Do you find natural finish ugly?

[bgartist]

What is this?

F bass

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Not unless the wood is actually ugly.

On the other hand, opaque instruments immediately say "budget" to me because all the cheapest instruments are made out of wood that is not suitable for display. I realize there are many expensive and well made painted instruments out there but even then it is safe to assume that under the paint is something inferior.

EDIT: An alternative might be a painted finish that shows the woodgrain through, again assuming it looks good.

 

[drTSTingray]

Another picture of my EB Musicman Stingray 5 - to show how classy a nice natural finish can look - it helps also that it's just about my favourite bass sound wise and playing wise over the last 45 years and really exceeds anything else I've played, from vintage to modern

 

[drTSTingray]

Just had to post this.....
View attachment 3032757

Haha that's fabulous.

And H ere's a real EBMM Bongo - much sexier shape - I've seen a picture of a natural one - looks pretty cool as well but mine is brightish Orange!!

 

[B-Mac]

I actually do not think that you have such a bass and this entire thread is a ruse.

I agree...not a single reply and never posted the ‘offending’ natural finish bass. I say we all round up our toys and go home

 

[Guinness20]

It depends on the wood. I love ash, not so fond of really detailed tops though.

 

[Ville Billie]

See, I think a black pick guard would do wonders for that thing. But, my NTF is beautiful. Tort and all baby!View attachment 3024673

Once again, it's all in the wood/grain. I have a swamp ash L2000 with a clear orange finish that I've gotten compliments on. Unfortunately, some bass body woods have the look of plywood.

 

[hatchards]

I’m not a huge fan of natural, at least as far as Fenders go, but I can fall in love with it if it sounds great. Ugly can be overlooked if the tone is there.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Depends on the wood. Aren’t some squires pine? Natural pine kinda sucks..

It looks just the same as épicéa, which is a close cousin used for the top of many acoustic guitars and most violins.

 

[hdscout]

What is this?

It's an Ibanez, but I can't find the model. I saved this pic several years ago. Most beautiful finish I've ever seen.

 

[newwavefrank]

Overall I'm not really a fan...but I have a couple of Warwicks that I wouldn't paint over (and one that I did)

 

[JoeWPgh]

It's oddity for me to get compliments from an audience on one of my basses. I got 2 last night for this parts bass

 

[Dave W]

It depends on the wood. I like it overall and own 2 basses in natural/maple.

 

[WoodyJ]

Wood is good.

 

[B-Mac]

Wood is good.

View attachment 3035028

That fretboard (at least in this picture) really ties in with the body finish and wood grain.

 

[darkinners]

I never liked completely naked natural finish with pale looking woods (I love natural oil finish on darker wood like Walnut or Rosewood though)

If it's a pale looking wood like Maple, I like them have sort of vintage/yellow tint to it, still have that natural finish look but look less boring.

 

[Kevin Colt]

View attachment 3024649 View attachment 3024650 View attachment 3024651 If their not for you, they are for me.

that rick is a beauty.

 

[GlennB]

I think its all about the pickguard on a natural finish bass. Wood is wood with different grain structure. The pickguard makes it. Guitars without pickguards really demonstrate this in my opinion.

 

[bassmonkeee]

I love the look of the FrankenPrecision I got a couple of months ago with the $14 gold pearl pickguard I found on Amazon.

 

[4-fingers]

Natural has been one of my least desired finishes.......then this baby dropped in my lap.....