For some of us, the "coffee table" look is not so beautiful. Eye of the beholder... etc.
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What are you talking about, "coffee table" bass?
- Thread starter icecycle66
- Start date
For some of us, the "coffee table" look is not so beautiful. Eye of the beholder... etc.
I've said this before, but some of my basses look a lot better than any coffee table I've ever owned. ;
They all look incredibly boring to me. I don't see what the amount of time and effort invested in it has to do with looks though. Sure it's admirable when something has had alot of time and effort sunk into it but that doesn't mean it looks good. Brown is a pretty pedestrian colour.
I'm sure the mothman bass took a fair bit of work.
I'm sure the mothman bass took a fair bit of work.
This is usually where someone has to tell me their opinion of a gaudy coffee table bass that I worked hard to obtain.
The term is also used for any bass that has a really heavy body. Many mid to late 70s fender basses were known as "coffee table" basses when they made the switch from the south swamp ash to the heavier northern ash. Roger sadowsky referred to these heavy era fenders as coffee table basses in an online posted interview.
"Furniture bass" (my preferred term) is indeed meant to be dismissive.
Furniture basses are just another example of people getting sidetracked from the point by seductive process and losing their way, and TB positively abounds with sidetracked stuff and people groping their way into the outer darkness with junk that absolutely doesn't matter to an actual musician -- while missing a great many things that totally do.
About fifteen years ago I confronted some bubba who was completely buying into the magical nitro finish nonsense and then in the next breath going on about how "awesome" some instrument was that had a pile of glue and several plies of decorative top laminate stuck to the top of it. At least be consistent in your delusions, y'know?
I don't think it's necessarily "dismissive". I think it's just a simple description for a fancy, usually expensive bass with highly figured woods. Saying "I'm not into coffee table basses" is just a easy way to describe without having to go into details.
My $.02
+ $.02 I like coffee table basses. I dont have one, but I wouldn't mind having one someday.
Bassist4Eris
Frat-Pack Sympathizer
I had never heard the expression until I bought this beauty, and my guitar player (who likes my bass) used it to describe her.
It is, in fact, real. He had Stambaugh put it on there intentionally, as a joking reference to the term.
...er, it was Stambaugh, right?
The phrase 'coffee table bass' may sound dismissive, but that all depends on how the term was coined to begin with. If it was meant to be dismissive or even derogatory, then that's the meaning it takes on. I mean, if I didn't like P basses and coined the term 'bed wetter bass' - well, it's pretty self explanatory...those who like P basses wouldn't necessarily use that term.
But, it's a highly philosophical thread about bass aesthetics - so, whether the term 'coffee table bass' is dismissive is not that important in the grand scheme of things.
But, it's a highly philosophical thread about bass aesthetics - so, whether the term 'coffee table bass' is dismissive is not that important in the grand scheme of things.
100% real. I had had a bunch of snide remarks about my gear, so I figured I'd beat them to the punch. Chris Stambaugh wisely talked me down from putting it on the top and tastefully on the back side of the bass. On the top, it might have been like a tattoo on one's face.
Some think the coffee table book is just something dull to have out. I always thought of it as the opposite - a very nice, probably expensive and generally, large format book that was just splendid to look at. I think of a "coffee table" bass as one that is made of such beautiful and almost superflous materials as it almost shouldn't be played for fear of damage. A museum piece for the home.
I have a bass my daughter highly decorated - it's both heirloom and coffee table.
I have a bass my daughter highly decorated - it's both heirloom and coffee table.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Wow, so the interest of seeing God's work and the thrill of nature in the form of an incredible tree/piece of wood with all of it's one-of-a-kind glory, grain patterns and nuances is boring to you?
Compared to - uh - standard - although at times colorful - body shop paint?
Wow, just a little mind blowing I must say.
At least I have kept an open mind and learned to appreciate the merits on both sides of the discussion and own basses which represent both sides of the equation.
They both have their inspiration, although perhaps it manifests in a bit of a different way...
Different strokes for different folks I suppose....
And of course, you love what you love and you have every right to do so...
Just a little mind blowing as stated....
BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
Heh, I always assumed it was like a beater living room bass that one would play around or with their feet on the coffee table. A bass for playing on the couch.
I think this kind of talk is part of why "coffee table bass" (whether an insult or not) evolved as a term... Some people talk about these things like they are religious artifacts. It just seems a bit pretentious... Yes, as a matter of fact, some people prefer the look of a sunburst Fender to another spalted maple custom whatever the heck. And being a snob about that is no more cool than snobbery in the other direction... We should all be able to understand you can't please all the people all the time. You say you keep an open mind, but "God's work" can't be boring to somebody? That doesn't seem open-minded.
There are people who buy blacked out basses, neon colored basses, sunset burst with tort basses, all because they like the way they look. None of this means that a knowledgable person can't buy a bass they like the looks of while still making sure they are getting a quality instrument at the same time.
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