and choose their beliefs based both on facts and romantic creativity, in a unique mix for every person. I have felt the same as you playing a well played vintage bass I acquired last year. Here's my take on it - it's a gift you were able to realize and there's no need to offer that to skeptics who do not feel what you have felt. Just feel lucky and let that bass inspire many hours of pleasure for you.
