What's with basses these days?

There aren't that many people that just decide to go and post a thread to just show how negative they get.....appearance isn't everything on a bass......it rather compliments the rest of the things you like in the bass.....like the feel, and the sound.

I mean,we can all express our opinons, but cynicism is a bit extreme.

 

You miss the advantage of living in a free society. It's about choices my friend, choices.

Well spoken John!
To each his own! If someone wants to play a painted bass held together with various wood fillers I have no problem with that!

 

Oh, don't get all worked up over this, AltIII. Nobody really gives a rat anyway. You'll be OK.

 

I see one key point that he made:

"Custom Shops" do seem to be catering to the fancy schmantzy customers more than the dude who wants a hard-looking, bad ass bass. I agree. (Maybe not with the execution, but the overall point)

But on the other side of the coin, not many people come to a custom builder to get something "controvercial" or "bizarre" (anymore, that is).

This is all about many factors, but mostly about money and business success. It may be cool for someone to have something really awesome painted on their bass... but Vinnie Fodera isn't doing it... Roger Sadowsky isn't doing it. Whether it's about reputation or a desire to keep an untarnished image to high-money clients, luthiers tend to opt either to not do such work or do it and won't tell anyone about it. Or... no one has had the balls to ask.

Those who do it are either custom paint shops (not just for music gear) or they are Hamer, Jackson, BC Rich, or Warwick (though I'm sure that there are more). I've seen some funky shizzle from those boys (although most was from the 80's), including a guitar painted with spiderman on it with LEDs in the neck, a bass with genitals painted on it (Sixx), chrome painted, flames, skulls, etc. Wasn't cheap though.

 

You talkin' 'bout me? You talkin' 'bout ME?

 

ahahahhahahahahaahhaahah

personally i love the shape of the skyline basses

 

I think there are customer builders that will have done whatever you like. Heck that's why it’s custom for the customer.
I think Sadowsky and fodera would do it as well if someone wanted skulls or chicks painted on a bass.

I know Chris Benavente has a couple that are out there with different custom paint jobs. I see these as less or a player bass and more of a showpiece then a buckeye burl top or something.


I'm not sure our poster really was looking for skulls or chicks, but if he is he doesn't have to look real far.

But then again, I'm not sure where he's looking if he hasn't had any custom builders willing to help him unless they just don't know painters who can handle the job. That in it self is the tuff part.

 

HAHA. i saw that game.