Has anyone bought a bass on a whim just cos of its looks?

[dmccombe7]

16 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Looking through the comments, I'm feeling really old (which, of course, I am)

 

In my day, when there was very little choice, my friends and myself (who were attempting to form a band, but as 13 year olds couldn't afford any decent instruments) would religiously watch TOTP, and salivate over our chosen instruments when they appeared. The majority of basses on show were P basses - they just looked so futuristic and "other-worldly"!

Imagine when we got word that our local music store had got one in and it was on display in the window. I spent what seemed like hours standing outside that shop, drooling over that sunburst P bass.

It took me about 4 years before I was in a position to indulge in the ultimate retail therapy and actually buy one... on the "never never", of course!

For about the first year It lived in the corner of my bedroom, so If I woke up in the middle of the night, I could turn the light on and admire its wonderful curves.

Now, 53 years later, that very same P bass is on view in my lounge. It's served me well, and continues to do so🙂

 

It was the single most important purchase of my life! I can't say it was "on a whim", but it was most certainly "cos of its looks"

That was a really nice post.

I remember our local music shop having the J & P versions of the Fender Antigua basses on display.

I was stunned by the looks of them but never managed to buy one. 

Over the many many years i always return to J basses after trying other styles. 

Dave

[Steve Browning]

47 minutes ago, SteveK said:

Looking through the comments, I'm feeling really old (which, of course, I am)

 

In my day, when there was very little choice, my friends and myself (who were attempting to form a band, but as 13 year olds couldn't afford any decent instruments) would religiously watch TOTP, and salivate over our chosen instruments when they appeared. The majority of basses on show were P basses - they just looked so futuristic and "other-worldly"!

Imagine when we got word that our local music store had got one in and it was on display in the window. I spent what seemed like hours standing outside that shop, drooling over that sunburst P bass.

It took me about 4 years before I was in a position to indulge in the ultimate retail therapy and actually buy one... on the "never never", of course!

For about the first year It lived in the corner of my bedroom, so If I woke up in the middle of the night, I could turn the light on and admire its wonderful curves.

Now, 53 years later, that very same P bass is on view in my lounge. It's served me well, and continues to do so🙂

 

It was the single most important purchase of my life! I can't say it was "on a whim", but it was most certainly "cos of its looks"

Never mind all that old cobblers. Let's see it!! 🙂

[Stub Mandrel]

My basses are like friends.

 

Rediscovering the joy of making music completely changed my life for the better after a long hard time.

 

People or basses, looks may influence the initial attraction, but that's not what makes for a happy union in the long term 🙂

[SteveK]

1 hour ago, dmccombe7 said:

That was a really nice post.

I remember our local music shop having the J & P versions of the Fender Antigua basses on display.

I was stunned by the looks of them but never managed to buy one. 

Over the many many years i always return to J basses after trying other styles. 

Dave

 

Thanks Dave, I quite enjoyed going back, remembering those days as I was writing🙂

 

32 minutes ago, Steve Browning said:

Never mind all that old cobblers. Let's see it!! 🙂

 

😄

In the early 80s I went through a period of tinkering with it, so, sad to say, it's had a few mods(?):

DIY respray (no longer sunburst🙁)

Refret & relacquered neck

Badass bridge

Couple of micro switches - series/parallel & switchable tone

Apart from that it's all original😁

 

Anyway, here it is in all its bastardised glory...

[Steve Browning]

I was probably about 14 (that's close to 50 years ago now) when, at the house of a school friend, we went into his brother's bedroom and opened a case to reveal his brother's sunburst Precision. It was, and remains to this day, the most beautiful man-made thing on the planet. I never tire of looking at one.

 

Ok, that all reads rather unfortunately, so I'll quit while I'm behind.

[Lozz196]

Nah Steve, I get that entirely 

[dmccombe7]

Now that is a nice looking P bass

[SteveK]

1 hour ago, Steve Browning said:

I was probably about 14 (that's close to 50 years ago now) when, at the house of a school friend, we went into his brother's bedroom and opened a case to reveal his brother's sunburst Precision. It was, and remains to this day, the most beautiful man-made thing on the planet. I never tire of looking at one.

 

Ok, that all reads rather unfortunately, so I'll quit while I'm behind.

 

That's how it was in the "olden days"! Those first impressions stay with you 😊

Changing tack slightly... Whenever I see a photo of Buddy Holly with his sunburst Strat - it always looks to me like someone from the 50s playing something left on Earth by an extra terrestrial.🤩

 

 

34 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Now that is a nice looking P bass

 

Thanks, although the purists would likely give me good ticking off for modding(?) it😁

It still sounds and plays as well as it did on the day I bought it.

[KingBollock]

When I was a kid I worked in a guitar shop. This would have been ‘89 to ‘91. While working there someone asked me what my dream bass would be; I basically described the BC Rich Warlock NT, which they didn’t actually start making until about ‘99 and only made for ten years.

 

Then, about ten years ago, I saw one on EBay. All there was were two very blurry photos and a very brief description. So, technically, it might not be said that I bought this one specifically for its looks because I could barely make it out. It was somewhat of a gamble, especially as I had never even played a BC Rich bass before. But, while it wasn’t expensive at £265, including p&p and a Warwick, coffin hard case, it was still a lot of money for me. It’s actually the most I have ever paid for a bass.

 

When I got it, it was in great condition. I was expecting missing pointy bits, but they were all intact and there were no other dings or scratches. However, the action was so high that it was unplayable! And it must have come out of the factory that way, there was absolutely no adjustment left to lower it. I couldn’t even find a bridge to buy that was thin enough to make a difference. Most odd. In the end I ground off the bottoms of the saddles until they were half as tall. It made all the difference! It plays beautifully, now, and sounds ace.

 

I shall never, ever sell it. They’ll have to bury me with it. It’s name is Ravensfriend.

Edited April 2, 2022 by KingBollock

[thebrig]

19 hours ago, SteveK said:

Looking through the comments, I'm feeling really old (which, of course, I am)

 

In my day, when there was very little choice, my friends and myself (who were attempting to form a band, but as 13 year olds couldn't afford any decent instruments) would religiously watch TOTP, and salivate over our chosen instruments when they appeared. The majority of basses on show were P basses - they just looked so futuristic and "other-worldly"!

Imagine when we got word that our local music store had got one in and it was on display in the window. I spent what seemed like hours standing outside that shop, drooling over that sunburst P bass.

It took me about 4 years before I was in a position to indulge in the ultimate retail therapy and actually buy one... on the "never never", of course!

For about the first year It lived in the corner of my bedroom, so If I woke up in the middle of the night, I could turn the light on and admire its wonderful curves.

Now, 53 years later, that very same P bass is on view in my lounge. It's served me well, and continues to do so🙂

 

It was the single most important purchase of my life! I can't say it was "on a whim", but it was most certainly "cos of its looks"

What a great post, and doing the sums, I make you around the same age as me (70), and I'm so glad you still have your very first bass.

 

I used to go to bed reading the Bell's of Surbition catalogue of musical instruments, and I used to drool over the "Beatle" bass, but at 55 gns (£57.75p), it was way out of my price range.

 

Then at the age of seventeen, I borrowed £15 pounds from my sister and bought a second-hand Burns Sonic bass, it wasn't that great, but I loved it because it was my first ever "proper" instrument.

[dmccombe7]

1 hour ago, KingBollock said:

When I was a kid I worked in a guitar shop. This would have been ‘89 to ‘91. While working there someone asked me what my dream bass would be; I basically described the BC Rich Warlock NT, which they didn’t actually start making until about ‘99 and only made for ten years.

 

Then, about ten years ago, I saw one on EBay. All there was were two very blurry photos and a very brief description. So, technically, it might not be said that I bought this one specifically for its looks because I could barely make it out. It was somewhat of a gamble, especially as I had never even played a BC Rich bass before. But, while it wasn’t expensive at £265, including p&p and a Warwick, coffin hard case, it was still a lot of money for me. It’s actually the most I have ever paid for a bass.

 

When I got it, it was in great condition. I was expecting missing pointy bits, but they were all intact and there were no other dings or scratches. However, the action was so high that it was unplayable! And it must have come out of the factory that way, there was absolutely no adjustment left to lower it. I couldn’t even find a bridge to buy that was thin enough to make a difference. Most odd. In the end I ground off the bottoms of the saddles until they were half as tall. It made all the difference! It plays beautifully, now, and sounds ace.

 

I shall never, ever sell it. They’ll have to bury me with it. It’s name is Ravensfriend.

Any pics would be nice to see it.

Used to love the Mockingbird basses.

Dave

[SteveK]

2 hours ago, thebrig said:

I used to go to bed reading the Bell's of Surbition catalogue of musical instruments, and I used to drool over the "Beatle" bass, but at 55 gns (£57.75p), it was way out of my price range.

Wow, I'd forgotten about the Bell's Catalogue. A friend of mine used to have a copy that he'd bring to school, and we'd pass it around in class (usually French lessons). This reminds me that I used to draw guitars all over my school books🤩. I think I still have those books somewhere... I'm off to see if I can find them😉

[tauzero]

On 26/03/2022 at 10:13, Barking Spiders said:

When I say whim in the OP I mean I never even had the slightest intention of buying another bass.  I didn't even go away to have a think. I just bought it like i was buying a pack of gum. Not quite the same as planning to buy one and choosing one that's a looker.

 

In that case, er, yes. Perusing the strange and wonderful Ebay things subforum, and somebody had posted a link to this:

 

 

which I decided I had to have before I even read the specs. So I bought it, reasoning that I should be able to cope with a 36" scale (I can). Incidentally, those knobs do have some replacements awaiting installation.

[Sparky Mark]

"Has anyone bought a bass on a whim just cos of its looks?"

Yes, loads of them! Possibly the most unusual one is this Tom Clement Ergo. I figured that it was called Ergo because ergonomics were a major design consideration and it'd be comfortable to play. It is BTW.

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Sparky Mark

[TheLowDown]

While I like the look of some basses, I don't think i'd buy it unless it served a purpose and added something extra. Needs more than wants because basses are tools for me. That attractive turquoise hammer and burgundy lawnmower with green trim never quite did it for me either.

I always found I got bored of looks quickly. After it sits in the corner of the room it seems to become more and more like part of the furniture unless it provides some extra practical value, because that practical value is the only thing that's important in the medium to long term.

Edited April 3, 2022 by TheLowDown

[KingBollock]

On 02/04/2022 at 10:27, dmccombe7 said:

Any pics would be nice to see it.

Used to love the Mockingbird basses.

Dave

I Googled these because I am warmly wrapped up in bed right now and I know I’ll forget to take a photo later, again. I do have the Warlock here, at this house, I am just forgetful.

 

The one in the coffin case is the 5 string version (mine came in the same case. I tell people it came for free and that’s why I have it. And while all that is true, I actually really like it…). That was the bass I was thinking of going for, then my wife saw the colour of the Cort I mentioned earlier in this thread and I decided I didn’t need 3 5 strings.

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by KingBollock

[Stub Mandrel]

On 02/04/2022 at 08:56, thebrig said:

 

If a bass was designed by a committee...

[Gasman]

Oh yes, a Trans Blue Ricky 4004 Cheyenne 2, the only bass I’ve ever bought new, imported from Germany, Bass porn perfection visually. It looked great on the wall and on stage, but somehow the sound and ergos just weren’t right for me so down the road it went and a Fender jazz plus took its place...

[AndyTravis]

So many times it hurts. Stupid eyes.

[Gasman]

Duplicate!

Edited April 29, 2022 by Gasman

[Rich]

On 02/04/2022 at 13:04, tauzero said:

 

In that case, er, yes. Perusing the strange and wonderful Ebay things subforum, and somebody had posted a link to this:

 

 

which I decided I had to have before I even read the specs. So I bought it, reasoning that I should be able to cope with a 36" scale (I can). Incidentally, those knobs do have some replacements awaiting installation.

a.) What is that, and 

b.) can I have a 5-string one please. 

[AndyTravis]

[sprocketflup]

Yep, most of them tbh

[Reggaebass]

Yes quite a few, one I’m glad I did buy was my Hohner B2A, it’s a great bass and it has a different feel to everything else I’ve got, it’s quite a powerful thing in active mode 

[tauzero]

On 29/04/2022 at 22:06, Rich said:

a.) What is that, and 

b.) can I have a 5-string one please. 

 

A handmade headless 6-string, made by the seller, who'd made it for his own purposes but had no further need of it. I didn't ask if he made basses to order though.