Do you think aesthetics are important?

[Nephilymbass]

What looks good is a matter of opinion. I look at an American made fender bass and it looks just like a cheap mim version. So in a way all fenders look cheap to me. I tend to like basses with a natural or no finish and a lot of people aren't into that either. I've heard all the "your bass looks like a coffee table jokes" so I really don't care to much about it. I do try to dress for the bass. For example ill where a plain black shirt with a natural bass I would never where red while playing a red bass and so on. What color clothes you where seems to make a bigger difference than the bass itself.

 

[bolophonic]

So much of what is considered aesthetically appealing in basses is just group-think anyway.

I think there are no less than 500,000 threads that refute that theory.

 

[pkstone]

I think there are no less than 500,000 threads that refute that theory.

Seems more like an affirmation to me, but what do I know?

 

[Munjibunga]

You bet.

 

[MegaSwing]

Sound trumps everything. Mojo might be second. But if it looks like a freak, it's hard to go much further from there, unless you are a genius player. And I'm not talking freak in a good way.

Back to reality:

It's better to have an average-looking bass that blows the doors off of life.

 

[smogg]

Aesthetics are what probably got you to pick the thing up to begin with.

Whether its because it was beautiful, weird, repulsive, or just different is completely up to the person.

I agree with this. When I look at a row basses in a shop, certain ones will jump out at me right away. Those are the ones I'll pick up first. Then I'll sort through those for play-ability; balance, tone, then ultimately cost.

 

[lomo]

yes.

 

[Bongolation]

But I got the gigs...never due to my looks (5'7" average skinny white guy LoL).

You got the gigs because you were the only applicant who wasn't fat.

 

[InternetAlias]

If bass guitars were all about being practical and not beautiful many of us would be playing steinbergers

 

[pkstone]

If bass guitars were all about being practical and not beautiful many of us would be playing steinbergers

That's cold, dude.

 

[InternetAlias]

That's cold, dude.

Not saying 'bergers don't have the charm of their own, however I didn't mean 'bergers don't look nice but more so that other bass designs aren't as geniusly practical.

 

[pkstone]

Well, I didn't say you were wrong!

 

[Bongolation]

What looks good is a matter of opinion.

Yes, so you'd better get it right. If you understand that your audience expects something of you, do what it takes. Never be caught off-brand.

What color clothes you where [sic] seems to make a bigger difference than the bass itself.

Yes, but why not get it all right?

How many mistakes do you allow yourself?

Anyway, furniture basses are entirely appropriate presentation for some genres, though not any to which I would personally listen.

 

[pkstone]

Yes, so you'd better get it right. If you understand that your audience expects something of you, do what it takes. Never be caught off-brand.
[...]
Anyway, furniture basses are entirely appropriate presentation for some genres, though not any to which I would personally listen.

I guess it varies pretty widely by genre. I play in one where the audience seems to dig my odd bass, mostly because it sounds good, and they don't seem concerned about whether I'm projecting the "acceptable" image.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I want a pretty one. If I don't find her attractive, I'm unlikely to take any further interest. If I DO find her attractive, getting to know her may reveal things that make us a bad match, or we may be very compatible and end up making beautiful music together. But looks are first. Without the initial attraction, I am unlikely to get to know her personally.

Wait, are we talking about basses or women here? Uh, either way...

 

[muddpuddle]

Behold, one of my favorite playing instruments that I absolutely can't stand the looks of:

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Then again, if it was in stingray shape it would just be a two pickup stingray with 24 frets, not a bongo...

that is ugly.....

 

[Bongolation]

that is ugly.....

I believe they are (or were) also available in metallic pea-green.

 

[Pet Sounds]

Personally I cant stand the look of modern basses - I cant even tell the shape of it ! As a long life fan of classic design I'd just get rid of it, or take the hardware and put it in another nice lookin bass.

I agree. Fender, Ric, Hofner are what floats my boat. I like the look of a Stingray, too. No coffee tables or weird horns for me.
That said, there's something for everybody out there, and I'm glad.
So, yeah, aesthetics matter to me somewhat.

 

[RED J]

For me, looks do matter. But not a deal breaker up against sound and playability. As it is, I like the looks of all my basses, They play and sound good, win win win.

 

[svtb15]

Looks mean very little or nothing to me. Its how it plays and feels,,,
However, I am very aware of how other people perceive things , so i will use that to my advantage at times.. if that makes sense... or is it a catch 22 paradigm ?