Weird body shapes

[Chef]

The Gretsch is "a thunderbird spin-off."
I've never held one, so I don't know how it feels.

I've very much a Fender-ish guy; and haven't ever kept anything that wasn't "Leo-shaped" for any length of time.

 

[roadkill2309]

Ooh. Thunderbird. I tend to think that Gibson's design department specialises in shapes I wouldn't touch if you paid me, but a Thunderbird? Whoo. Add the older cloverleafs and I'm totally slain. That's the one bass I regret selling.

 

[3rdBass]

Opinions vary as much as the body shapes available.
No offense taken... "Different strokes"...
Weird enough ?

 

[chuck norriss]

Gretsch.

Peculiar bass, like a tail piece from a 60's car. Gretsch ought to make a bass shaped like the Bo Diddley guitar--rectangular. It's boring but I think it would stick.
The Ibanez BTB has an arthropodic shape. Especially in black it looks like a beetle. Derivative of the precision maybe more venom.
Gibson Explorer is interesting but I think most bassists don't want that kind of attention.

 

[Chef]

I believe this was released at the same time as the Bo guitar...

 

[Geroi Asfalta]

I often wonder what the response would be if no one had ever seen this body shape before and someone posted it as a custom shape here on Talkbass:

It's VERY far removed from Fender, Gibson or even Warwick/Spector shapes.

What would people think about the 4003 design if they'd never seen it before?

Obviously a large part of the appeal traditional shapes is that they are recognizable and therefore comfortable to them aesthetically. Because objectively speaking the Ric has a pretty "out there" shape.

But what do I know - here are the shapes for my two upcoming customs:

Good point....Ric is an odd shape you don't see everyday. We think alike apparently, I was drawing plans for a bass (I want to build one, but I've never done it) and the drawing I made came out identical to your second drawing with a differently shaped pickguard. I was attempting to combine a Jazz bass and a Ric

 

[cnltb]

I'm not intending to insult anyone's personal tastes or opinions here, but it seems to me like builders and players on TB like the look of very...odd body shapes. I mean, body shapes I never would have even imagined existing. Before I joined TB I had no idea lol.

In fact it's to the point that I very rarely see anything more "traditional" without going all the way to being a full-on Fender knock off. Don't really see very many Ibanez or Spector/Streamer body styles or such. At least in regard to custom basses. I understand for some people that's part of the point, to get something that looks unique. It just seems kind of weird to me that more people don't get custom basses that look a little less "off the wall".

Anyway, "weird" and "funky" can have positive meanings too, and people like what they like. I don't judge, I just think you're weird, lol.

***Seriously though I do NOT mean to offend ANYONE by this post. Just expressing an opinion.***

And not one single example of such a "weird" body?
And what are the "more attractive" ones you are thinking about?

That would really help to put a point to your statement.

 

[TBird1958]

Ooh. Thunderbird. I tend to think that Gibson's design department specialises in shapes I wouldn't touch if you paid me, but a Thunderbird? Whoo. Add the older cloverleafs and I'm totally slain. That's the one bass I regret selling.

I can't make it past Thunderbirds.......
I've 40-50 basses over the years including 3 Fenders and 2 MM's, they just felt and looked "wrong" on me, you can line up traditional shaped basses in front of me all day and I wouldn't be interested, they're just not "me".
That bad part about T Birds is that I love them so much that I can't pass by one and not want to add it to my collection

 

[bodmin]

My 1st bass was a Washburn T14, and although the body shape isn't extreme, it is "different" enough to have solicited comments at gigs etc.

 

[Zentner]

that washburn just looks like a Warwick steamer... especially with the top horn that shape...

 

[icecycle66]

When I had my custom built, I wanted a somewhat traditional design but I still wanted something different.

So I came up with this shape.
(I am showing you the back of the bass because I want to show off my century old Lake Michigan reclamied quilted maple plank.)

 

[bodmin]

that washburn just looks like a Warwick steamer... especially with the top horn that shape...

"In the flesh" the horn's a bit thicker, stubbier and a different angle than on the Warwick (if i remember correctly), but as I said, not extremely different.

 

[spade2you]

A good reason NOT to name and bash shapes is because perhaps you might be taking a cheap shot at the guy who designed it.

Many of the very ergonomic boutique shapes catch flack from traditionalists, but damned if they aren't the easiest, often lightest, and most comfortable basses to play for an extended period of time. Many "cool" looking basses are tougher to play.

 

[roadkill2309]

When I had my custom built, I wanted a somewhat traditional design but I still wanted something different.

So I came up with this shape.
(I am showing you the back of the bass because I want to show off my century old Lake Michigan reclamied quilted maple plank.)

That wood is seriously beautiful.

 

[KingRazor]

For someone highly opinionated, it doesn't sound like you've played a whole lot of basses.

I guess that depends on what you mean by "a whole lot".

I've played most basses that are carried by my local music shops. If it isn't carried around here, I haven't played it.

Brands I know I've played, just off hand:

Fender, Squier, Essex, Ibanez, Cort, EBMM, SBMM, Spector, Warwick, Modulus, Epiphone, Dean, Carvin, Schecter, and G&L.

 

[Lonesomedave]

When I had my custom built, I wanted a somewhat traditional design but I still wanted something different.

So I came up with this shape.
(I am showing you the back of the bass because I want to show off my century old Lake Michigan reclamied quilted maple plank.)

that is seriously BEAUTIFUL!

ps-edit...sorry roadkill, didn't mean to steal your thunder, but Damn, i don't know what else to say.

 

[KingRazor]

And not one single example of such a "weird" body?
And what are the "more attractive" ones you are thinking about?

That would really help to put a point to your statement.

Well, the first that comes to mind is wish bass, but I think even the people that like those would probably admit that the body shapes are a bit...odd.

I find just about any single cut body shape to look "weird" to me, also.

 

[roadkill2309]

ps-edit...sorry roadkill, didn't mean to steal your thunder, but Damn, i don't know what else to say.

I'm not sure there's any thing else one *could* say.

 

[icecycle66]

That wood is seriously beautiful.

Thanks, I hand selected all the wood used on this bass. I'm not going to get too much into price, but that plank of wood carved from a frozen tree at the bottom of a lake cost $450.

You should see the front of this thing.

And many more picutres and the build process found here:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Relayer71]

I love the Ric body shape, just not a fan of the hardware (knobs, pickguard) and their layout.

That drawing with the Ric body w/Tele-inspired pickguard/knobs - THAT appeals to me.