Blingless bass guitars

[BassKees]

This

 

[BlueTalon]

I'm not entirely sure I understand the concept of "blingless" as used in this thread. It appears it might be synonymous with "paintless," in which case I have a contender. If it means something else, then I don't know.

 

[doctone]

I'm not sure myself. Appreciate all your contributions!

 

[Interspace Station]

Agreed, not sure if "blingless" means raw aesthetics or what, but I'll throw my two Spectors in for good cause!

 

[May Cassidy]

My old SX P Bass copy got the paint stripped. It was always highly requested by one of my drummer friends when I had it, and now it belongs to him.

 

[gtirard]

My next bass... still under construction... can't wait

 

[groovaholic]

At a certain point, the lack of "bling" becomes the bling.

For instance, I took a black Yamaha BB300 and swapped the chrome hardware for black…

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi everybody, the Sterling MM Joe Dart made me think about this kind of raw, most simple, "naked" electric bass guitars. Do you know about other examples of this kind?
Thanks a lot in advance!
p.s.: I like to look at bass pictures (amongst others).

Warwick Corvette STD.

 

[FullumMusic]

Any bass can be "bling-less" if you don't mind removing features yourself.

The buttons were originally Mute & Tone 100%-Open/100%-rolled-off. Then i redid the circuit and now they do nothing and the audio just goes Pickups in Parallel -> Output Jack.

Obviously Racing stripes are pretty bling. But i added those myself. You can go the other way with it and leave the stock paint or natural finish.

Or you can go ultra-simple on a Warmoth build.
Rear-route the electronics cavity so you don't need a pick guard. Only have holes drilled for the few controls you want. Clear finish (or no finish, and do the finishing yourself.)

 

[NickyBass]

My M Bass doesn't have a lot of 'bling' but it's a fantastic instrument (and has a lot of scars).

 

[funkinbottom]

 

[MD]

What's that?

Takamine B10

 

[40Hz]

I have a pair of Rippers that are plain Janes. Especially the '74 on the left.

 

[cnltb]

Aahh...this thread has become a 'show any bass' thread. ;-)
When looking at super bare bones basses, I think of the anthony jackson bass(es) and that which I saw Gary willis with, many years ago.

 

[doctone]

Yes, I hear you cnltb. But anyway, thanks to all for your participation and pics so far. I like them very much!

Off the top of my head, some features that might be suspected of blinging would perhaps be:

• more than 4 strings
• more than one pickup
• more than one control knob (ok, say two)
• overly contoured body
• particularly precious or even selected wood
• some types of pickguards (hard to tell... possibly only small PGs allowed)
• sunburst finish
• hardware finished other than chrome/nickel/black

Anything I have forgotten?

Oh yeah... I would also like to see fretted basses without fret markers on the fingerboard. Who needs them anyway?

 

[Norm Nelson]

Anything I have forgotten?

Frets! totally unnecessary. A lot of shiny metal you don't need. I'm taking a hard look at gears on tuning pegs ...

 

[JTNuney]

Anything I have forgotten?

My Platonic ideal is four strings, one pickup in the classic P position, two knobs, side-mounted jack, and no pickguard. It can be painted, burst, or nekkid, no preference. Old Yamaha BBs are SO close… just move the jack:

 

[TK4261]

My old Maruszczyk Tele Bass

 

[antfarm]

CLF Research L•1000 | G&L Musical Instruments

glguitars.com

 

[Bob_Ross]

Old pic -- this is from 1982, and I no longer own this instrument -- but this S.D.Curlee was already a pretty stripped-down, austere, blingless bass when stock. But the previous owner went even further, and removed all of the passive electronics, wired the pickup direct to the output jack, and then covered all the pot & switch holes with pennies!

There is zero bling in $0.03 worth of copper, trust me.