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Is elegance a thing when it comes to basses?

#41
MYLOWFREQ said:
The J bass is still the most elegant bass that's ever designed.
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See, I think the standard sized J body is a little too big and is a bit voluptuous in the curves. I realize I might be in the minority.

I do like the general look of the offset though, and I think a couple of the builders who have nipped and tucked, like Sadowsky, nailed it.
 
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#43
Elegance is subjective for sure, but I think this fits it....

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#44
In good condition: Fancy tops in natural colors, matching head stocks, abalone and binding do it for me . Some cross the line and can get gawdy. Elegance should never attract attention, only envy.
Road worn, relick'ed, or clown colors, nope. That's like wearing sneakers to a wedding.
 
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#55
Just bought a Sandberg VM 5 - I had to
choose between 3 models with similar specs and price. Of course I took the one that attracted me visually. The most beautiful/ elegant/ classy - at least from my point of view. Reading this thread was a beautiful reminder on how different we judge this things
 
#56
To this day my old Stambsugh is still the most elegant instrument that I’ve ever had the chance of owning. I’m not too big on elaborate inlays these days, but even when I look at it now, I find the design to be incredibly beautiful and tasteful (not to mention functional). The playability was the best that I had ever experienced and the sound was so unique and large. It was definitely the type of bass that you would enjoy a glass of wine with when playing

IMG_4214.png
 
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#59
I do find elegance in exquisitely selected woods, refined designs and graceful lines, many of these in the forms of bass guitars.

But while I enjoy admiring these instruments from a distance or even from up close, I have in my travels through GAS learned one thing about me: For an instrument to feel like an extension of me, elegance is actually the opposite of what I‘m looking for.

I liken it to clothing: I can enjoy wearing a nicely tailored suit for an evening or even a day, but that’s about the extent of it - the majority of days, I‘m perfectly happy in a nice pair of jeans and a t-shirt.
 
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