Modify or Not?

[RVBASS]

I have a ‘67 Starfire bass. I unscrewed the pickup to look at the back to see how it’s wired just for curiosity sake. Turns out that at some point a Novak bisonic pickup was installed. it sounds great, but since it is already modified, should I continue with the modifications?

I have a 1975 Alembic Series I pickup with harness and preamp. I’ve been looking for an old Starfire to install them in, but the used ones listed the past couple of years are $2-3k and I don’t want to spend that much on an old Starfire.

So what do you think, should I install the Alembic Series parts in this bass?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[mellowgerman]

DO IT!

 

[RVBASS]

 

[Minnesota Flats]

DO IT!

I'm utterly shocked!

Well...OK...maybe not really...

 

[RVBASS]

The two things holding me back are: (1) it’s my only passive bass, and it’s sometimes nice not to worry about batteries; and (2) that Novak Bisonic sounds pretty good

 

[mellowgerman]

Yeah, they are great pickups. If you like it as is and think you'll get some use out of it, then maybe save the Alembic guts for something else down the road... Restore a JS-1 husk maybe or have somebody build you a bass around them! With Alembic guts in the parts bin, the world is your burrito!

 

[RVBASS]

It sounds good as is and I use it fairly often, but the temptation is there. I Will think on it, it would be cool. Thanks for the feedback

 

[EWH]

 

[Minnesota Flats]

FWIW:

I have a perhaps-excessive...what's the word...maybe "reverence" for older instruments that are in "very good" or better condition. Maybe because I'm old and something of a "survivor" myself, I identify with them as kindred spirits. When it comes to modding them, my instinct is to hold onto the replaced parts and not make any alterations that will prevent the bass/guitar from being returned to "original". I feel like I'm almost as much a "caretaker" as an "owner" of these pieces of history and that, on some level, they should be preserved so that someone else can enjoy/experience them for what they are after I'm gone. But I do feel that they were made to be played and should be played.

On the other hand, if a vintage instrument has already been subjected to severe wear and tear or had major, visible repairs done to it (e.g.: broken headstock repair) or has been previously drilled into or routed to accommodate pickup or tuner replacements/upgrades or is what mellowgerman refers to as a "husk", I'd have few if any qualms about using it as a platform for further mods.

Ideally, I feel that mods should be tackled with good craftsmanship in mind: we've all seen pickup cavities that have been enlarged with a hammer and wood chisel (or was it a screwdriver?) rather than a template-guided router and headstock splits caused by tuner swap screw holes which weren't pre-drilled undersized. Even though I understand the practical reasons why the mods were done in such a crude manner, I still wince every time I look at Jack Casady's #2 Star Fire control plate (and yes, I realize that that bass was new, not a vintage, when those hurried mods were done).

That said, I also understand the perspective that sees musical instruments as mere tools and feels that whoever owns them has the right to do with them as he pleases.

*dismounts soapbox*

 

[fronobulax]

Was the Novak PU expected or disclosed? I can certainly see an opportunity in swapping an original for a Novak, not disclosing it (and not claiming originality) selling the bass and the PU separately and pocketing a couple hundred dollars.

It's your bass but I think if "using the Alembic" was motivating me to do something I think I would look for an instrument specifically to house the PU rather than shoehorn it into something.

 

[RVBASS]

I bought the bass a few years ago and did not bother to look at the pickup until now since it works fine and sounds great. Based on the feedback here I will leave the bass as is and keep an eye out for a worthy modification donor. Thanks everyone!

 

[Guildedagain]

This is why I don't keep old pickups around, just a gateway to a mod or instrument purchase.

Personally, neither love or money could make me install an active pickup in a bass.

 

[RVBASS]

This is why I don't keep old pickups around, just a gateway to a mod or instrument purchase.

Personally, neither love or money could make me install an active pickup in a bass.

 

[dreadnut]

Yeah, what EWH said!

 

[RVBASS]

Well, I might do this now. I bought an old Starfire II bass that has Guild humbucker pickups in it. I will replace them with Novak Bisonic pickups. So that bass will provide me with the classic Starfire Bisonic sound, freeing me up to put the Alembic Series pickup, etc. in the previously modified 67 Starfire. I like to tinker with things, so we’ll see…

 

[chazmo]

I like your plan, RV. Get what you want out of them! It will probably be easier to be comfortable doing whatever mods to the shell you need to make to put the Alembic electronics in since the '67 had already been modified. Good luck.