2k12 bass fashion trends

[pklima]

Discuss basses purely as trendy fashion accessories with no reference to sound or functionality. What do you think will be fashionable in 2012?

I'm expecting '51 looking P-basses and longscale hollowbody basses but with big modern pickups to be the in thing next year. If anybody makes big-bodied violin basses, sales of those will go through the roof. 1940s-1950s retro. And a lot of black or natural finishes, maybe grey, but nothing more colorful than that. Sunbursts are retro but too fancy for this era and clash with plaid shirts.

Of course most bassists will still buy regular Ps, Js and MMs, but that's because they're not good at being trendy and have to settle for something "timeless".

No, this thread is not serious - I haven't bought a bass in five years and am totally out of touch with the market. So, feel free to make similarly clueless predictions.

[SoVeryTired]

Shortscale 3-strings. Tuned F#-B-E. Or maybe not.

[Faderoktopus]

I think all major brands will introduce at least one cheap model with an upper horn that is connected to the neck and a satin finish. But only the very edgiest, up to date trendy bassists will buy them next year, everyone else will follow suit in 2013.

Oh, and amp designs will change, too. Vertical 'pc tower' amps will be the bomb for the next 3.67 years.

Martin

[pklima]

Fender will make a limited run of licensed Burberry plaid P-basses for the East Asian market.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by pklima

Fender will make a limited run of licensed Burberry plaid P-basses for the East Asian market.

dammit... if only I were east asian, those would go GREAT with my vintage hoodie and my neon purple ray ban wayfarer knockoffs.

I predict that neon-coloured basses without pickguards will come back into fashion, like some of the older ('80s or so) charvels. They make a very individualistic statement that is anti-conformist, and non-conformity is the "in" thing right now, so everybody's doing it.

[Grateful]

Restored relic'd basses.

Basically a bass that has been factory relic'd, then stripped, sanded, refinished to look like new, with all the hardware and electronics updated and replaced. They'll be available in the same 4 authentic 'modern-day' colors as the non-relic'd-restored basses. These custom-shop-restored-relics are only $400 more and you won't be able to tell it from a brand new one. Limited stock available to first 10,000 buyers only. Case not included.

[Ubersheist]

Originally Posted by pklima

Fender will make a limited run of licensed Burberry plaid P-basses for the East Asian market.

Bastard. I thought you were serious. I'd buy one, so long as I could rout out a bridge pickup.

[Cirk]

pklima, that was really funny! The sad thing is, I'm sure there would be people who would actually buy one without having a clue how to play it. Just because of the Burberry name.

[pklima]

Or is the sad thing that a lot of bassists would buy it and play it while wearing a $15 band shirt? Heh.

[Derek5272]

Originally Posted by Faderoktopus

I think all major brands will introduce at least one cheap model with an upper horn that is connected to the neck and a satin finish. But only the very edgiest, up to date trendy bassists will buy them next year, everyone else will follow suit in 2013.

Oh, and amp designs will change, too. Vertical 'pc tower' amps will be the bomb for the next 3.67 years.

Martin

I'd be afraid to use a vertical amp head without some sort of impact-absorbing material underneath. One low note and...

[Mooch]

I think bassists will finally come to grips with the fact no one ever pays attention to what they are doing no matter how complicated. Thus the industry will start to make the electric look but not waste the money having someone put electronics and quality check basses. They will be lighter and cheaper.

This way we can get drunk and act like we are playing cause no one notices anyway.

I kid I kid. No idea what will trend. Probably something that says Fender on it.

[Derek5272]

Originally Posted by Mooch

I think bassists will finally come to grips with the fact no one ever pays attention to what they are doing no matter how complicated. Thus the industry will start to make the electric look but not waste the money having someone put electronics and quality check basses. They will be lighter and cheaper.

This way we can get drunk and act like we are playing cause no one notices anyway.

I kid I kid. No idea what will trend. Probably something that says Fender on it.

Hmmm, I wonder... If I record my bass lines, then surreptitiously plug the recording device into the input of my amp and just pretend to play, will my band mates notice? I'm sure I could convince them to use in-ear click tracks to start songs for consistency...

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by Derek5272

Hmmm, I wonder... If I record my bass lines, then surreptitiously plug the recording device into the input of my amp and just pretend to play, will my band mates notice? I'm sure I could convince them to use in-ear click tracks to start songs for consistency...

Better yet, record your bass parts on a keyboard and pretend to play along. See if they notice a difference.

[Nev375]

I dunno about 2012, but after the coming apocalypse I reckon acoustic bassses will be in vogue for 2013.

[Thrust Meatnozl]

One word. Upholstery.

[funk generator]

a pbass will always be trendy! I want one because it goes with my cowboy boots.

[fraublugher]

wow , burberrying , [or burnberrying?] from Oscar Wildes' ------Importance of being Ernest.

I think Wildes definition of it was lying to women in tea shops or something like that ?

I can't predict what'll be fetishized next , just when you think it's all been covered there's another non-sequitor hypertrophy inducing plaid plated I want one for sale.

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by Grateful

Restored relic'd basses.

Basically a bass that has been factory relic'd, then stripped, sanded, refinished to look like new, with all the hardware and electronics updated and replaced. They'll be available in the same 4 authentic 'modern-day' colors as the non-relic'd-restored basses. These custom-shop-restored-relics are only $400 more and you won't be able to tell it from a brand new one. Limited stock available to first 10,000 buyers only. Case not included.

Brilliant!!!!

[pklima]

Originally Posted by Thrust Meatnozl

One word. Upholstery.

Two words: distressed denim!

[MouseRat]

Originally Posted by pklima

Two words: distressed denim!

And one more word: pleather.