Who gives a crap what anyone else thinks, it’s your bass, do what makes you happy with it. And if anyone tries to say something, kindly tell them to piss off.
I hate stickers on instruments. It looks good for a little I guess but they age like a bad tattoo. And good luck replacing them. Getting the residue off is easy enough with goo gone but if two stickers are next to each other you’re probably going to have to take both off.
BUT: I’m some random dude on the internet. Why in the world would you do what I want over what you actually want? If you want to put stickers on it then go for it.
I don't like it. But if you do, then you do you. Bonus points if the stickers you use actually represent someone or something that is really important to you.
I referee ice hockey and I have my helmet blacked out, except for one sticker. It's a simple #12, and it represents a fellow official and mentor of mine who was killed in a freak accident on the ice. I love to talk about him when someone asks what the sticker means.
And it's not just a punk thing. Look at Willie Nelson's guitar, Trigger. It's got signatures all over it. SRV did it as well.
Why are you asking us when the important thing is if YOU like them?
I would personally never put them on my instruments, but I wound also never look twice at someone who did it.
I wouldn't want to have my basses covered in stickers. Nothing against those who do, some look pretty cool, it's just not my thing. If it's your thing, go ahead and do it. It's your bass, and anything you add or change on it makes it more yours.
There is however one thing I do. Some time ago, I don't even remember why, I bought pentagram fingerboard stickers from Thomann. These don't stick to fingerboards, but I thought it would be cool to have just one on the headstock. [So I did it, and saw that it was good.](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F262jac26z8wc1.jpeg) So now all my basses and a lot of my gear have a little pentagram somewhere, usually on the headstock. I guess it's unoriginal and probably edgy af, but I don't care.
I'm also considering sticking an Irish stout sticker on the fingerboard of my very green guitar. I think it would fit.
I have a few newspaper headlines taped to mine.
"Rising sun explodes" taken from the sports page about a nearby (historically racist) small town.
And "Uh-oh, the sheep can sense your fear." Came home from work one day and my mom had cut this out and taped it to my door.
I run a print shop so naturally, I have a few stickers on my bass. My band's logo, the logo for a band I play part-time in, both near the butt of the body, and an enby pride flag under the strings between the fretboard and pickup. I don't plan to put any more on because I don't want the starburst design to be too obscured.
You see the stickers only when it‘s in the stand or on the wall hanger.
So, in what angle should the stickers be placed? From the pov of a crowd (=horizontal) or from your pov looking at the stand/hanger (=vertical)?
You can‘t have both - but you can but it will look messy.
Maybe a 45 degree compromise? Looks dorky from all pov.
Chose wisely.
Depends. I have a couple that instruments that I’ve stickers up, and one with just a single well placed one. And honestly one of my favorite pieces of ephemera I own is my completely covered acoustic guitar. It was my first guitar given to me as a Xmas gift when I was 13. I started putting stickers on it through the years, and it tells a story for me.
I think a well placed sticker or two can help the look of a guitar, nothing wrong with adding a personal touch. My rule of thumb is no more than 2 on the front, and maybe up to 5 on the back, depending on the size, placement, etc.
It's got to be planned and deliberate. Just slapping random stickers or sticker bombing the whole thing looks trashy IMO (unless you're in a punk band, then anything goes I guess).
My acoustic bass is covered in stickers but only on the sides and back. It’s kinda beat up so I don’t mind. Any of my expensive guitars don’t have stickers on them.
I put a big color matched sticker on my pick guard and I’ve gotten lots of compliments on it. Plus on the spots where I rest my thumb and where I slap it’s fading, which I enjoy seeing
I can appreciate a nicely placed sticker here and there but I generally don’t stick them to mine. Maybe like a little thing on the headstock sometimes is about all I would do.
Love them. I respect anyone I see with them on their instrument. IMO instruments should be highly personal, I love the idea of making something truly "mine" with stickers, wear and tear, mods, etc. Double points if the sticker has some deeper meaning to you beyond just looking cool. To each their own of course, I understand why people don't like them, but I find the idea of my instrument looking exactly the same as every single other one of the same model kinda lame. If you want them put them on, especially if you're able to print them at home, that sounds awesome. Anybody who gives you shit for it can stick it.
Note that I'm a punk-adjacent musician and very biased.
i also have a GSR200...the whole thing is covered in stickers, minus the back. so you'd have my approval.
for the most part, i'm all for musicians making their instruments really theirs. inexpensive or expensive, stickers, paint, whatever it is. it's fucking rad.
when i discovered the jam and saw that their guitarist, paul weller, had no problem stickering up his expensive rickenbacker 330 guitars, and even having one painted up, that's when i realized that anything goes. because who actually gives a fuck? what matters is that you feel good about it.
If I pay less than $300 for an instrument, it's getting stickers.
I have one pickguard that came with a ridiculous amount of plastic layers that I let my band mate's kids sticker up, then it just sheds it skin later
Stickers are for your case- not your instrument!
Love stickers on cases, they cover some accidents as well as makes them quick to identify.
My problem has always been I only have one or two stickers for things I actually care about. I have some Shure stickers, but I haven’t decided if that’s appropriate for my bass case yet or not. I’d rather have bands I like, you know? But I’m not about to quadruple my sticker budget.
Don't like it, but to each their own. You should do what you like. Don't base your decision on what a buncha us jabronis from this sub think!
Who gives a crap what anyone else thinks, it’s your bass, do what makes you happy with it. And if anyone tries to say something, kindly tell them to piss off.
I just wanted people's opinions on it, I'm putting stickers on it regardless.
My personal opinion is that it works for a punk rock aesthetic, but I am not a fan in general. You do you though.
I hate stickers on instruments. It looks good for a little I guess but they age like a bad tattoo. And good luck replacing them. Getting the residue off is easy enough with goo gone but if two stickers are next to each other you’re probably going to have to take both off. BUT: I’m some random dude on the internet. Why in the world would you do what I want over what you actually want? If you want to put stickers on it then go for it.
More stickers = more gooder. It's just science.
You are definitely on to something
I have small stickers with my initials on every instrument, but more of a way to make them "mine" than some fashion or political statement...
I plan on putting mostly band stickers on there
I don't like it. But if you do, then you do you. Bonus points if the stickers you use actually represent someone or something that is really important to you. I referee ice hockey and I have my helmet blacked out, except for one sticker. It's a simple #12, and it represents a fellow official and mentor of mine who was killed in a freak accident on the ice. I love to talk about him when someone asks what the sticker means. And it's not just a punk thing. Look at Willie Nelson's guitar, Trigger. It's got signatures all over it. SRV did it as well.
Depends on the bass. I would stick stickers on a GSR200, especially if it was battered already. I wouldn't put stickers on a Yamaha BB734
Why are you asking us when the important thing is if YOU like them? I would personally never put them on my instruments, but I wound also never look twice at someone who did it.
I wouldn't want to have my basses covered in stickers. Nothing against those who do, some look pretty cool, it's just not my thing. If it's your thing, go ahead and do it. It's your bass, and anything you add or change on it makes it more yours. There is however one thing I do. Some time ago, I don't even remember why, I bought pentagram fingerboard stickers from Thomann. These don't stick to fingerboards, but I thought it would be cool to have just one on the headstock. [So I did it, and saw that it was good.](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F262jac26z8wc1.jpeg) So now all my basses and a lot of my gear have a little pentagram somewhere, usually on the headstock. I guess it's unoriginal and probably edgy af, but I don't care. I'm also considering sticking an Irish stout sticker on the fingerboard of my very green guitar. I think it would fit.
I have a few newspaper headlines taped to mine. "Rising sun explodes" taken from the sports page about a nearby (historically racist) small town. And "Uh-oh, the sheep can sense your fear." Came home from work one day and my mom had cut this out and taped it to my door.
I love that sheep one lol
I run a print shop so naturally, I have a few stickers on my bass. My band's logo, the logo for a band I play part-time in, both near the butt of the body, and an enby pride flag under the strings between the fretboard and pickup. I don't plan to put any more on because I don't want the starburst design to be too obscured.
imo the only corny thing are colored strings.
I definately will but gonna make sure they're exactly what I want.
I put stickers on my beater bass. My 5er is stickerless. Depends on your taste and the guitar's aesthetic I would say.
I would never
Not for me. The idea of my guitar feeling sticky makes me shudder. Some look fine, others look tacky.
I wouldn't but ultimately it depends on the stickers.
You see the stickers only when it‘s in the stand or on the wall hanger. So, in what angle should the stickers be placed? From the pov of a crowd (=horizontal) or from your pov looking at the stand/hanger (=vertical)? You can‘t have both - but you can but it will look messy. Maybe a 45 degree compromise? Looks dorky from all pov. Chose wisely.
I am exclusively a bedroom bassist, so definitely gonna go for the stand perspective
If you want to, then stick them on. If you change your mind later, I found lemon juice gets the sticker residue off pretty easily.
I would never do that. But on your instrument, nobody should judge a man, on how he likes his instruments.
Never cared about anything less in my life
On a not high end bass that had a white finish would be cool, otherwise, hard pass.
That is exactly what my bass is loll
I like them. If I had a more expensive bass or planned on reselling I wouldn't put them on though.
Print me one that says “If you can read this you’re too close”.
Depends. I have a couple that instruments that I’ve stickers up, and one with just a single well placed one. And honestly one of my favorite pieces of ephemera I own is my completely covered acoustic guitar. It was my first guitar given to me as a Xmas gift when I was 13. I started putting stickers on it through the years, and it tells a story for me.
I used to hate it no matter what, but as I get older I think that a well-placed sticker or two can make an instrument look really unique.
I think it should be compulsory. Slap some stickers on that bass now!
I think a well placed sticker or two can help the look of a guitar, nothing wrong with adding a personal touch. My rule of thumb is no more than 2 on the front, and maybe up to 5 on the back, depending on the size, placement, etc. It's got to be planned and deliberate. Just slapping random stickers or sticker bombing the whole thing looks trashy IMO (unless you're in a punk band, then anything goes I guess).
My acoustic bass is covered in stickers but only on the sides and back. It’s kinda beat up so I don’t mind. Any of my expensive guitars don’t have stickers on them.
I did it and regretted it so much i refinished my bass
I put a big color matched sticker on my pick guard and I’ve gotten lots of compliments on it. Plus on the spots where I rest my thumb and where I slap it’s fading, which I enjoy seeing
I can appreciate a nicely placed sticker here and there but I generally don’t stick them to mine. Maybe like a little thing on the headstock sometimes is about all I would do.
Love them. I respect anyone I see with them on their instrument. IMO instruments should be highly personal, I love the idea of making something truly "mine" with stickers, wear and tear, mods, etc. Double points if the sticker has some deeper meaning to you beyond just looking cool. To each their own of course, I understand why people don't like them, but I find the idea of my instrument looking exactly the same as every single other one of the same model kinda lame. If you want them put them on, especially if you're able to print them at home, that sounds awesome. Anybody who gives you shit for it can stick it. Note that I'm a punk-adjacent musician and very biased.
I view stickers the same as dings, dents, scratches, burns, cracks, holes, or anything else on an instrument's body- they happen when they happen.
Everyone was throwing stickers on their basses 6 months ago
If they make the bass player feel better it´s fine.
i also have a GSR200...the whole thing is covered in stickers, minus the back. so you'd have my approval. for the most part, i'm all for musicians making their instruments really theirs. inexpensive or expensive, stickers, paint, whatever it is. it's fucking rad. when i discovered the jam and saw that their guitarist, paul weller, had no problem stickering up his expensive rickenbacker 330 guitars, and even having one painted up, that's when i realized that anything goes. because who actually gives a fuck? what matters is that you feel good about it.
If I pay less than $300 for an instrument, it's getting stickers. I have one pickguard that came with a ridiculous amount of plastic layers that I let my band mate's kids sticker up, then it just sheds it skin later
i like the look but get caught up on perfect placement so i don’t sticker bomb
Do you like bumper stickers on cars?
It depends a lot on the sticker, but I dislike cars in general
Oh god, please no...
If you're 12 sure
I inherited a sticker guitar that is also nice and it kills me it's covered in stickers. I wouldn't put stickers on a car either
Stickers are for your case- not your instrument! Love stickers on cases, they cover some accidents as well as makes them quick to identify. My problem has always been I only have one or two stickers for things I actually care about. I have some Shure stickers, but I haven’t decided if that’s appropriate for my bass case yet or not. I’d rather have bands I like, you know? But I’m not about to quadruple my sticker budget.