A Question of Aesthetics

[Riff Ranger]

Go to "edit". Right before where it starts, you should see "(S)", but with square brackets. Every time you see that, remove it (and the brackets).

Do the same thing with the "(/S)" (but with square brackets.

Thank you. I had used square brackets to make a conditional plural within parentheses because while I may not like my pointy basses overwrought, that apparently does not hold for my punctuation

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Thank you. I had used square brackets to make a conditional plural within parentheses because while I may not like my pointy basses overwrought, that apparently does not hold for my punctuation

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[revd]

I don't like the look of the large Fender clovers either, and for that reason alone didn't buy a Fender for the longest time. I like the modern triangle shapes much better. I also don't do sunburst. And I don't dig tort pick guards, or any pick guards, for that matter. It just all looks so old.

All the things you don't dig describe my bass lol.

And the final sentence describes me. So perfect symmetry there.

 

[Riff Ranger]

Death of the "black-N-white" color scheme?....,whaaa? say it ain't so.
View attachment 4644641

I had a virtually identical pair for a while. The white one needed more work than I could do so I sold it, and the black one got a mirror pickguard and T-series lightning bolt knobs for reasons entirely too detailed in my original contribution to the thread.

 

[Oldbasslover]

Are you the candy of my eye? Or a red and swollen sty?
I cannot seem to tell, perhaps it's just as well,
For I love weird and ugly basses, and those with pretty faces, just as well.

<takes a clumsy embarrassed bow> hehe

now can you put that in a Haiku?

 

[Jeff K]

I don't like the look of the large Fender clovers either, and for that reason alone didn't buy a Fender for the longest time. I like the modern triangle shapes much better. I also don't do sunburst. And I don't dig tort pick guards, or any pick guards, for that matter. It just all looks so old.

Talk about different strokes! I couldn't disagree more! I love all the things that you can't stand.

• I love the Fender clover tuners. The modern triangle tuners look cheap to me.
• While it's not the only finish I like, I DO like sunburst.
• I also like tort guards, but not on everything. Some basses look better with a solid color pickguard, or something other than tort (ie., Aged Pearl; Gold Anodized; etc.)
• On Fender-style basses (Precisions and Jazzes), I think they look best WITH a pickguard. IMO, they look like there is something missing without the pickguard. I can't stand the look of Jaco's Jazz Bass without the pickguard.
• What just looks "old" to you looks "classic" to me.

But of course that's why Baskin-Robbins makes so many different flavors...

 

[C Stone]

I had a virtually identical pair for a while. The white one needed more work than I could do so I sold it, and the black one got a mirror pickguard and T-series lightning bolt knobs for reasons entirely too detailed in my original contribution to the thread.

Nice I'll have to see if I can round up a couple of those knobs...My white Peavey is a GEM! The black is kinda meh (compared to the white 92). BTW your run down of "aesthetics" is on point to my way of thinking kinda scarily on point!

 

[superheavyfunk]

can't do gold hardware, another hard pass.

I felt the same way for a long time but my new bass has gold hardware and it's super classy looking.

My hang-up: I can't stand fretboard / fingerboard inlays. Side dots are fine, but nothing on the 'board itself.

100% agreed

I don't really like the looks of clover tuners but they've been on those basses for so long that they look right to me.

it's funny how that works, huh? I feel the same… there should be a medium size available, I think. Something between the regular clown shoes size and the mini ones.

 

[Riff Ranger]

BTW your run down of "aesthetics" is on point to my way of thinking kinda scarily on point!

That's because it's RIGHT!!!

 

[superheavyfunk]

First fret inlays seem silly to me.

100% with you here lol. "I know where the first fret is. I don't need help and it throws off the symmetry"

Lots of dark blue with lots of black does not work (true outside of instruments as well). I own no dark blue clothes.

This is a person who understands fashion, folks. Take heed.

 

[Riff Ranger]

it's funny how that works, huh? I feel the same… there should be a medium size available, I think. Something between the regular clown shoes size and the mini ones.

They're not right for every instrument, but I really dig lollipops and these:

 

[Riff Ranger]

I know know where the first fret is. I don't need help and it throws off the symmetry

EXACTLY

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Or, in other words, these basses all live together in my bedroom:

View attachment 4644312 View attachment 4644313 View attachment 4644314 View attachment 4644315View attachment 4644316

Which are weird, which are beautiful? I dare ya! hehe

that second one is one of the funniest designs I've seen, whoever made it just kept finding ways to confound people lol

 

[Bassinthemudd]

...but I feel pretty confident that it does indeed mean "the way the thing looks"

What about smell? I think that'd contribute to aesthetics.

 

[JW56789]

I think any discussion of, ahem, aesthetics when it comes to most of the basses around us is pretty pointless when by far the style seems to be bodies with brilliant paint jobs that have clear finished necks sticking out of them. They always look like they did the body, looked at the clock, and it was 4:30, and said, 'just shoot em with clear, it's almost Miller time'.

And oh, by the way, the overall shapes and hardware have remained the rosetta stone blueprint for that look since Elvis Presley, Bill Hailey and the Comets, and Chuck Berry were the hot new artists on the radio, or you could see them on your console black and white TV.

Of course, the industry is satisfied this is what they got to do to keep the doors open, and like a manager of mine once remarked, 'you know no matter how much music, style, and what is new and hip changes over time, they're all going to kill themselves to play the same Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Precisions, and Jazzes that their dads and grand-dads played'. Look in the 'Cool Rock and Roll Photos' thread here in TB, and that's what you see.

I've often thought that guitars and basses need a big dose of contemporary industrial design to update the looks, and certainly fix the mistakes like neck heaviness, balance, weight, etc. And of course, you may result in some brilliant instruments that cats will walk right past to buy Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Precisions, and Jazzes.

Sheesh !

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Ok, so I really like the look of big old tuners. I don't like the weight, and I know they're unnecessarily bulky etc. but I like the look. I like burst and tort as well

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Aesthetics are important to me but discuss ing them is an exercise in failure.

If I was in charge of bass aesthetics there would be no black basses, no tort, no boring overdone brown turd-burst, no headstock shape other than the classic 4 in line Fender, no flying V shapes and the basic precision or jazz style shape would be the only ones you could get.

But maybe I'm wrong?

Get what you want and enjoy it. We're all individuals so why shouldn't our basses be?

 

[Snert]

Of course, the industry is satisfied this is what they got to do to keep the doors open, and like a manager of mine once remarked, 'you know no matter how much music, style, and what is new and hip changes over time, they're all going to kill themselves to play the same Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Precisions, and Jazzes that their dads and grand-dads played'. Look in the 'Cool Rock and Roll Photos' thread here in TB, and that's what you see.

I've often thought that guitars and basses need a big dose of contemporary industrial design to update the looks, and certainly fix the mistakes like neck heaviness, balance, weight, etc. And of course, you may result in some brilliant instruments that cats will walk right past to buy Strats, Teles, Les Pauls, Precisions, and Jazzes.

Sadly, that's the case otherwise Steinbergers, Parker Flys, Kleins (even if they had a headstock), Strandbergs etc would be more popular because in many ways they are better ergonomically and functionally. Putting away the tonewood discussion, a Klein with a P, or an MM in the standard positions is going to be pretty indistinguishable sonically from a Fender P (or MM) with the same pickup. But for many players, the different shape, style and feel may be really important to them and allow them to play better. There will always be a large number of strong traditionalists who won't, or can't accept anything else. Make a trad shaped design with no PG, control plate and a nice figured top and some will criticise (my actual experience). Just suggest there is something beyond the trad designs and some will get really riled up about it; another TBer had this link in their sig and I think sums it up really well (I'm sorry I forget the member's name).
Fanboyism and Brand Loyalty – You Are Not So Smart

Edit: Now anyone can play what they want, but I (generally) find that the non-traditionalists, are more accepting of the traditionalist's choices than the other way around. And in most band situations, unless it's a tribute band with specific aesthetic requirements, no one in the audience is going to care so long as you play well. Maybe a Bootsy Star or a Simmons Axe bass at a corporate or wedding gig would look wrong, but an Ibanez SR505 would not get noticed vs a Fender P or near clone, except by another muso in the audience. And if they're not paying the bill, and those that are are happy, I don't care what that muso thinks. Unless they want to compliment my playing.

 

[2112]

Aesthetic non-starters for me:

• Sunburst, natural, black & most brown finishes.
• Moldy-looking finishes (e. g., burls)
• Tort guards. Guards that are cheaply printed.
• Rosewood and Pau ferro boards. Fanfret boards. Boards with block inlays that are too narrow. Overly bright LEDs on the face of the board.
• The Bongo body shape, and the headstock also.
• Bodies where the upper bout attaches way up the neck.
• Amoeba-looking bodies (I always got that impression from Alembics and some others).
• Basses that resemble fine furniture.

Aesthetic hnnnnngs:

• Deep flake, trans colors over interesting woods, pearl finishes, color!
• Stickers, relicing, imperfections, character, uniqueness.
• Maple and dark black ebony boards.
• LEDs as edge markers only.
• Block inlays of appropriate width.

I'm sure there are others, but this represents most of the burden that I bear.

Question... speaking of aesthetics, why can't we get hardware in colors other than nickel/chrome, black and gold? How about some of the colored chrome and anodized aluminum that we see on bike and cat parts? How about some other powder-coated colors other than black?

 

[chris_b]

I was born about the same time as the split pickup Precision - by the time I bought my first bass, that look was old. I bought a Ric, that was a few years less obsolete looking. That was 40 plus years ago. If you like the look, OK, but some of us have moved on from the late 50's aesthetically.

Me too. Like FSO's my tastes are timeless.

My Lakland, Wal and SR 5 are also classics that make me smile, but I never did get on with any Gibson or Ric, though.

Our losses are each other's gains.