Why do we all have the same looking basses?

[dukeandrews]

Just change how your bass looks, build your own, or make your own. Make it look however you like.

 

[lamarjones]

Sounds like you like traditional shapes but different colors. Which G&L and lakland are great on.

But you've said more about the idea of what you like than what you actually like. Pickups and placement, scale length, 4 or 5, key specs that will actually make a difference to the feel and sound. They will matter much more. Once you know those, you can figure out which brands and find something that suits you.

Plus, an actual price range.

 

[bobcruz]

Here's my $280 B.C. Rich Mockingbird Plus 5 (normally $350 but this one was B stock due to tiny scratches near the neck plate screws):

I changed the knobs, bridge and tuners from black to gold. It will totally nail the P-bass tone if you solo the neck pickup. Nice and light at about 8.5 pounds too. My other basses look like everyone else's (SX jazz, bound and blocked, and Peavey Cirrus) but this is my favorite.

 

[jd56hawk]

Why do we all have the same looking basses?
Sometimes the simplest answer is the best: We don't.

 

[Humbled]

^^^^
Correct.

We don't. I have or have had pretty much any electric bass I wanted.

I'm not exactly starved for funds.

Now my primary electric bass is an Ibanez 1806e.


Because I like it.

It's Simple, trouble-free, and pretty much nobody wants to steal it. Looks like too much work to play, I suppose.

 

[hintz]

I prefer somewhat"unique" basses...

My most traditional is my 76 eagle, my current favorite, the other 2 are great sounding and well balanced though!!

I do plan on buying back my late 70's 4001 Ric to add to the stable, some might argue whether the Ric is "traditionally" shaped, i find them to be stunning!!

either way I find my 3 to be classy shapes even though others may disagree, I don't really care though

 

[garritynet]

Maybe the OP could show an example of a shape he does like and I bet there is an affordable P Bass configuration with it.

 

[MVE]

I'll make you a list of great basses that all look totally unique:
Spector NS
Warwick Dolphin
Pedulla MVP
Steinberger
Kubricki
EBMM Bongo
BC Rich

This list goes on and on....
Just because the only basses you have ever seen have been Fenders doesn't mean that all basses look like Fenders.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

One reason that I prefer my MTD Kingston AG5 and CRB5 is that they don't look like every other bass.

 

[CGremlin]

Not many like mine:

The missing knob adds a lot.

 

[newyorkiddo]

Reverend

 

[BurningTheAltar]

This is why I eBay snipe cheaper bass guitars and mod the hell out of them. I can't stand run of the mill guitars...looking like everyone else's is boring to me, imho. I don't own a single bass that hasn't been modified in some way, shape, or form. I'd love a custom Monson Oblivion bass with a zebra wood top, but until I can save up $2,500.00, I'll keep modifying low end guitars.

 

[JIO]

I like this ^ answer! I'm conservative, and even though I do like to exercise some individuality every now and then, I really don't feel the need wrt bass guitar shape. URBes are all the same shape, it hurts my head not at all that electric basses are too.

http://98329bfccf2a7356f7c4-b113946b17b55222ad1df26d6703a42e.r50.cf2.rackcdn.com/bso_pic_2.jpg

I posted it more to say an electric bass is an electric bass and whether it has 4, 5 or more strings, or is black or red or natural wood - it's a low-end instrument and incorporates within music roughly in the same way. Enjoy the similarities along w/the differences!

 

[hsech]

Fender, Gibson & Ric for the affordable basses. How can you go wrong? Plenty of higher end basses for those with fatter wallets and discerning tastes. The point is you have to look, look, look.

 

[Buszkock]

In praise of WEIRD LOOKING basses!

Thanks for sharing that!

 

[Ericnordicbee]

Well, there is also the whole world of Violin/Beatle basses. And common inexpensive versions of them. Very much their own thing on playing style and tone.
Or Danelectro basses. Either shorthorn or longhorn depending on interest. See above.
Eastwood makes good modern versions of obscure basses by Gretsch, Ampeg and others. Those definitely don't look like everything else.
And then there is the whole world of acoustic/electric bass guitars.
Oh, and let's not forget Steinberger.
And then all the Peavey basses that have been made over the years.

There seem to be quite a few different styles of bass out there. And this is on top of all the other excellent examples out there.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't need to find originality in my gear because I supply the originality, not my gear.

 

[PsyDocHill]

I am confused. The OP names at least ten different brand/models, including pretty much all the major manufacturers and then asks why we play the instruments that are most available to us? I don't get it. Am I supposed to whittle myself a bass out of driftwood or something?

Word is driftwood is a superb tonewood. All marine bassists swear by it!

 

[M.R. Ogle]

This is why I eBay snipe cheaper bass guitars and mod the hell out of them. I can't stand run of the mill guitars...looking like everyone else's is boring to me, imho. I don't own a single bass that hasn't been modified in some way, shape, or form. I'd love a custom Monson Oblivion bass with a zebra wood top, but until I can save up $2,500.00, I'll keep modifying low end guitars.

Oh, yeah... that's MY hobby, too... Here's my EMG-outfitted, oven-knob, Washburn-necked CRITTER... (Chinese Ritter).

 

[BurningTheAltar]

Very nice M.R. Ogle! Here's my EB-0, swapped the mudbucker for EMG's. Plus my Warmoth Iceman project...getting completely refinished, going for a moldy, rotten, swamp wood look.