Why Are Body Shapes Such a Personal Thing?

[Liam Wald]

The reason is hard to define. It's like defining precisely why we respond to different paintings.

Bass bodies are art, and we all like different art.

Yes, it is really about fashion, style, design, image and the fact that everyone has different taste in what they like.

 

[somegeezer]

A lot of the time, I know just from the look of it, how it would feel to hold. Or how it would balance from body to neck. If I know the wood it is made of, then how heavy it would be.

But I think mostly, it's a matter of why do we like or dislike certain shapes in anything?

 

[hsech]

For the same reason that color, weight, number of tuners per side on the headstock, brand are all personal things. I personally like rounded edges and contoured bodies. I also like lighter weight basses.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

I think it just comes down to what you either like, or don't like. Like most other things in life where you have a choice. How boring would basses be, if they all looked the same?

DB pretty much all look the same, the few variation are more important than cosmetic ( like a round back VS a flat back, Neck joint at the D or Eb, a flatter fingerboard is better for jazz and a rounder fingerboard better for arco playing etc ) ... Bass player are a lot more picky and there is a lot more "accepted" technique than on DB.

 

[mongo2]

There's only a few bass bodies that bother me...Bongo is #1, where did that one come from.

BMW Designworks

 

[wmhill]

bass bodies.......................

 

[B Major]

It's all personal preference. Most people would call this next statement pure blaspheme but, I think Fender J and P basses are just plain looking, if not butt-ass ugly. It's all in the eye of the beholder.... It's like body-type preferences w/ women. In that regard, I like my women like I like my houses; color don't matter so long as they're pretty, have a solid foundation and a big backyard!!!!!!

Oh, and I like Warwicks ;-)

 

[zontar]

I feel that most BC Rich shapes simply work way better on guitar than bass. As far as metal guitar shapes go, the Mockingbird guitar is fairly comfy.

I don't find them comfortable for guitar either.
The top horn pokes into my ribs or stomach--depending on the height I wear it at.

 

[Smilodon]

I think people are influenced by association. For me a P-bass is what really look like a bass to me.

In guitars I prefer Les Paul-shaped bodies. When I was going to buy my first electric guitar I was initially looking at pointy ibanez guitars and was pretty set in my mind that I wanted one. That was until I saw a sunburst Hagström superswede in the shop. It was love at first sight.

BMW Designworks

Aha! So that's why I like the Bongo. I have always wondered why "everybody" hates the Bongo.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

I have no idea why the little hook on the upper horn of my Ric looks so cool to me, but it does. Oh, the headstock, too. It's weird how a shape can tickle, huh? Science has studied it, (even babies do it, apparently) but I doubt they'll ever figure out what causes it.

 

[two fingers]

Great question OP. Oddly enough I bounce around though. I really dig a lot of different stuff. The list of things I don't like would be much shorter than the list of things I do.

I have owned hot pink and pointy to burst tort Fender and all points in between. I'm in a Fender phase right now but that won't last long either.

 

[west al]

I prefer a flatter board myself. 11", Or 12" seems to be more to my liking anymore. I do alright with a Fender 9.5" though.

 

[marcblum]

Hey TB'ers

I would never even try to speak for anyone else on here, but I have recognized within myself that I have a lot of strong personal biases when it comes to body shapes. I have been trying to "get over it" but I look at certain basses and in a few seconds my mind simply dismisses those instruments - without even holding them or playing them or without even considering them. I just mutter an "ewwwww" under my breath and go on to the next one.

Does anyone else find this to be true? If so, where do you think it comes from?

Are we simply attracted to certain body shapes much more than others and if so, what is the reason?

Comment if you see fit.

Everyone responds to body shapes differently because everybody's body ist shaped differently.
)

 

[name44]

I like curves in all the right places, but once in a while I'll see something different and think, d@m, that's sexy!

 

[Nephilymbass]

I think the shape of a bass is something I'm starting to care less and less about. Yeah it has to be comfortable to play without serious neck dive issues. But what's comfortable for me has changed over the last 20 years. Warwick thumb was nice when i had more of a gut because it would hug my gut and stay parallel to my body. But now that I've lost some weight that's not really an issue. I also get bored with a particular shape after a while. Really i think different shapes really come down to more of an image thing so check this out.

I do think different people get different vibes about different shapes when it comes to image/ looks. for example the esp ltd f415. A lot of people would look at and think some goth kid who wears all black clothes with black eyeliner and fingernails would play that. Ironically for some reason when i think of "goth" bass players the first bass that comes to my mind is actually a thunderbird. But i also acknowledge a lot of that has to do with how you dress and not necessarily how the bass is shaped, and also who've you've seen rock that particular shape.

Like here's some examples of shapes and my perspectives on how they look. I'm betting many of you have a different perspective based on who you've seen play a certain shape. Think of different body shapes and bass players that play them. I see a jazz bass and think Jaco. I see a thunderbird and think Marylyn manson or Mötley Crüe( two very different images) I see a p bass and i think punk rock. I see an esp f bass and i think of suicide silence or mnemic(neither of which is goth IMO ) I see a soundgear and think korn. Warwick thumb mudvayne, warwick streamer 311. Warwick dolphin meshuggah. Spector nickel back. Btb = Chevelle. ESP b = glass cloud. Ibanez atk= slipnot.

The same goes with guitars. Think of ibanez 8 sting guitars. You may think of meshuggah, but what if you pictured justin from after the burial. Saw them play and he had on a striped polo shirt. Completely different image with the same body shape. Upright basses make you think of classical music, or you may think of rockabilly or punk.

So what im getting at is the shape of a basses body is all personal preference and not necessarily about the image it portrays. Because image is completely changed by how you dress and what kind of music you play.

 

[Mark4]

I'm a fan of Thunderbird and headless "paddle" shapes. Both are quite comfortable in my hands, and mine give me the tones I want so I can't complain. The T-bird has an alternative/indie rock look to my eyes, whereas the Steinberger strikes me more fusion/pop, but I use them for everything from classic rock to acid jazz. My Jazz bass, while arguably quite good, doesn't get played as often. This is all incredibly subjective. It has little to do with what my influences play. I like the comparison with art, and how different people simply have different tastes.

 

[ctmullins]

I think Fender J and P basses are just plain looking, if not butt-ass ugly.

Preach.

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

Man, whatta question....

Just what feels....right and...just wrong! Lol