stewblack Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Is there any one particular thing that can turn a work of art into a rotten egg? Do you look at the rear of a bass, shiver in anticipation, only to gag and stagger from the room the moment you see the headstock decal? Or scratchplate colour or shape? Or lack of a scratchplate altogether? Is a hideous headstock, a brass nut, gold nob or a side mounted jack socket enough to have you turn on your heel and leave? Do you wonder if you've chosen the wrong instrument when someone puts up a picture of a blue bass and everyone else appears oblivious to this crime against nature? For me it's the headstock shape, it can utterly ruin an otherwise beautiful machine. There are combinations of colours (black body and plate, maple board) which don't appeal but that's more than one thing. Come on, prove to me that I'm not the only irrational fool here. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Single cut, never seen one I like. 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 I’m probably going to get slated for this but , Lakland do some stunning basses and I would definitely have one in my collection , but I can’t do the bridge shape 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Black blocks on a maple fretboard, or no fret markers at all. Wont ever own a bass with either. I dont need the fret markers, i just think having them looks better than a plain board. Oh, and a 6th (or 7th) string 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 16 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I’m probably going to get slated for this but , Lakland do some stunning basses and I would definitely have one in my collection , but I can’t do the bridge shape I know what you mean, but I think it's because we've been conditioned to see a bridge as rectangular and anything else looks odd. I did feel the same way and then chilled out over it. Then I bought one and wow! You're missing out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 I’m not a fan of basses with a stunning top and then a really basic rear with awful neck joint. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 5 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I know what you mean, but I think it's because we've been conditioned to see a bridge as rectangular and anything else looks odd. I did feel the same way and then chilled out over it. Then I bought one and wow! You're missing out. Never been 100% with Lakland bridges, but never let them bother. They just seem to work well and are part of the Lakland look. Never owned a Lakland that wasn't fantastic. The headstock on G&L basses though....... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlasmaZombies Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 For me it's the headstock shape. It's the only thing stopping me from trying out a Sire.. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 22 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: Black blocks on a maple fretboard, or no fret markers at all. Wont ever own a bass with either. I dont need the fret markers, i just think having them looks better than a plain board. Love a plain fretboard. I just think they look classy. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Edwards69 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 7 minutes ago, PlasmaZombies said: For me it's the headstock shape. It's the only thing stopping me from trying out a Sire.. I came here to say something similar. Sire’s headstock design just seems unrefined. It’s as if they took a hacksaw to a blank paddle and said “that’ll do”. That said, the headstock isn’t stopping me trying one. They just don’t make one in the configuration at the price point I want. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Just now, Greg Edwards69 said: I came here to say something similar. Sire’s headstock design just seems unrefined. It’s as if they took a hacksaw to a blank paddle and said “that’ll do”. That said, the headstock isn’t stopping me trying one. They just don’t make one in the configuration at the price point I want. They do seem to be needlessly long, but i don’t find them as ugly as another brand ive already mentioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 13 minutes ago, PlasmaZombies said: For me it's the headstock shape. It's the only thing stopping me from trying out a Sire.. Yep I know the feeling. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlasmaZombies Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 1 minute ago, Greg Edwards69 said: I came here to say something similar. Sire’s headstock design just seems unrefined. It’s as if they took a hacksaw to a blank paddle and said “that’ll do”. That said, the headstock isn’t stopping me trying one. They just don’t make one in the configuration at the price point I want. Agreed! I'm just not a fan of their headstock design, though they seem to suit their Jazz style basses better than their P style basses. On paper though, the P7 ticks a lot of boxes for me. If I could try one before I buy maybe i could overlook the headstock, unlikely though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 27 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I know what you mean, but I think it's because we've been conditioned to see a bridge as rectangular and anything else looks odd. I did feel the same way and then chilled out over it. Then I bought one and wow! You're missing out. You’re right , I saw a really nice skyline Dj 4 in lake placid blue , I might have to try again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted August 12, 2020 Author Share Posted August 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Reggaebass said: I’m probably going to get slated for this but , Lakland do some stunning basses and I would definitely have one in my collection , but I can’t do the bridge shape I couldn't bring this to mind so I looked up Lakland basses. Oh dear. I see what you mean. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 1 hour ago, stewblack said: Is there any one particular thing that can turn a work of art into a rotten egg? Do you look at the rear of a bass, shiver in anticipation, only to gag and stagger from the room the moment you see the headstock decal? Or scratchplate colour or shape? Or lack of a scratchplate altogether? Is a hideous headstock, a brass nut, gold nob or a side mounted jack socket enough to have you turn on your heel and leave? Do you wonder if you've chosen the wrong instrument when someone puts up a picture of a blue bass and everyone else appears oblivious to this crime against nature? For me it's the headstock shape, it can utterly ruin an otherwise beautiful machine. There are combinations of colours (black body and plate, maple board) which don't appeal but that's more than one thing. Come on, prove to me that I'm not the only irrational fool here. Nope, you are the only irrational fool here. The rest of us are bass players and thus immune from being either irrational or fools. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 I shudder at basses that have the knobs mounted on a plate (eg Jazz bass style) but that then have no scratchplate. It just looks like an afterthought to me. Similar reasons for not liking clear scratchplates. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 8 minutes ago, redbandit599 said: I shudder at basses that have the knobs mounted on a plate (eg Jazz bass style) but that then have no scratchplate. It just looks like an afterthought to me. Similar reasons for not liking clear scratchplates. I dont mind basses with or without a scratch plate if thats how they come, but i don’t like to see a bass where its been removed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) Sunburst, sunburst, SUNBURST!!! If a bass I'm interested in, is listed in the for sale section, I'll usually open it, get to the first pic, see sunburst and close instantly. Can't chuffin stand it. I'd even refuse a Wal in sunburst (if such an atrocity has ever existed). Edited August 12, 2020 by 40hz 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 (edited) tort plate on anything other than a Jazz... dodgy headstock shapes like a plain fretboard and like the no scratchplate look... Edited August 12, 2020 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamg67 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Yep, headstock for me. More that I dislike than like I think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 22 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said: I dont mind basses with or without a scratch plate if thats how they come, but i don’t like to see a bass where its been removed. I also like with or without, it's just those 'without' ones that have the knobs mounted on a 'disembodied ' metal plate, rather than being just drilled etc. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 Also can't abide those 'vintage' bits of bass furniture. The ugly pick up and bridge covers, those weird plastic lumps screwed in seemingly random places. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamg67 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 1 minute ago, redbandit599 said: I also like with or without, it's just those 'without' ones that have the knobs mounted on a 'disembodied ' metal plate, rather than being just drilled etc. I've got one like that and I love it It's one of these: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 1 minute ago, adamg67 said: I've got one like that and I love it It's one of these: Lovely bass and I'm glad you like it.🙂 I'd still prefer it without the backing plate though. I think it's the corner on the right hand side that bugs me, they always look shaped to fit something that isn't there to me. Maybe if it was a more rounded off shape I'd change my mind. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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