My biggest peeve is single-cut bass bodies. Dunno why. I don't mind them on guitars.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Pickguard/Body Shape Aesthetics
- Thread starter M-Mittlesteadt
- Start date
What's interesting about an opinion is that it will never be a single opinion by one person. Many others will share that thaught and yet the internet police will scold you for having that opinion.
There is no such thing as Robinson Caruso. You are never alone with your opinion.
A negative opinion is often more valuable than a positive opinion because it takes thaught, deliberation and acceptance before you actually post it. It's never as flippant as a positive comment can be.
I understand many of your comments, agree with most/many but you left off one that bugs me and is not commented openly on this site and that is the G&L headstock with that pointy bit sticking downward like a drop tine.
It is displeasing enough that I would never buy one no matter how good the bass actually was, nor how inexpensive.
Thanks for the post. Asthetics matter and are in the eye of the beholder, who has a wallet in his back pocket.
There is no such thing as Robinson Caruso. You are never alone with your opinion.
A negative opinion is often more valuable than a positive opinion because it takes thaught, deliberation and acceptance before you actually post it. It's never as flippant as a positive comment can be.
I understand many of your comments, agree with most/many but you left off one that bugs me and is not commented openly on this site and that is the G&L headstock with that pointy bit sticking downward like a drop tine.
It is displeasing enough that I would never buy one no matter how good the bass actually was, nor how inexpensive.
Thanks for the post. Asthetics matter and are in the eye of the beholder, who has a wallet in his back pocket.
He does have a right to an opinion. Dissagree but don't deny.
I feel the same way about the oval Lakland bridge, it bugs me a whole lot more than it should!
As someone with some graphic design background I agree with just about everything you said. I fell in love with the Precision shape as a teenager back in the 1960s. There are some basses I just could not own due to what I see as unattractive heads, bodies, pick-guards and colours.I know this is a very trivial thing for most people and we all have different ideas about what we like/dislike in the looks of our bass.
As an artist, I love the shapes/designs of a lot of basses and some I have a strong dislike and as petty as it might be, there are some basses that I really like visually, but the shape/color of the pickguard either flows with the curves of the body or it (IMO) ruins the looks.
I love the classic Precision/Jazz pickguards. But...I really hate the '51 Precision pickguard (what's with the need for it on the upper horn? and why does the other end have a control plate that doesn't flow into anything?). I like the MM Sting Ray guard, but hate the Sterling pickguard shape. I also dislike the toilet seat body shape of the Bongo. I prefer the body shape of a Precision over the droopy Jazz body. I also dislike the short upper horns of Mustangs and Jaguars. Why is the upper horn so short?
Most are all excellent basses, but visually there just some bass body and pickguard shapes that turn me off visually. I also understand that others either don't care of really love them. To each his own, obviously. Don't take my opinion personally...just a quirk of mine. I'm more interested in what others' favorite shapes/designs are.
I either prefer no pickguard (especially on natural finishes) or a pickguard the flows with the body shape, like the eternally classic Precision pickguard change in 1957 to today...
Discuss...
What are some of your favorite body and/or pickguard shapes?
Aesthetic appreciation is a major part of the quality of my life. There's enough ugliness in the world. I don't need to bring some of it into my home.
There are so many nice basses to be had that play well, feel good, sound great and look good too.
Only prefer Pbass myself, either with Anodized black or Gold pickguard , and Mint or Dark Tort plastic pickguard.
I actually didn't really care for the P bass look at first, probably because I first started playing in the 90s, the P bass was the hands-down standard. As such, I really loved the offset look of the J bass. I still love J basses but I also love P basses now, along with most Fender shaped basses.
Me too! I don't know why but I really don't like those...
I never used to like colors. For 45 years, I always liked either natural wood finishes, sunburst or basic black. Until I got my new Squier P/J in Lake Placid Blue. Even then it had to grow on me. Now? LOL.
I prefer no pickguard but this one on your blue bass is pretty cool.
I’m definitely a fan of the F Bass body, but the pick guard shape on the BN5 is an unwelcome addition in my book. I get what they’re trying to achieve but it isn’t my thing.
I think Fender really got it right...
That said, a couple more unusual ones I have and am fond of:
Acquired taste, for sure...
That said, a couple more unusual ones I have and am fond of:
Acquired taste, for sure...
No.
Especially since the strings are about a half inch above the bass's surface.
I don't do any wild "piston strumming"
That’s the funny thing with preferences, I love the design and wood on that top bass… but the asymmetric pole pieces on the pickups would annoy the heck out of me!!! See also those oval Delano pickups and Lakland bridges.
Never said he didn't. You'll find few on TB with a more "you do you" take than me.
And when the OP addressed my initial comment he asked me to share my preference anyway, so I obliged. Not seeing a problem.
Last edited:
There are musical fads apart from asthetic too.
As mentioned in post #27, above, P basses were very popular in the 90's but fell out of demand when 5 string Fenders were embraced especially in the Country music scene between 2000-2010 which is when I picked up a nice US made P bass in Nashville for $595. Quite a deal for 2010.
Been a perfect bass since, dragged over every temperature and climate variation in tbe US since and never needed a single Neck adjustment. Also the growliest P bass I ever played.
Never being a fan of Fender basses, it is the one that finally brought me around. Interestingly, it was on a rack of 5 basses, the other 4 being G&L's. The headstock on those meant I never picked one up. Not at any price!
As mentioned in post #27, above, P basses were very popular in the 90's but fell out of demand when 5 string Fenders were embraced especially in the Country music scene between 2000-2010 which is when I picked up a nice US made P bass in Nashville for $595. Quite a deal for 2010.
Been a perfect bass since, dragged over every temperature and climate variation in tbe US since and never needed a single Neck adjustment. Also the growliest P bass I ever played.
Never being a fan of Fender basses, it is the one that finally brought me around. Interestingly, it was on a rack of 5 basses, the other 4 being G&L's. The headstock on those meant I never picked one up. Not at any price!
Personal taste can change too - I used to hate on the original ‘51-‘54-style P, thinking it looked “old-fashioned”… and what was up with that anemic little “deflated balloon” headstock? Now, I dig it… probably because *I’m* old-fashioned. 
One of my opinions that hasn’t changed (yet) is my distaste for the “standard” P pickguard. I just don’t dig that dangling appendage for the controls, like the state of Florida. Chop it off! (Sorry, Floridians.) And I’m not into a J with a control plate and no pickguard - looks like a puzzle with a missing piece. (Sorry, Jaco.)
My ideal would be a contoured P body with no pickguard and a side jack. A P is such a beautifully minimalist instrument, it doesn’t need any extra stuff cluttering it up.
One of my opinions that hasn’t changed (yet) is my distaste for the “standard” P pickguard. I just don’t dig that dangling appendage for the controls, like the state of Florida. Chop it off! (Sorry, Floridians.) And I’m not into a J with a control plate and no pickguard - looks like a puzzle with a missing piece. (Sorry, Jaco.)
My ideal would be a contoured P body with no pickguard and a side jack. A P is such a beautifully minimalist instrument, it doesn’t need any extra stuff cluttering it up.
I had never thought of it that way "no thought in the missing lower half" but I like it.
My recent project now has a guard in that shape and I really like it. The original was a huge slab of tort that was accurately described by @covermego as having the appearance of summer sausage. LOL. I cut it down to this shape as part of the project. It serves no purpose other than covering the cutout for the original neck pickup where the neck now rests.
I didn't start this thread to get anyone riled up, and glad it hasn't turned into that because that was never my intent. I'm just interested in what people like/dislike.
I don't expect people to agree with my likes/dislikes. Not at all. I appreciate dissenting opinions as it makes for interesting discussions...so long as nobody takes any of it personally. So far it's been a nice discussion and I want to keep it that way. Opinions are neither right or wrong. They're all good!
Yeah...me too. It just doesn't fit, and seems out of place with the rest of the bass design.
