Before you buy a bass, talk to a pretty girl

[pklima]

Originally Posted by wvbass

I have laughed at this thread for days. Nobody here ever lets "looks" figure in when they buy a bass; its all about tone and playability. All those fancy wood tops, custom colors, tort guards, etc., - they just make the bass sound better. In our fit and finish QC debates, cosmetic issues never figure into the picture, because cosmetic issues don't affect tone or playability. Bad neck pockets affect tone - everybody knows that.

But that's a danger in itself - the danger that you'll end up with a bass that other bassists think looks great as a bass, and looks awesome from six inches away in good light. And not a bass that non-bassists (girls or otherwise) think looks great on you and makes you look better at the sort of distances audiences will be looking at you.

Beware of not seeing the florist in the forest for the trees, or something.

[stiles72]

I have been told by many "civillian" women that my three "prettiest" basses are my Emerald Greean Ibanez SR-800, my Pearl White SR-800, and my Pelham Blue Epiphone Thunderbird. The three basses I own that most women call my "ugly" basses are my '62 Fender Sunburst P-bass and my Vintage Sunburst Gibson Thunderbird. Apparently they don't like the "brown" color as they call it. As a side note, I've had a couple of girls tell me they thought bases and guitars were made out of plastic, not wood.

[Kid-A]

I always ask my bass which pretty girl I should buy..

[capnsandwich]

It all depends on the band you're playing in. If I were playing in a wedding band chances are I would never buy Bootsy Collins' bass. If I were playing in a funk band, I wouldn't go out and buy a Hofner Beatle bass. If I were playing in a country cover band, I'd look out of sorts playing a B.C. Rich Warlock bass.

There are certain basses that, aesthetically, wouldn't work for your project. I'd ask a hot chick what looked good on me bass-wise if I wanted to get other hot chicks to notice me. Then, I'd weigh out the details like how it felt, how it sounded, etc. If I could live with her choice I'd go ahead and buy it. If, however, the bass was not for me, I'd ask her about another bass that was better suited for my hands and ears.

[pklima]

Btw, has anybody tried asking a girl about a really gaudy bass, like a DiPinto Belvedere Deluxe or a Traben Bootzilla? I got a blue flower Precision shot down, but there are much more over the top basses out there.

Originally Posted by stiles72

The three basses I own that most women call my "ugly" basses are my '62 Fender Sunburst P-bass and my Vintage Sunburst Gibson Thunderbird. Apparently they don't like the "brown" color as they call it.

Haha, I can totally see this.

"The brown one... just no"
"But it's not brown, it's sunburst"
"Well it looks brown to me, and I think it looks something a grandpa would play"

Less classic colors like bluebursts or dragonbursts would probably be OK, though, I think.

[TheFenderBender]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

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

Lipstick tubes RULE.

[TheFenderBender]

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....

Would you happen to know of the band the space cretins?

[Blue_Whistle88]

No pics, no girl, and no sense either way.

[Kenzy]

I've had girls tell me they thought a 4003 Ric with a MapleGlo finish looked outdated and bland.

[seang15]

Originally Posted by autodidact

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

They look good with everything.

Dude, you're way off bass.

There's only one option, tort.

[Kenzy]

Originally Posted by pklima

But that's a danger in itself - the danger that you'll end up with a bass that other bassists think looks great as a bass, and looks awesome from six inches away in good light. And not a bass that non-bassists (girls or otherwise) think looks great on you and makes you look better at the sort of distances audiences will be looking at you.

Beware of not seeing the florist in the forest for the trees, or something.

Agreed. If you're a gigging bassist, I think it's important to keep in mind that you're in show-business. Tone and Playability comes far ahead of aesthetics, but I don't think one should simply say that they don't factor in at all. That being said, I've gotten basses that aren't aesthetically pleasing to me but sound and feel great

[stiles72]

Originally Posted by pklima

Haha, I can totally see this.


"Well it looks brown to me, and I think it looks something a grandpa would play"

That's EXACTLY what a girl told me about my P-bass! LOL She also said the clover tuners looked "old" LOL

[DethByDoom]

Originally Posted by Kid-A

I always ask my bass which pretty girl I should buy..

YES. The number of people supporting the OP is astounding me. If a woman has any real taste in music and has been to concerts other than U2 and Nickleback they'll appreciate a nice instrument.

Buying an instrument based on the whim of someone that has moderate interest and no knowledge of tone or playability is asinine.

I know a woman who loves roadworn p basses, thinks my sunburst tbird is sexy, and know what SVT stands for... my wife. She says, btw, letting a girl pick your guitar voids your man card.

[Ric5]

Before you buy a bass, talk to a pretty girl

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That would never occur to me ... even after I read this thread it will not be part of my thought process when buying a bass ...

[pklima]

Originally Posted by DethByDoom

YES. The number of people supporting the OP is astounding me. If a woman has any real taste in music and has been to concerts other than U2 and Nickleback they'll appreciate a nice instrument.

I'll agree with you on that - the opinions of anyone who's into classic rock like U2 or Nickelback aren't really worth all that much. The particular girl I asked seems to mostly be into fairly artsy electronic music. That's perfect because there are no visible bassists, no visible basses, and she won't associate a particular shape or color with a particular type of music and then wonder whether that's the right bass for the kind of stuff I'm playing.

Originally Posted by DethByDoom

Buying an instrument based on the whim of someone that has moderate interest and no knowledge of tone or playability is asinine.

The lack of knowledge or interest in tone or playability is the whole point. It doesn't have to be a pretty girl - if you want to do this the respectable intellectual way, ask someone else who deals in aesthetics - an industrial designer, an architecture major, or even a bodybuilder.

Of course I'd rather ask a pretty girl because pretty girls are the core demographic of my audience.

Originally Posted by DethByDoom

I know a woman who loves roadworn p basses, thinks my sunburst tbird is sexy, and know what SVT stands for... my wife. She says, btw, letting a girl pick your guitar voids your man card.

The funny thing is, I'd never ask a girl to help me buy a shirt. Never. But with basses it's different - sure I'm admitting that I don't really trust my own taste, but because it's a bass I have a valid excuse. I know too much about things other than looks, and that makes my perception of looks biased.

Besides, I've said this already, but maybe pictures will help. I got talked out of this:



And bought this:



I'm not expecting the "good taste brigade" to ever approve of my methods, but are the results really so horrible?

[capnsandwich]

Originally Posted by pklima

Besides, I've said this already, but maybe pictures will help. I got talked out of this:



And bought this:

Shoot, I could've talked you out of that and into the other. I'm not all that pretty, though.

[Downunderwonder]

The sensible girl recommended you get the left handed one.

[Mulebagger]

I only care what I think about any bass I'll be playing. Not to under value the opinion of a beautiful girl or any other person for that matter.

[gumbynotpokey]

Talk to the girl? Yeah, but not about the bass. I KNOW what bass to get.

Now, what shirt to wear with that bass - that MIGHT be another question....

[SactoBass]

Whenever I am contemplating buying another bass, I always ask my wife if she likes the looks of it. Not that it will change my own opinion of the bass; I just like to get her opinion.