Why do we all have the same looking basses?

[Angry Mob With Pitchfork]

OP you better stop right there. I sense Mothman lurking in the edge of darkness.

 

[PsyDocHill]

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.

I understand it's also 35?" If so, that in & of itself is unique. Regardless, the Mockingbird has its own look. And I so dig two split PUPs. Beautiful, too.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

OOOh... can't wait to see that green Iceman done! Like the Swamp Thing concept!

 

[BurningTheAltar]

A few more layers of acrylic, wet sanding and buffing, and I'll be putting her back together.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Same reason everybody wears jeans. They both are utilitarian vehicles for you to do your own thing with/in. In the same way music is not a destination it's a journey. Basses are simply tools that your build your own musical architecture out of. It can be a simple shelter or the Eiffel Tower. It's all up to you! Now go practice!

 

[Jughead6]

Plus my Warmoth Iceman project...getting completely refinished, going for a moldy, rotten, swamp wood look.

Very cool... Can't wait to see when the Iceman (Moldman? Swampman?) is finished!

I have recently had a hankering to build a reverse Iceman, which I would call "Nameci" (because I'm such a clever fellow).

 

[BurningTheAltar]

I've always liked the Iceman body style. Lately I've been drawn to the Fireman as well, may have to try and score one...

I'll post picks when the moldy Iceman is done.

 

[Kmonk]

Hello!

I want to ask a few questions about different basses and why I feel like we all play the same ones. I'll try to be specific, hopefully helps to simplify answers/suggestions.

I'm looking to get my first high quality bass. I've owned only Squires, 5 to be exact. I'm not knocking squires, just haven't had one that didn't require constant attention. My current bass is the Matt Freeman sig P. It's supposed to be like a CV or VM level. Great fun, never worry if someone touches it... wouldn't cry if it was stolen. Great type of bass to own, perfect to leave after a set and not worry about.

This is NOT about TONE.

My question is about bass looks. I know this is uber subjective, but humor me please.
Why oh why do we all have to have the same color options is beyond me, but I'll chalk it up to profit margin.
Copying ones hero makes total sense at first too, but after dedicating years to the craft, do we really care what bass your favorite player uses? Again, not about tone here.

Here are the list of basses I see most, please add what I overlook.
Fender P, J, Tele... any Fender really
Gibson SG's
Gibson LP - Although I really don't see that many of these
Thunderbirds
Music Mans
G&L's
Ibanez

I left out Lakelands, Stanley Clark, and that stuff... either they are out of my price range or look like one of the others mentioned above. I left out a whole host of other brand names too, for mostly the same reason. Also, a slight variation in, or a different pick guard, does not make it different in my eyes. Again, subjective.

I thought about a parts bass, like Warmoth or USGA, maybe wrong acronym. I could specialize the color at a reasonable price, etc. I'll still need a skilled luther to ensure its dialed in. I've purchased books on doing bass setups, I've torn apart my squires to no end. I'm very mechanical, but I believe a true luthier makes a difference. I could be wrong...

So, am I destined to stick with the sound I love and just deal with looking like every other Fender P or have I missed something?

Keep in mind I don't have the funds to have something custom built. It really needs to be complete at purchase. Be it used, or from a big box store... and this too may be why I'm pigeon holed? As for getting multiple basses, I agree... but, I want one really nice instrument at this point.

Visually, I'm sick of all the models I listed. I'm sure this sounds crazy...

I'd love opinions and suggestions.

Thank you

First of all, It's Squier not "Squire". Second of all, we do not all play the same thing. There is a lot of diversity in terms of manufacturers, styles and colors, on TB.

 

[cdef]

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

Agree with Jimmy.

A large proportion of all production basses are slight variations on certain designs/models that have proven functional over more than half a century, and are readily available at all price levels. So of course they will be prevalent.

And in general, the more you get into playing, the less you're concerned with standing out on account of your instrument's looks. Individuality is best established in musical terms.

 

[AndyPanda]

Git yerself one of these:

 

[M.R. Ogle]

And in general, the more you get into playing, the less you're concerned with standing out on account of your instrument's looks. Individuality is best established in musical terms.

Musically, this is true.
For some of us, the building/modding/tinkering with the bass guitar is also a separate hobby in itself.

 

[JimmyM]

Musically, this is true.
For some of us, the building/modding/tinkering with the bass guitar is also a separate hobby in itself.

Nothing wrong with that, but unless you're looking to establish yourself as a builder, it's not where you go to find your originality as a musician.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

For some, it is.

Some people have an old musclecar they're rebuilding or customizing in the garage. Parked next to it, their everyday-driver minivan.
FACT: Neither of these are going to make anyone a better driver.
But some people get a huge kick out of driving around in something unusual and different, even if it's a perfectly restored (no "creative" license) vehicle. It's part of their identity, and a valid reason to engage in the hobby.

I just don't think that being musically creative or original and liking/creating unusual instruments are opposing forces. Not even comparable forces. Two different hobbies.

 

[JimmyM]

For some, it is.

Some people have an old musclecar they're rebuilding or customizing in the garage. Parked next to it, their everyday-driver minivan.
FACT: Neither of these are going to make anyone a better driver.
But some people get a huge kick out of driving around in something unusual and different, even if it's a perfectly restored (no "creative" license) vehicle. It's part of their identity, and a valid reason to engage in the hobby.

I just don't think that being musically creative or original and liking/creating unusual instruments are opposing forces. Not even comparable forces. Two different hobbies.

Oh, I agree with that in its entirety. I've even got a few very unusual basses my own self. I'm just pointing out why guys like me use fairly un-original gear choices painted in basic colors on our gigs and don't worry about it making us come across as "common."

 

[Snakeman1066]

to the OP I think what it really boils down to is this....

The "P" was brought to market in 1951, and it was the first electric bass to earn widespread attention and use, remaining among the best-selling and most-imitated electric basses with considerable effect on the sound of popular music ever since. Leo set the stage....and we have had roughly 65 years to identify with that image and sound....

and in 1960 he did it again with the "Jazz" bass....

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Jimmy...Point taken!

 

[phillipkregg]

Why do all piano players have instruments with white and black keys?

When you compare it to keyboard, drums, trumpets, saxophones, or bagpipes, the bass guitar offers a whole lot of variation.

In reality, though, how you play it and the music coming out is the only thing that matters. Maybe that's why all pianos look pretty much the same. A long time ago they figured out that the person playing it makes the difference, not the instrument.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Of course. But the OP was specifically asking about LOOKS.

I want a different looking bass, what should I do?
Take lessons, kid.

LOL

 

[DwaynieAD]

What are you calling "weird shaped" my dean z is an "explorer" shape with a p/j pickup configuration. and a p pup in anything sounds pretty much like a p.

That reminds me... BC rich

 

[bobcruz]

I understand it's also 35?" If so, that in & of itself is unique. Regardless, the Mockingbird has its own look. And I so dig two split PUPs. Beautiful, too.

Yep, 35" scale, beautiful and nice, nice tone with no single coil hum when soloing either pickup. But it required more setup to be playable than my $179 SX jazz--I had to file down a few of the bridge saddles to lower the action (I didn't want to shim the neck upwards) and the tuners were pretty rough, again not even as good as the basic tuners on my SX. Also, the pickups needed extra foam underneath to get them to stay up near the strings (the flat compressed original foam under them had almost no spring effect). I also mounted a strap lock on the upper horn to help tame the neck dive that all Mockingbirds have. With a wide suede strap it's just OK. The original strap button is on the underside of the horn...not good. I was glad I didn't pay the full street price of $350 and feel I got a good bass but it wasn't great out of the box. Now it is.