The Last Bass Outpost

Thanks for the replies. Definitely going to check out that mod. I imagine the way it was originally designed, putting the treble pickup through a stack of Marshalls, the rolloff might be incredible... but a stack of Marshalls in our living room isn't really in my fiancees interior design plans!

The neck is unlike anything I've played before, it is pretty incredible. I remember the first time I played through an SVT, completely changed the way I played, this neck is having a similar effect.

Currently I have some nylon wound Rotosound strings on it just until the music store opens on Monday. The 115 E string is a little big, but it sounds kind of cool in a wonky retro way.

The bass itself is in showroom condition, I can't believe how well it's been taken care of, not one mark on it anywhere. This is going to be great!

After playing bass since 1979, I just bought my first Rickenbacker, a 1979 4001 Fireglo. Christ why did I wait so long???

There is a huge volume difference between the 2 pickups. The bridge pickup is big and robust while the bridge pickup (the one under the massive chrome cover) is hollower sounding, what I was expecting, but the output is about 1/2 the volume.

Is this normal or do I need some rewiring work?

ALso, is there a resource for vintage parts? The one I bough came without the massive chrome pickup cover.

Here's all that's left.... 1982

The RDs... big sore spot. I had 2 Maple RD Artists and 1 Black RD standard... I gave them away in 1994, and I mean gave them, not sold, but gave them away for free, like here have fun... sick just thinking about it... I just puked.

200 bucks was a great price, and the guy I bought it from said he felt "guilty" that I didn't haggle with him!
I felt guilty buying it for 200 bucks! But then again, I bought all 3 of my RD Artists for less than 250 back then as well.

Thanks for all the information. So I guess the consensus is this through the body string thing is an after market mod. The workmanship of the holes etc is actually very well done, but the coat of paint which has slightly chipped over the metal ferrules makes them look kind of wonky and uneven in these photos.

The bridges design is the same as on my RD Artist bass with through the body strings so engineering wise it's Gibson consistent.

Sounds wonderful. I have some flat wound Rotosounds on it now and it's great, needs a little neck adjustment, some pot cleaning, rewiring.

I was considering getting the paint job refurbished to more of an original color, but that is a much lower priority at this point.

And a shot of the Serial number

Here are those photos.

I have a Les Paul Recording Bass, Triumph Serial Number 178661. It's the model with the 3 point bridge with through the body strings like on the RD Artists. I haven't seen this on any available photos on line, I see the 3 point bridge but not the through the body strings. I went to the Guitar Dater Project and that says Kalamazoo or Nashville 1970, 71 or 72. But all the other LP Recording Basses I've seen from that time have completely different bridges.

I will post photos, but any information would be super helpful. I bought it in 1990 for 200 bucks, in great shape although it appears that the previous owner did an amazing job repainting it.

cool