Ugly Basses

[Chris2112]

4 hours ago, dclaassen said:

Probably....and both Volvo and Jazz bass are supremely good at reliably getting you where you need to go, every time, for year after year...lots to be said for that. 

 

If I want excitement, I will grab one of my 5's......:)

 

One of the V90's I drive at work is less than two years old and only has 40,000 miles on it (or maybe 50,000). The air con has completely packed in. I may be looking back through rose tinted glasses but I don't think they're quite as 'hewn from stone' as they used to be. I am generally a Volvo fan but I wouldn't spend my own money on one now. 

[msb]

I’ve been looking at replacing the 3 point with a Hipshot , but have four basses with them , truth is I’ve always been able to set them exactly where they need to go without fuss or drama , so I haven’t done it. Yet …

If you drop the nose on the three point the two back anchors can lift , but once you get that they’re fine.

 

but they are kinda ugly looking things

[nilorius]

50 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

A very drab presentation of a very cool design.

 

Bad look.

[neepheid]

1 hour ago, ezbass said:

 

I know they have their devotees, but I can’t help asking, “Why, just why?” 🤢

 

Why?  IIRC back in the day there was some rumblings of Fender being legally unhappy with Gibson regarding the original reverse Thunderbird which spooked Gibson enough to redesign it.  That's why.

 

Totally ready for the QI klaxon to go off

Edited October 6, 2022 by neepheid

[neepheid]

2 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

'nuff said. 

 

A pictorial mic drop.

[msb]

I’ve never owned a Tbird , but I like them. I had a couple of almost buys over the years , I don’t know why I didn’t pick one up. At first I found the later non-reverse version ugly , but I came around. I like ‘em now. I’ve heard some good things about the recent batch of non-reverse birds. 
Over the years Gibson have done around eighty basses , including reissues. They have a fascinating history. 

If they did a short scale reverse bird I’d buy one in a minute. Even an Epi Pro version.
 

 

[ezbass]

If this thread proves anything, it’s that there’s a perfect looking bass for everyone and that bass will make others retch. Vive la diffence!

[neepheid]

16 minutes ago, msb said:

If they did a short scale reverse bird I’d buy one in a minute. Even an Epi Pro version.

 

You're about 11 years too late, but if you can find one second hand...

 

https://www.notreble.com/buzz/2011/03/26/gibson-releases-thunderbird-short-scale-bass/

[msb]

It was a fairly small run and they quickly disappeared. You don’t see them pop up on the used market much , and when they do , they’re gone. I thought that might encourage Gibson to revisit the concept , but they really concentrate on keeping the guitar players happy , their current bass line is pretty limited.

That said , their little DC Jr bass is a wonderful little thing! 

[tauzero]

15 hours ago, Tim2291 said:

Stuff the bass, the stereo, the rug, the fretless strat, the BSB Ducati and the R1... That palm tree is looking great! 👌

 

It did then. But that was 2007.

[tauzero]

12 hours ago, nilorius said:

Do you think it's ugly or ok -20 years roadworn ?

 

Ugly, and it looks like it's got true temperament fret lines.

[Downunderwonder]

20 hours ago, nilorius said:

Do you think it's ugly or ok -20 years roadworn ?

Personally I would be way more interested in the player's groove and sound before being concerned with the try hard relic job. It's so bad it's art in it's own right. Ugly art, but rewind to the start.

[Greg Edwards69]

16 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

I know several people with guitars like that, didn't know there was a bass.

Indeed, there were a few in the UKMG who had the guitars, including Vinnie Burns for a while. I seem to recall a certain Mr Creedy having several of the basses. No idea if he still has them.

[Tim2291]

14 hours ago, Chris2112 said:

 

One of the V90's I drive at work is less than two years old and only has 40,000 miles on it (or maybe 50,000). The air con has completely packed in. I may be looking back through rose tinted glasses but I don't think they're quite as 'hewn from stone' as they used to be. I am generally a Volvo fan but I wouldn't spend my own money on one now. 

Ah, Aircon may pack in, bit like the paint may start to fail on a Jazz bass! But it will keep running until the nuclear apocalypse... And probably afterwards!

[nilorius]

11 hours ago, tauzero said:

 

Ugly, and it looks like it's got true temperament fret lines.

Fret lines are ok and anyway, it's fretted now.

[nilorius]

3 hours ago, Downunderwonder said:

Personally I would be way more interested in the player's groove and sound before being concerned with the try hard relic job. It's so bad it's art in it's own right. Ugly art, but rewind to the start.

It's not try. After black flomaster and 20 years playing it really look that way.

Edited October 7, 2022 by nilorius

[Woodinblack]

24 minutes ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

Indeed, there were a few in the UKMG who had the guitars, including Vinnie Burns for a while. I seem to recall a certain Mr Creedy having several of the basses. No idea if he still has them.

 

There were 2 at albrighton, blue and red, I know Vinnie had one, not sure who the other belonged to.

[Chris2112]

55 minutes ago, Tim2291 said:

Ah, Aircon may pack in, bit like the paint may start to fail on a Jazz bass! But it will keep running until the nuclear apocalypse... And probably afterwards!

 

As chance would have it, I came in to work this morning to find out it has been destroyed in a crash and will not be coming back! 🤣

[Tim2291]

20 hours ago, msb said:

It’s been some years since I’ve owned a Jazz Bass , but this has been described as a Jazz on steroids.

They’re not common , but they’re out there.

After some years of looking at them for sale everywhere but Canada , finally found one in Toronto for a good price.

I love this! Yes it's ugly, but that's the appeal!

[Tim2291]

12 minutes ago, Chris2112 said:

 

As chance would have it, I came in to work this morning to find out it has been destroyed in a crash and will not be coming back! 🤣

 

It could get used for banger racing now... bet it will be a champion car 🤣

 

Having said that, I did banger racing for my stag do... highly recommend it if you've ever wanted to make your siblings crash a car into a wall at speed... but they didn't have any Volvos on site at all, i'm going to take that as they're too reliable and give the driver an unfair advantage!

[Greg Edwards69]

2 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

 

There were 2 at albrighton, blue and red, I know Vinnie had one, not sure who the other belonged to.

My brother had one for a while, and IIRC Paul Simpson bought one from Vinnie. I have a feeling Jim Nugent might have had one too.

[Woodinblack]

33 minutes ago, Greg Edwards69 said:

My brother had one for a while, and IIRC Paul Simpson bought one from Vinnie. I have a feeling Jim Nugent might have had one too.

 

Makes sense, I have a picture of Paul with it!

[TheGreek]

Where do people stand on this Jerzy Drozd? I really like the colours. I don't think that the colours would work with black pickups 

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Jerzy_Drozd_Obesession_Soul_5.html

 

 

Edited October 7, 2022 by TheGreek

[Cosmo Valdemar]

3 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Where do people stand on this Jerzy Drozd? I really like the colours. I don't think that the colours would work with black pickups 

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Jerzy_Drozd_Obesession_Soul_5.html

 

 

Doesn't work for me but I wouldn't call it ugly... the colour is beautiful though!

[Woodinblack]

4 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

Where do people stand on this Jerzy Drozd? I really like the colours. I don't think that the colours would work with black pickups 

 

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Jerzy_Drozd_Obesession_Soul_5.html

 

I find it an interesting bass - not sure if I am totally in love with it, but maybe with a few changes I would.

 

edit - then I saw the price!