Ugly Bass thread

[Nail Soup]

2 hours ago, binky_bass said:

Gus Guitars did build a guitar for Prince as it goes...

 

Why am I not surprised?

[rushbo]

2 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

Why am I not surprised?

Prince went from (arguably) the most conservative guitar shape - the Telecaster - to a series of instruments that even Salvador Dali might have thought were a bit outré.

[SteveXFR]

57 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

It's not an "or" situation. 😆.

 

 

 

 

Good point. I stand corrected.

[SteveXFR]

This one was mine. It's an old Peavey International. 

It now belongs to my daughter and looks really nice with a coat of surf green paint and some new hardware. It plays nice as well. 

[SteveXFR]

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Edited September 17, 2021 by SteveXFR

[SteveXFR]

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Edited September 17, 2021 by SteveXFR

[neepheid]

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...

 

 

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.

[SteveXFR]

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...

 

 

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

[Stub Mandrel]

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...

 

 

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.

[Oopsdabassist]

22 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.

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

[Bobo_08]

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...

 

 

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

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

That pickguard is an embarrasment.

 

I know - tort.. urgh!

[tauzero]

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.

 

Perfect for a Steely Dan tribute band.

[tegs07]

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!

[BigRedX]

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 September 18, 2021 by BigRedX

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 16/09/2021 at 22:23, 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.

I've always loved Gus basses, but now you've mentioned dildos... 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 15/09/2021 at 07:00, tegs07 said:

The Parker Fly was a sight for sore eyes:

You mean you were happy to see it?

[Bassassin]

1 hour ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

I've always loved Gus basses, but now you've mentioned dildos... 

 Don't worry - it's not 'either or'!

[Nail Soup]

1 hour ago, Bassassin said:

 Don't worry - it's not 'either or'!

Indeed:

 

 

[tegs07]

3 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

You mean you were happy to see it?

Kind of. In all it’s malformed glory.

[Stub Mandrel]

On 18/09/2021 at 17:36, Cosmo Valdemar said:

I've always loved Gus basses, but now you've mentioned dildos... 

 

Goes with your headgear? 😉

 

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 15, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Bobo_08]

9 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said:

 

I think that putting little 'helmets' on the ends really is inviting comparison!

Always wear protection.

[Leonard Smalls]

On 15/09/2021 at 07:00, tegs07 said:

The Parker Fly was a sight for sore eyes

They are an interesting looking beast... I've got one and it's excellent in its oddness!

[BigRedX]

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.

Edited September 22, 2021 by BigRedX