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Does how a bass looks matter to you?

#122
I never care what it looks like.. It has to feel good above all things. If it doesn't feel good, I'm not going to play it. .Period...
It can sound great and if it doesn't feel good im not going to play it.
It has to feel right..
And engineer can make even a crappy bass sound great.
If it feels good in my hands, its going to get played and find a unique sound and the looks don't mean a thing..
 
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#124
The visual appeal of things is part of how humans experience and enjoy the world, so there's no particular need to be indifferent to it when it comes to musical instruments. It's perfectly fine and natural to place high importance on the look of a bass. I certainly do. The problem is when you buy a bass that sounds/plays bad just because it looks cool.
 
#127
Beating a dead horse here, but it all depends on the bass. I am a self-admitted vintage, Fender-style snob, so I would never play an ultra modern looking boutique bass regardless of the ergonomics or tone. However, I've used a Gibson RD Standard for years purely based off its tone and feel even though I thought it was butt ugly when I first got it. I've grown to like it's looks and it's vintage looking enough, but I still feel a bit self-conscious with it at some gigs. But even when I try to use my Fender at a gig, I always end up going back to the Gibson. On the other hand, my dad has a great sounding and easy to play Beatle bass copy lying around, but I'd never play it in a live setting regardless of how vintage it looks.


And anyone who says looks don't matter at all probably also wears Crocs ;)
 
#128
Aesthetics are one of the most important aspects of a bass. You can change the tone with a pickup/string swap, you can set up a bass and change the neck profile to make it play well. But you cannot make an ugly bass look good without some major surgery .
 
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#129
Yes, I don't like bass's with long horns or dorky looking metal bass's..just give me a red p bass with white pick gaurd, now that's flash and class in one.. ___ › Squier › Squier Affinity P Bass Guitar Package - Metallic Red.jpg
 
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#131
southgabass said:
It does have at least a small part of my decision making, such as the sight of a Danelectro Longhorn bass LITERALLY triggers my gag reflex. But usually if it plays well and sounds good I'll take it, with the one exception being the fore mentioned Longhorn. Don't get me wrong, those are probably stellar basses, I just, I just can't do it.
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I find them quite ugly myself, and have never had the desire to even try one out much less spend any money on one.

I think the bassist for all-female trio Prince last played with used one.
 
#136
JimmyM said:
Didn't used to, but now that I can afford to buy a bass that looks how I like, definitely.
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...Says the Henry Ford of bassdom. ("Any color you want, as long as it's black...") :D

And yes, I have to like the aesthetics of a bass before I'd consider buying it. But even if it looks great, if it sounds like crap, I won't buy it. Unless, of course, I buy it without being able to play it first (ie., TB, etc.). Then it won't stay with me very long. Or if it's something I thought I'd love, but ended up not loving (like the 2 Rics I bought over the years). They certainly didn't suck; but just weren't my cup of tea. But they were perfect for other bassists. Sometimes things just don't "fit" me as well as my Fenders...
 
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#138
svtb15 said:
I never care what it looks like.. It has to feel good above all things. If it doesn't feel good, I'm not going to play it. .Period...
It can sound great and if it doesn't feel good im not going to play it.
It has to feel right..
And engineer can make even a crappy bass sound great.
If it feels good in my hands, its going to get played and find a unique sound and the looks don't mean a thing..
Click to expand...

...says the guy with a tie die guitar for his avatar... ;)
 
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