Finish Hang-Ups -- Who's Got 'Em?

[kcole4001]

I tend to pretty much agree with the OP's list, but I appreciate anything done tastefully.
I also keep in mind what the bass will look like from a few feet away under stage lighting.

For example. a nicely done natural finish over the most beautiful piece of hardwood is a work of art in a well lit room where you can get close enough to appreciate the finely figured grain, but ten feet away on stage under coloured lights it's just another brown bass.
Brown is boring.

Of course, what I consider tasteful some consider gaudy, and what I think is garish and tacky others think is perfection.

[Darnell Jones]

Originally Posted by kcole4001

I also keep in mind what the bass will look like from a few feet away under stage lighting.

For example. a nicely done natural finish over the most beautiful piece of hardwood is a work of art in a well lit room where you can get close enough to appreciate the finely figured grain, but ten feet away on stage under coloured lights it's just another brown bass.

I can't agree with this enough (I can, it's just an expression).

But many basses are not meant for the stage and will never be in a room larger than a basement or garage.

[whitespike]

I'll play!

I don't do

1. maple fingerboards.
2. Gold hardware
3. fancy/exotic wood
4. Anything maroon, purple, burgundy

I tend to like blonde natural finishes or sunburst. I have a blonde Ric and sunburst/tortise P.

[superjesus]

Originally Posted by ThudThudThud

Natural wood is great for me, but any mismatch on the pieces makes me wince. A three piece body with mismatched wings just looks cheap to me.

+1000!

I absolutely loathe mismatched and uneven joins on natural finished basses. I don't even mind boring and plain grain as long as it's matched well.

I'll add that I cannot tolerate 5-piece necks in which the stringers aren't perfectly centered, especially on neck-thru's. Once I notice the stringers aren't even, I can never not notice them. I see something like that as a sign of poor craftsmanship. Whether it's an accurate assessment or not doesn't usually matter to me.

[darkstorm]

I dont like high gloss on light colored natural finish. Its fine on dark colors but somehow doesnt work for light colors to me.

[joeyl]

I don't see this thread ending well but for what it's worth: dislike gold hardware, solid white colors, and matching headstocks on maple boards with the body being a dark color.

[blowinblue]

Yeah, I have finish/design hang-ups. Lots of them. Probably way more than you. By sheer coincidence, none of those hang-ups are reflected in the basses pictured here. Fancy that.



M. M.

[kevteop]

I like natural finishes but not figured wood. Flamed/quilted maple looks very '80s and it seems bass players are the only people with poor enough taste to still be doing that look.

I especially dislike figured maple with a trans gloss finish over it. Especially if it's a blue/turquoise colour (which it usually is) and especially if it has gold hardware (which it usually has).

Vomit-inducing.

[nonohmic]

Quilted Maple is gross.
Can't do red.
Gold Hardware reminds me of Magnum P.I.
Sunburst and Tort can go away.

Love White and Tort, Black and Tort, LPB AND TORT!!

And this finish makes my old fella tingle (except for the maple blocks and binding heh)

[bassingeorge]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I especially dislike figured maple with a trans gloss finish over it. Especially if it's a blue/turquoise colour (which it usually is) and especially if it has gold hardware (which it usually has).

Vomit-inducing.

Haha sounds like a very desirable bass to me! Except for the gold hardware! To each their own I guess...

But it seems, basses have gotten to a point were quilt/trans color finish is the norm...Nothing "exotic" or "fancy" about quilt/flame nowadays.

[bassingeorge]

nonohmic....LPB & TORT!!!!

Now you're talkin'

The best combo out there IMO...

[nonohmic]

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

nonohmic....LPB & TORT!!!!

Now you're talkin'

The best combo out there IMO...

Sheee-yeah man! net high fives on that one

There's a dude on here with an LPB and Tort SX P. It pretty much kicks in GAS like nothing else i see on this board eh. All time.

[MysticMichael]

Originally Posted by joeyl

I don't see this thread ending well ...

I see no harm being done here...

MM

[iJazz]

As far as my purchasing power goes...

Yes to:
Fender Jazz
Squier Jazz
Well-matched grained wood (even if only reasonable in beauty, but there is a limit)
Glossy wood
Satin wood
Some exotic wood pickguards
Rosewood or ebony fretboards or fingerboards
Dot markers
Vintage frets
Chrome hardware
Black hardware (maybe)
White or black solid colors
Pickguards if routing demands one
No pickguard to let the wood show through

NO (generally to always) to:
Non-Jazz basses
Non-Fender/Squier jazz look-alikes
Maple fretboards or fingerboards
Block markers
Neck binding
Painted headstocks
Graphic pickguards
Pickup covers
Five or more strings based on looks - five string musical value might be good but I've never played one or felt the need
Gold hardware (only the rarest exception)
"Road worn" or "Relic" (some use wear is acceptable with vintage)

Don't hate but am generally tired of burst/tort combos.

As far as my non-purchasing dollars go (i.e. your bass):
I might think it's OK to cool, but I'd never own it, unless it matches my Yes list above. If you love it, great. Just don't expect me to feign an interest in it. Let's face it, there's truth to that nasty saying, "I wouldn't **** her with your ****."

iJazz - I think I just made that pretty clear.

[ftssjk]

Originally Posted by Mola Ram

Ohhh yeah...I'm a picky bastard...right now its trying to get a 5 string that has these:

1. Vintage white, white, trans white finish on the body

2. Pearl blocks on rosewood or ebony

I'm gotten close twice. Lakland's released a special edition with a trans white finish with no inlays...all the other special editions the year had them....but not THAT one.

The other was the Cort 75GB. They offer it in a White Blonde in the FOUR STRING version...but not the 5....booooooooooooo again.

here you go
YOU ARE GOOD SLAP BASS - YouTube
meets all your needs

YAMAHA BB-NE2 MODEL.

[whitespike]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I like natural finishes but not figured wood. Flamed/quilted maple looks very '80s and it seems bass players are the only people with poor enough taste to still be doing that look.

I especially dislike figured maple with a trans gloss finish over it. Especially if it's a blue/turquoise colour (which it usually is) and especially if it has gold hardware (which it usually has).

Vomit-inducing.

Genius! Hahaha! Could not agree more.

[CrashCarlisle]

I think they should be covered in stickers!

[Mola Ram]

Originally Posted by ftssjk

here you go
YOU ARE GOOD SLAP BASS - YouTube
meets all your needs

YAMAHA BB-NE2 MODEL.

Yep, a lot of people have suggested this but at over 2 grand it just seems like more than I need. I am, however, looking at the vintage white BB425X and BB1025X. Hopefully trying one out this weekend.

[whitespike]

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

Haha sounds like a very desirable bass to me! Except for the gold hardware! To each their own I guess...

But it seems, basses have gotten to a point were quilt/trans color finish is the norm...Nothing "exotic" or "fancy" about quilt/flame nowadays.

The norm? Really? You never see this kinda thing in Austin. At least in the all originals rock scene. You'll see no flame, quilt, gold, trans finishes or the like. You really don't even see active pickups or anything other than 4 stringers. If you did other musicians would look at you like you were sporting a mullet and hammer pants!

Mainly we get classics: fenders, rics, and gibbys.

[whitespike]

The hate on sunburst/tort cracks me up. I've always loved that combo. I wish I had sunburst skin and tort fingernails.