Single Cut Basses Love or Hate?

[JimmyM]

If it’s not a Les Paul or a trad looking hollowbody, I can’t hang with the look. Have played a few with the long single cut, didn’t think access to upper frets was any different…but that look just does nothing for me at all.

 

[JimmyM]

The ones I have played definitely feel more "solid," due (I suppose) to the extended connection to the neck.

FWIW, I'd hate to hear what upright players thought of the first electric basses in the 1950s.

It wasn’t pleasant. They took quite a few years to go mainstream.

 

[DJ Bebop]

It wasn’t pleasant. They took quite a few years to go mainstream.

"You play that fender bass? That's not a real bass!"

 

[darwin-bass]

I dislike the looks enough to not even give them a chance. I have no felt need that they would solve.

 

[DJ Bebop]

A solution looking for a problem.

 

[conttador]

I have a few and I love them.

I find they usually balance better than their dual-cut counterparts.

 

[monsterthompson]

That's very kool, who makes it?

MüB
Very nice people. Knowledgeable. Great experience ordering mine and getting it customized. It’s my only “custom” bass. It’s a little quirky and takes some getting used to, but it’s fun.
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[Jeff Scott]

A couple of Martin Keith's wonderful basses.

 

[mikewalker]

Some real beauties there!
I've always been a fan of the Sadowsky singlecut, but for me the [Invalid or Expired Link Removed](introduced ten years ago!) is the One to Beat...

 

[Dynacord]

Many I don't like the look of but there are some I do. I don't find it interferes with playing technique personally - but then I hardly ever bring my thumb over the neck anyway. Negligible impact on weight. This is one of the lightest basses I own and a thing of beauty in my eyes:

 

[rowsi]

Many I don't like the look of but there are some I do. I don't find it interferes with playing technique personally - but then I hardly ever bring my thumb over the neck anyway. Negligible impact on weight. This is one of the lightest basses I own and a thing of beauty in my eyes:

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I'm not into most of Padalkas designs, but THIS!

On topic though: single cut designs are (aesthetically) hit or miss for me. SC designs I like:

Sadowsky single cut

Marleaux MBass

Franz bassguitars Sirius
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But then again there are designs I realy can't seem to like:

Fodera Imperial

Ibanez BTB

Warwick SC Thumb

 

[2112]

Singlecuts aren't for me... aside from not being able to get behind the look in most cases, my fingers are like tuna cans and so I need all the access I can get.

 

[Dynacord]

Singlecuts aren't for me... aside from not being able to get behind the look in most cases, my fingers are like tuna cans and so I need all the access I can get.

Different strokes and different playing techniques but the single cut I posted above has much better upper register access (26 frets! - admittedly the last couple are a bit of a stretch but still very usable - up through 24 is super easy) than any of my Fenders, Gibsons, etc.

 

[BlueTalon]

Many I don't like the look of but there are some I do. I don't find it interferes with playing technique personally - but then I hardly ever bring my thumb over the neck anyway. Negligible impact on weight. This is one of the lightest basses I own and a thing of beauty in my eyes:

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That's the one! I typically don't care for the single-cut look, but I reeeeally want one of those.

 

[Dynacord]

That's the one! I typically don't care for the single-cut look, but I reeeeally want one of those.
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It's going to be a wait. He has left Russia. Currently in Georgia (the country) and going to Canada where he has a job lined up. Will probably be several years before he's building instruments again under his own name.

 

[spade2you]

Singlecuts aren't for me... aside from not being able to get behind the look in most cases, my fingers are like tuna cans and so I need all the access I can get.

The ones I've had the opportunity to play didn't restrict fret access. These were all 5-6 strings, so trying to wrap your hand around the neck up there isn't happening with or without a cutaway up top.

 

[JRA]

"love or hate?"

i like 'em all!

i've played a few single-cut fretlesses, but i've never owned one. there were no access issues. the ones i've played were heavier than i'd want, but that doesn't apply to all of them, of course. the look of them doesn't matter to me one way or the other.

 

[Flaked Beans]

They are good Here are mine two (have some other too)

 

[nnnnnn]

I have seen some very cool looking single cut basses.
But thought the big horn for lack of a better term would get in the way of fretting below the 12th fret.

I don't think "single cut" is an adequate term for the type of bass you mean, because that term would include things like Les Paul basses which really aren't in the same category as the big horn/whale hump type design. Unfortunately I don't have an elegant alternative name, though I'd like to hear some suggestions.

 

[comatosedragon]

I am not a fan of the aesthetic.
I have never played one.

All the single cuts I have heard others play have sounded fantastic to my ears.
(but then again it is someone else playing it, so I guess that is to be expected...)