Production models for the Gazuki jumped from the GZ3 to the GZ6.
GZ4
As far as I can tell, the GZ4 never existed as a commercial concept.
GZ5
On 1st Feb 2013 the home page announced “work begins on the GZ5”, which was apparently going to be similar to the GZ3.
There are no archives of the home page between then and May 2014, when the GZ6 is announced, and no further mention of the GZ5.
Mine
According to Phil (via comment on this site) there were two GZ5 prototypes “around somewhere”. It would appear I am now the owner of one of them! It was sold by him (to the person I bought it off) in around 2012 (“13 years ago”). It’s strung in unison GDAD with D’Addario 80/20s (12, 20, 32w, 42w).
As I am given to understand by the seller, a batch of Gazukis were lost at sea on the way from the Far East around this time, and this instrument was sold to said person as being one of the only instruments Phil had at the time.
Essentially it seems to be a GZ3 in terms of most of its features, but…:
Specifications
- eT-5 preamp (as per GZ3). The preamp is placed on the curve nearer the bridge rather than the end of the fretboard, which is actually a little bit inconvenient for tuning.
- Zero fret
- No binding on the back edge, mostly because it seems to be a fibreglass/plastic Ovation-style, very slightly rounded, body!
- Octave strung – I’m considering restringing to unison.
I’ll take some photos when I can clear a space to do so and perhaps upload a sample.