Why are bass amps so ugly?

[Roxbororob]

Its nicer without the rack on top, no photo of that but I do have one....in the dark.

 

[Roxbororob]

OK.. but they are truly ugly! I took this one under the threat of rain..
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Holy Smoke......nice stuff...(gloater!)

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I think these are good looking! My all black Polaris is my new fave looking amp. Dressed in "Borg Death Star Black".

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

LOL, the Fender amp in the lower right of your original post is not a bass amp. It is a Fender Deluxe guitar amp.

 

[Passinwind]

LOL, the Fender amp in the lower right of your original post is not a bass amp. It is a Fender Deluxe guitar amp.

Erm... all the amps in the lower pic of the OP are clearly labeled "guitar amps."

 

[Fat Freddy]

Erm... all the amps in the lower pic of the OP are clearly labeled "guitar amps."

Yep!

 

[Kirk Bryant]

I like this one and think it looks cool, heavy, but cool! 50! 5" speakers! OH MY!

 

[thehornedone]

I like this one and think it looks cool, heavy, but cool! 50! 5" speakers! OH MY!View attachment 915308

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[reddesert]

I like this one and think it looks cool, heavy, but cool! 50! 5" speakers! OH MY!View attachment 915308

The little built-in bookshelves on the left are a nice touch.

 

[Bigskybassguy]

I'd guess it helps make ugly bass players feel more at home.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I like this one and think it looks cool, heavy, but cool! 50! 5" speakers! OH MY!View attachment 915308

Yeah, it makes Pino Palladino's rig with only 21 5" speakers look tiny by comparison.

 

[99Z3]

First thing I think of is some thing from Star Trek or Dr. Who.. mind melding machine!

Yeah, it makes Pino Palladino's rig with only 21 5" speakers look tiny by comparison.

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[Chris Fitzgerald]

As a Phil Jones amp user for many years, these rigs make me very happy.

 

[beans-on-toast]

It must sound glourious when standing in front of that wall of sound.

 

[JimiLL]

Guitarists tend to be much more image conscious I have found. So styling plays a larger role in selling amps

 

[Korladis]

Do it!!! Too many good looking bass rigs posted in this thread already. I want to see some ugly ones.

My rig can be seen near the edge of the picture. It's behind the bass on the stand.

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Better pic of the cab from recording with a different band:

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Fairly ugly I would say.

 

[Matthew Fisher]

I like this one and think it looks cool, heavy, but cool! 50! 5" speakers! OH MY!View attachment 915308

Bet it sounds awesome, but with that many speakers all I can think of right now is Fury Road!

 

[rodl2005]

I like the look of mine. I like the sound even more.
But almost ANY rack mount stuff don't do it for me at all

 

[I am Soma]

I like the look of mine. I like the sound even more.
But almost ANY rack mount stuff don't do it for me at all

Super Bassman and 100t. Awesome sound and awesome looks.

 

[agedhorse]

Ok designers, time to make touch-screen front panel amps that can have screen-savers and downloadable images put on them. No knobs allowed, 100% touch control. The guitarist wants my amp to be prettier. Tone? Who cares, it's just bass anyway.

While you are at it, let's require the amp to contact the mother ship for software or operating system updates that then crash the system at the worst possible moment, and after a few years you have to pay for any software updates or the amp will stop functioning.

Don't laugh too hard, this is getting closer to where the software industry is going... subscription based software that you lease not own, and the software developer has the right to shut down the software for non-payment of renewal fees. Not my cup of tea, just the thought makes me grumble