I gotta defend morons. Doesn't "it seemed like a good idea at the time?" resonate with anyone? I wanna be sick every time I see a vintage, pre-1972 SF bass with non-original pickups. What were they thinking when they replaced the Hagstrom with a (now thought to be inferior) Gibson or Guild humbucker? But, when the deed was done, Starfire basses were still in production and the music of the time called for the muddier sound. We don't know which makes and models are going to be lust worthy in 40 years. Should we condemn experimentation and customization now just because something might be the hot guitar of the future?
I certainly agree that, as a matter of taste, the modifications didn't improve the aesthetics for me, but that is just an opinion. I have a younger friend who thinks my stock JS II bass is boring and is anxious to add some stickers, decals and maybe even try a hot new pickup in it. That makes him misguided, in my book, but hardly worthy of scorn :wink: