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Does color matter to you??

I don't go for weird neon and similar colors. And I prefer not to use anything with a gloss black finish (even though I own a bass with one) because it shows finger prints too easily under stage lights and generally looks pretty grungy because of that.

But if the tone is there I won't rule anything out. There's this one certain bass sound I can hear in my head. And I've never found a bass that can get it for me. If I ever do find it however, I don't care if it's spray painted with Rustoleum lime green and fuchsia deck paint and has My Little Pony inlays in it. It will be mine. Oh yes! It will be mine...



tl:dr - not really.


The ponies is hardcore, yo.
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And, yes, color matters to me. That being said, there are only a few I really don't like.
 
Color/finish definitely matters to me. Even if I love everything else about a bass, if it is not appealing to me in color or general shape/design (so, general aesthetics), it's a no go.

Another important factor is finish sheen. I prefer high gloss. I'm okay with oiled raw wood finish (like tung oil, etc). I HATE matte or semi-gloss finishes. They just look cheap and tacky to me.
 
Yes, but it's not necessarily a deal breaker either. If the must have, can't pass, bass presents it self even in the ugliest color imaginable, I'll buy it. I don't mind having to refinish a bass occasionally. I've done it a couple times on purchases I didn't care for the color. Not that huge of a deal, and I enjoy doing it.
 
Have you ever passed on a bass solely bassed on color?? Obviously if it's a screaming deal I won't. But I find myself seriously despising the idea of every buying a sunburst or especially a black bass ever again. So, I'm sure this will get interesting....how important is the visual aspect of a bass a part of your decisions

Sorry, I would turn up my nose at any pink instrument of any kind.
 
Color is not a huge deal, until it is. I'm not usually looking for, but would probably not pass over a bass for any number or random colors. Orange, Sherwood Green, Seafoam Green, Daphne blue, etc... I'd probably pass on a lime green or neon yellow. Definitely pass on hello kitty, puke pink, coral, paisley, checkerboards.
 
Have you ever passed on a bass solely bassed on color?? Obviously if it's a screaming deal I won't. But I find myself seriously despising the idea of every buying a sunburst or especially a black bass ever again. So, I'm sure this will get interesting....how important is the visual aspect of a bass a part of your decisions
Depends on how much the bass cost. If it’s a $2000 bass yes I’m picky about the finish, is it’s a $300 pawn shop beater I’m not so picky.
 
Looks are extremely important to me in an instrument. It could be the most solid, best sounding, most versatile bass in the universe, but I have no interest unless it looks good to me.

My main "color" turnoffs are natural finishes, followed closely by finishes that show highly figured wood. I prefer my instruments to look like shiny hot rods and rocket ships rather than fancy trees. I do like classy sunbursts with plain wood, though – especially on archtops.
 
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My mood dictates whether or not I'd buy an ugly colored bass. There must be something appealing about the instrument in order for you to try it out in the first place. Sometimes an ugly duckling bass turns out to be a great instrument and you get used to it. I wouldn't seek out any bass that's black and pointy with bloodstains or neon toy colors. If the bass is a cheapo that has some promise I'll refinish it. Relics aren't my cup o' tea, either.
 
Definitely. For instance, I have an irrational and seething dislike of red instruments (not just basses, guitars, violins, etc). I really have no idea why but I can’t stomach the thought of ever owning a red instrument...although my last #1 bass was a Sadowsky NYC 5’er with a Cherry Sunburst finish, so I guess I can survive some red on an instrument as long as there’s other colors too.

Of course, if I found an instrument that just had THE tone, mojo and playability but disliked the color I would definitely buy it...and promptly have it professionally refinished.
 
Yes color matters to me. If I don’t like the color I cannot get comfortable enough to rock it live regardless of how wonderful the tone and playability are.

At home practicing or recording, it doesn’t matter, but on stage I’ve got to really like how it looks.
 
I like all colors, some more. I go for natural finishes first, then black if it isn't a fancier wood. I like matching body/headstock whether it is paint or natural; in fact, they MUST be matching!
I don't like sunburst finishes, especially on a guitar with good wood and no veneer. Sunburst was probably invented to hide cheap wood on the sides and make it look like the whole guitar is made of whatever veneer on top, after all.

There, you have one more opinion on taste which won't and shouldn't affect your choices at all. :)
 
Sure it does. I like basses IN COLOR. I like b&w movies on TCM, but to me there's way too much black onstage: Amps, cables, lots of black axes. Geez, it's like an Italian funeral with some bands. I like solids like LPB or Sherwood Green or Pelham Blue, etc. I love see-thru tints if it's nice grain to be seen. When I was in the Alembic community, they find some of the damndest wood you've ever seen, and lots of them are understandably some sort of gloss or oil-finish clear and to me, they just looked . . . . . . brown, which always drew a laugh from them. I like colors, yes I do.
 

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