[POLL] Here’s a Dilemma do you prefer LOOK OR PLAYABILITY ?

[Romain909]

I need your opinion ! LOOK or Performance ?

I have encountered a thread where look was said to be as important as playability - and to a certain extent I agree, and I consider it is hard to buy something effective but ugly.
What if we could only pick ONE ?

Would you rather play the most beautiful bass in the universe , but it feels horrible and sound bad, or conversely, play the most comfortable bass you have ever played but it looks hideous ?

 

[KevInDaBassment]

While aesthetics is a factor, it's not the primary factor (at least for me) in how good an instrument is.

If you were a professional Chef, would you use a beautiful knife that's as sharp as a wooden chopstick or an ugly one that cuts beautifully? One might not be as great to look at, but the other literally impedes you from doing your job effectively.

 

[JRA]

performance. always.

 

[Micha84]

Neither. Just because feel is more important doesn't mean that looks don't matter at all.

 

[iriegnome]

Sorry. I buy most of my basses on looks. I can fix most everything else. If it doesn't look good to me (I don't care if others like it), then I can work with most anything else

 

[WG Plum]

As long as the neck meets certain criteria, the rest is down to looks. I just prefer not to play instrument I don't enjoy looking at.

 

[jd56hawk]

I don't understand the need to choose one over the other when plenty of basses with both looks and playability are readily available.
I could go on Reverb right now and find dozens.

 

[lomo]

In the real world there's no need to choose only 1. I will never buy an uncomfortable bass or one I find ugly....but if, in an alternate universe (like a TB poll) I was forced to choose, I'd go with comfort.

 

[Gopherbassist]

I hated the ATK headstock when I got mine, but it's a damn nice bass to play and that's why I bought it. I'm also not a fan of the BTB headstock, but that's likely my next bass.

 

[porkynuggets]

Function > form

 

[nickpc]

I really can't see the bass I'm playing, so who cares how ugly it is?

 

[TheReceder]

What's funny is right away I thought about this from the perspective of a bass being like a woman.

In this case... my choice would probably be, I'd remain a bachelor.

 

[chris_b]

My top 3 are Tone ,Tone and Tone.

Followed by weight.

Playability, looks and cost are all boxes that have to be ticked but come further down the list.

 

[ardgedee]

If it plays well it looks good.

 

[Mike Vee]

I go for a bass that has it all. No compromises.

 

[sleddogn]

If my hot look'n bass gets the the hot look'n chick at the club, sign me up all day long

 

[porkynuggets]

If my hot look'n bass gets the the hot look'n chick at the club, sign me up all day long

I guess that's what they mean by form IS function

 

[HaggardStallion]

My Spectors have both, I'd hate to have to choose lol.

 

[TOOL460002]

Show me a gorgeous bass that doesn't play well, because I'm envisioning gold hardware and exotic top wood and cannot imagine who is making something like that with terrible feel

 

[meisi]

Looks sell. If you can’t admit this maybe you’re not good looking (I kid).

But seriously, good looks sell, always.

The humble answer is I don’t care about looks but at the end of the day pretty always wins. IMO it’s basic human nature to assert value to appearances.