• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What are you talking about, "coffee table" bass?

#61
edpal said:
You did see the smiley face? All is good, you just were a little urgent - the beatings weren't working!:D Some people find busy patterns visually disorienting, some aren't that comfortable with nature, some think natural patterns "clash" or look too folksy. If you view your ax as part fashion accessory a wood-tone is one of the hardest things to dress nice against. I personally like wood-grains but appreciate the simplistic, non-distraction of a good paint job too.:bassist:
Click to expand...

Pretty sure I cover the spectrum from "coffee table" to paint. 6 "Coffee Tables", 8 Fenders and two off the rack.

Inspiration comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and finishes for me. As long your basses bring inspiration, nothing else really matters in the end.

Family-Portrait.png


:bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist::bassist:

www.innertainment.net
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bare Bass
#65
Most people do not like the end of the spectrum's.
At one end you have the "Coffee table" basses.
At the other end you have "Reliced" basses

Both seem to bring out the harshest opinions in people.

For me, give me a nice worn old Fender and I'm happy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flad
#66
JH Statts said:
Indeed. I think some look like a bunch of birds shat on them, but others can be quite beautiful. Individual taste is a funny thing.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Everyone has a different taste. I enjoy "coffee table" basses, and I'm fine with the fact that others do not. On the opposite spectrum from my end, I do not like tort pickguards. I'm sure that puts me in a minority and I'm comfortable with that.
 
#67
I like most so-called "coffee-table" basses, but I wouldn't own one. I'd find the wood pattern too distracting (particularly when you get the wood pickup covers). The most CT-esque style I would take would be having a spalted maple top; I find that simply beautiful while not being overly distracting. I also like flame maple, particularly with a nice color to it. Quilted maple and the other exotic woods...aside from maybe walnut, not for me.

But they can still look nice. I just wouldn't own one.
 
#69
edpal said:
You have a lovely family...really like the violin bass, I give it high points for looking like a real violin. Or is it a mini-upright? :D
Click to expand...

Hey - thanks to all for the kind words.

The violin bass is a bass I designed and had built for me using a Stradivarius as a template. It has a mahogany core and I packed a Line 6 transplant in it so it models 24 different vintage and modern basses.

My friend Keith Roscoe did the finish work for me.

More here if you want to see the build details:

http://www.innertainment.net/kennelldesigns.html

Just keep scrolling....

Best,

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 
#70
O.K.then!(Laughing)Coffee Table Bass!So then I LOVE "Coffee Table" Basses!!!It may be meant as a pejorative,but I won't take it as that!
Ever since I saw Stanley Clarke's Alembic basses in 1979,I LUSTED over basses with natural exotic woods.But at that time(19 years old)the bass makers weren't making them.(With the exception of Alembic who was and IS too expensive for me)

So it wasn't until the past 20-25 years that the makers started to make more inexpensive natural finish basses.So I will always choose a bass that shows the unpainted wood grain.

I have a Tune TWB63 fretless made of Ovangkol.I love the look of wood!Especially exotic woods!Highly figured dark woods.Woods with wild grain structures.Burls.Knots.Spalted streaks.
A riot of grains.Different natural colors.Dark woods with lighter streaks.Maybe some bark along the edge.A twig with a leaf?(laughing)
No pickguard to hide the wood grain!Gold plated hardware to accent the wood.
WOOD!No paint!

I once saw a picture in Bass Player Mag of some ones bass collection.The owner had about 10,12 basses ALL NATURAL ASH OR MAPLE!!He had the right idea!WOOD!So "Coffee Table" is a badge of pride!Ovangkol!Bubinga!Cocobolo.WOOD!Smack me in the head with a Cherry wood burl plank!!HaHaHa!WOOD!
 
Last edited:
#73
I don't get it... :confused: Why the lack of love for beautiful wood in some circles..

Some of the basses posted in this thread are just gorgeous and probably play like butter.. and if you took just about any bass except possibly for a plexiglass, graphite or metal bass.. and stripped off the finish.. you'd have wood that looks like some of the so called coffee table basses in this thread... go figure.
 
#74
I love exotic and figured wood veneers on furniture, but not on musical instruments. On furniture, the figuring can work with the design and fit within an overall structure. On a musical instrument, it seems more like wallpaper or a busy paint finish. Why do I think this? No reason that can be put into words. It just is, so there you have it. Some people like figured and exotic wood top veneers, some don't. I'm one who doesn't, even though I can appreciate the wood for what it is. Maybe I'm just a tightass who thinks all guitars should look like a 1957 Gibson ES 125 and all upright basses should look like a century old German upright with a spruce top. It wouldn't be much of a surprise if that's true.
 
#75
Sav'nBass said:
I don't get it... :confused: Why the lack of love for beautiful wood in some circles..

Some of the basses posted in this thread are just gorgeous and probably play like butter.. and if you took just about any bass except possibly for a plexiglass, graphite or metal bass.. and stripped off the finish.. you'd have wood that looks like some of the so called coffee table basses in this thread... go figure.
Click to expand...

Some of us just don't find them beautiful.
Go figure, we're all different.

Personally, anytime I've seen a natural finish guitar or bass on stage from a few feet away it just looks brown.

There are varying shades of brown, but it's still brown.
My least favorite colour. Looks very blah.

All of the fancy grain patterns or markings don't show up well after you get a few feet away.

I could nitpick many features of coffee table type instruments that I personally dislike to varying degrees, but it's not relevant to the topic, just personal taste.

Suffice to say, I just don't like 'em.
Now I'm not going to flip out if I see someone playing one when I walk in a venue, but I'm never going to buy one.

That leaves more for those that do like 'em.
 
#78
grrg63 said:
Stylistically Fenders remind me of 1950's American cars
Link Removed
1957%20Chrysler%20300C-02.jpg


Coffee table basses remind me of modern, more aerodynamic cars.
Click to expand...

This is exactly the point of my aversion to certain brands and certain styles.50's and 60's styling.Seafoam Green?Candy Apple Red?Paisley?(Vomit)I look at certain brand basses and I see 50's cars and I hear "Rock around The Clock"playing in my head.They look back.I look forward.
 
#79
JennySuzuki said:
Top left... is that a Westbury? Which one?
Click to expand...

Hi Jenny

No, actually that is PRS #11, a bass that Paul Reed Smith made for me totally by hand back in 1976-77. It has been published in Vintage Guitar Magazine and is the most incredibly inspiring instrument I have ever played - for a variety of reasons. I still get many hours of enjoyment - hitting it as much as I can - but for at least a few hours at a time.

If you are truly interested details are here:

http://www.innertainment.net/PRS-A.html

it is very valuable, so it doesn't leave the house under any circumstances. Definitely was instrumental is shaping the rest of my collection as it was the only instrument i owned from 1977-1999.

Thanks for asking.

Best,

BassHappy
www.innertainment.net
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back