Shape of your instrument.

[LuckySeven77]

Hi guys, was thinking of getting a new bass, and heard that different shapes are mostly for different genres. How True is this. Like, Can one use a really extreme shaped bass to play pop, or rock, opposed to metal? Eg. Z shape, V shapee, X shape. Will others Laugh at you, or not give you gigs, because of your instrument? Would appreciate your replys. Thank you! =)

 

[doggieshaman]

heh, i doubt it - i think as long as it sounds good for the genre you play and it doesnt take all the attention away from the band the shape is a bit irrelevant

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

1) The place/people/forums/perceptions that you heard from, in regards to different shape bass for different music, is not able to fully comprehend and able to explain to you, why they said that. Thus, the truth in the truth, is barely a tiny percentage of absolute truth.

In simple words, no, theres no truth in different shape for different genre of music. The simplest explanation i can think of is that, music, meant to be heard. We hear sound. Music is a collective arrangement of sound, presented orderly in melody and pitches. Thus may i ask, do you think "shape" by itself, which is not a representation of sound, be a factor to even consider for this arrangement of melody and pitches as music we hear?

Of course, the above just prolly a case, in ideal world. In actual parallel universe we live in, compared to the ideal world. We have many people who decided to use a certain looking instrument for certain type of genre of music, is mainly due to how we have grown accustomed to seeing our favorite musicians using certain instrument for certain type of music.

On using extreme shape bass to play different kind of music genre- Of course, no one will stop you. Police definitely wont catch you. Afterall, you are the one using the instrument. Of course unless the playing is out of time, out of tune, overplaying and louder than the rest of the band, then yes, not only band members will stop you from using, they will prolly kick you out of the band, wallop you and destroy the bass, then lastly telling you, wanna play so much, so loud, go play geetar lah.

Will others Laugh at you, or not give you gigs, because of your instrument?

Others will prolly laugh or even ridicule for the shape with the wrong music type, but then, since this has nothing to do with how well you play the instrument or the overall quality of music itself, it can be factored out. If on personal level, you dont feel good about this, imho, concentrate on playing good music then looking good for music will go a longer way.

On not giving gigs, that prolly not, unless the playing is so bad, music so lousy, then yes, Gig organiser prolly wont give gig. The shape of bass is not consideration for gig organiser, coz they wanna music that pull in people, not audiences who are deaf and attend gigs to look at instrument.

 

[doggieshaman]

actually though, if you are in a hair metal band or jap cosplay band it might matter to your bandmates. After all i wouldn't be caught playing a daisy rock heart shaped guitar anytime soon

 

[imkeith]

^^^ that's why get something to your liking, and besides to ts there's recently a thread about this you might wna try the search function

 

[van_halen]

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Tone-wise, of course it works. But appearance-wise, I'd deem a sharp-shaped bass a bit too aggressive for less aggressive musical genres.

 

[lordie]

shapes? its all abt how comfortable are u playing it and holding it irregardless of genre.

 

[dodgethis]

When many guitars were conceived, the genres that they are commonly associated with did not exist. Eg. The Les Paul is designed, made and named for a jazz musician in the early 50s. Gibson's own Flying V was also first released to the public in 1958. And many people tend to associate them with hard rock and metal.

Also, the Telecaster, an instrument that many think is meant for country, was used by Jimmy Page to record the solo on Stairway to Heaven. For those with more heavier tastes, it's used by Jim Root of Slipknot and John 5 extensively.

It's just many of these pioneering artistes used these instruments as their primary guitar of choice and many followed suit, thus people tend to associate certain shapes with certain genres.

 

[sharp__edge]

shape-wise, it's most important to choose something that's comfortable when playing standing, AND sitting.

also, many bass guitars have the problem of being neck-heavy, meaning they neck-dive when you're playing standing, which can be extremely irritating/annoying/frustrating anywhere you are.

do consider the position of the strap buttons and the possibility of adding counter-weights when choosing your guitar body/ neck position.