[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1422916201' post='2678461']
I think the move towards hotter pickups will make it hard to get Squire's tone. On top of that, he did wire his bass in stereo and used it extensively as such. His tone is there on live recordings be it a Fender, Sunn, Ampeg or Marshall rig he is using (and any combination thereof). Having watched his rig rundown video, he clearly isn't a gear nerd but he knows what he likes! I think a bit too much value is placed on how much material was supposedly removed from the instrument during refinishes, though it will have had some impact.
[/quote]
Chris Squire only ran the bass in stereo from Fragile onward - on the first three Yes albums he's still using two rigs but the bass itself is still mono. If you listen carefully you can hear the pickups interacting.
I managed to get very close to the fabled Squire tone with my humble 4003 with the vintage tone engaged, through a Line 6 Marshall emulation. It certainly achieved the top-end grit of those early albums, but of course without another amp it was missing those warm lows.
I agree with you about the amount of emphasis placed on the whole wallpaper and subsequent stripping episode.
edit: This isn't gospel btw, just going by my ears.