Before you buy a bass, talk to a pretty girl

[bassteban]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Thanks for the advice but this is one way I would never buy a bass get laid...trust me.

MESSING W/YOU

[pklima]

Originally Posted by Countertenor

No pics no girl.

Ha, I knew somebody would ask that. You can find her in CaS, and she did modeling in an earlier job. I also asked another girl who's a death metal vocalist for a second opinion, but hers wasn't quite as interesting because it wasn't from someone so far outside the world of musicians - though I play everything from country to hip-hop, so it's still pretty far outside of what I do.

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Then you'll be playing pink Danelectros with the lipstick pickups for the rest of your life.

Could be, but in this case I got talked out of buying a bass covered in colorful flowers and got talked into a white/chrome/black one.

Originally Posted by brad houser

Bill Evans famously said that he valued the musical opinions of non-musicians as much as that of musicians.

True, and that's basically what this thread is about - getting some valuable non-musician opinions about a particular aspect of your next bass.

Originally Posted by Lightningbird

People with style would also take the general look of the guy into consideration, which she did. I guess some guys on here just think of girls with a sense of fashion as bleach blonde, pink wearing bimbos that love pink "girly" basses. Looks and image is a big part of performing and looking good with a nice fitting bass can make the appearance of a band much better. Isn't there already a couple of threads complaining over bands that don't plan together on what to wear on gigs?

Thanks, that's a better way to say what I was getting at.

[Maz]

Several points here:
1. Indeed Polish women can be extremely hot, and well dressed. Just agreeing.
2. I think it's true no one notices the bass player, unless he/she is playing a pink flowery montrosity.
3. Look is important. Sounds comes first though, unless you're playing pop music, or playing covers to a bunch of drunks (oh sh*t that's half of us isn't it?)
4. So the OP's advice is good, tempered with another point made here: find the bass that feels and plays right to you, and if you can have options on finish, consult the babe on which one to go with, eg: tobacco sunburst or flame maple top?
I would never let someone else pick my bass for me on body shape or headstock, but having outside input on how it looks on you is good. I play a yellow/orange BTB that I think looks aweful but it plays and sounds the way I want it to. Having my wife tell me it looks hot when I strap it on certainly helps.

[nutdog]

It's always a good time to talk to a pretty girl.

[Knifedge]

I have a few basses, the two that get the most attention from women are the Black 5 string Gibson Thunderbird (it is a sexy bass) and my recently acquired 5 string Warmoth Jazz (maple neck, Burgundy Mist is the colour, although most people call it pink). I play the Tbird mostly, but when I want a change up, I use the burgundy one... it is a chick magnet. There is some merit to the OP's statement. While I would never rely on a non musician to pick out my basses for me, every little bit helps on stage in keeping your crowds.

[JTE]

Never thought of this, and I've already dismissed the idea. I buy basses because, in order...

I can afford/justify the expense now
They sound right- if that ain't right NOTHING else matters in any way
They feel or can be made to fell comfortable
They fill a sonic need in my tool kit

I'd play a blocks 'n' binding '70s Antigua or Sahara Taupe Jazz bass (my absolute worst combination of cosmetic features ever foisted on the world) if it sounded great.

John

[audiomitch]

Interesting thought considering pretty girls buy tickets to shows and sometimes won't like a band based on appearance. It's called "show business" for a reason.

Personally, I'm too old to give a crap now. But I see merit in this approach.

[RipOffRed]

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I didn't think he meant tossing her a catalog and telling her to pick your new bass out. I thought he meant finding a couple basses he likes and then asking her which one suits him best aesthetically. I ended up buying a Hofner violin bass through a similar process. I was finally getting around to replacing the Samick bass I used to play, and I really liked the sound and feel of the Hofner. When I mentioned to my girlfriend the kind of bass I was thinking about, she got that "I want you inside me now" look on her face and that was it. No regrets.

[pklima]

Originally Posted by RipOffRed

Maybe I'm wrong here, but I didn't think he meant tossing her a catalog and telling her to pick your new bass out. I thought he meant finding a couple basses he likes and then asking her which one suits him best aesthetically.

Yup, definitely narrow it down to a few basses that you know will work for you functionally, and that you think will also work for you aesthetically.

Asking a girl to pick a bass from everything in a catalog would probably just bore her anyway. Two or three seems to be a good number for getting useful feedback.

[chadds]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

I talked to the pretty girl.
She said enough with that crap, why don't you play me instead?
So I slapped her.

Well it seems you missed out on some serious action.
What was hard to understand about her question?

[msb]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

Then you'll be playing pink Danelectros with the lipstick pickups for the rest of your life.

You sound like this would be a bad thing .

[gr8avocado]

I hear where the op is coming from. When I go to buy a new bass I'll narrow it down to 3-4 then ask the wife witch one she thinks "fits" me the best. God knows how many times I've went to leave the house and hear "you're going to wear that?" or "you know that just doesn't match don't you?".

[JimmyM]

I'm really disappointed that thread doesn't have any pretty girl pics.

[azapistagyerek]

True and wrong.
A year ago I bought a P bass 2TS maple WHITE PG. Wife sad "Really sounds good? Really looks ugly..." A month ago I bought a new PG (black). She sad: WOW!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...type=1&theater

[Ewo]

Originally Posted by superdick2112

I tried this once, and she suggested the guitar pictured here in the first few photos.

http://www.google.com/search?q=wangc...w=1600&bih=774

I bought a Spector instead....

Guess you wouldn't be concerned about neck dive, yeah...

[Tupac]

This is terrible advice. I value aesthetics more than the average bassist, but this is just plain stupid. Sounds like a good way to pick up girls though. Maybe it'd only work like that for guitarists.

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'm really disappointed that thread doesn't have any pretty girl pics.

See post #42 for link to cute girl that gave advice.



I know I would do anything she suggests.

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by autodidact

Just buy a P bass, sunburst with a black or tort pickguard.

They look good with everything.

Yup!

[Floyd Eye]

Before I buy a bass I do talk to a pretty girl. My wife. She usually tells me all the things I will have to sacrifice if I buy this bass. What it looks like is no concern of hers and whether she likes the way it looks is no concern of mine.

Ramen noodles can be prepared 1000 ways, incidentally.

[smcfarland1337]

This is the silliest / worst topic I've read in a while.