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Do aesthetics matter to you when it comes to amplification ?
- Thread starter MAJOR METAL
- Start date
Thus implying that a musician must never pay attention to anything other than sound? Why? Says who?
It always baffles me that people can take such a narrow, dogmatic view of something that is inherently so wide open, free-spirited and holistic. In the cause of defending some notion of purist orthodoxy, they (inadvertently?) suppress and inhibit the very same creative spirit they claim to revere...
MM
I don't see a lot of those Dweezil pink amps out there. So taste may come into play.
I did notice that I was a little uncomfortable rolling a chrome grilled cab on the stage when I'd do a jazz or society gig. We are playing improvisational stuff we just look stuffy. I went to rigs that had black fronts that are unobtrusive and too me more tasteful.
Let your art extend to every aspect. The audience may not notice that they notice.
I did notice that I was a little uncomfortable rolling a chrome grilled cab on the stage when I'd do a jazz or society gig. We are playing improvisational stuff we just look stuffy.
I went to rigs that had black fronts that are unobtrusive and too me more tasteful.Let your art extend to every aspect. The audience may not notice that they notice.
my rig consists of a Hartke 115 powered by a 400W BiAmp PA head...what do you think? lol
IMO, music may be showbiz, but at the end of the day...people wont remember what your rig looked like, they'll remember if it sounded good, or if it sounded like it was mounted in the trunk of a civic (AHH!!). If you show up to a show w/ an ugly rig, they might discount you, but if you bring your A-game and show that it can sound good, how it looks will be easily forgotten.
IMO, music may be showbiz, but at the end of the day...people wont remember what your rig looked like, they'll remember if it sounded good, or if it sounded like it was mounted in the trunk of a civic (AHH!!). If you show up to a show w/ an ugly rig, they might discount you, but if you bring your A-game and show that it can sound good, how it looks will be easily forgotten.
My asthetic preferences are somewhat logical and somewhat simply what I "like".
-I hate the look of plastic rack cases, especially when they have alot of stuff in them (too 80's).
-Strangely colored gear, and odd backlit displays just seem tacky to me(Why VB-3, why!?). However, a glowing vu meter is beautiful, even if I have no Idea what it means!
-Dayglow yellow or green almost anywhere is a definate no-no (sorry Mark' and Trace').
-I also value flexibility, so partially for that reason, I'm not really into combo amps either. Even my small rig is (Ampeg Portabass) has separate amp and head. Also, separate just looks better to me.
-If the stage/venue is big enough, I want to have a big fridge behind me and something on top that you can see tubes glowing inside.
I've liked most all the amps I've owned, but my YBA-200 and Carvin 8x10 (clearly I'm not a "name" or "high end" snob) is the first rig that I owned that I could look at and say "Yeah, that's rock'n roll."
Looks cool on a Country stage too.
-I hate the look of plastic rack cases, especially when they have alot of stuff in them (too 80's).
-Strangely colored gear, and odd backlit displays just seem tacky to me(Why VB-3, why!?). However, a glowing vu meter is beautiful, even if I have no Idea what it means!
-Dayglow yellow or green almost anywhere is a definate no-no (sorry Mark' and Trace').
-I also value flexibility, so partially for that reason, I'm not really into combo amps either. Even my small rig is (Ampeg Portabass) has separate amp and head. Also, separate just looks better to me.
-If the stage/venue is big enough, I want to have a big fridge behind me and something on top that you can see tubes glowing inside.
I've liked most all the amps I've owned, but my YBA-200 and Carvin 8x10 (clearly I'm not a "name" or "high end" snob) is the first rig that I owned that I could look at and say "Yeah, that's rock'n roll."
Looks cool on a Country stage too.
Good point. Some gear can look good on any stage. Country to Funk, Fusion to Post Industrial Neo English Beat Alternative Reggae Pop.
Okay, I made that one up.
Okay, I made that one up.
People are so impressed looking at me that they seldom notice the rig I'm using. (If its fact, then it isn't vanity!).
I could care less what my amp looks like as long as it sounds good.
I have used old Fenders, a mangled Hiwatt and an Ampeg 8x10 that looked like it was hit by a bomb. I hardly relate "pretty" or "cool looking" to a bass amp.
I have used old Fenders, a mangled Hiwatt and an Ampeg 8x10 that looked like it was hit by a bomb. I hardly relate "pretty" or "cool looking" to a bass amp.
I'm not sure that there are many ugly amps out there although I'm sure my current 800RB is up there. Plays nice though so I don't much care.
ANd before that I was thinking about getting this one...
So yeah.
When it comes to basses, though, it's a bit different.
ANd before that I was thinking about getting this one...
So yeah.
When it comes to basses, though, it's a bit different.
Never really thought about it.
All of the amps and cabs I've had have always had a basic look to them so what it looked like didn't really matter.
At one time bells and whistles would catch my eye. The more gadgets on the face of the amp the cooler I thought it looked, but when it came down to it I bought the one I could make sound the best.
All of the amps and cabs I've had have always had a basic look to them so what it looked like didn't really matter.
At one time bells and whistles would catch my eye. The more gadgets on the face of the amp the cooler I thought it looked, but when it came down to it I bought the one I could make sound the best.
It's amazing how MarkBass permeates this whole thread so far... and who's calling my 800RB ugly...
i like it to match but i don't care if its beat up or used because i feel like it has more personality like you can guess who the previous owner was like. besides its like jaco pastorius sig it has lazer matche scratches on it and stuff but i like it to be matchinng my guitar ist has a mesa head with a beat up 2x12 and it looks kinda bad but it sounds good
I get all my amplification stuff new at Guitar Center, then I have it reliced.
Need that vintage vibe.
Need that vintage vibe.
