Active Band Man Chats - The Ship of Theseus

Alright, what’s the topic for today?

Do you know about the Ship of Theseus?

Huh? No, I don’t...

It’s a famous paradox.

A paradox?

According to Wikipedia ...
The Ship of Theseus is a philosophical paradox, also known as Theseus’ Paradox. It questions whether an object remains the ‘same’ if all of its components are replaced over time. This is a problem concerning identity.

...So? Wait, is that our theme for today?

That’s right!

Got it right!

When it comes to guitars, how many parts can you replace before it’s no longer considered the original?

Hmm, ideally, the original parts should be respected, but in practice, there are many replacement parts designed for performance.

Alright, in my case, my main guitar is a Teisco Spectrum 5!

That guitar always has such a strong personality.

The only part I’ve actually replaced is the tuning pegs!

Oh yeah, you did swap those out.

I wanted to stabilize the tuning.

Yeah, the original ones were a bit unstable.

Switching to Gotoh locking tuners made string changes a lot easier, too.

That’s great.

Yeah! And changing the tuning pegs doesn’t really affect the identity of the guitar.

So, you’d say this change doesn’t impact its ‘identity’. Well, that’s your personal opinion, of course...

Exactly!

For vintage guitars, even swapping the tuning pegs can mean it's no longer ‘original’.

True, but this is just my personal take. Another mod I did was disabling the pickup selector switch.

Oh, right! Because you kept hitting it while playing.

Yep! So now, it’s bridge pickup only!

That’s pretty bold. I’d say that’s a significant modification... but again, just personal opinion.

Yeah. As for pickups... I kind of want to change them.

Pickups? That’s a pretty crucial component.

There’s a G&L Espada model with pickups similar to my Teisco’s. I wonder how it would sound if I swapped them in...

I see. Pickups have a massive impact on tone. Depending on what you use, it could end up sounding like a completely different instrument. So... what’s your take on that, Kizuhiko?

Swapping pickups? No problem! For me, anyway!

Alright then.

Now, about the bridge... It’s unique, but honestly, it makes string changes a hassle. So I’m considering replacing it.

That floating tremolo arm gives it a distinct character, though. If you replace it, it’ll change a lot.

That’s true! But I don’t use it much anyway. Stability is more important. That said, I’d keep the bridge cover—it’s got the logo on it, and it looks cool.

Of course. Gotta keep the aesthetic intact.

As for the neck, I’ve gotten used to it, so I’d rather not change it.

You mean the grip? The feel when you hold it?

Yeah, but it wouldn’t affect its identity that much. It’d just feel a little off.

Even a small change in feel can make a big difference when playing for long hours, but you’re okay with it?

Yep! And I wouldn’t mind swapping screws, knobs, or the pickguard. But the body...

If you changed that, it’d definitely be a different guitar.

Exactly! The German carve on this Teisco is what defines it! For me, the body is the identity of the Teisco Spectrum 5!

Wait, so as long as the body stays the same, it’s still the same guitar?

That’s right. For me, anyway.

I see... So as long as the core identity remains unchanged, you consider it the same. That’s so very... Kizuhiko.

How about you, Horry? What about your Steinberger basses?

Steinbergers? Hmm... I own both the XQ and XP models, but... I’ve mostly kept them stock.

Because you want to preserve the original state?

Maybe? I haven’t really thought about it too much.

Well, Steinbergers could be considered vintage now, too.

Yeah... That said, on my XQ, I replaced the strap pins with locking ones. Dunlop strap locks.

I did the same on my Teisco.

I still kept the original pins, though. Just in case I ever want to revert it. Do you keep your original parts, Kizuhiko?

Uhh... I wonder where they are? Probably lost them.

Classic. Even if you keep the parts, putting them back can be tricky. The screw holes probably widen over time, so a professional tech would need to handle it. On my XP, I wanted to change the strap pins too, but...

But?

The originals were specialized screws—they weren’t standard, but hex bolts. I figured a repair shop could swap them, but I gave up on it.

Also, I use an adapter so I can install standard strings instead of double-ball-end strings. But that’s not really a mod.

That does kind of defeat the purpose of double-ball strings, but yeah, it makes string changes easier. My Steinberger guitar has the same setup.

That’s about it—just the strap pins and the string adapter. Other than that, it’s basically all original. That said, both were bought second-hand, so I wouldn’t know if the previous owner had made any modifications... but I think they’re probably original.

Got it.

Oh, that reminds me—I think I mentioned this somewhere before, but there’s a part in the Steinberger bridge called the tuning jaw.

I’ve actually had it break twice... And of course, original replacement parts are nearly impossible to find these days. So, I had to track down someone who actually manufactures them and got a replacement.

Wow, there are people out there who do that?

Yeah, surprisingly! A few people pop up if you search online. Honestly, I’m really grateful for that. So in the end, I don’t mess with anything that affects the sound, but small part replacements like this? I still consider it the same instrument.

I see.

For example, the first headless bass I ever got was a Steinberger from the Spirit Series. It originally came with passive EMGs, but I swapped them out for active EMGs... and for me, that change makes it not the same instrument anymore. Probably.

That sounds like a mod that would really affect the sound.

Honestly, I’ve never really thought about whether it’s still the ‘same’ instrument or not... But in the world of vintage instruments, originality is everything. Even swapping out a tiny part can mean it’s no longer considered the same.

Yeah, it’s almost like an ‘originality cult’. Just changing a single part can drastically affect the value. Even replacing worn-out components with genuine factory parts means it’s no longer original... It’s kind of crazy.

That’s a whole different way of thinking, right? It’s not really about the player’s perspective anymore. Probably. Anyway, back to the topic—like I said earlier, as long as the modification or replacement doesn’t affect the sound, I’d still consider it the same instrument. Personally, I choose my basses based on their sound, so that’s the one thing I don’t want to mess with.

So, Horry prioritizes sound, while Kizuhiko prioritizes looks!

That’s pretty much it! I make changes to improve playability, as long as they don’t mess with the sound. That’s why, for most of my basses, the only thing I’ve really changed is the strap pins. I did consider modifying one bass from a two-volume setup to a single volume, but that wouldn’t really affect the sound either.

I see, I see.

Well, if we’re being super precise, they say even swapping out a single screw can affect the sound... but my ears aren’t that sensitive, so I don’t worry about it!

Yeah, same here! But if you added a headstock to a Steinberger, you’d probably lose it, right? Like, “Nooo! This isn’t mine anymore!!”

That’s completely off-topic! Weren’t we talking about part replacements?

Oh, right, my bad. This was supposed to be a thought experiment based on the “Ship of Theseus” paradox.

Yeah... and now I’m exhausted. But in the end, whether someone values originality or embraces replacement parts for practicality, both perspectives are valid. There’s no single right answer.

Exactly. Because everything is?

For love!