How much does appearance affect your amp choice?

[BogeyBass]

Originally Posted by brattbugg@sbcgl

I agree. Now if it was 1988 and I was in Stryper....

can stop laughing at all the marky mark bass comments.
did this chop just for you

[meatwad]

Yeah, I've mismatched a few times, but never had a head wider than cabs, except for when I sat an Ampeg V4 atop an early-SLM fridge once. Only once. As soon as I stepped back and looked at it, I was all "aww heck naw!" (I'm from TN btw) It immediately came off and went into the vertical position, on the floor.

Later, I had the opposite experience when I sat an unracked GK 400RB high upon two Ampeg 410HEN cabinets. I LOL'd a little, and soon bought the SVT-CL in the pic above.

I think an SVT-II in a six-space rack would look even better, but Im happy with what I have.

[Mojo-Man]

Appearance does not factor in at all.
It's all about tone.

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by nortonrider

I don't think I would ever own a MarkBass primarily because of the way they look.
That black and yellow is Fugly!

I love it, myownself. Good thing, since I have four pieces of Markbass stuff. But, I didn't buy because of its looks, but rather its performance.

[icecycle66]

Once upon a time looks factored into my decision. Not much, but it was a consideration.

Then one day I plugged into a hideous Mark Bass rig to try out some things. The wonderful sound coming from the yugly yass yellow speakers made me rig blind and my ears began doing all the looking from that point on.

[micgtr71]

I'm going to be completely honest...it used to. I got an SWR Goliath II because I did not like the grill style of the III.

Today, I could care less what it is as long as it sounds good and is light. Weight is almost as high on the deciding factor as sound at my age.

[icecycle66]

Originally Posted by astack

Saw this band, The Stepkids, open for Mates of State last summer in SF. They did just that! Everything was covered in a white sheet. Pretty fun and funky bass player there, too, btw.

Yeah, but covering your speakers with a white sheet is a disservice to your tone. Unless it's one of the gold thread Monster sheets designed for bass frequencies.

[iualum]

The most important consideration is that my rig(s) meets (actually exceeds) the gig requirements. But having said that, yeah, sure, I want everything to look as good as possible.

[Nev375]

I'm not going to name any names, but I don't want any rig with bright yellow speakers or orange cabinets.

[Calaverasgrande]

I wouldn't buy an amp just because it looked cool.
However, I have never even tried a Markbass because I hate the color yellow. Though I honestly can't think of any color that I would be okay with for speakers. The blue ones in Ashdown cabinets are also off-putting to me. It looks cheap.
But the yellow Markbass speakers looks cheap, gimmicky and ugly to me.
OTOH I an strangely attracted to the various Aguilar cabinets in Brown, green white etc.
All colors I wouldnt be caught dead wearing, but I kind of dig in a speaker cabinet.

[jay tay]

Unless you're blind, I can't see how the looks of a rig can't have an impact, even if it is only slight and on a subconscious level.

It's funny how sometimes we hear with our eyes. With a reggae band I play with, I usually rehears with my Ashdown little giant and a 2x10 cab, one of my band mates (mike the guitarist) is always complaining about how I need more bottom, and rounder tone.

Last month in the practice before a big gig, I brought my 1x15 cab to the rehearsal space so it was ready to load up for the gig. I set the 2x10 down on the floor, put the 1x15 on top and then plugged my Speakon cable only into the 2x10. During the break Mike comes over and says how much of a difference the 1x15 cab has made to my tone, and that I should bring it every week...

Should have seen his face when I told him that it hadn't been plugged in.

The thing is Mike is a really good musician, Has studied music and music production at university and works as a sound engineer in both live and studio settings. some times the brain hears what it sees.

Personally I like things that look unusual, and a little out of place, so I usually go for what overs think looks ugly!

[LiquidMidnight]

Styling is always going to take a backseat to the things that really matter: tone, portability, volume, etc. With that said, I honestly don't dig the look of Markbass cabinets. Luckily, I never really got on with the Markbass sound so it's moot.

On the other hand, I won't buy a used piece of gear if it looks like it had the crap beat out of it. I never liked the look of beat up amps or PA gear, and it always makes me question its long term reliability since it makes think it's been abused. A little bit of rack rash, a small tear in the tolex or grill: That's okay. Large amounts of rust, creased speakers, bare wood showing all over: Not interested!

Ironically, I do dig a nice, naturally reliced bass or guitar.

[LiquidMidnight]

RE: Mismatched gear

I've always used different brands of heads with different brands of cabinets. It doesn't bother me so as long as the head and cab look like they belong in the same "family." For instance, one of those new Fender Bassman heads would look great on top of an Aguilar DB410 or even an SWR cab, but I think they'd look redonkulous on top of a Phil Jones.

I was never a fan of mixing cabinet brands (although I've done it). It always looked like the equivalent of having a car with a red fender, blue door, and primer on the hood. Of course, as we've discussed on TB, doing so probably doesn't result in the most optimal sound anyways.

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by jay tay

Unless you're blind, I can't see how the looks of a rig can't have an impact, even if it is only slight and on a subconscious level.

It's funny how sometimes we hear with our eyes. With a reggae band I play with, I usually rehears with my Ashdown little giant and a 2x10 cab, one of my band mates (mike the guitarist) is always complaining about how I need more bottom, and rounder tone.

Last month in the practice before a big gig, I brought my 1x15 cab to the rehearsal space so it was ready to load up for the gig. I set the 2x10 down on the floor, put the 1x15 on top and then plugged my Speakon cable only into the 2x10. During the break Mike comes over and says how much of a difference the 1x15 cab has made to my tone, and that I should bring it every week...

Should have seen his face when I told him that it hadn't been plugged in.

The thing is Mike is a really good musician, Has studied music and music production at university and works as a sound engineer in both live and studio settings. some times the brain hears what it sees.

That is pure awesome.

[basscooker]

i like good-looking gear. ugly or no, ratty stuff needs to stay in the garage, basement, or donate it. i'd even prefer to gig with bargain brand stuff over BEAT-looking expensive stuff. i agree that most people at the shows don't check out the gear, but torn up fur or tolex, obviously missing (or worse, half) logos, dented rusty grills, bedroom artwork on the cloth, that stuff sort of draws attention. i don't think the good kind.

that being said, i'm sort of on the fence. as far as new gear goes:

i will dismiss an amp or cab on looks but won't buy one due to them. i won't even try an amp that doesn't provoke the desire to play through it, but at the same time i wouldn't choose a piece of gear on looks alone (besides the short GAS when i see something that strikes me). i'm definately a fan of head (hehe) to toe matching rigs, but i don't make it a requirement when i buy. this is obviously not a way for everyone.... unless greenboy, duke, bill and the lot are making amps these days...

i wish i could say that i'm objective enough that tone and features would always win. it just isn't than simple when you factor in the human brain.

[Gaolee]

Originally Posted by jj4001

Vintage Acoustic Control Corp. rigs, man! Always the best sounding and coolest looking rigs on the stage.

The only thing better is ACC ampllificaion and a roadie so you don't have to horse it around. Mine is a little worn looking, but I have no problem with worn looking and heaving it around when it sounds like it does.

[bolophonic]

There is so much great sounding gear out there that also happens to look awesome. As a builder/designer/artist-type, I would never be inclined to plug into an ugly amp if an aesthetically pleasing one was nearby. If I ever wound up with a Markbass rig (for example) I would put a paint job on it, pronto. Fortunately, my current rig suits my needs all around.

[LiquidMidnight]

We do listen with our eyes to a certain extent, but it's sometimes justified in that we've been informed by certain things. For instance, if I see a piece of gear that has a certain shade of grey carpeting on it and speakers that have the circular grills that cover over them as opposed to a grill that covers the entire baffle of the cabinet, I usually assume that it's cheap, entry-level gear. Traditionally, grey carpeting and grill over the speakers have been put on cheap gear, particuarly really cheap PA gear that is just a step above car audio stuff.

[Russell L]

Lemme add this. After I bought my first Markbass (CMD 121H combo) I developed a feeling about the color from playing and just looking at it. The sound is so very good (IMO) that I soon associated goodness with the color. So, naturally, I like it. I think that happens with lots of things.

[astack]

Originally Posted by jumblemind

90% of any audience would hardly know there's a difference between a bass guitar and regular guitar.

Like Jimmy said, I give more credit to the audience. The places I play, the audience is there for the music. If that's what they want to do with their night and spend their money on, they probably know a guitar from a big guitar. If you play background gigs though, sure maybe.

Having said that, what does what the audience know matter? Should I play a mandolin because they don't know better? I don't know what does what in an ER, but I hope the right tool's used for the job. But I'll notice a rusty scalpel from a clean one.

Also, Bogey is the best.