Basses In Strange Places

[BigRedX]

9 hours ago, Cornwall Steve said:

Beautiful, stunning collection 😛💕You must be very proud. Just out of interest, just how good is the fretless compared to other basses in the same price category/class ?

 

Thank you.

 

As I said in a previous post I don't own the fretless any more, partly because I no longer play 4-string basses (the basses I'm currently playing are all 5-string or Bass VIs) and partly because fretless doesn't suit the current musical path that I am following.

 

It was a great instrument to play, but I struggled to get the sorts of fretless sounds I wanted out of it which was mostly Japan-era Mick Karn. All three of the other high-end fretless basses I owned at the same time - Overwater Original, Pedulla Buzz and Sei Flamboyant were much more suitable for that. Having said that it did get used at quite a few gigs and made it on to a couple of recordings that have been released. I believe the current owner has strung it with flat-wound strings which suit the bass better.

 

I still own the two fretted Gus basses because they are the perfect instruments for me in terms of playability, sounds and looks. I also have a Gus G1 guitar. I couldn't see myself selling any of them.

 

If I found myself needing a fretless bass in the future I'd be looking for a Pedulla Pentabuzz.

[Cornwall Steve]

5 minutes ago, BigRedX said:

 

Thank you.

 

As I said in a previous post I don't own the fretless any more, partly because I no longer play 4-string basses (the basses I'm currently playing are all 5-string or Bass VIs) and partly because fretless doesn't suit the current musical path that I am following.

 

It was a great instrument to play, but I struggled to get the sorts of fretless sounds I wanted out of it which was mostly Japan-era Mick Karn. All three of the other high-end fretless basses I owned at the same time - Overwater Original, Pedulla Buzz and Sei Flamboyant were much more suitable for that. Having said that it did get used at quite a few gigs and made it on to a couple of recordings that have been released. I believe the current owner has strung it with flat-wound strings which suit the bass better.

 

I still own the two fretted Gus basses because they are the perfect instruments for me in terms of playability, sounds and looks. I also have a Gus G1 guitar. I couldn't see myself selling any of them.

 

If I found myself needing a fretless bass in the future I'd be looking for a Pedulla Pentabuzz.

Many thanks for replying and explaining 'things'. I apologise for not making my question clearer regarding how well the fretless G3 rated compared with similar instruments in the same class.

I didn't know whether you still owned the fretless model in the photo. I simply asked how it compared based on the assumption that you would have played it avidly at some point and I was curious to know your thoughts.

I too have moved from 4's to 5's but also from fretted to fretless. Personally, I'd always set my sights on a Sei which I thought I'd probably end up buying secondhand from the Bass Gallery. When I saw your Gus Fretless it stopped me in my tracks and got me thinking......🤔 I suppose ultimately I'd aspire to a Pentabuzz but could never see me locating/affording a 5 string  one.

Once again, thank you very much for the photos and information. Very much appreciated 🙏

[GarnetDK]

On 29/12/2025 at 11:11, BigRedX said:

Back in 2011 one of the guitar blogs at the time was asking for photos for a page a month calendar with a free calendar for those whose photos were chosen.

 

I got up very early one August morning and went into Nottingham city centre, when it was just light but hardly anyone was about, to take these two (amongst many others) which were selected:

 

 

 

 

Wow! That's raw and cool.

[GarnetDK]

On 29/12/2025 at 14:04, Bassassin said:

I don't, but I should - I tend to photograph mine (individually) on backgrounds of brightly-coloured fluffy fabric, or more recently on a rainbow rug!

 

Request thread title change to 'Basses In Strange Places' & let's make it a thing!

Let's make it a thing!

[Skybone]

18 hours ago, BigRedX said:

 

Thanks!

 

Here's a photo of all three in a much more conventional setting:

 

No settee's were harmed in the making of this picture. 😄

[Bassassin]

3 hours ago, GarnetDK said:

Let's make it a thing!

 

Yes - let's! 

 

 

Bass By The Bins! Which might either be a reflection on my modding skills or an entire new sub-topic.

 

Either way I think I've now given the poor thing a complex...

[ead]

Best I've got is my old Greco EB3 in the back yard.

 

[Skybone]

43 minutes ago, Bassassin said:

 

Yes - let's! 

 

 

Bass By The Bins! Which might either be a reflection on my modding skills or an entire new sub-topic.

 

Either way I think I've now given the poor thing a complex...

Bass bins obvs. 😄