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I don't like plain black basses

I like both plain white and plain black basses. Especially if one is a 1960 Precision and the other is a 2008 MIA Precision. So here's Yin and Yang. Together they create harmony in the music world.

bass yinyang.jpg
 
Never liked the plain black/no pickguard look. I have one, an Ibanez SR300DX that a guy gave me. He was a coworker, and he found out I was a bass player, and one day he said to me, "Hey, I have a bass at home I want to give to you."

I told him I'd make him an offer, he didn't have to give me anything, but that's what he wanted to do. OK. Here's a pic:

View attachment 7235357

I find it ugly and cheap-looking. I would even like plain white better. Not sure why I have this prejudice, I like a black P or Jazz with a black pickguard fine. In fact, one of the basses I shouldn't have sold was an S-1 Jazz, black with black PG and maple FB, but I did sell it.

For now, this will be my sticker bass, you can see the beginnings here:

View attachment 7235358

It's not a terrible instrument, I get it out and play it from time to time. I think ultimately I'd like to replace the electronics with a vintage-voiced P pickup, and a hum-cancelling J. Preamp is BT stacked, not one of those "Boom" things Ibanez did for a while. Not a great preamp, not terribly bad, I usually set it flat (detents) or just cut treble some.

What do you think? Is something wrong with me that I don't like plain black?
Have you considered counseling?
 
I think pinstriping looks good on a black bass. One example here:
 
I like both plain white and plain black basses. Especially if one is a 1960 Precision and the other is a 2008 MIA Precision. So here's Yin and Yang. Together they create harmony in the music world.

View attachment 7235600

Black with black pg is not “plain” black to me. In my first post I mentioned my black jazz with black pg. Great bass.

And I’m just talking looks, after all. Not saying I wouldn’t play one. I have, obviously. But if I were ordering, it definitely wouldn’t be my first choice.
 
Oooo, nice! Jazz Bass Plus, right? I have one in sunburst. I like the red.
Yes. It sat in a shop in L.A. for almost a year back in '90 because everyone wanted 5 strings. Still mint. Mostly I play it passive. It's not necessarily my favorite but it's the one I would save in a fire, because I can replace the others, they are still in production.
 
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I feel like if a bass is going to be black, it needs to be stealthed-our or murdered-out. You know, black pickup covers without exposed pole piece, black hardware... like this: Bass > Stiletto Stealth (if it has an ebony fingerboard, even better).

Like Spinal Tap says, "None more black."

My only issue with black basses is that I like to wear band T-shirts when I play out and it's really difficult to find those in colors other than black. So I have to rummage around for a non-black band T-shirt to make a black bass stand out.

Go figure, though. My favorite bass is a black one (it's a 2018 Fender Aerodyne PJ. Black with cream binding). I think a set of DiMarzio cream-colored PJ pickups would visually pop on the bass. However, it was already modded with an EMG Geezer PJ set, and the tone is to die for.
 
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Black looks fine in ordinary room lighting. On stage, it just recedes from view—unless it has random smudges or greasy fingerprints on it. Then they’re ALL you can see. It’s a completely undistinguished color for anything except evening wear and eyeglass frames, IMO. On top of that, it’s hot in the sun. Throw some sparkle flake in it, and then you might have something.

Mostly way overrated, though.