at the end of the day you want a bass that both looks and sounds good. but sound is more important to genre than looks. certain basses only sound right for certain styles of music. i would not worry about what others think....
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Does bass appearance matter for genre?
- Thread starter fourstringbliss
- Start date
Funny, I see that curved piece making it reminiscent of a dulcimer, a lyre/harp or something like that. Maybe you mean new country, not old-school.I'd say yes. I really can't see this bass going over at a country / western gig.
Wow, unlimited choices for upper strap button position!
I wouldn't show up at a jazz gig with a Paul Stanley Apocalypse bass. Nor would I show up at any gig with a daisy rock heartbreaker or butterfly bass!!!
It matters to a certain degree, but not as much as the sound of the bass. There are, however, some basses that will look and sound out of place depending on the genre. A good example would be trying to use the Hofner Violin Bass in heavy metal. It will stick out like a sore thumb and the sound will clash with the rest of the band.
I actually use The Punisher when I'm leading worship at my church. Of my 5 basses, it's the only one that gets tone compliments from people afterwards. I feel a little guilty, but it really does sound great. Sometimes when I'm feeling extra controversial, I even use my studded strap.
I wouldn't play it in a church band nor can I see it being used in a country band or an old jazz band. It'll obviously sound the part, but visually, it's a dichotomy that may trouble some more than others.
Bass appearance is like the clothes you wear imo.. clothes are functional. A pair of leather pants cover your legs like a pair of $200 dress pants. It's the preconceived notions of society which dictates whether something is appropriate to the situation.
Really?
I don't know my scales, but have played many a gig, including nationally broadcast radio,recorded many a song, mixed, edited and produced many more. I am an audio engineer by trade and a rather good producer/arranger.
So FWIW, I think I have plenty to offer as far as musical advice. If you want to know about scales, modes and so on, I'll quickly defer to someone with more knowledge. But there is a lot more to music than "book smarts" and theory.
I have always preferred that I be "heard and not seen".
Consequently I have always bought black instruments.
I believe that they work in all genre and are pretty much understated in appearance.
Consequently I have always bought black instruments.
I believe that they work in all genre and are pretty much understated in appearance.
I function just fine, thank you.
Not celebrating ignorance, by the way. But what I know allows me to get along just fine, in the context of what I am doing.
Why those with more knowledge look down on those who don't I'll never understand.
Now, if I were to broaden my horizons, or look to get other types of gigs, I'd do my homework first. I would not show up unprepared and wast other people's time.
But given a finite amount of time, and with many demands put on my time, and many varied interests, I am not concerned about my scales. I still gig as frequently as I want, playing the sort of music that I want to play.
Is that OK with the more knowledgable here, or should I sell my gear and get off the stage?
Not true at all and you proved in in the last half of your run-on sentency phrase thing.
Here's the thing. It all depends on the band. For classic rock, I would say there is plenty of wiggle room. Why? Well, because the genre "classic rock" covers everything from 50s music to 70s hard rock and supergroups to glam rock to 80 hair bands and all points in between. There is no one bass (not even a burst tort P bass) that covers all of that for looks. So you can get away with a vintage looking bass, a pointy bass, and, yes, your Peavey.
That being said, I think that classic rock (or rock in general) is one of the few genres that allows such wiggle room. You show up with a pointy bass to a jazz gig and you're toast. You'll need a pretty traditional looking bass for most country gigs (unless you play for a mega famous artist and then yo can do whatever you want within the parameters they set).
80's hair band cover band? I guess you COULD bring a burst tort P bass but it would look much cooler to have a lime green or hot pink pointy bass.
You get the point. In MOST cases it DOES matter. In some, however, it doesn't.
I agree. Although for the 80s metal thing I would stay in my comfort zone, buy a black, candy apple red, or silver Jazz Special for the whole Duff vibe. I would be playing something that felt like a worn glove in my hand, and would look silly at 48 years of age. No lime green or pink for me. Although for a time my 76 SVT was painted neo green, maybe I'd do that again.
I can see that the answers to the OP's "Does Appearance Matter?" vary depending on whether you're asking about the band, the musicians in the audience, or the general public.
One thing that I HAVE noticed: Although 99% of the audience don't know the difference between a 1960's bass and a 2000's bass (they all kinda look alike to them)... EVERYBODY can see the difference between a shiny, new bass and an old, beat-up road warrior.
THAT'S where it gets interesting. Some people will assume you're too poor (or cheap) to buy a new bass, some will assume that your Grandpa passed it down to you so you play it for sentimental reasons... and a FEW will understand the attachment we as musicians have for old, well-worn instruments.
Old bass= pity. Or admiration. Or both.
One thing that I HAVE noticed: Although 99% of the audience don't know the difference between a 1960's bass and a 2000's bass (they all kinda look alike to them)... EVERYBODY can see the difference between a shiny, new bass and an old, beat-up road warrior.
THAT'S where it gets interesting. Some people will assume you're too poor (or cheap) to buy a new bass, some will assume that your Grandpa passed it down to you so you play it for sentimental reasons... and a FEW will understand the attachment we as musicians have for old, well-worn instruments.
Old bass= pity. Or admiration. Or both.
I would not feel alright with a schecter stiletto in a 70's inspired hard rock band... I don't want to play anything but a P/J/Bird that fits soundwise AND lookwise. I don't have to do that but I feel better with it! That's why I sold my peavey milennium.
I would have thought it would be more important to be able to play in the genre competently as a first off .
And unless you rely on it for a living, finding yourself in a band where the other players have too many views on what bass guitar the bass player should be using is probably time to say these guys are idiots and I'd be better off somewhere else.
There are a range of basses played in most genres and it seems to me no particular bass type has a monopoly in any. However going back to the know all other musicians, you may find they only know of one or two bass types and the real issue if someone turns up with something different is it challenges their limited knowledge resulting in the "have you thought of trying a P or J" type of comment. If Flea can get away with playing a Wal in RHCP then virtually anything goes as far as I can see !!
And unless you rely on it for a living, finding yourself in a band where the other players have too many views on what bass guitar the bass player should be using is probably time to say these guys are idiots and I'd be better off somewhere else.
There are a range of basses played in most genres and it seems to me no particular bass type has a monopoly in any. However going back to the know all other musicians, you may find they only know of one or two bass types and the real issue if someone turns up with something different is it challenges their limited knowledge resulting in the "have you thought of trying a P or J" type of comment. If Flea can get away with playing a Wal in RHCP then virtually anything goes as far as I can see !!
I wouldn't pay money for one, but I'd definitely rock a heartbreaker (for a few songs anyway) if I was given one.
Always thought it would be a great punk bass as well.
I play pointy basses! Then again I'm not trying to invade the country bars or sit in with the jazz guys.
Even though I can lay down some mean funk and some pretty hot Motown I don't play with those guys either. Rock and metal in whatever form you got is where my love lies.
I play Ibanez Destroyers. I got three of them. One of them sounds so much like a classic P bass it is unreal.
Really this is too retentive for me. I prefer players who think outside of the norm, make the rules and treat people with respect. Your bass face or what you play don't matter.
Even though I can lay down some mean funk and some pretty hot Motown I don't play with those guys either. Rock and metal in whatever form you got is where my love lies.
I play Ibanez Destroyers. I got three of them. One of them sounds so much like a classic P bass it is unreal.
Really this is too retentive for me. I prefer players who think outside of the norm, make the rules and treat people with respect. Your bass face or what you play don't matter.
