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Symmetrical basses?

Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A.

TalkBass' resident Bongo + cowbell player
Nov 10, 2000
6,935
155
59
Bucaramanga, Colombia, South A
#1
Hi everybody.

After looking to my collection of KISS pictures, I've noticed that Gene Simmons has played symmetrical basses during most of his career. The Punisher and his Charlie LoBue are the most prominent examples, but aside from Gene's instruments, the Hofners and highest-end Alembics I can't think of other symmetrical instruments, so I'd like you to post pics of basses shaped this way. Thank you very much in advance.
 
#2
Alvaro Martín Gómez A. said:
Hi everybody.

After looking to my collection of KISS pictures, I've noticed that Gene Simmons has played symmetrical basses during most of his career. The Punisher and his Charlie LoBue are the most prominent examples, but aside from Gene's instruments, the Hofners and highest-end Alembics I can't think of other symmetrical instruments, so I'd like you to post pics of basses shaped this way. Thank you very much in advance.
Click to expand...


hmmmm...

Gibson and EPI SG and Flying V shaped basses...

Steinbergers....
 
#3
I was immediately thinking of the Warwick Jack Bruce that I saw last week. True, it is an SG shape...

I guess one of the reasons the bass isn't symmetrical is that we play it off to one side, whereas the upright bass is largely aligned virtually parallel to our body, hence no need for balance issues to affect the shape.

The balance issue is what brought Fender to start making extended upper bouts in the first place.

How about the original Barker Bass! Oh yeah, it's played verically and even it evolved into a non-symmetrical shape. ;)
 
#7
Nick man said:
The SG shape is actually slightly non symetrical with a deeper cutaway on the trebble side.
Click to expand...
I guess I had never looked that closely, including when I owned one, but upon checking some pics online it really appears that if anything the upper bout is just the tiniest bit longer with both cutaways equal.

Then again, it could be my eyes! :)

I'm going to the music stores right now and will look to see if there's anything else that truly qualifies as symmetrical.
 
#8
Akami said:
I guess I had never looked that closely, including when I owned one, but upon checking some pics online it really appears that if anything the upper bout is just the tiniest bit longer with both cutaways equal.

Then again, it could be my eyes! :)

I'm going to the music stores right now and will look to see if there's anything else that truly qualifies as symmetrical.
Click to expand...
Aside from the fact that I have been around them a ton being in bands, I only noticed this a month or two ago after working in a guitar store for around a year and a half.

Its very slight
 
#9
Nick man said:
Aside from the fact that I have been around them a ton being in bands, I only noticed this a month or two ago after working in a guitar store for around a year and a half.

Its very slight
Click to expand...
The horns on the post-slab-body "SG" style Gibsons, EB0, EB3, and I assume the later maple ones too, are definitely a little assymetrical. I have a '67 EB0 downstairs, and can vouch for the larger cut-away on the "treble" side. They also have some carving that makes them even more uneven top-to-bottom.

I also believe that the Rippers, Grabbers, G3, etc. Gibsons are not really symmetrical either, and I assume those were being referred to in the original post re: Mr. Simmons, inaddition to the custom basses he bought.
 
#15
TBSAMPEG.jpg


My 1977 Travis Bean TB4000 "wedge" is symetrical, and that's one of the reasons why I bought it. I'm left-handed, and couldn't find a lefty "standard" TB2000, so I went ahead and bought the TB4000 (one of only 36 made) because it looks the same upside down. Of COURSE 6 months after I bought the "wedge", I found the lefty TB2000 (the black one). I love them both... even more than my lefty 1990 Fodera Anthony Jackson Contrabass :)
 

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