Why Are Basses So... Un-pretty?

Daion Power Mark XX-b. This is my daily bass

 

Here's the finished Dirnt-style Tele neck P-bass partscaster I mentioned earlier which has an actual USA Dirnt lightly-reliced nitro body I found on ebay, and Warmoth Tele bass neck, SD Quarter Pounder pickups - came out real nice and half the cost of a new one… I think she's a beauty!



This is closer to the actual color, it's a slightly transparent blonde nitro… super fun build!

 

Nothing un purdy here!!!

 

Among Fenders, I love the Tony Franklin sig model.

 

i think my p-bass is multi-purdy. it looks basically like the tony franklin model above, except with frets and no bridge p-up.

 

I like the "classic" looking bases but some basses I see today look fugly to me. The ones that have 7 knobs are particularly unattractive to me. A classic P or J bass is beautiful in my eyes.

 

I think my short scale Musicmaster Bass is quite aesthetically pleasing

 

Rock Orange, Reverend Dub King...just like mine.

 

If I were to play bass the Epi Viola Bass or a Hofner viloin bass, both short scale, look great to me and would probably be easier to play.
ales chance f turning and whacking somebody in the band on the chin too.

 

Another TYPO. Meant to read "... also less chance of turning and..."

 

I've always thought basses looked good. Mine always have, and as far as scale goes I can go from 43" down to 20" scale without missing a beat, well maybe one or two, if it's mid tune "o)

This one I should have finished by the middle of next week. This pickguard is being redesigned and cut out. I know it's a traditional design but I like traditional.



Then there is this recently acquired Ibanez,

Sweetwater took the picture but it's my bass.



My Guild Starfire is another good looking bass, actually all of them are "o)

 

No offense to any bass player here, but thats the reason no women at gigs say, " i want to f$#@ the bass player" lol

 

I think my L-2000 carved top is kinda pretty...

 

You must be playin' the wrong gigs then pardner.

 

Hallmark make some great looking basses:

 

Would kick butt of anyone who dares to call my Tele Bass "Un-Pretty" in my face.

 

I don't think of most basses as UN pretty, but I find a beauty in the simplicity look of some of them.
Others are almost too 'artsy' overly fancy and overall have a look of 'trying to hard'.
Super thin horns, odd head stocks, multi wood striped deals...they all look fancy but sort of delicate and that belies the look I preffer,..bass should look 'muscular'.
But there are plenty of desirable short scales, and most tend to have old school vibe or at least not overdone in looks.
Gretsch jet, Dano longhorn, jaguar Squier is a real looker, so many choices to even list.
Myself, I just picked up a Squier cv 50s, not short scale but deliciously good looking in it's simplicity.
The simple ones allow the most modifications, too, as you are not stuck with a bunch of prerouted holes.
I played the Squier jaguar bass recently.
It was sexy looking, and one of the best in the store at any price point.( I a/ b'd all of them, lol)
Even Cort has an affordable, nice looking shorty with a satin natural finish, well rated.

 

OP,

Here are prototypes for the new, short scale, Reverend Mike Watt Signature "Thundergun" Bass (pics ganked from the Reverend forum; ignore the errant Dano that found its way into the mix)...









Production models avail in January. The 2 + 2 headstock looks a lot better to me than the inline, but still a great looking bass, IMO.

Good luck in your search!

 

I just bought a 1978 Musicmaster. It looks like yours. I'm a guitar player but I think I may have found the bass for me! Do you have any advice on the pickup? It is my understanding that they came with a guitar pickup in there. It sounds fine to me but understand that lots of folks put a 4 pole piece, real bass one in there. Thanks.

 

IMO the jaguar basses are beautiful, but they're lower end. The starcaster bass is also my cup of tea, but made in China and pickup upgrades would be difficult.