I often think of hardware colors as "cat people" and "dog people". If you would custom order a new bass today, which would you choose?
All Gold Hardware...looks classy to me. I dig it mucho grande. Mostly becuase I think gold goes well when dealing with any type of instrument with wood grain present.
I like either Matte Black or Brushed Aluminum. Though "combinations" can be cool too ... ...so am I a Wolf or a pus** ?
For me it depends on what kind of wood/finish the bass has. If it is a bass with a light colored wood such as maple and a natural finish I'd go with black hardware. But for darker colored basses I'd go with gold. Given the choice I would never go with chrome.
Gold hardware looks really cheesey. I got it on both of my fretless basses, a Lakland and a Pedulla. Black on all three Fenders, and chrome on the Stingray 5 and Lakland fretted. They all look good to me. Except the gold. But that's what I like about it ... it's SO controversial.
Gold looks good but pits and deteriorates easily, probably because the gold layer is thin and the metal underneath is soft so the plating will stick. I have had several basses, and still have one, with the gold finished hardware and it just doesn't hold up. Brushed aluminum looks cheesy and deteriorates quickly. It is usually clear plastic coated to slow the process. Black is somewhat more durable but scratches easily and will eventually wear off. That leaves chrome. Chrome is one of the hardest metals and is much less susceptible to the problems of the other finishes. You just can't beat a good quality chrome finish for durability and looks. So far, this is my favorite. Stainless would be pretty good except that the metal is relatively soft and is not usable as a plating metal. I have never seen a bass with stainless hardware but there must be one out there somewhere. I can't help buy think someone will offer titanium hardware soon. It is hard, will take a number of nice finishes and is very light weight.
I really like Black hardware because they don't wear out like Gold... or rust like chrome/gold.. and black fits in basically any color and I just love the looks/feel of it thats just IMHO of course DM
GOLD! i´m planning in changing the cheapo chrome bridge on my metallic blue(purple) MIM Jazz for a Gold Gotoh bridge and tuners... looks great in my head... also pearloid white pickguard
I like black or chrome. Gold just seems kinda cheesy to me, I don't even like gold jewelry though so...
i also hate gold jewelry... but in a bass is soooo diferent... can´t compare. i love then black hardware in some situations... like in the Yamaha Billy Sheehan Attitude... Looks perfect. Gold works in some colors, i agree is not for everybody.
chrome or black. I can't stand gold hardware, especially with a natural wood finish. it ends up looking like something that would belong in an office--the "executive model".
Custom bass? - As a matter of fact, I should have final spec's in next week on a custom after 3 months of agonizing and researching. Hardware spec'd is a mix - all gold except for the control knobs which will be covered in exotic wood to contrast with the top. If I was in a nu metal band or some kind of band that had a tough guy image, I'd go black chrome. But as it is, I want it to look like a New Orleans pimp on Saturday night at the fights.
Chrome all the way. But I won't give up on a bass just because of the colour of its hardware. I'm also a dog person.
I like my stuff black, black and black. It's usually more expensive than chrome though, because of that, my stuff is chrome!
I'd have some of that - Ti is just sooo cool. It would match my watch then... My Warmoth (which I ordered last week) is specced with all black hardware. Of course I'm a =^..^= person.
