Why are bass amps so ugly?

[thehornedone]

As a "native" guitarist, every time I go to Guitar Center I have this thought. Why are bass amps so ugly compared to guitar amps? Sure, there are some handsome classic bass amp designs such as some Ampegs, and Acoustics, but the vast majority of bass amps currently on the market just have really ugly, gaudy design to my eyes. Here's what I'm talking about:

Bass Amps:

Guitar Amps:

 

[bholder]

The Orange is even more garish than the Markbass.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Granted, the look of a Mesa hardwood guitar combo with wicker grille is hard to beat, see below.

I don't think that bass amps are ugly, they are functional, built to handle the rigors of the road. How could one not like the look of an SVT or V4B. The Portaflex amps should be in NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art.




Ampeg B-15N

Ampeg SVT-VR

Ampeg V4B artist model

Mesa MKIV Guitar Amp -- about as cool as it gets

 

[mojomike001]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Jule Monique

 

[thehornedone]

Granted, the look of a Mesa hardwood guitar combo with wicker grille is hard to beat, see below.

I don't think that bass amps are ugly, they are functional, built to handle the rigors of the road. How could one not like the look of an SVT or V4B. The Portaflex amps should be in NYC's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Completely agree. The B15 and blue line SVTs are probably the best looking bass amps along with the V4. It's mainly the modern, solid state amps I feel are so unattractive. A counter example for me is the Warwick LWA1000. The simple design with wood siding gives it a classic look.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Most transistorized amps are compact. This is a big selling point. I think that they tend to look plainer. The guitar amps that you initially posted were all tube based. The Warwick looks hi-fi, it would fit in well in a studio.

Here's a transistorized bass amp that looks cute. The Hotone Thunder Bass, a micro amp. I guess that you can always find exceptions.

Ampeg PF800 transistor amp. The knobs help add character

Tube amps tend to have more character. Ampeg PF50T tube amp, not bad at all.

 

[someguyfromNC]

Truth. Out of all the bass amps you listed I only like the look of the GK. The guitar amps are all classic and timeless. Love those. Not many timeless looking bass amps out there.

When It comes to bass amps I think Mesa i the best looking and Ampeg/Fender are the most 'classic"

 

[Al Kraft]

I'm an engineer and so for me, form follows function with aesthetics being only one design factor (and usually lower on my list when it comes to key trades). Quite frankly I think many bass amps and cabs look pretty cool at least from a tech guy's perspective.

Admittedly, some companies could have chosen better colors or other attributes that aren't critical to performance, longevity, reliability, road worthiness or sound/tone, but the marketing/branding guys probably need to get to win on something occasionally. That's, my take anyway.

 

[Slevage]

It keeps the focus on the bass player, rather than the amp.

 

[matty1039]

I agree, the current Fender and Ampeg PF series are about the only classic looking bass amps on the mass produced market. Whether we like it or not, our gear is an extension of ourselves and makes an impression on people. I don't like the industrial look that most amps have.

I get it. The bass is big and thick so it has a tough look. I don't know what kind of band I'm going to be in next so I need an amp that looks at home in a rock band or surf band or wherever. That is a feature many bass amps don't have.

 

[Passinwind]

As a "native" guitarist, every time I go to Guitar Center I have this thought. Why are bass amps so ugly compared to guitar amps? Sure, there are some handsome classic bass amp designs such as some Ampegs, and Acoustics, but the vast majority of bass amps currently on the market just have really ugly, gaudy design to my eyes. Here's what I'm talking about:

The DeWALT rig looks timeless to me. Great for getting the Justin Chancellor tone too.

 

[farace]

 

[thehornedone]

The DeWALT rig looks timeless to me. Great for getting the Justin Chancellor tone too.

. Too bad he uses GK. Missed opportunity.

 

[socialleper]

I literally have no idea what you are talking about. Amps are amps. The only difference I see between what you posted is that the guitar heads are big and look like they haven't had a redesign since 1979.

 

[Roland GR 88]

There's a huge and growing market for Boomers that want a $3000.00 amp that sits beside the T.V. and builders have cottoned on to the fact that a shiny, retro, coffee table shell can bring big bucks regardless of what's inside.
It's a lot smarter to make a 5 watt lacquered tweed that one can plink along to Sanford & Son with, especially if it matches the wife's décor.

 

[thehornedone]

I literally have no idea what you are talking about. Amps are amps. The only difference I see between what you posted is that the guitar heads are big and look like they haven't had a redesign since 1979.

Aesthetic is always a factor. If everything was function, we'd all be wearing Dickies jump suits and playing Steinberger basses.

 

[Tanner5382]

There's ugly and cool looking amps for both. Besides, you picked some odd examples on your guitar amp portion since an AD200B looks quite similar to the OR15 and a Reeves 225 looks just like the HiWatt.

I do agree that many combos look boring (Trace Elliot ones look best to me), but I don't play combos anyway.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Speed pickers such as Eddie and Paul like to haul out the drill every once in a while. Bass players tend to do it with a bow.

 

[thehornedone]

There's ugly and cool looking amps for both. Besides, you picked some odd examples on your guitar amp portion since an AD200B looks quite similar to the OR15 and a Reeves 225 looks just like the HiWatt.

Yes, I admit it's not a totally fair comparison. Also, there's the Marshall JMP Superbass which looks just like the normal JMP. This was supposed to represent the amps I noticed walking into Guitar Center (minus the Hiwatt).