What defines a "cool" bass to you?

[Cameronj279]

Over the few years I've been a member on here I've saw quite a lot of people say things like "Fenders are the only cool basses" or '5+ strings aren't cool' and things to that effect.

My personal thoughts on it are that it depends who is playing (and more importantly how they are playing it). I know that If I'm at a gig and someone is playing something other than a Fender J or P bass I find it a bit of a breath of fresh air seeing/hearing something different than usual. I can't say I find an instrument itself cool but I certainly enjoy when I can see someone play something out of the ordinary.

Basically I'm curious about the general thoughts regarding 'cool' basses on here.

Also. What makes you find certain basses 'cool'?

Cameron

Edited January 30, 2016 by Cameronj279

[ambient]

Cool is a relative thing. One person's cool is anathema to someone else. I don't see anything cool in Fender P bass, but that's just me.

I saw this photo that a friend had posted on Facebook easier, and I thought, wow that's cool.

[attachment=210987:12661982_1636103799986792_6457187210718788957_n.jpg]

[Billy Apple]

A black trans-matte Spector with black hardware.

Forget about it.

Edited January 30, 2016 by Billy Apple

[neepheid]

No concensus will be found here.

[Cameronj279]

[quote name='neepheid' timestamp='1454116231' post='2966714']
No concensus will be found here.
[/quote]

I knew that from shortly after I joined

Curious about the subject though.

[Billy Apple]

I'll tell you what tho, the 50's P shape is way cooler than the 60's, but the T Bird trumps them both, both ways round!

[Twincam]

A fellow bass player will pretty much accept any bass as being cool if it's known to be a "good" instrument in my view if it's played well.

There's is more cache in having certain instruments though. Which is an essay in itself.

[Cameronj279]

I should state that I don't care care what instrument anybody plays so long as they play it well.

I just like seeing nice basses when I go to gigs

[blue]

A cool bass is whatever you think a cool bass is.

Blue

[ambient]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1454119642' post='2966741']
A cool bass is whatever you think a cool bass is.

Blue
[/quote]

That about sums it up.

[Rubbersoul]

A bass is not cool. The person playing it is or is not cool. Cool does not describe inanimate objects.

[Geek99]

Ice cubes ?

[colgraff]

Although I can't define it, the look of a bass is very important to me. If I don't like the look of a bass, I won't enjoy playing it. Eg, I don't like the look of a Status King Bass (too blocky) but I do like the look of a Ritter.

[Marvin]

My basses are cool, that's all anyone needs to know

[skidder652003]

my idiotic comment about 5'ers not being cool had now been removed! #drunkthread

[NancyJohnson]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1454117544' post='2966723']
I'll tell you what tho, the 50's P shape is way cooler than the 60's, but the T Bird trumps them both, both ways round!
[/quote]

Woop.

[colgraff]

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1454143915' post='2966807']
my idiotic comment about 5'ers not being cool had now been removed! #drunkthread
[/quote]

On the plus side, we don't need to tar and feather you as a warning to others now.

[No lust in Jazz]

A cool bass? Pretty much any one that I'm not playing

[Krysbass]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say, so basses with plastic scratch-plates, solid paint finishes or maple fret-boards leave me cold, but for others, clearly these things are the essence of cool.

Plenty of visible wood-grain and black hardware are where it's at for me - but that's just me.

[Cato]

There's no definitive answer for me, my tastes are in constant flux.

As an example, for years I found Rickenbacker 4001s & 4003s to be unspeakinkaby ugly, then one day I saw one in darkest blue & fell instantly,inexplicably, head over heels. If I'd had the funds I'd have bought it on the spot, about 30 seconds after seeing it, probably without even trying it out.

I also used to be pretty indifferent towards Jazz basses. Now I own 2 & think its generally just about the sexiest shape around.

My love is fickle.

Edited January 30, 2016 by Cato

[PlungerModerno]

Cool is when it's fridge temperature (i.e. bass has been left in a cold room).
Cold would be below that (like in a freezing cold room).

Just kidding - cool is whatever you think it is, as Blue said.

[BottomE]

What is "cool" changes over time in terms of the make of bass but colour has a lot to do with it for me. I don't like green basses and would never consider buying one no matter how great they might sound/play. Equally buying a relic bass to me is uncool. I want a bass to earn its wear and tear.

Ultimately its in the eyes of the beholder.

[Mykesbass]

With bass guitars I'm a bit odd - love traditional shapes (P,J,EB etc.) and then sometimes see something completely different (crazy, over the top custom, coffee table top type) and love it. In my book Relics are the only things that cannot be cool.

Double basses are always cool!

[BassTractor]

A cool bass is a bass that is so stubbornly, nauseatingly traditional and boring that it brings me to the point of puking and near suicide.
Thus, sadly, a regular sunburst P is cool.

I'd like to think that original designs with an original sound and maybe original colours are cool, but they aren't.
The cricket bats, Bongos and Stash Stainlesses respond to people's need for something that can comfort us and reassure us it's really, really, really not a regular sunburst P.

That is not a cool thing to do.


I just far prefer them.

Edited January 30, 2016 by BassTractor

[Lozz196]

Think more often than not it also depends on the player, how they stand, how they move, how they wear the bass etc - check out the Thunderbird player in Robbie Williams` Old Before I Die.