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Ugly Bass thread


Bobo_08

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I know there's a whole thread started up about these but I think it's worthy of discussion in the context of this thread too...

 

hama-okamoto-fender-katana-bass-olympic-

 

I'm all for reissues, but that pickguard is a mistake imo.  Looks ill-thought out and home made and especially out of place seeing as the originals had no guard and rear routed controls.

 

Don't worry though, it's currently only available in Japan.

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16 minutes ago, neepheid said:

I know there's a whole thread started up about these but I think it's worthy of discussion in the context of this thread too...

 

hama-okamoto-fender-katana-bass-olympic-

 

I'm all for reissues, but that pickguard is a mistake imo.  Looks ill-thought out and home made and especially out of place seeing as the originals had no guard and rear routed controls.

 

Don't worry though, it's currently only available in Japan.

 

That looks like a flying V that's been delivered by Hermes

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26 minutes ago, neepheid said:

I know there's a whole thread started up about these but I think it's worthy of discussion in the context of this thread too...

 

hama-okamoto-fender-katana-bass-olympic-

 

I'm all for reissues, but that pickguard is a mistake imo.  Looks ill-thought out and home made and especially out of place seeing as the originals had no guard and rear routed controls.

 

Don't worry though, it's currently only available in Japan.

 

My brother had a Squier Katana guitar. Was actualy quite nice.

 

That pickguard is an embarrasment.

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1 hour ago, neepheid said:

I know there's a whole thread started up about these but I think it's worthy of discussion in the context of this thread too...

 

hama-okamoto-fender-katana-bass-olympic-

 

I'm all for reissues, but that pickguard is a mistake imo.  Looks ill-thought out and home made and especially out of place seeing as the originals had no guard and rear routed controls.

 

Don't worry though, it's currently only available in Japan.

zero effort pickguard

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23 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Almost forgot Gus basses. Not sure if those are chrome dildos or those hand rails that pensioners use to get in and out of the bath. Either way an odd choice to stick on a bass.
17-jpg.785371

 

Perfect for a Steely Dan tribute band.

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10 hours ago, Oopsdabassist said:

I'd love a Gus bass, and that body artwork is excellent IMO, I'd bet I can't afford one though!

I think they are hand made instruments and use some pretty expensive material (carbon fibre etc). As they are fairly complex in their design I doubt if they could even be mass produced. There’s a reason that bolt on neck, easy to route shapes became ubiquitous. They are cheap to make!

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I've been a Gus user for over 20 years now and a big fan of theirs since I first saw photographs of the prototypes in one of the musical instrument magazines in the mid-80s. I currently own two G3-5 basses and a G1 guitar (I did also have a G3-4 fretless bass which now belongs to Happy Jack).

 

Everything apart from the machine heads and strap buttons are either made by Simon Farmer himself or specially commissioned for the instruments (AFAIK the pickups are made by Aaron Armstrong and the bass pre-amp by John East and both are unique to the Gus). Like most carbon-fibre instruments they are made in a mould, but there is added complexity as they have a wooden core to the body and neck and the carbon fibre is a "skin" around that. All the metal-work is made in-house although I believe the chroming is outsourced. Somewhere in the "Gear Porn" section is a thread about the refinishing/refurbishing of my Red G3-5 Active which shows some of the final processes in the making of a Gus bass. There is also a workshop tour on the Gus website although this is now quite old and many of the processes have been updated.

 

Regarding cost, I had Simon price me up a custom Bass VI a couple of years ago, using his G3 Baritone 30" as a starting point and we were looking at something around £6.5k although that includes a lot fair amount of extra and custom options. I believe it may still be possible to order a standard 4-string passive bass for under £5k. However I was told that there is currently a 12-18 month waiting time for new orders. When I had my G1 guitar made at the end of 1999 it took about 3 months from placing the order to receiving the finished instrument. The Prince connection (Prince used the purple and gold G1 guitar at his last ever gig) has significantly increased the profile of Gus Guitars and consequently Simon's work-load, which is good for the future of the instruments.

 

HTH.

Edited by BigRedX
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I used to be in a band with a guitarist who worked for the company doing the UK distribution for Parker. I was massively impressed with the guitar version of the Parker Fly, and couldn’t wait try the bass. Unfortunately it is possibly the most uncomfortable instrument I’ve ever had the misfortune to play. Weird considering that the concept originally started life as a bass.

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