Is a bass more aesthetically pleasing than a guitar?

[Marvin]

I've just placed my bass in the living room, resting against the sofa. Proportionally and generally aesthetically I find it very pleasing to my eye. And in general I think I find bass guitars more pleasing to the eye than guitars. Basses seem more balanced, more elegant. I find guitars stubby and sometimes maybe cluttered (not quite the word I was looking for but close as I could get).

This isn't an anti-guitar thread more a question of design.


EDIT: I do apologise for the poor English [b]'Proportionally and generally aesthetically'[/b] that's not very good is it now

Edited July 5, 2010 by Marvin

[Bassman101]

I agree, Basses look more slender

[oldslapper]

Agree..and voted so.

It's the length that gives the slender elegant look IMV......probably why I'm not a fan of the headless variety, too stubby.

However, I have to say that I do like the look of a Les Paul, a beautifully designed guitar......and a Les Paul bass......oh! suit you sir..oh!

[RhysP]

I would say that it depends on the instrument, but generally I find guitars more aesthetically pleasing than basses.
For example, there are plenty of single cut guitars I love, but I've yet to see a single cut bass that I really liked.
Same thing with hollowbody guitars.

[Clarky]

Depends, don;t think you can generalise. An archtop Jazz guitar can be a thing of stunning beauty while a Ritter bass can look like a pile of spaghetti on a plate.

But if we are talking about the more common instruments I too find the longer neck and proportions more pleasing on a bass

[Marvin]

If I walk into a music store I tend to find myself bypassing the guitars - unless there is something truly eye catching - and stand gawping at the basses.
I know it's a generalisation thing but on the whole the long neck et al make it look a more elegant instrument, to me. Put a strat next to a P-bass, I go for the P-bass (although I do have a soft spot for Tele's, but not Tele basses, damn it I've screwed me own argument ).

And who voted no? I'll find out and have you thrown to the mods

[teen t-shirt]

i to agree with the comments about the length of the basses making them more appealing and that guitars look stubby, i am however like RhysP not a fan of single cut basses they've never caught my fancy at all and the same as oldslapper i can't stand headless basses...

it would be interesting to post this same question on a guitard forum and see what it would come up with...

[Jerry_B]

I actually find alot of basses ugly as sin, often because they look too misshapen for my personal tastes. This is one reason why I don't like Wals. I also don't like alot of the pricier basses which are shaped a bit like Fenders, but aren't Fenders. Spikey metaller basses are also not my cup of tea. Alot of these rules also apply to geetars, mind you. A design that really works for me for both basses and guitars are box types.

[RhysP]

[quote name='teen t-shirt' post='886713' date='Jul 5 2010, 09:50 PM']it would be interesting to post this same question on a guitard forum and see what it would come up with...[/quote]
I think the most common response would be "Wots a bass?"

[Tait]

There's not a stringed instrument on the planet more aesthetically pleasing than this-

[Clarky]

Post the same question on a drummer forum and they would eat the PC

[OutToPlayJazz]

[quote name='Clarky' post='886732' date='Jul 5 2010, 10:06 PM']Post the same question on a drummer forum and they would eat the PC [/quote]

Drummers can [i][b]read?![/b][/i] And [i][b]type?![/b][/i]

[EssentialTension]

Many basses are not at all aesthetically pleasing. Exactly the same is true of guitars.

[sprocketflup]

of course they are

[RhysP]

[quote name='Tait' post='886728' date='Jul 5 2010, 10:02 PM']There's not a stringed instrument on the planet more aesthetically pleasing than this-

[/quote]

Really?
I can think of at least 1000 off the top of my head.

[Kongo]

Gee I dunno...Depends on the model. I admit I pref the look of the bass but then I pref the feel, it's much more full and hands on.
I play, and own guitars also tho...
But the vintage style P-bass, J-bass, Telecaster and Stratocaster have a place in any room...My guess is it's because they have been the norm for half a century.

[CraigPlaysBass]

[quote name='Tait' post='886728' date='Jul 5 2010, 10:02 PM']There's not a stringed instrument on the planet more aesthetically pleasing than this-

[/quote]


I would take a comedy shaped ukulele over that... seriously.


But only 'cus ukuleles are cool

[Tait]

Guys... Jazzmasters are awesome.

[CraigPlaysBass]

[quote name='Tait' post='886789' date='Jul 5 2010, 10:40 PM']Guys... Jazzmasters are awesome.[/quote]

Awesome yes. Aesthetically pleasing..... not so much

[MythSte]

I prefer basses. but on a pretty dependant level.

however, I would find 3 basses next to each other a thousand times more pleasing than three guitars. Completely agree with Marvin that numerous guitars together look cluttered. Dont really know why!

[sykilz]

Basses headstocks just look better due to being less cluttered but having nice big bits of metal on them. I`ve got an Ibanez SR series and the whole thing is just gorgeous for a " cheap " bass, the Ibanez guitars just ain`t as damn pretty. I do love a big top horn too.....oooooeeerrr misses!!!![attachment=53689:ibanez_002.jpg]

[thebeat]

[quote name='Tait' post='886789' date='Jul 5 2010, 10:40 PM']Guys... Jazzmasters are awesome.[/quote]


Especially when Nels Cline is playing it. Best guitarist ever.

Edited July 6, 2010 by thebeat

[tino]

[quote name='Marvin' post='886662' date='Jul 5 2010, 08:55 PM']I've just placed my bass in the living room, resting against the sofa. Proportionally and generally aesthetically I find it very pleasing to my eye. And in general I think I find bass guitars more pleasing to the eye than guitars. Basses seem more balanced, more elegant. I find guitars stubby and sometimes maybe cluttered (not quite the word I was looking for but close as I could get).

This isn't an anti-guitar thread more a question of design.


EDIT: I do apologise for the poor English [b]'Proportionally and generally aesthetically'[/b] that's not very good is it now [/quote]
Simply NO.....SORRY
I have many many many many in fact toooo many and hanging on a wall the telecaster or archtop look significantly more attractive....but maybe thats my feminine side
All hate mail on a postcard to.......

[Marvin]

[quote name='sykilz' post='887500' date='Jul 6 2010, 04:37 PM']Basses headstocks just look better due to being less cluttered but having nice big bits of metal on them. I`ve got an Ibanez SR series and the whole thing is just gorgeous for a " cheap " bass, the Ibanez guitars just ain`t as damn pretty. I do love a big top horn too.....oooooeeerrr misses!!!![attachment=53689:ibanez_002.jpg][/quote]

Oooooh that's lovely. I've got a sparkly red one.
[quote name='tino' post='887533' date='Jul 6 2010, 05:10 PM']Simply NO.....SORRY
I have many many many many in fact toooo many and hanging on a wall the telecaster or archtop look significantly more attractive....but maybe thats my feminine side
All hate mail on a postcard to....... [/quote]

Ah well telecasters are my weakness as well

Edited July 6, 2010 by Marvin

[beardybass]

I think basses look a lot COOLER than guitars on the whole, there's something about the big, chunky nature of them that I really like. I agree with the headless thing, they look all wrong. There are some really nice guitars though, I happen to know that one of our fellow basschatters has a relative with a VERY nice VERY old, Les Paul...

Edited July 7, 2010 by beardybass