Black basses: Cool or boring?

[TRBboy]

I've never considered myself to be particularly "vain" about my basses but recently I've been thinking about swapping my gloss black bass for something more colourful. I love playing it, it feels and sounds incredible, and has that nice "played in" feel that my new Virgin White one doesn't yet have.

A replacement would be exactly the same model (possibly), just a different colour: Am I an idiot?

How do you feel about black basses?

This is it below (other two now long gone):

[deanovw]

Black bass, black jeans, black t-shirt. Thats how I can hide at the back

[TRBboy]

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1363611405' post='2014662']
Black bass, black jeans, black t-shirt. Thats how I can hide at the back
[/quote]



I prefer to stand out a bit......... until i make a mistake!

[irvined]

Being very colour blind, black (I am told) goes with anything. Hence black bass, trousers and shoes - goes with any colour shirt.

Cheers,

Doug

[jackers]

Personally, I find black basses a little dull. It was actually one of the main reasons I (stupidly) sold my first USA P bass as it was black/black/maple. Though I now have a 3TS P-bass, so I guess my opinion is voided by that haha.

[thisnameistaken]

I had two black basses (one Yamaha, one Godin) but the thing that really bothers me about them is the way they show up fingerprints and other such grubbiness under stage lights. If you want a neutral colour I think white is a much better choice.

[Paul S]

I only really like black basses. I have 11 basses, 10 are black. Entirely subjective.

[Graham]

On the whole, I tend to find them dull, but that doesn't mean they can't look good - Precision in black with a tiger-eye pickguard and a maple neck is quite sexy.

I did a gig last year with my occasional covers band, I had a maple-burst G&L and the two guitarists both had black Ibanez / Ltds and looking back at the photos, I think mine looked best if only by virtue of standing out.

[Conan]

Cool. Mos' def.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Conan

[Graham]

Also, I really like the Bongo "stealth bass" I think that looks great

[mep]

Got 2, had 3 in total. Black is cool. Maybe no the best visually for some reasons, but cool for sure.

[zero9]

Seeing Tony Levin play his black fretless MM, made me want one...

[BigRedX]

Depends on the bass.

BTW most "black" basses aren't.

IMO for a bass to be properly considered black, the only allowable non-black items are: frets, fret markers and strings

[Cat Burrito]

Surely it all depends on the bass? I've seen black basses look terrible but also look really cool. It also ultimately comes down to personal preference too. So I'm afraid I fall somewhere in the middle

[WhoNeedsYou]

[quote name='deanovw' timestamp='1363611405' post='2014662']
Black bass, black jeans, black t-shirt. Thats how I can hide at the back
[/quote]
Ninja tactics!
I prefer black but with a nice coloured scratchplate.

[deanovw]

[quote name='WhoNeedsYou' timestamp='1363614659' post='2014738']
Ninja tactics!
I prefer black but with a nice coloured scratchplate.
[/quote]

Exhibishonist.

[fumps]

I think it's down to the design of the bass, some look good in black & some don't.

I am one who agrees with a little bit of vanity (If it is vanity) If I don't like the look of a bass I just would not buy it. I have played a few basses over the years where the bass will sound lovely & feel really nice but the look just left me cold. I just cant see myself owning one. I'm not sure if it is vanity or not but lets be honest we are a little vain deep down.

[discreet]

I voted 'cool', because I think they are - but I prefer a white bass for my own use!

[Lozz196]

Fender Precision, black with black pickguard and maple neck = ultra-cool.

Not too keen on black basses with rosewood fret-boards though.

[Dave Vader]

I rather hypocritically voted boring. Though I have 2 black basses.
I think we need the third option "it depends".

[discreet]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1363617174' post='2014778']
I think we need the third option "it depends"...
[/quote]

On what? On whether you own boring basses..?

[Highfox]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1363615726' post='2014754']
Fender Precision, black with black pickguard and maple neck = ultra-cool.

Not too keen on black basses with rosewood fret-boards though.
[/quote]
I voted cool, that be the one I bought off you Lozz lol.

[The Dark Lord]

Black is good.

[chrismuzz]

My newest bass is ridiculously black



I reckon if it would look quite plain if it wasn't a 6 string... I am considering coloured strings for it though, or maybe upgrading the pickups eventually to something with exposed pole pieces!

[iamtheelvy]

I've always, always wanted a black bass, but have always, always been tempted away by some other colour. So... I don't really know...