I decided there's no point in owning a bass if it's not going to get played. I gigged the spalted F Bass last week, and I'm going to gig the koa Sadowsky this week. The Fodera goes to all of my trio gigs.
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Are cosmetics that important in a bass??
- Thread starter holllowbody
- Start date
I decided there's no point in owning a bass if it's not going to get played. I gigged the spalted F Bass last week, and I'm going to gig the koa Sadowsky this week. The Fodera goes to all of my trio gigs.
if i'm in a music store and an instrument doesn't appeal to me, i'm not going to pick it up.....soooo, not gonna know how it sounds. of course sound matters more, but i'm shallow.
Ric5
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- Nov 9, 2009
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I think cosmetics definitely hold a role. Should they? That's a whole separate issue. I've attached two photos of my jazz bass; the white pickguard is how it was received, and within a week I had swapped out a new one. When I look at the first picture, I think, "Oh, some jazz bass." When I look at the second, I think, "Dang, that thing looks bangin'," (it should be noted that I have recently considered switching back...). I'm sure somewhere down the line someone would have the opposite opinion from myself, but they definitely have different vibes.
I think "cosmetics" of the player plays a bigger role though. Some people look like this when they play
and some people look like this 
(sorry Atoz). I've had instances of both, regardless of what bass I was playing...
Also:
I think "cosmetics" of the player plays a bigger role though. Some people look like this when they play
and some people look like this (sorry Atoz). I've had instances of both, regardless of what bass I was playing...Also:
Attachments
A butt-ugly spouse can cook, do the dishes & feel really good late at night, but would they be your 1st choice as arm candy at the High School reunion? Probably not.
Bass looks matter, & most of those who say different only do so because they can't afford anything other than the eyesore they're currently playing.
And yes, this is a worthless thread.
A butt-ugly spouse can cook, do the dishes & feel really good late at night, but would they be your 1st choice as arm candy at the High School reunion? Probably not.
Bass looks matter, & most of those who say different only do so because they can't afford anything other than the eyesore they're currently playing.
Well I have about $3k total invested in 2 EBMM basses. I could have bought boutique looking basses, but I felt the extra cost that benefited nothing other than looks was pointless when the EBMM basses play just as well if not better, not to mention I really like the sound and build quality of them. Not that the EBMMs look bad, but they arn't head turners either.
Yes, Rickenbacker makes some darned fine eye candy, all right. No dispute about that...
MM
You're starting to zero in on your personal answer to your own question.
I own a dozen basses, including some that cost over $3,500, but the ones that get the most play time (and stage time) are the ones that sound killer, play great & look nice too - usually in that order.
My two main basses at the moment are my white Euro Spector and my red sparkle EBMM Stingray. These are not my most expensive nor my best-looking basses, but they have the right blend of tone, playability & good looks needed to keep my ears, fingers and audience interested.
Um, what would you rather have:
A) A shiny new Ferrari with a Honda Civic engine
B) A beat-up, rust-bucket old muscle car with a new big block V8 engine
C) A shiny new looking, great running Ferrari
Most people would probably answer "C". If you can't afford "C" then it really depends what you want out of it. If your motivation is to impress others with its looks, you'd choose "A". If performance was your priority, then you'll probably choose "B".
The same applies for basses. If you can't afford a great looking (to you) and great sounding bass, you'll either pick the one that looks the best based on what you like and what others like or you'll pick the one that makes you sound the best.
I guess I'll just answer with the question - what do YOU want out of YOUR bass. For me, tone is king, but I'd much rather play an instrument that looks as good as it sounds than some old beater or as some call it "relic'd".
A) A shiny new Ferrari with a Honda Civic engine
B) A beat-up, rust-bucket old muscle car with a new big block V8 engine
C) A shiny new looking, great running Ferrari
Most people would probably answer "C". If you can't afford "C" then it really depends what you want out of it. If your motivation is to impress others with its looks, you'd choose "A". If performance was your priority, then you'll probably choose "B".
The same applies for basses. If you can't afford a great looking (to you) and great sounding bass, you'll either pick the one that looks the best based on what you like and what others like or you'll pick the one that makes you sound the best.
I guess I'll just answer with the question - what do YOU want out of YOUR bass. For me, tone is king, but I'd much rather play an instrument that looks as good as it sounds than some old beater or as some call it "relic'd".
Exactly. If I don't want to look at it, it's worth nothing to me.
I didn't mean to say that looks are everything only that they can determine whether or not I own a bass. Of course, I won't own a bass that plays and sounds like crap either. I'm lucky because I'm not particular about feel. Just about everything feels good to me. I'm picky about my sound but it's not hard for me to find a bass that I like the sound of either. It's not difficult to find all three together so it all works out.
who ever said the bass that looks best plays best is tonedeaf! ......i don't care what an instrument looks like ....it can be rolled in gravel and dog **** for all i care..if if... it feels good and sounds great that's all that matters! end of story ....i have a warwick made in germany that is getting it's ass kicked by an SX p bass ...use your ears and be honest with your stuff guys!
+1 to this. There are some affordable basses that do have the looks, the tone and the playability. So I do not think there has to be a choice between the three. And since all three characteristics are largely subjective, just get whatever rocks your boat.
My two current basses (well three, counting one I left in my home country) have all three attributes in my opinion. To some they may feel, sound or look cheap. Not to me.
I have always understood my own logic in bass selection, but I don't always understand others.
For instance...
"The bongo is a great sounding bass. I would be all over it if it werent for it's looks".
"Man I want to get a Ric, those things are so sexy"
Some buy for the looks.
Some avoid a bass that has a great sound to them that wont be found in just about any other bass, but they wont go for it due to it's looks.
If a bass looks great but sounds awful, I'm not going to spend money on it. If it looks terrible but has great tone, I'm still not going to spend any money on it. I'm going to find something that has tone *and* cosmetics I like.
To the eye of the beholder....of course cosmetics matter!
I was browsing in my local music store today and saw a used EBMM 5 string bass for sale. White sparkle body, white pickguard....I looked at it and walk right past it. Looked gawdy to the point of ugly. Something about the white sparkle just turned me right off.
I was browsing in my local music store today and saw a used EBMM 5 string bass for sale. White sparkle body, white pickguard....I looked at it and walk right past it. Looked gawdy to the point of ugly. Something about the white sparkle just turned me right off.
I do not care about finish at all. i kind of like how my bass is starting to look like crap. It's all about the feel and sound. I wouldn't mind having some exotic wood but if it doesn't play well it means nothing to me. For some reason I feel totally different about guitars which makes little sense. Maybe I feel flashier when playing guitar.
Yeah to me a bass has to have it all. Looks are important. I have specific color combos that I love and some that I hate. And don't get me started on those 6 and 7 string beasts that some of yu guys have 
I prefer a bass that looks good, shallow as it sounds. This is why I'll go to the end of the ******* earth to find the exact finish I want...I feel like a lot of basses look like coffee tables or something...what fun is that? I prefer it to have some sleekness to it, something that catches the eye. That's just me though. I am speaking specifically about the quilt-top tigereye finish in the Peavey Cirrus BXP series. I found one today and I want it so bad that I'm practically shaking. Not just because of the finish, mind you...but yeah, it helps when it looks nice!
I think part of it is attention to detail. In the vast majority of cases, if a bass builder puts the time into fit, finish, and visual appeal, they've also put the time into proper matching of woods, electronics and durability.
To me, the other part is the sex appeal. If it attracts me visually, I want my hands on it.
Personally, there are basses that I think look clunky and unwieldy. I don't want to play them.
To me, the other part is the sex appeal. If it attracts me visually, I want my hands on it.
Personally, there are basses that I think look clunky and unwieldy. I don't want to play them.
