Is it wrong to sticker your bass?

[Dogghouse]

 

[EVerderame]

stick it up!

 

[xXMoonichoXx]

I second this fantastic reply.

I told you that I just started, and this was a simple question. I asked for advice, not to be ridiculed by someone online. Thank you.

 

[xXMoonichoXx]

Welcome to TB! As you can see, when someone asks for an opinion, people will step up and offer them. Since you're new here, let me just say that the banter is mostly friendly--so please don't take it the wrong way.

My two cents: if stickering your bass makes you happy, and you feel good when you rock it with the stickers, I think you should do it. Why the heck play music, if not to express yourself and feel happy when you do it?

It's a whole different game if you're making a living playing music; then you do what the act (as a business venture) requires and smile when you cash the checks. But since you asked the question in a web forum, I assume you're just playing for fun or maybe beer money (no put-down intended, whatsoever)--so my advice is to do what you like.

Thank you!

 

[MobileHolmes]

I've actually thought about specifically building a bass to put stickers on, because in some situations, they can be kind of cool, but I don't want to jack up the finish on anything else I own

 

[xXMoonichoXx]

It's like tattoos, or your choice of clothes.

People will judge you. Up to you whether it matters or not (and it may affect, for instance, your chance of landing gigs). But as with in-your face tattoos and unconventional clothing choices, your attitude will also affect how people react. Confidence in your choices will cause others to accept them more readily than weakness.

As for me, my basses are festooned with my own NSFTB artwork that I made myself. It's as much my own personal expression as any sounds I make with it. I'd remove it (or, more likely, get another bass) if offered the right financial incentive. But I wear a suit to court and my musical ambitions don't extend past dive bars--so I have at least some ability to judge when to be conventional and when not to.

Thanks for the advice! There's a lot of rude people in this thread, but your answer seemed the most convenient.

 

[Antisyzygy]

I heard that stickering your bass is bad, and that you shouldn't do it, but I think it looks so cool! Is it really that bad to sticker your bass?

Uhmmm... Why? It's your bass. Do whatever you want with it.

It's not like we have a HOA for bass ownership.

I understand getting a little upset at someone defacing a vintage instrument perhaps, but honestly, that is still their bass to do with as they please. They could burn it if they wanted to.

 

[MrLenny1]

Yes. lol

 

[Will_White]

As long as it's not lewd or generally offensive I have no qualms with putting stickers on a bass or guitar, and I have a few basses that have stickers on them.

 

[xXMoonichoXx]

I heard that if you put stickers on your bass the Bass police will come and arrest you. Same to kids who play with colored strings (especially green ones). For that matter anything not Fender is highly suspect and will be under review by the National Committee for Bass Security.

I heard that if you put stickers on your bass the Bass police will come and arrest you. Same to kids who play with colored strings (especially green ones). For that matter anything not Fender is highly suspect and will be under review by the National Committee for Bass Security.

lol

 

[Korladis]

The only cool place for stickers is on the case.

Anywhere else?

Fraid not!

What about on top of an unsightly hole from a modification?

 

[MobileHolmes]

Actually, come to think of it, I have a small sticker off an orange that says "Australian Navel" on the headstock of my LB76 (I gues I thought it was funny when I was 17) but it is little, and back then carvin headstocks were covered in plastic, so it's not like it's jacking up anything

 

[Billoney]

Stickers on two of my basses. One is an el cheapo and the other is a factory second.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Has anyone asked yet what is the best sticker for metal? Sorry...

I'm tempted to put Che and Jimi on my '63 P.

 

[steelbed45]

I say sticker it up if that's your fancy. I slapped a sticker on my car, and that thing cost more than a Fodera, that's for sure.
We live in a world where Chuck Rainey modded a 1957 P Bass to drop in a 2Tek bridge. Nothing is sacred.

 

[BassUrges]

Hey can we start a NSFTB bass club?

I was noodling on a 5-string build when someone posted a thread about "shapely body designs." So...I have a shapely body laid out in walnut and maple. As I was doing some laser cutting at the library, the librarian asked if it was a portrait of my wife.

As to the face, yes, but as my wife put it, "mine aren't as big as my head."

I do not expect session or wedding work, despite the classic P sound.

 

[Kmonk]

I do not put stickers on anything that I own. That includes my cars as well as basses. I don't like the way they look and if you ever want to sell the bass, you are going to have a hard time if the potential buyer does like the stickers you put on or is like me and doesn't like stickers at all. If you leave, the stickers on for a long period of time, you will have a difficult time removing them, and even if you remove them, you will most likely find that the finish will be uneven which will make even more difficult to sell.

It's your bass. Do what you want, just understand the consequences.

 

[cool breeze]

Tacky bro just Tacky. Why and for what purpose? Yuck!

 

[fmachia]

Don't let people tell you what to do with your bass

 

[Fat Freddy]

I told you that I just started, and this was a simple question. I asked for advice, not to be ridiculed by someone online. Thank you.

Good for you!...

Hope that you're ashamed of yourself Mr. Gorn