Do you think aesthetics are important?

[dkelley]

I generally don't care in the least, but there are some lines of ugliness I just will not cross no matter what. Like the Carvin SB series with the strange, phallic upper horn. Or many of the coffee-table boutiques, which look more like H.R. Giger paintings than basses.

But behind that line, I literally don't care. As long as it's in good shape, the finish is intact and protecting the wood, doesn't matter.....

LS

Which in truly subjective fashion are exactly my dream basses :

 

[EXILE03]

Aesthetics definitely matter, or at least to me. I would hate to have a bass with the most amazing tone ever heard, but not be able to stand the look of it. I'd rather like the entire thing than absolutely love one aspect of it.

Also, though this is off-topic, I thought I would contribute to the discussion about T-Birds earlier in this thread by saying that the best solution to neck dive is by actually HOLDING the frickin' neck. Unless you play by only touching the fretboard, I can't see how it would be a problem, even for you with back issues.

 

[kcole4001]

If image didn't matter, why would so many people be into the relic thing?

Personally, the aesthetics are what attract me to something first. It's not the only criteria, but it is the first.

 

[tangentmusic]

When I'm at a music store looking at a wall of basses, it's the ones that catch my eye that I will take down and try out. So I guess 1st impressions, or looks are important to me..

 

[dkelley]

If image didn't matter, why would so many people be into the relic thing?

Personally, the aesthetics are what attract me to something first. It's not the only criteria, but it is the first.

Because they think it makes them look like they are experienced pros or woodshedders

 

[pkstone]

I'm learning something from this thread. If you have tons of basses (that work fine) to choose from, you are going to go for a pretty one.

As a lefty, I only get a few choices, but I'm not complaining. I love the one I ended up with.

I also don't think any of this amounts to a hill of beans to the audience (except maybe in certain image-oriented genres). Other bass players are the ones that notice.

 

[Solarmist]

Personally, I would venture to say that aesthetics are the most important because I refuse to touch a bass that I find ugly. I don't care what it sounds like.

With the wide variety of great basses by various makers available for under $700 theres no reason to not get a great looking bass as well as one that sounds great and plays great.

This pretty much echos my post earlier in the thread.

There are so many bass manufacturers out there - one can find a beautiful bass that sounds, and plays great.
It's all about personal taste.