Aesthetic Elements That Put You Off From Purchasing Gear

[ArteK]

I hate the look of maple fingerboards with black block inlays (a la the Geddy Lee Jazz basses).

I know lots of people love that look, but it's just not my thing at all.

 

[jpbicknell]

dried out/pale looking rosewood. instant pass

 

[levis76]

price tag over $2k

Single-cut bodies

baseball bat necks

headless

hollow body

neon colors

I think that about covers it.

 

[ArteK]

Headstock shapes! Two particularly stand out to me: G&L; and Mike Lull. I love each of these bass makers, but their headstock shapes just...I can't. I feel like Sadowsky nailed the modified Fender headstock shape, and everything else is just bleh.

In general, I find the Lull basses beautiful (their TBird is stunning), but the blah headstocks almost ruin it for me.

 

[Richard Lindsey]

Ramps. Absolutely hate the way they look.

Fluorescent colors. Too old and too bald for them. Actually, I never much liked them anyway.

Pointy bits on bodies or headstocks. See above.

The relic thing. I'm perfectly capable of putting my own wear and tear on a bass, and an instrument that was artificially worn by something other than hours of actual playing time just hits me as bogus.

YMMV, of course.

 

[Boneless]

Anything that resembles a Peavey T-40

What about an actual T-40?

 

[Sid Fang]

I avoid pointy basses, not just because of esthetics, but because I dance and lunge around a lot when playing, and someone might get hurt.

I kinda like bright colors and psychedelic paint schemes - but given the choice I buy black instruments. The one thing I have a hard time getting next to in color schemes is "sports car" finishes, bright glossy colors with contrasting stripes and highlights. Not for use on stage, anyway. Just not my style.

 

[Zak TMD]

I'm pretty open, but I have grown pretty indifferent an uninterested in FSO's from anyone but Fender (for the most part - only sith deal in absolutes) because I kinda don't see the point. I'm also pretty bored with the FSO headstocks in general. Full disclosure, I do have a couple Fenders, and I love them, but see no reason to get any more at this point. Seeing all the $$$ boutique FSO builds on here usually leaves me cold.

Also pretty sure I'll won't buy a new instrument from any of the major manufacturers again, as there'll probably be pickups I prefer, I'd wanna change the pots out, and probably other odds and ends, so that's more money to spend on top of the brand new premium.

I'm already planning on having my next bass made by my friend, which might end up being a P bass in a completely different body, with the added benefit of being able to pick out all the bits and bobs.

Colors and stuff:I tend to prefer natural / clear / stains and bursts. I don't think I could see myself playing really loud color combos or neons, but who knows what the future holds. I have a significant dislike for the look of burls. As far as the shape goes, the only thing I can definitively say is I will never play anything that looks like this (like I get it, you play bass so you don't need anything above the 12th fret, but this just looks ugly to me).

Also, I got no desire to have an active pre, as I got an amp to do that, so I avoid all basses with one.

 

[DirtDog]

2+2 headstocks, some colours, overly figured woods, body shapes that look unbalanced (to me). I’m usually fine with any and all types and kinds of pickups and electronics. Have no preference for rosewood or maple fingerboards.

My favourite livery is Olympic white with red tort - in any form…guitar, bass, whatever. Have had more than a few over the years. Have a P bass and a Tele in thet combo right.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I can't see myself playing anything shaped like this, no matter how good it sounds...
View attachment 4693546

Other than "Pure Evil" scribbled on it, I think it looks pretty cool!

 

[Ostie]

I’m not interested in anything pointy. I’m not crazy about green. I don’t want any bad homemade relic jobs. Otherwise, I’m pretty open.

 

[Snert]

PGs, tort, Fender/Gibson classic colours, IL headstocks, non contoured bodies, onboard FX, fake relics, juvenile stickers, no, any stickers, complex FB inlays, block inlays.

 

[Isaac_James]

While I understand there are some real benefits in playability for headless instruments, I just don't like the look of it, so I'll probably never own one.

Most EBMM instruments turn me off. The Bongo is particularly bad but there's something off about the Cutlass and Caprice as well. And I'm of the opinion that the oval pickguard on the 4 string Stingray makes it look like either a toilet seat or an avocado. No thanks! However, I do like the look of the 5 string Stingrays, so maybe someday I'll make an exception and get one of those.

White or cream colored plastic pickups are also a no-go for me.

 

[slagbass]

A surprising amount of hate for tort guards. I'm usually agnostic on guards (including none) but nothing says "replace me, stat" like a white pearloid guard.

Not a fan of gold hardware as well although OTOH, I can't imagine an old Spector without it.

Matching headstocks are great but a matching headstock with a maple board never works.

 

[Deleted member 389437]

headstocks, pickgaurd placement (if there is one) weird or not carved horns thin or small bodys. thats pretty much it for basses. When it comes to amps its a completely different thing. Things like really small heads, Weird colors or knob placement, Wierd cab handles and speaker placement. And the grille guard material

 

[Roxbororob]

I believe that's what all Broughton's do already.

Yellow speaker cones

Gold hardware. I can't stand it. If I somehow wound up playing a bass with gold hardware that felt and sounded amazing I would IMMEDIATELY swap it out.

Natural finishes such as the common 70s style for Fender basses. I just don't like them.

The yellow Markbass speaker cones. If the rig were given to me I would donate it to a school a hundred miles away or more so I never have to see it again.

Lined fretless boards. I don't know why, but they turn me right off.

The pickguard on a MM Stingray 5 string (not the classic). It covers up WAY too much of the front of the body. Why don't you just cover the whole front and be done with it?

"90s style" wood grain finishes, such as dark green or burgundy. They are very dated looking to me.

I agree with my yellophobic bros.

 

[Boneless]

Relic'ed gear. It is utterly daft.
Pointy shapes, but with exceptions.
Figured woods and spalted maple.
Natural finishes are fine until they are kept simple and not fancy.
Sunburst guitars are sort of banal for me. I'll buy them only if there aren't any other nice colours on offer.
I'm not a fan of active electronics, unless they are not transparent (like, at all) and they make the sound of the bass.

 

[bigthemat]

I like the look of the sunburst, but I prob wouldn't buy a bass in that finish. Same with the all black gloss with a white pickguard. I dunno... to me it just looks cheap and cries "I got this bass in a kit from sears and it came with a tuner and strap and gig bag and a music stand". Some black finishes are cool, like Charles Berthoud's Le Fay, or the Harley Benton matte black, I can dig those.

 

[FilterFunk]

Which Aesthetic Elements will cause you to not purchase a bass or other piece of equipment?
You may love it, or even want it, but one thing puts you off.

• I can't play pedals with stupid sexually juvenile names.

^This one.

 

[rashrader]

I saw a photo of a pink F Bass. A very feminine pink. I wouldn't mind owning an F Bass but that colour...

Damn… I guess that TB is cool with overt sexism?