Why are bass amps so ugly?

[pie_man_25]

Maybe it's because us bassists need something to look better than by immediate visual comparison.

 

[chris_b]

. . . . Why are bass amps so ugly compared to guitar amps?. . . .

Who bothers to look at bass amps?

They are just the things at the back helping us to make the room shake.

What they sound like matters, not what they look like.

 

[BlacknWhite]

Ampeg V4B artist model
View attachment 914167

BAHAHA was scrolling through the comments and The @JimmyM V4B caught my eye! I would take one of those! lol

 

[west al]

When you want, or need 500 watts, use a BASS AMP!

 

[Korladis]

When you want, or need 500 watts, use a BASS AMP!
View attachment 2781427

I'd rather use the 100 or 300 watt amps that look like that.

 

[borgward]

Maybe he needs to look in a better store than Guitar Center. I have never seen a Bass amp or cab in Guitar Center that I would want regardless of what it looked like.

Check out "5 things about Guitar Center"

 

[laughing house]

Ready for the The Museum of Modern Art.

 

[Deezer Butler]

I think mine is pretty...

 

[erigod23]

Oh yeah? Well, you're ugly!

 

[coreyfyfe]

Mine is gorgeous
View attachment 2747402

To each their own, to me that looks more like it should be plugged into my tv than my bass.

 

[Ed Byrnes]

"Beauty, is in the eye of the beholder"

 

[JimiLL]

Ha I think rack gear is great and acoustic has to be one of the ugliest amps ever made

 

[chadds]

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:

View attachment 2522138

Guitar Amps:

View attachment 2522139

Stay out of GC and you won't think that.
For some reason people think that that's "the" music store with the only selection.
It's like thinking only Chev, Chrysler & Ford make cars. (Warning: Car Analogy Violation)

 

[Dragonback13]

It appears to me that the OP just prefers the look of vintage amps over the newer styles.

 

[NoiseNinja]

I am not sure that is a fact.

And I know for sure the classic Ampeg B-15 and varriants, including the new versions, are some of the most beautiful instrument amps ever built!

 

[Korladis]

Ha I think rack gear is great and acoustic has to be one of the ugliest amps ever made

I'm not a fan of how rack gear looks.

 

[JimiLL]

Ok

 

[Korladis]

To me it looks more like a computer than an amp.

 

[P-oddz]

I happen to think there is a lot of bass gear that is extremely sexy. Granted, I may have a definite preference for vintage gear, but...

 

[lowend1]

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:

View attachment 2522138

Guitar Amps:

View attachment 2522139

The Hiwatt DR103 is considered to be an “all purpose” amp, so it is completely appropriate to run a bass through it.