Black or Gold

[fourstringbliss]

Black would match the knobs and the pickups.

[Metaldood19]

Black Hipshot hardware...

[phillybass101]

Gold gets old looking really fast. black would be better. I now choose chrome because the world is going black or gold :-)

[line6man]

Gold would look gaudy on that bass. Get black.

[gzarate85]

Thanks for the input everyone. I sorta figured black was going to get the vote. And I agree, I think black is going to be the route I go. Only reason I even really considered gold (or faux gold) is that I've seen some good looking basses with similar wood color tones that used gold and looked good. To me Ken Smith gold never gets old and never looks cheezy or gaudy, it just works, but that probably has a lot more to do with the fact that it's more of a signature thing than anything else. I also used to own a yamaha bb5na (love that bass) that was translucent burnt orange with gold hardware and I still think it's one of the best color combos out there. I think I might have been wanting to replicate that look just a little.

A lot more to consider I guess than just black/gold. When I started thinking about the 'clover' tuning heads I really felt that gold would over do it and really give it that 'cheezy/gaudy' look that most of you mention due to how big those tuners are. It would look too regal in my opinion.

And well, while chrome on this bass looks just fine IMO, I wanted something a little more fresh looking and updated, and really, chrome just isn't really my thing, unless of course we're talking about the exhaust off my subaru, then well... thats a different story for a different forum, lol!

Well thanks for helping get my head on straight tb'ers, I'm going black.

[Lennard III.]

Chrome all the way !

[gzarate85]

I'll post pics once I get the parts together and change them out.

[HaMMerHeD]

Black. Always black.

Gold looks OK with darker colored wood, like Walnut. But black looks better.

[Brad Johnson]

I'm not a big fan of gold but a few years back a friend of mine (Preach) mixed and matched and came up with this combo...








I've used it on several basses since. Nice contrast, no over the top bling.

[vondran]

I really like brass on wood. It's so much better looking than gold. But it's hard to find brass bridges these days, and totally imposible to find brass tuners.

Here's a sweet rosewood bass with all brass hardware.

[dedpool1052]

black hardware and wooden controls to match the pickups covers.

[bootsox]

Normally I'm a gold guy but I think black would look better on that bass

Originally Posted by vondran

I really like brass on wood. It's so much better looking than gold. But it's hard to find brass bridges these days, and totally imposible to find brass tuners.

Here's a sweet rosewood bass with all brass hardware.

from what I've seen brass really only looks that good on dark colored woods

[joelb79]

I cannot believe this thread has made it this far without somebody commenting the OP on his beautiful bass. I mean really what a work of art. Cheers!

[phangtonpower]

I HATE gold hardware, but on your bass I would choose gold. It would look more natural to me than black.

[curt basner]

Completely depends on the colors of the woods. I'd go gold on your bass. My $0.02.

[gzarate85]

Much thanks.

Originally Posted by joelb79

I cannot believe this thread has made it this far without somebody commenting the OP on his beautiful bass. I mean really what a work of art. Cheers!

I think gold isn't being given enough credit. I still lean black at the moment but in all honesty, if I truly sit back and just visualize gold with ebony controls to match the pu's and ramp (not pictured), I can truly see how this would look pristine.

I think that with the wood being sort of a caramel/blonde color rather than a dark brown (like a walnut) the gold won't pop out as much and be as over-bearing on the bass. Don't get me wrong, on a nice walnut bass gold just looks awesome. I can't help but love gold on a walnut Smith. Imo, the bass above looks great with 'gold' (brass) and would not go black with it. But that's just me.

Now I'm back on the fence.

[RyanJD]

Black.
Every. Single. Time.





I know it's a different bass, different wood, color, etc.
But still...
BLACK!

[Flabass]

Personally I like the chrome but if you are going to change, I would go with black.

[ShowKing]

Gold.

[Aeko]

Gold if your age is over 60.

My vote goes for black, more clean.