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Aesthetic Elements That Put You Off From Purchasing Gear

#122
I won't buy amps or cabinets that are brightly colored (Markbass, Trace Elliot, etc.). I want my amps and cabs to be black, gray or silver (preferably black).

If I see a bass with a belly contour or in-line tuners (which means most FSOs) or a short/non-existent upper horn (T-birds, etc.) I'll avoid it. In these instances the aesthetics are indicative of ergonomics that don't work for me. All my basses have 2x2 headstocks, slab bodies, and no neck dive. YMMV, of course.
 
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#126
I will never own a black bass with a white pick guard again, and likely won’t own a solid opaque painted bass. All of my negative experiences with cheaper low end basses are associated with my first bass- black on single ply white Squier Affinity P. And solid colored basses possess a similar association in my mind.

Love what I learned on that bass, but just can’t go black on white again. Plus I find wood grain very pleasing to look at.
 
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#129
Gold hardware is probably my only deal-breaker. Just have never, ever liked it on any bass (or guitar) that I've ever seen it on.

UPDATE - now that I thought about it more, I'd have to add any factory 'relic'd' bass to the list of things I wouldn't purchase. Don't understand the point of buying a 'beat up from the factory!' instrument, but I also don't dig relic'd/beat to crap instruments anyway as I'm pretty OCD about keeping mine shiny.
 
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#132
My turnoffs?
- Relics. I mostly buy used basses, but I want them in good condition. I can deal with moderate, honest wear if I really want the bass, but I just don't get relic'ing. That's not a criticism of the aesthetic or of itsfans. It's just my personal taste.
- Less traditional body shapes. The one exception is a Bongo, and even then I only want a very specific Bongo that I've only ever seen one of. Other than that, I prefer traditional shapes.
- Crazy colors and finishes. I certainly appreciate a nice metal flake and some sparkles, but they're not the kind of thing I'd buy for myself. I have five basses and all are some kind of traditional looking bursts. Again, just my personal preference.
- Excessive weight. I own a Stingray (and am picking up second Stingray this weekend!) and an L-2500. They're heavy enough and I regularly play 4-hour, 4-set gigs with them. But there's no virtue in heavy for heavy's sake so lighter is better.
- Corollary to the above item - the insecure jack wagons who have to chime in with "Man up and go to the gym!" to prove to others that they're real men anytime the topic of weight comes up. No one other than you is impressed by your display of he-manliness. ;)
- Poor balance or excessive neck dive.
- Useless knob/control names. I prefer names that tell me what the control does as clearly as possible.
- Poor handle placement on cabinets.
- Fretless basses. However, that's because of my inability to play them, not because I dislike the concept or the sound a good player gets out of them. Wish I had the time to put into getting better at it, but for now, I'm sticking with fretted.
 
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#135
A couple came to mind pretty quickly:
  • Mint green pickguards, especially the faux-aged overly green monstrosities shipping as stock from the factory. I know a pickguard can be changed, but it takes me a while to overlook mint green.
  • "Jazz Gap" between the control plate and pickguard on a J-style bass
  • Headstocks I find ugly, even if they have utility (I'm sorry, Dingwall!)
 
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