Does bass appearance matter for genre?

[Riverrunsred]

Looks don't really matter as long as it sounds good, playing a warlock in a country band might get a few odd looks though...

You probably won't believe me, but ......I have seen that !

 

[Dellers]

In general, I don't really think so. Although having 6 strings for this just is and looks silly:

 

[Cirk]

If it works for you, roll with it.

 

[Marko 1]

In general, I don't really think so. Although having 6 strings for this just is and looks silly:

 

[JimmyM]

Eh...maybe to some. Wouldn't worry about it as long as the playing's there.

 

[Marko 1]

I guess it matters if the band leader/owner thinks it does and you want the gig.

 

[Kmonk]

The only things that matter are the following:
You know how to play it
It sounds good
It's comfortable
You like it

 

[Soonerbldr]

We are Bass Players... no one notices but us...

 

[Marko 1]

The only things that matter are the following:
You know how to play it
It sounds good
It's comfortable
You like it

Again, it could be an issue for who’s doing the hiring.


Not saying it’s “right”, but…

 

[P Town]

A Bootsie Collins bass would have almost fit in with Porter Wagoners' 1960s style. Bootsie Collins probably would not.

 

[Mr. Ray]

Make your own name..if there are rules You can break them

Albert KIng one of the worlds greatest funky blues guitarists played a Gibson Flying V

 

[Joe Louvar]

To funny - thanks for the great thread, I laughed so hard I sprayed my screen.

 

[bassbenj]

In general, I don't really think so. Although having 6 strings for this just is and looks silly:

Looks silly, maybe, but "is" silly? I don't think so. Sounds great to me so long as you don't listen with your eyes.

6ers do this though. I've caught flack for a bass like that playing blues and it did the job wonderfully (far more need for ERB than that video), but I've also seen other blues bands with the bass player with a 6er and where even *I* am thinking "gosh, that bass looks all wrong!". Shame on me.

 

[dangerouscello]

In general, I don't really think so. Although having 6 strings for this just is and looks silly:

Those saxophones scared the hell out of me in the beginning.

 

[ronin614]

When I was asked to play for my college jazz band (many years ago) I showed up with one of these. The conductor walked over and asked "Are you really going to play that in my jazz band?" To which I responded "Well that all depends, do you really want a bassist?" That was the only discussion that we ever had on the issue. Not that I was any great player (I'm still not) but they needed me more than I needed them. With VERY few exceptions HOW you play is much more important than WHAT you play.

 

[schwartzbass]

I play in a classic rock band doing mostly zep and stones and I mainly play a Zon Sonus and all i ever get is compliments on the sound.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

A Bootsie Collins bass would have almost fit in with Porter Wagoners' 1960s style. Bootsie Collins probably would not.

Now that thar's downright FUNNY!!!

 

[DrSpunkwater]

I'm the singer. I'll play whatever bass I damn well please.

And what I please is a Pink Paisley P.

 

[SalmonCubes]

I would say it matters to an extent. Bringing a Spector Alex Webster Signature to a country gig isn't really as good as a P bass. Likewise, showing up with Hofner to a metal gig isn't as appealing as an SR505.

 

[Sid Fang]

It really depends on how far you're otherwise going for a retro look. If you're wearing "big hair", vintage clothing, etc., then the bass would sort-of undermine the effect. Otherwise, while audience members who are both old and musicians themselves might notice, nobody is really going to mind.