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If placed properly the humpback upper horn can serve as a ball sack protector. If your band sucks and people start throwing beer bottles. Your nuts are protected.
I think if someone has a super fancy bass (one that just exudes luxery) and plays like a beginner, that would look worse. But then again, we're bassists. People look at the guitarist or singer before they notice our ******** nine times out of ten. Lol
They do still look a little funny to me when viewed directly from the front. But they intrigue me and sound very good.
I really like the look of the Terra Firma 6-string from the angle shown in the video below. I'd be very interested to experience one from a player's eye view, even though I'm not in the market for another bass.
I really like the look of the Terra Firma 6-string from the angle shown in the video below. I'd be very interested to experience one from a player's eye view, even though I'm not in the market for another bass.
I have not read through this thread yet, but I assume you play 6 string bass; don't you think it would be pretentious (not to mention, silly looking) to show up at a blues gig with a 6 string bass, in the first place?
I hear what you're saying, but you could get away with it in a modern blues setting.
Are single cut basses pretentious? The answer, I think, based on what I've gleaned from this thread is It depends on who you ask.
There's the 'yes' camp, the 'no' camp, the 'play what you want and don't care what other people think' camp.
I am in the camp of 'opinions matter', and I act accordingly on the gig. I consider my Valenti 5 my 'personal bass' - it has a spalted maple top and active electronics, and while it's sonically quite versatile, is definitely a modern looking instrument. I'm probably not bringing it to a classic blues/rock gig. My workhorse Fender J and P basses fit the bill for that, and yes, it's partly a choice because of both how they look and sound. Many bandleaders often have an image, aural, visual and otherwise that they are going for, and if you want to get hired again it's important to fit that image. Or to say it another way, bring the right tool for the job.
I agree with those who say that modern single cut or even double cut instruments are associated with fusion. Many notable players in that genre play those types of instruments. If that is a type of bass that speaks to you on a personal level, buy one, and have fun making great music on it! For me to own such an instrument, however - I play gigs in a variety of genres and I would not expect to use an instrument like that on all of the gigs I do, and that's okay.
There's the 'yes' camp, the 'no' camp, the 'play what you want and don't care what other people think' camp.
I am in the camp of 'opinions matter', and I act accordingly on the gig. I consider my Valenti 5 my 'personal bass' - it has a spalted maple top and active electronics, and while it's sonically quite versatile, is definitely a modern looking instrument. I'm probably not bringing it to a classic blues/rock gig. My workhorse Fender J and P basses fit the bill for that, and yes, it's partly a choice because of both how they look and sound. Many bandleaders often have an image, aural, visual and otherwise that they are going for, and if you want to get hired again it's important to fit that image. Or to say it another way, bring the right tool for the job.
I agree with those who say that modern single cut or even double cut instruments are associated with fusion. Many notable players in that genre play those types of instruments. If that is a type of bass that speaks to you on a personal level, buy one, and have fun making great music on it! For me to own such an instrument, however - I play gigs in a variety of genres and I would not expect to use an instrument like that on all of the gigs I do, and that's okay.
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Gospel players seem to be quite open-minded about modern looks and sounds.
This is a soundcheck video. Hopefully there was a gig. His name looks Turkish.
Pretension is in the eye of the beholder. F**k 'em if they don't like your bass.
Thanks for posting that picture with Hiromi! I wasn't really aware of Anthony Jackson (I live in a cave), but I had seen some great videos of Tony Grey playing with her.
I wish I had as much fun doing anything whatsoever as she does playing music. Anthony Jackson is of course playing a singlecut with her here. Fodera.
Eve though it is a 6 string bass, Nathan is not playing a WhaleCut™ bass there, and, he plays for Eric Clapton so everyone gives Nathan a lot of leeway in that band.
True. My eyes were crossed. I got two hours of sleep last night. Probably time to give my insomnia a rest. Nice talking with you tonight.
Pretentious being seen & heard playing one? Probably not.
Casually tossing one across a chair in your studio like you just don't care? Maybe so...
From that angle - kinda looks like Flipper...or possibly like a shark with a frickin' laser beam on it's head
Lol! Here is a better shot of Flipper, I mean....
Pretentious being seen & heard playing one? Probably not.
Casually tossing one across a chair in your studio like you just don't care? Maybe so...
From that angle - kinda looks like Flipper...or possibly like a shark with a frickin' laser beam on it's head
LOL! Here´s a better shot of Flipper
Not pretentious to me, but I'm going to expect a lot more than just quarter notes on the root if I see you with one 
Not pretentious to me, but I'm going to expect a lot more than just quarter notes on the root if I see you with one
I play what the song asks for. If it has to be on a single cut, so be it.
This is the single cut I like
Those long ones that go over the neck are just ugly to me. But I wouldn't in any case judge someone by that. Of course it can look weird in some situations. But only us bass players would notice, right?
Those long ones that go over the neck are just ugly to me. But I wouldn't in any case judge someone by that. Of course it can look weird in some situations. But only us bass players would notice, right?
Sure, I said that was what I was expecting to see ; not that it was the right thing to do, or what I wanted to see
