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Poll: How have your aesthetic preferences changed over time?
- Thread starter twinjet
- Start date
Somewhat.
Several years ago I came close to ordering a spalted maple Traben bass. I still think it looks *cool*, but it's not my style. I ended up going with an Ibanez SR500, which I still play, and whose aesthetic I still love. I've also come to appreciate the classic Fender look more than I used to.
Several years ago I came close to ordering a spalted maple Traben bass. I still think it looks *cool*, but it's not my style. I ended up going with an Ibanez SR500, which I still play, and whose aesthetic I still love. I've also come to appreciate the classic Fender look more than I used to.
Like many, I went through the pointy headstock phase. That one (Charvel 3B) is actually the only one I've ever sold.
On the color part, I've really gained an appreciation for more outlandish colors. No idea why but I like the way bright orange and yellow look on a bass. But I still like the basic colors as you can see by the good old Jetglo in my pic. I'm fickle like that.
On the color part, I've really gained an appreciation for more outlandish colors. No idea why but I like the way bright orange and yellow look on a bass. But I still like the basic colors as you can see by the good old Jetglo in my pic. I'm fickle like that.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
That "close to the wood" thing - I get it. That's why I have so few "painted" bases over the years, and so many like you describe.
But as I get older, I wonder, "are my tastes getting more irrelevant?". No doubt for me the answer is yes. And if it takes glitter and clearcoat to bring up the next generation, I'm all for it!
My son is into colors. He only has one in natural and that's a Warmoth he built. The rest are black, red, etc.
I've always had a thing for a nice piece of grainy ash.
But as to finish and colors, I've been all over the map, from hating burst, to loving it, to loving fancy tops, to metalic orange, satin finishes, loving certain solid colors (olympic white, surf green, daphne blue, dakotah red, ocean blue).
I suppose my current stable sums up my dynamic aestheticism.
US Lakland Bob Glaub - burst/tort/RW (classic combination)
Mike Lull P4 shorty under construction - ocean blue/RW (classic single color)
Spector NS-2J - tobacco burst/maple (fancy top)
Spector NS-4H2 shorty - flame maple/pao ferro (fancy top)
Nordy VJ5 - olympic white (classic single color)
Upton Boehmian - honey stain on birch ply (classic)
Rick Turner Renaissance Fretless - manogany/pao ferro (doesn't fit the discussion really, its just a backup to my upright)
But as to finish and colors, I've been all over the map, from hating burst, to loving it, to loving fancy tops, to metalic orange, satin finishes, loving certain solid colors (olympic white, surf green, daphne blue, dakotah red, ocean blue).
I suppose my current stable sums up my dynamic aestheticism.
US Lakland Bob Glaub - burst/tort/RW (classic combination)
Mike Lull P4 shorty under construction - ocean blue/RW (classic single color)
Spector NS-2J - tobacco burst/maple (fancy top)
Spector NS-4H2 shorty - flame maple/pao ferro (fancy top)
Nordy VJ5 - olympic white (classic single color)
Upton Boehmian - honey stain on birch ply (classic)
Rick Turner Renaissance Fretless - manogany/pao ferro (doesn't fit the discussion really, its just a backup to my upright)
When I started out, I wanted a bass that made me look like I was a bassist. Something recognizable with just a touch of flare. A fun color Fender was perfect. Now, I want my playing to make me sound like I am a bassist -- and I like the fun factor even more. Color, shape, graphic; yes please. I'm not a background sort of player.
When I first started playing bass I thought rosewood was the way to go and that I would never want a maple fretboard. I didn't like the look of the lighter color wood, especially since my P-bass was black with a black pickguard, it make it look "cooler" to me. I also didn't think the different types of wood had any effect on the sound, until recently I found out the tonal differences and now I'm switching out the necks on one of my basses so it can have a maple fretboard haha.
I also was never into the J pickup. I was all about the P pick up but once I owned a Jaguar I realize how much I love it
I also was never into the J pickup. I was all about the P pick up but once I owned a Jaguar I realize how much I love it
How has my esthetic taste changed?
Oh,not much in 40+ years.
My first bass,and my latest.
Oh,not much in 40+ years.
My first bass,and my latest.
When I was in junior high and started playing at age 14-15 I liked black basses with white pickguards. Then I started disliking that color combo. The thing that remains in my taste is Fender-like basses (Fender, Squier, Lakland, Sadowsky, etc.)
Not much. But I was once a member of a band called "Aesthetic Distance." Did I win? 
I used to think pickguards made no sense on basses, now I think they do a nice job of breaking up the monotony on solid colored instruments. I've also warmed consideribly on lighter colors, like egg shell pink and sonic blue. Still can't stand classic three tone bursts.
I find that instruments are like people in this regard. You start out with a preference for blondes, say, and then you meet this fantastic redhead and after that, you find yourself ignoring blondes and looking at redheads... until you fall for a dark-haired beauty, and then that becomes the new passion.
But after a while you figure out that the tone and feel is a lot more important than the finish.
But after a while you figure out that the tone and feel is a lot more important than the finish.
These are my current basses. Do you see a trend? This is what I finally got into after 35 years of searching.
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Hmmmmm.....late 60's childhood development years. "Tel-Star" or "Tele-Star" pawn shop Beatle bass copy. Sunburst junk bass.
70's hard rock and heavy metal. Black jazz bass was the thing.
80's switched to Steinberger for new wave bollix. Black and white L2s.
Swapped out to Rickenbacker then Musicman for ages. Various colors and natural.
Now use built to order Artisan Bass Works. Have developed a love for all things yellow.
Not a Stryper fan...... :***:
70's hard rock and heavy metal. Black jazz bass was the thing.
80's switched to Steinberger for new wave bollix. Black and white L2s.
Swapped out to Rickenbacker then Musicman for ages. Various colors and natural.
Now use built to order Artisan Bass Works. Have developed a love for all things yellow.
Not a Stryper fan...... :***:
For my first bass, which was my only one for the first 8-10 years I "played" (was mostly just learning and playing on my own, family situation at the time didn't really allow for more than that), and maybe the next one or two basses, I didn't pay attention to looks at all. But after having those few basses I realized:
- I really like a few select bursts - sun, honey, and cherry - or I liked a natural finish. I see a lot of great looking basses here with all kinds of finishes, but for me I like my bursts.
- If my bass had a pickguard, I really liked tortoise shell.
- I don't like "unique" bodies. I prefer more traditional body styles, like J's, P's, Stingrays, etc. (which explains why I now own one of each, plus an L-2500). There are a lot of other basses I think are really cool looking, but I'd probably never buy them for myself.
So now I currently own a honeyburst/tort Stingray, a sunburst/tort Jazz, a sunburst/tort Precision, and a cherryburst L-2500.
I know being exclusively a burst/tort guy makes me public enemy #1 on Talkbass, but I like what I like.
- I really like a few select bursts - sun, honey, and cherry - or I liked a natural finish. I see a lot of great looking basses here with all kinds of finishes, but for me I like my bursts.
- If my bass had a pickguard, I really liked tortoise shell.
- I don't like "unique" bodies. I prefer more traditional body styles, like J's, P's, Stingrays, etc. (which explains why I now own one of each, plus an L-2500). There are a lot of other basses I think are really cool looking, but I'd probably never buy them for myself.
So now I currently own a honeyburst/tort Stingray, a sunburst/tort Jazz, a sunburst/tort Precision, and a cherryburst L-2500.
I know being exclusively a burst/tort guy makes me public enemy #1 on Talkbass, but I like what I like.
I think when I first started playing it was more of a "does this look cool." Now I definitely have a certain taste. I like maple necks and maple fretboards... Loving natural finishes these days. But I did finally get that explorer body style I've always wanted and the Ric is up next.
Basically what I'm saying is, my taste has become more refined.
Basically what I'm saying is, my taste has become more refined.
I can deal with most anything aesthetically but red, pointy, or headless basses. I just traded a Spector that I loved because it was red with gold hardware. Thought I could get past it but the first words out of my wife's mouth were "that doesn't look like something you'd play". It hurt to let it go but they just don't look good to me. For the kind of money I spend on nice gear I want it to look to my tastes, ya dig?
After seeing Stanley Clarke's beautiful Alembic basses,I wanted a bass that looked like his.
Dark natural wood.
No pickguard.
Gold hardware.
But in the late '70s basses like that were few and far between.
So up until now most every bass that I've owned that wasn't what I wanted,was a concession.
My aesthetics haven't changed.
It just took a while for makers to start making what I want.
Dark natural wood.
No pickguard.
Gold hardware.
But in the late '70s basses like that were few and far between.
So up until now most every bass that I've owned that wasn't what I wanted,was a concession.
My aesthetics haven't changed.
It just took a while for makers to start making what I want.
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