A Question of Aesthetics

[bholder]

Yours is the 1964-65 Cougar made by Crucianelli. Here is the 1966-67 Eko-made version:

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Oh, I have neither, but.......

 

[GretschWretch]

Ah...
My first thought was obviously Mrs Robinson. The second was bourbon. I don't think there was a third.

Combine the first two and I smell "party."

 

[Jazzdogg]

In this thread, I hope to discuss things on a strictly visual level. It's not about what feels good to play or what things sound like. Strictly eye candy, dig?

The thing that made me start thinking about this is the giant tuners on my new bass. They're full size fender-style clovers, and I think they look ridiculous... Like clown shoes on tiny feet.

I went looking for fender-style headstocks with mini clovers and couldn't find any, which got me wondering about how it would look and why we don't see this often. On square(ish) headstocks, like the Gibson LP Jr for example, they're readily found but not so much on other shapes. What's up with that?

The next item on my list is chrome knurled knobs. Honestly, I think they're terribly ugly and they stick out in a weird way. Black ones are much nicer on my eyes and usually match the pickups and pickguard (if there is one) much better.

Finally, a white nut on an otherwise all black bass as well as its opposite. Both just bug me. It breaks the flow of the colour scheme. I suppose some ppl want it for that very reason but it's not for me.

So. Thoughts? Opinions? What are your aesthetic bugaboos, and why?

I've turned down several basses, not because of the way the play or sound, but because of the way they look.

One "look" I can't abide is a beautiful top interrupted by a lengthwise skunk stripe on so-called neck-through basses. Another is gold hardware.

To each their own.

 

[Topkat13]

Have you tried not looking at them?

 

[Riff Ranger]

I think there's a difference between saying "your ATK is ugly" and "I don't like ATK headstocks". One is specific, the other is general.
I used the ATK example because of your avatar RR. I'd love one, they just never show up locally when I have any spare cash.

No offense taken at any point, just to be perfectly clear I mail ordered mine as a teenager when they first came out in the decidedly dressed-down mid-'90s, and I was way too serious to get hung up on appearances, man so I ordered that bass even though I didn't care for the looks (almost because I didn't) at the time because I thought the features sounded promising. After growing up a bit, I admitted to myself that looks do in fact matter to me and tried going in a few different directions with gear; and now that the dust has settled, guess what? My preferences have landed almost exactly where they started: P/Js, ATKs, and old Peaveys Teenage me got a lot of things right!

In related aesthetic matters, my 4-string bass back then was a blacked-out Jackson Concert EX Professional. I traded it well for what still remains my favorite guitar, so I don't regret it; but I have kind of kept an eye out for another one, and that exact model has become one of those vanished '90s basses—in the rare instance one does surface, invariably it's dark blue with black hardware and pickups

 

[Jefenator]

I would say function trumps form, except I did go to art school for 4 years. So I can't ignore the cosmetics completely. (Matter of fact, I have a couple of basses I might have sold by now but I just like the way they look on my wall.)
Ugly headstock shapes repel me. Ugly pickguard shapes, too. I won't name names because my least favorite is almost certainly someone else's most favorite.

 

[Snert]

No offense taken at any point, just to be perfectly clear

Excellent. I may not have been clear enough, but I like them, I was just using the first confected example that came to mind.

 

[Riff Ranger]

One "look" I can't abide is a beautiful top interrupted by a lengthwise skunk stripe on so-called neck-through basses.

While I generally like the hippie sammich just fine on actual neck-through instruments, I can't stand hippie sammich in the front with bolts in the back. It just seems like a lie

 

[kevmac]

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

We have to be related in some way.I have a thing for" not your average looking basses"The blue skinny one is fascinating.How's it play? The 8 string's to die for,all in all a beautiful collection.

 

[juancaminos]

I am not a fan of the looks of Precision basses. It's the way the pickguard continues thru the controls.
The old Precision/Telecaster look as well as Jazz basses is what I like. Also not a fan of the high end wood finish basses . Give me some like what Dusty or Sting would play anytime!

 

[2112]

That made me laugh. I love their basses, but some of the designs leave me shaking my head, especially some of the COTM jobs. It would be interesting see the reaction if you described them like this on the Alembic forum.

Yeah, somehow I don't think I'd be greeted warmly by that bunch if I went in talking about "moldy amoebas" lolol. That said, and I forgot to mention this in my original reply... there are exceptions to everything I like and don't. For instance, I own several natural-finish basses and basses with rosewood necks. I'd even consider an Alembic like this one:

And I absolutely love these Alphers:

Why? Because I'm an absolute sucker for green, teal, and purple basses. It's all a trade off, you see. Except tort. I never trade off with tort. (Haha j/k.)

Not only that, tastes evolve. I may be all about color today, but 20 years ago I would only buy black basses.

I think for the reasons I mentioned in my previous post; tradition. I can imagine the reaction by some if it were, say, pink. Seriously, even if it were red to match a particular aesthetic for that bass, some would be upset.

That reminded me of a quote from my line of work: "100 years of tradition, unimpeded by progress."

 

[Snert]

Yeah, somehow I don't think I'd be greeted warmly by that bunch if I went in talking about "moldy amoebas"

You'd probably be OK if you were an owner, otherwise I think, they'd think you were just being insulting.

I think paisley looks like amoebas too and I have a Tele guitar that I want to build that;s gonna be pink paisley similar in tone to my avatar.

I'd even consider an Alembic like this one:

Not me I'm afraid. I've never seen one with a butt cut I like yet. Plus it move the bridge too far to the fretting hand side making first position a longer reach.

And I absolutely love these Alphers

They're beautiful.

I never trade off with tort.

It's never OK to go tort (thinking of a line from Clerks II). We will have to stage an intervention if you do.

That reminded me of a quote from my line of work: "100 years of tradition, unimpeded by progress."

Reminds me of just about every job I've ever had where the shiny bums get to call the shots and not the engineering staff.

 

[Nebadon2000]

The G&L moustache

I never considered a G&L based on their Headstock.

But now their CLF Research Series is on the Table [tuners don't bother me]

 

[factory presets]

1. I think there's a difference between saying "your ATK is ugly" and "I don't like ATK headstocks". One is specific, the other is general.

I know there's a difference between saying your Ibanez is u**y and saying your mother is. But Try telling an algorithm that.

 

[groovaholic]

I went looking for fender-style headstocks with mini clovers and couldn't find any

I put mini-clovers on my MusicMan when I replaced the stock tuners; clearly I agree that they fit better!

 

[sears]

Mini clovers are cute on a P! TRY IT

I love first fret inlays. Especially dots. It's like a beauty mark.

The horned G&L headstock looks a lot better when it's being played on stage.

I started coming here to look at pretty basses. Thanks everyone for the pictures!

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I never considered a G&L based on their Headstock.

But now their CLF Research Series is on the Table [tuners don't bother me]

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I really like the CLF headstock

 

[superheavyfunk]

I put mini-clovers on my MusicMan when I replaced the stock tuners; clearly I agree that they fit better!

Got some pics you wanna share?

 

[superheavyfunk]

I know there's a difference between saying your Ibanez is u**y and saying your mother is. But Try telling an algorithm that.

There's no algorithm here. TB has actual human staff that moderate the forum

 

[GreyBeard]

It is your bass, customize it anyway you like. You don't have to please anyone but yourself.