Earlier today i had a discussion with my friend who is a guitarist turned bassist, i showed him some of the dingwall basses and his reply was, " i dont like them " so i asked why and his reply was " the only reason youd buy a bass like that is to make a statement, like look i have this bass witch noone else has makeing people think your a better player than you are ", now usually comments like this dont bother me but i dont get why if he's never heard the bass and is judging it by its looks, personally i think the dingwall bass is beautiful instrument very well crafted, hes stuck in his way of i want a standard shape like fender. he ended this discussion with i think desingers are trying to hard to be different and new making it look as though the instrument is trying to hard, i want to know what yous think
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Bass designers are trying to hard ...?
- Thread starter Bassduckkk
- Start date
You can't change people like that, so don't bother. Some feel Leo got it right 60 years ago. Some think you can still improve the guitar and bass. Enjoy what you enjoy.
Lesson no. 1: never let a guitarist judge a bass 
Kidding aside, I think it's a matter of preferences. I personally hate any Fender type looking bass, but it's probably the most successful design in history.
IMO using a pointy BC Rich or a W Vampyre is making a statement; or a pink, toxic green or a glitter red bass
AFAIK Dingwalls are built that way because their design improves playability / ergonomics / etc, and not just to look different or weird.
Next time ask your friend about Torzal
Kidding aside, I think it's a matter of preferences. I personally hate any Fender type looking bass, but it's probably the most successful design in history.
IMO using a pointy BC Rich or a W Vampyre is making a statement; or a pink, toxic green or a glitter red bass
AFAIK Dingwalls are built that way because their design improves playability / ergonomics / etc, and not just to look different or weird.Next time ask your friend about Torzal
No kidding. Who, aside from a guitarist is more slavishly attached to "classic" styles, or afraid of what others think? Bassists are the engineers and innovators.
I think designers are not trying hard enough. I love the classics, have Fenders, but there is always room for improvement.
I like the idea behind the Dingwall. There are 2 reasons why I don't have one; 1) I might find the fanned fret too good and never buy any other brand again
tragedy! (or never get used to it) and 2) the only Dingwall I tried had neckdive, and I get enough of that from my thunderbird.
I like the idea behind the Dingwall. There are 2 reasons why I don't have one; 1) I might find the fanned fret too good and never buy any other brand again
tragedy! (or never get used to it) and 2) the only Dingwall I tried had neckdive, and I get enough of that from my thunderbird.
Perhaps your friend is projecting a bit? Everyone will know if you're a good player or a bad one as soon as the music starts regardless of what bass is in your hands or what amp is behind you. Since when is innovation a bad thing?
I do sometimes think that bassists tend to buy flashier instruments than guitarists because it's the only way they can get any attention.
I mean, most guys who are doing well seem to get by with quite plain-looking basses, but then there's that army of middle-aged pub rockers with quilted maple tops and LED dot markers and so on. Why? You're only going to play Mustang Sally on it.
I mean, most guys who are doing well seem to get by with quite plain-looking basses, but then there's that army of middle-aged pub rockers with quilted maple tops and LED dot markers and so on. Why? You're only going to play Mustang Sally on it.
kevteop said:
IMO, to those people it is a hobby, and not necessarily a way of life. They are just showing off with what they like to do.
For example, I like to build computers in my spare time. My computer is loaded with LED's ... case lighting, cable lighting, and more. I am going to put a water cooling system in it sooner or later.
The professional computer users get by on plain Jane computers, so I should be able to as well.
But it is my hobby, and so I feel comfortable (and proud) showing off (and admiring) my bad-ass looking computer, even if I am only going to be playing World of Warcraft.
I feel this topic is all a matter of opinion. I find nothing wrong with the more classic designs like fender. I personally like basses that have a more akward shape. One of my favorite body styles I've seen is an ibanez eda. I don't own one because the tone doesn't match my preferance but I do like the shape very much. Opinions are always gonna differ from one person to the next. It helps keep a good variety available on the market.
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
No kidding. Who, aside from a guitarist is more slavishly attached to "classic" styles, or afraid of what others think? Bassists are the engineers and innovators.
I was talking to a bass luthier at NAMM a couple years back, and asked him if he ever made guitars. He told me that he used to make custom guitars, but he got tired of the lack of creativity that guitarists had in their designs. "Everybody wanted a custom 60's Les Paul or Fender with X color and Y pickups."
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
Well yeah it's like the kids who inherit their first car from their mother, and then lower it, put silly wheels and Type-R stickers on it, etc. It costs a lot more than it needs to and there's really no improvement, and unless the individual is a talented designer it looks awful. OK so 'Live and let live' is the coolest way to respond to this stuff, but I just can't help having a little chuckle about it.
What's with that? Every once in a while I see a Craigslist ad with 5 commas in a row.
i understand its all a matter of opinion he just seams so closed minded when it comes to the look of a bass, when i see a bass and dont like the look of it i dont completely ignore it ive tried various basses on the basis that it looks strange. he will litteraly blank an instrument no matter how good its tone is or feel is or playability is just because he doesn't like the shape or finish on it
I personally prefer Fender-styled basses, but love the variety of bass guitars available. Luthiers should follow their muse. If their instrument designs upset a few people - all the better.
