For some people the channel bridge is more desirable because of the vintage nature. Personal taste for sure.
Brian asked about the Walnut top - I'm not entirely sure this is Walnut. And while Walnut does get a good bit lighter over time, this doesn't quite look the part to me though wood can be very trixy! My guess would be Narra, also considering the age of the bass. But this a mutant piece of wood, grain directions all over the place, a pithy branch on the edge. The shape of the flames is more like Eastern Maple but it's so much darker than the neck wood so it's not Maple. Could even be Myrtle. and it *could* be Walnut. Wood is funny like that!
Also consider that the finish has yellowed a good deal, so you only have the difference in color on the bass to consider, I won't match other examples.
