Guild Jetstar II

[julessg]

Hey TB'ers,
Looking at picking up this bass, any info about this you can shed light on, price seem fair? Thanks for any input!
1973 GUILD JET STAR II BASS

[PDGood]

I like these basses. From the sound files I've heard, they sound like and EBO but with more clarity. Never played one, so I can't speak for the neck.

Price seems high to me. I've seen a few others on Craig's list go for around $650.

It's one of those items that could be slow to sell (because frankly there are a lot of other options in the $600-900 range), but to a collector it's not something you see every day. So if the seller is patient he can probably get his price. But it would move much quicker at $650-700.

[Boot Soul]

Too high IMHO. The natural finish were nicer and more valuable than the painted ones. The ones with the OaK Leaf and Acorn carvings were super rare, and a lot more valuable. Basses such as the short-scale black one you are considering generally go for no more than about $600 IME. Also this one doesn't have the original case, as is stated in the ad. That detracts from its value. But hey, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay.

Also, these basses are not the Jetstar, which had a different body shape completely. These are known as JS Bass II models. JS might stand for jetstar, but they were not called that by Guild in any catalog that I have seen. A jetstar looks like this early one being played by Peter Tork http://www.pittsburghguitars.com/Resources/torkbass.jpg
Later models had a different headstock (2x2) like this: http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...etStarBass.jpg

More info on the JS Bass II basses here: http://www.vintageguitarandbass.com/guild/bass/JS.php

I have two of these basses, the black one is a long-scale (super duper rare, and in its original case) and the other is the carved short-scale (also pretty rare). Paid less than $900 for each, but that was like close to 15 years ago. The neck on the short-, like the one you are looking at are quite narrow (1.5" or even a bit less at the nut) and the profile is a "soft-V" shape in cross-section, that makes it a bit thicker front to back than one might guess. I love the feel of the short-scale. The long-scale neck is totally different - made from 3-piece maple instead of 2 piece mahogany with a thin maple stringer on the short-scale. And the long-scale is much more "C" shaped and seemingly thinner from front to back. The long-scale neck is much wider as well, with a nut width at least 1 and 5/8" if not wider. They sound different too. I actually prefer the tone of the shorty I have somewhat over the full-scale. The short just sounds so deep in the lowest notes, it really sits below the guitars nicely in a live setting. Scale length of the short-scaled ones id actually 30 and 5/8" and not 30.5" (a small difference, but hey, it's a fact...I have measured).

[jumbodbassman]

if it had the Bisonic pickups it would be worth maybe that price. those humbuckers are not well regarded.

[Boot Soul]

Originally Posted by jumbodbassman

if it had the Bisonic pickups it would be worth maybe that price. those humbuckers are not well regarded.

I agree that the Hagstrom pickups are more sought after, and thus more valuable, probably because they are older than the humbuckers, and because of the hype and excitement generated by the emergence of the Hammon Dark Star copies (which I have never heard), of those originals. But two things I can say are true on this.

First is that Guild considered the humbuckers to be enough of an upgrade that they produced ads touting just that, as seen here. They were even sold separately as replacement 'upgrade' pickups for use in other basses. Guild definitely considered this change to be an improvement, over the previous pickups.




Second, is that at least IME, having played Guild basses with both types of pickups, that they sound different, but neither one is vastly better sounding than the other. It is probably just a matter of the originals being single coil and the second generation being humbuckers. Played through an all tube head (either an SVT or a Fender Studio Bass) I prefer the thickness and slight 'wooly' tone from the humbuckers, over the bi-sonic Hagstroms. So, if there are folks out there who don't regard the humbuckers well, that is their opinion, but not one that I share. Also, the Guild bass humbuckers are much more clear in terms of mids and treble than the Gibson humbucker (mudbucker) that they sort-of resemble. The Guilds are much more full-range, and when soloing just the bridge humbucker can actually be rather trebly and thin sounding with the tone control fully open.

And if that's not enough, realize that one of the rockingest records ever ever ever, The Stooges "Raw Power" was recorded with a Ron Asheton playing a short-scaled JS Bass II with Humbuckers, as can be seen here in photos from that era of the Stooges. If this record are not part of your experience, check it out. The band rocks and the bass sounds great.

http://www.mondocatto.pwp.blueyonder.../stooges5a.jpg
The Stooges - Television Tropes & Idioms
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Hj4neqKqbS...t--Max%27s.jpg

Iggy & The Stooges - Shake Appeal (2010 Mix) (HQ) - YouTube
Iggy Pop &The Stooges- Gimme Danger HQ - YouTube

[mellowgerman]

These basses seem to be becoming more and more valuable. I used to own a Dark Star'd 1971 JS-II. Fantastic build quality and feel. I've also owned a bass with one of the old Guild Humbuckers in it and it was a pretty solid sound. Nothing compares to bisonics/dark stars, but these Guildbuckers are nice and definitely an improvement on the Gibson mudbucker IMO. On the particular one you're looking at, I'd try to haggle a bit, but I think something like $750-800 would be a fair price, provided it has no issues. I watch ebay pretty regularly for vintage Guilds and I honestly don't remember the last JS-II bass, in decent shape, that went for under $700 (regardless of the finish).

[julessg]

Thanks for all of your input, I appreciate it!

[fjadams]

I have a 1974 JS II. Right now it is my go to bass, and I have a bunch to choose from.
The neck is about perfect for my smallish hands.
Weighs more than either of my Squier SS Jags and less than the Epiphone Flying V.
The humbucker pickups are much better sounding than any of the humbuckers on Gibson or Epiphone basses. Compared to the ones on the Gibson SG bass (the bass most often compared to for the JS II, for the size and shape) they have much more clarity, lower lows without being muddy and highs that the Gibson have never dreamed of. The controls are: V/T for each pickup, 3 way selector, and a bass boost that works for the neck pickup. It adds a lot of low end, I usually use it ON, and then blend in the bridge pickup with more treble added.

I also think they are high on the price. But if you can talk them down a couple of hundred you will walk away with a bass that is fun to play, and sounds good.

[mellowgerman]

didja get it?

[julessg]

I decided not to pull the trigger on this bass, was not crazy about the color, and that is important! Going to keep my eye out for another one though!

[mellowgerman]

Yeah, definitely not as pretty as the bursts and the naturals

[bluesblaster]

With regards to the Guild pickups, I owned a '68 starfire w/ bi sonics and a 70 JS I w/ a bi sonic. IMO they never lived up to all the hype I read on this forum, there both history. On the other hand, I have '73 M85 w/ humbuckers that sounds amazing, these might be the loudest passive pickups ever made.

[mellowgerman]

Originally Posted by bluesblaster

With regards to the Guild pickups, I owned a '68 starfire w/ bi sonics and a 70 JS I w/ a bi sonic. IMO they never lived up to all the hype I read on this forum, there both history. On the other hand, I have '73 M85 w/ humbuckers that sounds amazing, these might be the loudest passive pickups ever made.

I suppose naturally bisonics don't work for everyone.
That being said, I'd love to see a picture of that bisonic equipped JS-I! Those are very few and far between!

[bluesblaster]

Ya know, it was a cool little bass and I ended up selling it to Tom Waits bass player, but the sound just wasnt my thing, just kind of ho hum sounding, not all dynamic like I had heard people rave on about, Give me a good P bass any day over those things. But hey, If they do it for you, than great.

[Boot Soul]

Originally Posted by bluesblaster

Ya know, it was a cool little bass and I ended up selling it to Tom Waits bass player,

You sold it to Larry Taylor?