Most Elegant Bass That You've Seen?

[Bushmaster]

Still collecting some ideas for a custom bass and was wondering what some of you consider to be the most beautiful, or some of the most beautiful basses that you've ever seen.

I find many of Carl Thompson's instruments aesthetically very pleasing. Might not be easily copied, though

 

[cnltb]

I find many of the basses in this thread so far, garish/gaudy , rather than elegant...

Maybe this one is to too far off?

 

[tvbop]

The old adage, if it looks right...etc, sorry but way too many basses above trying to be different for the sake of it.... and still I come back this ole trooper...

 

[T-C-Bass]

By JCR Luther - JCR Luthier

I have been obsessed with this bass, and their other instruments for years now

Absolute stunner!

 

[TrevorR]

I’d need to nominate this build which was the subject of a build diary over on Basschat by a (really good) hobby builder. Even more stunning in the flesh than on the photos...

It’s dubbed the Psilos bass and features
•34” Scale
•Sycamore, maple, ebony
•Herrick Custom Coils + Undersaddle Piezo
•East UK Preamp/mixer
•7lbs 4oz weight
Link Removed

 

[StereoPlayer]

I’d need to nominate this build which was the subject of a build diary over on Basschat by a (really good) hobby builder. Even more stunning in the flesh than on the photos...
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It’s dubbed the Psilos bass and features
•34” Scale
•Sycamore, maple, ebony
•Herrick Custom Coils + Undersaddle Piezo
•East UK Preamp/mixer
•7lbs 4oz weight
Link Removed

That would be cool to play while wearing a white tuxedo!
Or any color!

 

[postalflunkie]

 

[40Hz]

I’m partial to the Willcox Saber VL look myself. Trans red over flame maple.

The photos don’t do the finish justice.

I liked it so much I got myself one.

And if thats not fancy enough for your tastes, they also do custom shop models in 4,5, and 6 string with your choice of exotic woods and electronics packages that can include MIDI output. I’m not normally into the whole coffee table bass look. But man! That zebrawood is gorgeous …

 

[BoogieZK]

Shuker Uberhorn

 

[rtslinger]

The Ritter Cora with gold hardware

 

[TheLowDown33]

Marleaux Diva:

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Sandberg Thinline:
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Funny! The Marleaux and Sandberg are the exact basses that came to mind when I read the thread title, and both fretless at that.

 

[Nobis17]

I always thought the old Tobias basses (from the 90s) were pretty "elegant".
Their 5, 7 and 9 pièce necks. The use of purple heart. Yeah...

 

[chris_b]

So 6 pages of stunning and very special basses. What a great thread. But while you guys have been buying Ferraris, Bugatti's and Cadillac's, my most elegant bass was a humble pick-up truck, a Fender Precision. The first proper bass I bought. It looked so good to me, that everyday I used to take it out of the case and just look at it. That was also the feeling I experienced when I bought my Mike Lull PJ5, but not quite so intense. Sorry for the derail. . . . back to beautiful basses.

 

[Symphony2040]

So 6 pages of stunning and very special basses. What a great thread. But while you guys have been buying Ferraris, Bugatti's and Cadillac's, my most elegant bass was a humble pick-up truck, a Fender Precision. The first proper bass I bought. It looked so good to me, that everyday I used to take it out of the case and just look at it. That was also the feeling I experienced when I bought my Mike Lull PJ5, but not quite so intense. Sorry for the derail. . . . back to beautiful basses.

That's no derail at all! I think a precision bass is incredibly elegant, though many might not agree. What did your bass look like?

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

A couple years ago, Alembic built this Custom Series II short-scale for a customer who had a similar guitar from 1972.

Elegant was exactly the word I picked to call it. And a few others...

 

[WestyBassBob]

I'll add, my Poplar burl topped Ibanez BTB846v. I didn't really like it at first but it's grown on me a lot over recent months.
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As well as my 1 piece Koa bodied Kawai KRB105. Those are not marks on the front upper, but reflections. Sorry for the awful photo.
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And the ash bodied F Bass BN series.
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Really like the finish on that ash, could do without the wood PUP covers though. That just looks stupid.

 

[Bleecker]

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Prince?

 

[PRS-Man23]

PRS Short Scale Bass:

Anything Alpher makes....

Stradi:

 

[JRA]

some beautiful axes here. i admit a bias, but it seems like all the fretless axes have more 'intrinsic' elegance.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

Elegant:
1. splendid or luxurious in dress, style, design, etc.
2. polished and dignified, as in tastes, behavior, or literary style.
3. graceful in form or movement.
4. of superior quality; exceptional: an elegant gift.
5. (of theories, solutions, computer programs, etc.) gracefully concise and simple; admirably succinct.

D'Angelico EX-bass natural.