Gear too ugly to play :-p

[tshapiro]

Is there gear that you know you'd like but you don't like the looks of it to the point that you won't play it?

I used to hate Orange brand gear because of the orange. Only black or dark Grey for me. Now in my 50's and my tastes are changing. I would really like some of that Orange gear. I once had an opportunity to buy an amazing custom Warwick HH bass made in Germany, but, it was a loud Lime Green oil finish so I passed. Best best sound and feel that I've played. Funny, I'd kill for that bass today in that Lime color. MarkBass bee-orange speakers... Won't do it. For 20 years I refused to give up my Precision for a Jazz bass because I hated the looks of a Jazz. When I got into slap all that changed I now play a Jazz.

You guys got any holdouts over looks?

 

[pie_man_25]

Some people will say that looks are everything, some will say that looks are nothing. There are plenty of basses I would play but not own. I wasn't fond of how my two white Jazz basses look, nowadays I'm just happy if I'm in the same room as a bass. Aesthetics will always play a role in gear, just for some more than others. Tastes are also known to change over time, in visual appeal as in food.

I dunno, it's all good, play the bass that makes you want to play, otherwise you're playing the bass that makes you not want to play.

 

[Michedelic]

Let's get this over with...

 

[pie_man_25]

Let's get this over with...
View attachment 3772936

I actually kinda like it unironically.

 

[bassdude51]

I'm not knocking Phil Jones equipment. I'd have no problem using his stuff for in my house practice or light jams with friends but I could not see myself up on a stage with something like this. Less than a 10" speaker is a "no-go" for me! I don't think I'd call Jones stuff ugly or too ugly to be seen with but kind of like similar to driving around in a Smart Car.

 

[RSBBass]

Nope, if the gear works and feels OK I will play it. About the only thing that would stop me is if it had an obnoxious message on it, something racist homophobic etc.

 

[squarepeg]

Nope. If it sounds ok, I'll play it.

 

[Plectrum72]

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. I don't think there's any functional gear that's too ugly for me to use; however, some gear is more my style than others so I'd be more likely to own it.

 

[dbase]

Let's get this over with...
View attachment 3772936

Why .. thats ..... thats a Peavey TNT? just guessing

 

[Ric Vice]

Agreed,
I really like red stuff, and I'll confess to having a Roland Cube 60 Bass once upon a time. Sounded great until I got a GK 200MB. But the orange didn't really bother me. The one in in the picture below is dirty. They will clean up nicely.

 

[La Faro]

I don't understand how some think Rickenbackers are beautiful. They look like a prototype desperate to be loved

 

[Gearhead17]

I get involved in threads like this too often, but I can't help it. If you like something, just play it. Why are so many of us self-conscious about the gear (amp heads, cabinets) that we play? Why do any of us think the audience is actually looking at the bass player's gear? Have you ever witnessed audience members leaving because a bass player's gear is too ugly? Half of them don't even know the difference between a guitar and bass. Most of them have no idea what all of that gear on stage is actually there for.

When you play gear you like, you play better. Period. You smile more, you look like you are having fun, and people want to be around you. People go to live shows for the music and the vibe. When you play gear you don't like, it's obvious.

Lastly, I am coming from the perspective of weekend warriors, not of national acts where image is an entirely different animal.

 

[casualmadness]

Ultimately I don't care what stuff looks like as long as it sounds and feels good. But I must confess, I have the Adam Clayton purple sparkly jazz bass. I love it but sometimes when I play it, I get a glance of the purple sparkles and think "what was I thinking getting this thing?"

 

[Oddly]

@bassdude51 , going way off-topic, but smart cars are serious fun to drive! Give one a go some time.

 

[Leo Thunder]

I won't have anything that sounds or looks bad. It's not as if anyone had to sacrifice one for the other.

 

[gln1955]

I'm on stage. I can't imagine any gear that would look worse.

 

[dr doofie]

Let's get this over with...
View attachment 3772936

This amp is AWESOME
I wouldn't even care if it didn't work...

 

[dr doofie]

I get involved in threads like this too often, but I can't help it. If you like something, just play it. Why are so many of us self-conscious about the gear (amp heads, cabinets) that we play? Why do any of us think the audience is actually looking at the bass player's gear? Have you ever witnessed audience members leaving because a bass player's gear is too ugly? Half of them don't even know the difference between a guitar and bass. Most of them have no idea what all of that gear on stage is actually there for.

When you play gear you like, you play better. Period. You smile more, you look like you are having fun, and people want to be around you. People go to live shows for the music and the vibe. When you play gear you don't like, it's obvious.

Lastly, I am coming from the perspective of weekend warriors, not of national acts where image is an entirely different animal.

I think the audience might leave cause I'm too ugly, so... if I play something nice I can just tag along with it...

 

[DuluthDank]

I need the most aesthetically pleasing boutique work of art I can find to compliment my cargo shorts sandals and t-shirt.

 

[dr doofie]

I think the audience might leave cause I'm too ugly, so... if I play something nice I can just tag along with it...

Like, "I'm with the gear..."