How important is appearance?

[Eric Moesle]

Importance depends on the situation. In a simple bar gig, I'm sure it doesn't matter at all, be yourself, use whatever you want.

If you're auditioning for a gig with a pro act as a sideman, Reba will want you to blend in and disappear, so don't use a bass painted with a big bullseye on it. I've also heard MANY stories about session auditioners - mostly in Nashville - getting turned down discriminatorily for showing up with six and seven string basses.

The band I gig with now dresses in black and has all black guitars. I'm sure I could show up with a red bass and nobody would get in a tizzy fit, but it looks more professional given the fact that everybody plays and dresses in black. In the end it really doesn't matter with a cover gig like this, but its such a simple choice for a small improvement that I go with the grain.

 

[Fuzzbass]

For me, playability will always come first. However tone and appearance are tied for second. As Smash said, there are too many high quality basses out there to consider playing an ugly one. Also, I realize that I can sound like me on most solidbody fretted basses... and it's unlikely that anyone in the audience will notice the difference between a Fender and a Fodera (not with the guitarist in my #1 band, anyway... )

There's no way to answer "what makes a nice looking bass". That's going to vary for each of us. I fell in love with the Darrin Huff Z-series design, but not everyone likes a top horn with a scroll on it.

It's important to note that the lines of the Huff Z-bass are what attracted me to Darrin in the first place. Don't get me wrong: looks are NOT the only reason I ordered one!! I also looked at the detailed photos he had of his work (completed basses and those in progress), and also spoke to him directly to make sure that neck profile and string spacing would be to my liking. I've also rejected particular brands/models simply because of looks.

 

[metron]

I like the way my basses look but I bought them because of how they sound. Appearance is not important to me.

 

[Michael Jewels]

Looks matter a lot to me. Heck, I even sold a great sounding bass a long time ago just because I couldn't stand to look at it anymore. (My Ovation Magnum)

I wasn't thrilled with the looks when I bought it, but it sounded so good that I told myself that it'll grow on me - HA!

I can't stand people that abuse their gear. In the 60s when Pete Townsend started smashing his guitars, I wanted to smash him. Hey, you don't want the guitar, send it to a kid that can't afford it. I know it was for dramatic effect, (also due to the fact that he was probably high as a kite) but it drove me nuts.

Now, Fender has its 3 versions of the time machine series*:

1) N.O.S. (New Old Stock): As if the guitar was discovered in a warehouse after many years, never played and showing no signs of age or wear.
2) Closet Classic: A guitar collector's dream! Imagine discovering a vintage guitar at a yard sale that's been stashed in a closet...it's a bit, yellowed with age, the finish is slightly checked with hairline finish cracks that are typical of an instrument that's been exposed to years of humidity and temperature variations.
3) Relic: Super worn in, like your favorite pair of jeans! Shows natural wear and tear from years of heavy use - nicks, scratches, worn finish, rusty hardware and aged plastic parts. Looks, feels and plays like it's taken the punishment of many long nightclub hours.

Do you know how they get that Relic look? They take belt buckles and beat the guitars with them! I could see buying an instrument as option # 1, or # 2, but I'm going to pay someone good money to ruin a perfectly good instrument? NOT ME! Authenticity like that I don't need.

All guitars age, and accidents do happen, but a six inch long scratch on the face of a bass? I'll pass on it.

Rusty hardware indeed! Looks aren't everything, but looks aren't nothing. BTW good tone gotta be there first, then we go to looks.

Mike (forgive the long rant)
* Word for word from the 2004 Fender catalog.

 

[Eilif]

I just want to restate part of my post that no one replied too..

"does a vibey bass bring out the music in you?

When I pick up certain basses they literally seem to draw the music out of me. Some of this is the way the instrument is consructed, but I have found that a bass may have equally good ergonomics, but if it doesnt have the same visual appeal, then it isn't inspiring. I think there is alot to be said for the visual-inspirational value of a bass as it relates to playing.

 

[StoutXXX]

Ive had a honeyburst Stingray 5 for years and its always given me an earthy cut thru tone and vibe from the start. I loved playing blues and rock. Then for a redonkulosly low amount of money I got a Spector5 CRFM and a flame maple and green stain finish. Wehn I went from the stingray to that spector I felt like I got a weapon in my hand. It caught eyes it was heavy, it sounded deep and angry and when we did axe chops on breakdowns its just felt more right then on a sunburst finish. Both are great basses but the spector sees more metal and the stingray sees more improv and rock not even due to sound per se but definately because of looks.

 

[Fuzzbass]

If you're auditioning for a gig with a pro act as a sideman, Reba will want you to blend in and disappear, so don't use a bass painted with a big bullseye on it.

Exactly. Use the big bullseye bass when auditioning for Shania (referencing her "metal" Super Bowl appearance last year... )

Anyway, Eric has it right. The fact is, the appearance/config of an instrument *can* outweigh the player's skill when it comes to getting a gig. I'm the first one to say that a Mexi P-bass would work just fine for most gigs... but that's if we were all blind. It's kind of obvious that instruments with flashy graphics or stickers won't go over everywhere... but neither will a six string singlecut boutique. The Mexi P would probably not go over well for a jazz gig, but the singlecut probably would.

I'm lucky in that none of my bands care what bass I play. However, if f'r instance my country/blues band asked me to play my Fender RB5 and leave the Modulus Quantum at home, I would honor the request. It ain't a big deal to me.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I just want to restate part of my post that no one replied too..

"does a vibey bass bring out the music in you?"

As noted I value the appearance of an instrument, but my answer to this question is "no".

It's fun to play my old '64 P-bass (now owned by my brother) because that is an incredibly vibey bass, and I look forward to getting my Darrin Huff Z (also very vibey, in a different way). But while superior playability and ergonomics can "bring out the music" in me, looks do not.

 

[mark beem]

Appearance is important to me. But then, what I consider to be a good-looking instrument usually coincides with good build quality. That means nice wood, proper pickup routs, a mirror finish, polished frets, clean hardware etc.

I won't play an ugly beat-to-hell or poorly set-up instrument just because it's alleged to have some mystical "vintage vibe." There's a lot of that attitude infecting the indie music scene though. "If your instrument has four strings or less and looks like crap, welcome."

Repeating what Christopher said...

 

[StoutXXX]

and yes a bass with a vibe to it adds alot to my personality on stage.. Thats why when I play rythm guitar I whip out my black neckthru warlock to rock out and prod anyone who comes near me! But yea as stated before the stingray gave a different vibe and feel to my playing compared to the spector