The Last Bass Outpost

Pulser bass 400 by Yamaha. Anybody here familiar with these? A friend of my daughter had one 'in a closet' for some years so I thought to give it a try and...big surprise! apparently from what I can glean from very limited sources these were produced in Japan in the mid to late 70's manufactured by nippon gakki (who were producing other quality instruments at the time and still are) for Yamaha. This particular one is a dead on Fender Precision with a maple neck. The neck profile was between a P and J but was easy to play all up and down. Incredible sustain. I had given up on my maple neck A profile 60's and early 70's Precisions several years ago because I just did not care for that maple board brightness on those (much preferable are the rosewood), but somehow this one came from somewhere else. It's got me thinking. 

I have a line on a Gibson Ripper '74. I got my hands on it and loved the way it felt, played etc and light weight. It actually reminded me in some ways of my Les Paul Signatures except in the solid body version. Now there was no amp about to hear it and it will take me several days to lug an amp over to hear it. In the meantime what say ye all about the tonal characteristics of the Rippers?

I have a mint '69 EB-O that I obvioulsly have not put much playing time into since '69 and I considered selling it but my interest was revived since I've been putting my Supreme to use. However I am thinking of changing the bridge to a 3 point and wondering if this will just drop in? Also thinking of replacing the mudbucker with a TB+. How much routing is involved there? Anybody done any of this before or any suggestions?

Recently I had been asked to gather up some basses for some music programs so I went  around to various music stores in the SF Bay Area. Approaching this task I decided to approach the quest with a very open 'mind' with respect to brand. When playing through the Fender selections I just went down the line and found something that surprised me quite frankly. The MIM Fenders came out on top 80% of the time when coming to feel, playbility, balance, weight and dead spots. Even the sound in most cases was totally acceptable. I simply picked the basses up, plugged them in without checking out the various hardware, pickups, headstock decals etc so to keep with my open approach. I had a budget that was not too restrictive to work with but I wanted to just see what would come out in the wash. The result was surprising to me because of course I had preconceived notions that the Japan, USA, custom shop etc would be the overall better instruments. This was not necessarily so at all. It has been years since I really went in a music store and checked out a bunch of basses. I have quite a collection of basses that I have played and kept over the last 45 years and with respect to the Fenders in my collection consisting of a '56, '71 & '73 Precision and a '66 & '71 Jazz, '67 & 78 Mustang and these are all great playing & sounding basses. So I felt I had to mention my surprise and relief that Fender is still capable of making some great instruments and these at  prices that will not break the bank. The only upgrade I might suggest would be the pickups if absolutly necessary.
I also recently attended a club date to see Sly & Robbie. When their 1 1/2 hour stunning set(as usual) was over I got talking to Robbie and  upon broaching the subject of the jazz bass he had been playing he handed it over to me and it was MIM Standard Jazz bass! He mentioned it it was his current favorite bass and not just for touring. He had been using it in the studio as well. For anyone who knows this guy you know what he is capable of on the instrument.

Gnu hier by way of Uwe who insisted I give it a try (via the Pit)
I've been looking through all the threads and the expertize displayed here is frightening. Everytime I think of getting a word in edge wize someone come in with a retort/reply/threat/ that just brings things to new levels. (by Edge wize I mean no reference to them. However by mentioning Them with ref to Van Morrisson I did see him and his band several years ago and the bass player was playing a JC Sig and got some great tone......which leads me to this thread).

I have heard and witnessed much over the years about basses (I know nothing about guitars and they should all be splintered and used for making coffee tables for books about basses) made in the 70's. With respect to Gibson I can bring attention to two particular basses I have known as the Les Paul Signatures. One in yellowish sunburst and the other gold top. The workmanship on both of these is superb. There has never been any updating or replacement parts necessary (as opposed to my JC Sig..thats another discussion later). I often wondered if the larger headstock was necessary but that seemed to be 'standard' in the 70's along with the decal logo (which of course I would have preferred an inlay and the 'Les Paul Signature' in layed as well but I can look over that because of the sound of the thing).
I also have to mention here if there was ever a Fender sounding bass by Gibson this has to be it. The fact that it is semihollow and has those characteristics as well not only makes those who posess those mass merchandized typical sounding planks go want to go 'running home to mother' (quoting someone from this forum on an unrelated thread) not only go running home but squatting in a fetal position and begging forgiveness.
Uh sorry to get off subject but the fact that they named a street in NY today after U2 set me off.
One of the real interesting characteristics of the LP Sig also is the binding on the lower horn where some attetion had to be given. The pickup itself was a major unoticed fact in thoses days as well without even getting into the subject of low impedence and that 3 way switch. As we all know Gibson has always been timely.To me actually the one of the greatest bass pickups is the '53 Gibson pickup on their first electric basses which lingered into some of their early semi hollow body's '59ish  some I have to admit the TB Plusses are quite an addition as well. You all know this any how.
So greetings and nice to be here.