Far from redundant, but old tech
I use a Fender Precision Bass, the design & construction of which has barely changed in 53 years..
(bassmeister Proud Patron Of The Alan Ladd Memorial Heel Bar, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 17:40, 12 replies)

Nice. I have an 84 Jap Strat and wouldn't trade it.

( BrokenCoccyx doesn't mind if you grope on, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 17:56, closed)

The big question is...
Do you run it through a suitably out of date (the technology being superseded in the 50's by transistors) valve amp?
(442, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 17:57, closed)

It depends who you believe.
I once read an article that pretty much stated that a hollow body electric sounds the same as a solid -- so, by that logic, your Fender is just the pick-ups and nothing else -- AFAIK fender have changed the pickup design a few times and incorporated different magnets and winding patterns.
I tend to agree with you though -- I think the wood has as much control over the sound as the electronics, if not more so, I know my Arai had better electronics than my battered old pawn shop Tokai -- but the tokai was better unplugged (and plugged) and I wish I had it hanging on my wall now rather than my $50 Mocking bird.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 18:02, closed)

I plugged my electric/acoustic into my distortion box once
Almost blew out my ears. I think the wood/shape makes a big difference.
( BrokenCoccyx doesn't mind if you grope on, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 18:09, closed)

Did it blow you across the garage floor?
And did you then end up, through some comical highjinks involving some Arabs in a VW bus, convincing your parents to go on a date?
( flake has nothing against your right leg, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 18:57, closed)

Great Scott!

(McChinaman banned, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 1:29, closed)

I agree...
The nicest and nicest sounding guitar I have ever played was an ES 335 "Elvis Edition" (I swear it was branded "ES 665" but can't find evidence of it) -- you could hear the resonance of the cavities through the pickups. My friend's Nighthawk definitely sounds different due to being semi-hollow too.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 19:36, closed)

I've got a Nighthawk!
Sounds bloody lovely.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 15:11, closed)

Damn, I misremebered.
The Nighthawk does sound great but it's a Blueshawk my mate has.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 17:27, closed)

Yeah - the hollow body version
I thought that was probably what you meant. Never played one but I do love Nighthawks.
(SnowyTheWereRabbit the Leporid from Hell, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 17:30, closed)

I have a mid eighties Jap stratocaster
that I re- bodied using a handmade mahogany body,and the difference in tonal range is astounding.

I also use an old AC 30 valve amp,which knocks spots of of any "new"transistor amp for a warm sound.
( bane, Tue 9 Nov 2010, 21:46, closed)

70's guitar, 60's amp
I use a 1974 Gibson L6S through a mid 60's Selmer Treble and Bass amp head...best electric guitar set up I've ever had and cheap as chips.
(littleben hasn't anything funny to put here, Wed 10 Nov 2010, 10:26, closed)