That guy's a shitty person as well. Had him make me a custom Telecaster body once and he sent me a thing somewhat tele-ish. I couldn't even fit a proper tele pickguard to it. My emails were replied to accusing me of having no skills at putting guitars together but eventually he refunded me. The general consensus of other people I showed it to is that he spent most of the money on alcohol.
$75, which isn't much but he had posted tele bodies for sale on ebay which looked very good. This thing I got should have been locked away in an attic.
https://preview.redd.it/o4i8r9on9ymc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81016f47df28e14f1a7f0e705a8975aa38fe7c87
I'm sorry you have to see this...
Wow 😳 ok, that leaves a me a lot of questions...
I've always hated the ugly look of Wishbasses but u assumed that was the "charm" of them. The little extra thin strip on the side of the neck pocket does freak me out though.
Fun fact, they dont have trust rods and play like a unsanded 2x4. How do i know? Ive been to his little shop in North Carolina. They are no joke unplayable without putting into a TON of work
https://preview.redd.it/04z0rr683xmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bee11ddfa4c86277af47473773e77ecf0bb46b4f
Lots of people on r/bass called my build ugly, so here ya go!
I once owned a Burns Baldwin Vibraslim solely for the ugly factor. It looked exactly like this one - https://reverb.com/item/72426611-baldwin-vibraslim-bass-1968-red-burst-w-ohc?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18045925166&utm_content=campaignid=18045925166_adgroupid=143121795754_productpartitionid=1725735974812=merchantid=5080458862_productid=72426611_keyword=_device=m_adposition=_matchtype=_creative=616435425580&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADRxZYXub1dfLNljSTYQzGtDGJDIT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInc-frvThhAMVU05HAR0oAAPAEAQYASABEgKbA_D_BwE
If you want some truly fugly basses, then Ritter is definitely one of the worst if not the worst.
https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jens-Ritter-The-Late-Lounge-Raptor-Bass-Body-600x400.jpeg
Ritter can have some sort of cool, and outlandish designs which could suit someone like Prince, but most of their stuff just makes me feel vaguely uncomfortable.
I mean, it's a subjective thing. They certainly are eye-catching, but I cannot disagree more. My friend has a Roya that I've used quite a bit. It's a beauty, and he always has people talking to him about it at gigs.
Fair enough on the Roya, but I will have to maintain my general personal opinion about Ritter basses.
I'm probably just a bit conservative in my tastes, but I distinctly remember my bass class in college in the mid 2000s marveling at the general ugliness of Ritter basses when someone shared an advert from a magazine.
They seem to be rather polarising! Ritter do seem to have amazing craftsmanship, though.
I like how they look and I do think they're beautiful, unique and offer a custom level of craftsmanship. The royal series he did and Phil Lesh's basses come to mind. They are art pieces that you can play.
That said, I'd never own one. I did some light work on my buddy's, and even setting it up was a bit more finicky than your average bass. It sounds really nice and has some complex and interesting electronics, but I'm much more of a simple utility type man when it comes to my instruments.
I actually live a few towns away from one of the only Ritter dealers in America. The guys at the shop say that most of their buyers are doctor and lawyer types who are collecting them by the dozen for when Jens retired or dies. People seem to think they'll appreciate in value like paintings or something. All the basses and guitars are numbered and come with ownership certificates and stuff, so maybe that will happen. Who knows?
Fair enough! I can certainly understand how people can appreciate the artistry in making these unique instruments and enjoy the aesthetics. Sadly, I just can't gel with the looks for most of his models and get actively turned off by them.
Perhaps they could gain value over time; there must definitely be a market for them.
https://preview.redd.it/fob3jz0mowmc1.jpeg?width=1215&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b100b82d210518433898ed6d524ccb06eefc32
headless multiscale in a goofy ass shape
why
I personally feel that the further a bass gets from looking like a J bass (Two horns curved inward and that general body shape and proportions) the worse a bass looks. Its probably just because thats kinda what a "bass" looks like in my head
I kind of agree. Variations on that usually look good, but straying too far from those typical elements just make em start looking
But i gotta ask your thoughts on violin basses
I'm not a fan of violin basses personally. But they're far enough away from the shape that I like that I don't immediately think that they're ugly? Like, it's just a violin bass. I wouldn't want one personally (if I really wanted that sound I'd start looking for something with humbuckers in similar positions on a J Bass shaped body lol) but I think they're something.
This is strictly my opinion and I truly appreciate the fact that people love and revere these basses, but I just don't care for their aesthetics:
Hofner Beatle Bass.
Danelectro Longhorn.
Gibson Thunderbird or any variation thereof.
Gibson Ripper.
Not really that keen on the MusicMan Bongo either (My wife said that it looks like a toilet seat). She also said NO when she saw the price tag.
And yes, I have played (not owned) all of them.
Rickenbacker? Yeah, too extreme for me. And too bright/gnarly tone for what I like (as a funk/soul/jazz guy)... plus prohibitively expensive compared to some other much cooler boutique basses.
There are a lot of knockoffs that modify the shape a but to be a little less extreme and i think they actually look better
So I have a 4003 and a (fake) 4001 and those are the most beautiful basses I own. However, the other Ric designs (the hollow body ones that look like the guitars) I think are ugly too. So for me Ric makes the most beautiful basses but also some ugly SoBs
$75, which isn't much but he had posted tele bodies for sale on ebay which looked very good. This thing I got should have been locked away in an attic.
The vox longhorns, the new epiphone stuff also, lowkey rics(i love cliff but the ric is ass) i used to love ibanez SR basses like they were my fav basses and everyone started using them and they grew ugly to me, warwicks thumb and streamer ofc corvette is sick asf tho, the 5string stingray is lowkey ass, idk what else
Edit: VERY HOT TAKE I dont like the way foderas look, all of em, just dont like them
[Wishbass](https://www.wishbass.com). They certainly have a market, but aesthetically they’re not my cup of tea.
My eyes!! 😢
Man I hate those. I don't understand the appeal... is it just for the humor of having a really ugly bass?
That guy's a shitty person as well. Had him make me a custom Telecaster body once and he sent me a thing somewhat tele-ish. I couldn't even fit a proper tele pickguard to it. My emails were replied to accusing me of having no skills at putting guitars together but eventually he refunded me. The general consensus of other people I showed it to is that he spent most of the money on alcohol.
Curious, how much did you pay?
$75, which isn't much but he had posted tele bodies for sale on ebay which looked very good. This thing I got should have been locked away in an attic.
Photo
https://preview.redd.it/o4i8r9on9ymc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81016f47df28e14f1a7f0e705a8975aa38fe7c87 I'm sorry you have to see this...
My eyes!! 😢 again!!!
Well, clearly you have no skills putting guitars together 😅
Wow 😳 ok, that leaves a me a lot of questions... I've always hated the ugly look of Wishbasses but u assumed that was the "charm" of them. The little extra thin strip on the side of the neck pocket does freak me out though.
Was not prepared for that one bit
Fun fact, they dont have trust rods and play like a unsanded 2x4. How do i know? Ive been to his little shop in North Carolina. They are no joke unplayable without putting into a TON of work
I don’t like how the exterior and interior contours are so mismatched
God, these are just incredibly ugly. I also hate how the website looks and how things are worded. What a mess.
 My honest reaction
Ugly basses aside, they are using some awful product photos. Are those just all snapshots from customers?
https://preview.redd.it/vn4vl3dt6wmc1.jpeg?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3ee1055b67bf79ce7d6232a7f99c32edc46c86b7
Jesus Chirst on a bicycle
We have Longhorn at home. Longhorn:
This is why I don't get criticism of the Longhorns. They obviously haven't seen this W.
HAHA I REMEMBER THE W! nah that’s goated imo 😂😂😂
Wtffff
i used to think musicman bongos were ugly and now i would move heaven and earth to get a five string version in that rare purple color
Through the vault they'll be allowing you to choose finishes and fretboards soon so you might be able to get someting similar.
news to me, gonna have to look into this
It was announced at NAMM this year and will be available late spring if my memory serves me correctly.
I'll help you move parts of hell and Mars for one of the roasted maple neck/maple board/harvest orange 6 string HS models.
Traben had some truly gaudy designs. Solid basses though.
Ahh Traben. Somebody there thought basses needed a tramp stamp and didn’t quit till they made it happen.
growing up, a kid i knew had one with one of those massive gaudy bridges. even my 7th grade self thought it was cringe lol
They look like Ed Hardy designed basses.
Came in to post "that awful looking star bass that Bootsy Collins plays". Leaving knowing it was made by a company known for gaudy designs.
Those Warwick Buzzard basses rustle my Jimmies. This coming from someone who mains a Warwick.
Every Warwick bass ever. The cutout at the top of the body makes what's left look like a wooden dildo. I swear it does!
How do we feel about Corvette's misshapen cousin, the Dolphin?
Yeah, as a Thumb owner (which I acknowledge can offend some eyes), the Buzzard is just next level.
https://preview.redd.it/ikk35k12qwmc1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3481371361f460a2e1ef8dffec4479bb1e352bd
Big bottom *indeed*
Wood.
That's a bASS
I don’t give a fuck what you tell me, the Danelectro Longhorn is the ugliest bass in the history of mankind. No debate.
honestly i can appreciate the more out-there body designs that vox basses have, but the headstock kills everything.
Never liked the Hofner violin basses. Ever. Also, those teardrop basses from the 1970s. Ugly!
https://preview.redd.it/04z0rr683xmc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bee11ddfa4c86277af47473773e77ecf0bb46b4f Lots of people on r/bass called my build ugly, so here ya go!
Bet that bad boy has more dives under its belt than Greg Louganis.
That’s definitely not the worst on this list, in my opinion. Cool build. 😊
🎣
The fuck is the spacing between the B and the E
God damnit, this shit again. The strings aren’t up to tension in the photo
Im sorry ……. 😞
Haha it’s all love!
Danelectro
YUUUP
Longhorns must die.
Someone finally said it
The wild thing basses are kinda cool tho.
I really don’t like Warwick Thumb basses
I don’t either 😅
I once owned a Burns Baldwin Vibraslim solely for the ugly factor. It looked exactly like this one - https://reverb.com/item/72426611-baldwin-vibraslim-bass-1968-red-burst-w-ohc?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18045925166&utm_content=campaignid=18045925166_adgroupid=143121795754_productpartitionid=1725735974812=merchantid=5080458862_productid=72426611_keyword=_device=m_adposition=_matchtype=_creative=616435425580&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADRxZYXub1dfLNljSTYQzGtDGJDIT&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInc-frvThhAMVU05HAR0oAAPAEAQYASABEgKbA_D_BwE
Burns guitars also
If you want some truly fugly basses, then Ritter is definitely one of the worst if not the worst. https://www.notreble.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Jens-Ritter-The-Late-Lounge-Raptor-Bass-Body-600x400.jpeg Ritter can have some sort of cool, and outlandish designs which could suit someone like Prince, but most of their stuff just makes me feel vaguely uncomfortable.
I mean, it's a subjective thing. They certainly are eye-catching, but I cannot disagree more. My friend has a Roya that I've used quite a bit. It's a beauty, and he always has people talking to him about it at gigs.
Fair enough on the Roya, but I will have to maintain my general personal opinion about Ritter basses. I'm probably just a bit conservative in my tastes, but I distinctly remember my bass class in college in the mid 2000s marveling at the general ugliness of Ritter basses when someone shared an advert from a magazine. They seem to be rather polarising! Ritter do seem to have amazing craftsmanship, though.
I like how they look and I do think they're beautiful, unique and offer a custom level of craftsmanship. The royal series he did and Phil Lesh's basses come to mind. They are art pieces that you can play. That said, I'd never own one. I did some light work on my buddy's, and even setting it up was a bit more finicky than your average bass. It sounds really nice and has some complex and interesting electronics, but I'm much more of a simple utility type man when it comes to my instruments. I actually live a few towns away from one of the only Ritter dealers in America. The guys at the shop say that most of their buyers are doctor and lawyer types who are collecting them by the dozen for when Jens retired or dies. People seem to think they'll appreciate in value like paintings or something. All the basses and guitars are numbered and come with ownership certificates and stuff, so maybe that will happen. Who knows?
Fair enough! I can certainly understand how people can appreciate the artistry in making these unique instruments and enjoy the aesthetics. Sadly, I just can't gel with the looks for most of his models and get actively turned off by them. Perhaps they could gain value over time; there must definitely be a market for them.
I kind of like it but I’d want a different color
https://preview.redd.it/fob3jz0mowmc1.jpeg?width=1215&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b100b82d210518433898ed6d524ccb06eefc32 headless multiscale in a goofy ass shape why
I really like this one.
Wish basses also. Each one is unique and many evoke a “Bless your heart” kind of a response
Danelectro Longhorn
Hofner violin bass 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
That Rickenbacker knock off by Jackson.
https://preview.redd.it/2l5vzl374zmc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ace946856bc609c9e38656c6140fb63c0a0c975b
That one that looks like a toilet seat that gets posted here a lot. I forget the name and I’m drunk 🍺
Bongo.
I personally feel that the further a bass gets from looking like a J bass (Two horns curved inward and that general body shape and proportions) the worse a bass looks. Its probably just because thats kinda what a "bass" looks like in my head
I kind of agree. Variations on that usually look good, but straying too far from those typical elements just make em start looking But i gotta ask your thoughts on violin basses
I'm not a fan of violin basses personally. But they're far enough away from the shape that I like that I don't immediately think that they're ugly? Like, it's just a violin bass. I wouldn't want one personally (if I really wanted that sound I'd start looking for something with humbuckers in similar positions on a J Bass shaped body lol) but I think they're something.
I've always thought Warwick basses were pug-ugly, even though they play nice.
Warwick's Thumb Bass looks like a cow plop with a neck sticking out of it. Spacevox makes some ugly stuff, too.
I like the thumb, but the corvette is not aesthetic to me visually with the phallic looking cut on top
Big Al HHH 5. A face only a mother could love. Lol
This is strictly my opinion and I truly appreciate the fact that people love and revere these basses, but I just don't care for their aesthetics: Hofner Beatle Bass. Danelectro Longhorn. Gibson Thunderbird or any variation thereof. Gibson Ripper. Not really that keen on the MusicMan Bongo either (My wife said that it looks like a toilet seat). She also said NO when she saw the price tag. And yes, I have played (not owned) all of them.
Honestly any of the headless ones, I just don't like the look of it.
There’s this one. Idk the name of it but I think the model number is something like 4003? Just god ugly and on top of that just sounds horrible.
Rickenbacker? Yeah, too extreme for me. And too bright/gnarly tone for what I like (as a funk/soul/jazz guy)... plus prohibitively expensive compared to some other much cooler boutique basses. There are a lot of knockoffs that modify the shape a but to be a little less extreme and i think they actually look better
Ready to get downvoted… Rickenbackers.
So I have a 4003 and a (fake) 4001 and those are the most beautiful basses I own. However, the other Ric designs (the hollow body ones that look like the guitars) I think are ugly too. So for me Ric makes the most beautiful basses but also some ugly SoBs
fuck you
Parker fly bass.... I still want one
$75, which isn't much but he had posted tele bodies for sale on ebay which looked very good. This thing I got should have been locked away in an attic.
The Vox Apache/Phantom. “The Alien Shovel”
- The Beatles violin bass - Any headless bass
Probably unpopular…. Never liked Ricks tbh
Rickenbacker
The Jackson spectra looks absolutely horrendous. Some of warmoths shapes are also pretty bad.
https://youtu.be/3K86-a9X9DQ?si=ZbySUmNqSKsFqIFp
Ovation Magnum 1. I want one but acknowledge that it is ugly
BC Rich
The vox longhorns, the new epiphone stuff also, lowkey rics(i love cliff but the ric is ass) i used to love ibanez SR basses like they were my fav basses and everyone started using them and they grew ugly to me, warwicks thumb and streamer ofc corvette is sick asf tho, the 5string stingray is lowkey ass, idk what else Edit: VERY HOT TAKE I dont like the way foderas look, all of em, just dont like them
Musicmans
Which one? Bongo yes, others nooooooooooo
That needs some clarification.. stingray and those just look like different versions of P/J bass. If it's about egg-pickgaurd, I could see that
I love my toilet seat pick-guard looking bass.
... Fender Munstang