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Guild Acoustic Basses - Tell me about them please
- Thread starter TheDialog
- Start date
I'm curious too, I've never come across one. The big-bodied model (B-30 I think) sure looks good on paper. For me the gold standard of AEBs I've tried is the Tacoma. I'm wonder how an old Guild would compare, acoustic tone and playability-wise.
Hi. Proud owner of a 1990 Westerly Guild B-30E since 1994. It's the only big-body ABG I've ever tried, so I can't compare it to a Tacoma, Earthwood, etc.
As most TBers can tell you, you can only expect so much projection/volume from ABGs, even big-bodies, but the B30 does OKand far better than the washburns, Ibbys and ovations of the world.
I've gigged with my Guild plugged in, and done campfires, backyard jams and hootenannies unplugged. PLugged in, it sat in the mix nice and friendly like a P, but with the bronze strings I put on it, I def. got the acoustical tonality.
Love everything about it -- tone, acoustic-ness, playability (fast neck!), looks. I actually like that it doesn't have a cutaway.
As most TBers can tell you, you can only expect so much projection/volume from ABGs, even big-bodies, but the B30 does OKand far better than the washburns, Ibbys and ovations of the world.
I've gigged with my Guild plugged in, and done campfires, backyard jams and hootenannies unplugged. PLugged in, it sat in the mix nice and friendly like a P, but with the bronze strings I put on it, I def. got the acoustical tonality.
Love everything about it -- tone, acoustic-ness, playability (fast neck!), looks. I actually like that it doesn't have a cutaway.
I had a late 60's Guild B50 ABG, (stock fretless)
Wonderful Bass, the B50 was much louder than the B30.
The B50 and the Earthwood ABG were to me the best production ABG's ever made.
Bottom like The B50 Kills.
I have a B4. Nice instrument. Not much unplugged volume though,especially on the low E
(I dont remember the exact type, I will have to dig it out)
(I dont remember the exact type, I will have to dig it out)
- Dec 28, 2009
- 2,053
- 1,380
- Disclosures
- Endorsed by K.B. Guitars, Nordstrand Audio Pickups, Von York Strings and Gallien-Krueger Amps.
To the O.P., what would you like to know? I had a Guild B-4E a few years back that I loved. I still regret not having it anymore too. I pawned it due to being on workmans comp and them not paying me on time. While on pawn, the store closed shop and I never had the chance to get it back but it was a great bass. I actually hope to get another one again some day.
I have a B-4E. Apples and oranges compared to the jumbo Guilds. The body and 30.75 scale make this a very portable and easy to play practice bass for just about anywhere. Guild is top drawer in build quality.
I owned a B-30 back in the early 90s. It was a great bass, did a nice job at jams and busking on the the street. I desperately wish that I still had it, but the neck had a nasty twist in it. After hundreds of dollars spent with a local luthier in an attempt to fix it, I finally gave up and sold the bass.
It looks like the B-30s are tough to find nowadays, and pricey too. That said, if I had the cash handy, I'd pick one up again in a heartbeat...I'd just check the neck carefully!
It looks like the B-30s are tough to find nowadays, and pricey too. That said, if I had the cash handy, I'd pick one up again in a heartbeat...I'd just check the neck carefully!
I have a rather unique Guild B4CE-AMB, as it's an all Mahogany Cutaway Model B4E (all I've seen are Spruce tops), with a lovely archback... I believe circa 1993, as it has a 'LD000xxx' SN designation (only the 1993 B4E's have those SNs ), the charts I've seen only show those B4E as having SN up to LD000271, but this one's has an even higher SN-LD000394, imprinted in the headstock, which makes me very curious about it :hmm
I've heard that these Guilds were the last made at the old Guild Luthers shop, in Connecticut I believe, just before the FMIC take-over (1994 & later B4Es having the 'AB04xxxx' SN designations)...
eager to know anything about the origins of this early B4E
To the O.P. I love this little bass, as others mention short scale is great for the hand impaired (smallish hands here), vol. acoustically is pretty good, compared to most I've played. I plug it into a little 'Marshall 3505 Micro Bass Mini Full Stack', and with 'Thomastik AB346 Acousticore Phosphor-Bronze sting, I and get a very rich acoustic sound
I've heard that these Guilds were the last made at the old Guild Luthers shop, in Connecticut I believe, just before the FMIC take-over (1994 & later B4Es having the 'AB04xxxx' SN designations)...
eager to know anything about the origins of this early B4E
To the O.P. I love this little bass, as others mention short scale is great for the hand impaired (smallish hands here), vol. acoustically is pretty good, compared to most I've played. I plug it into a little 'Marshall 3505 Micro Bass Mini Full Stack', and with 'Thomastik AB346 Acousticore Phosphor-Bronze sting, I and get a very rich acoustic sound
I have a rather unique Guild B4CE-AMB, as it's an all Mahogany Cutaway Model B4E (all I've seen are Spruce tops)... I believe circa 1993, as it has a 'LD000xxx' SN designation (only the 1993 B4E's have those SNs ), the charts I've seen only show those B4E as having SN up to LD000271, but this one's has an even higher SN-LD000394, imprinted in the headstock, which makes me very curious about it :hmm
I've heard that these Guilds were the last made at the old Guild Luthers shop, in Connecticut I believe, just before the FMIC take-over (1994 & later B4Es having the 'AB04xxxx' SN designations)...
eager to know anything about the origins of this early B4E
:http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=331637&stc=1&d=1366053857
Go to the "Let's Talk Guild" website. Those guys include at least one former Guild worker, and the who literally wrote the book on Guild, Hans Moust. They can probably fill you in.
As far as I know, Guild didn't have any production other than Westerly, RI from about 1965 until after FMIC bought them at the end of 1995.
John
Here's my B30e purchased in 1991. Very attached to her. Him. Whatever. Changes gender every so often! I can get a great plugged-in tone, the best way is to put a mic in front of the sound hole.
Solo in the middle of this tune is with it mic'd w/ a great tube mic:
http://open.spotify.com/track/27MCr2dAQWEiXw1Q10qx6Q
I have an old B-30 that I've gigged with for years especially in the 90s.
Personally, I think it's one of the best ABGs ever made, but that's just me. I use bronze strings so it's nice and bright, but the larger body size keeps the low end and volume at about the best you can expect from an ABG.
It's a short scale, so you can play it easily and it really does have a singular sound. Some guys try to get their ABGs to sound like electrics, or worse, a standup, but this baby is it's own instrument and I think it responds best when you approach it like that.
I've had some great moments putting together a guitar ensemble with other guilds, especially the orchestra models. The bass isn't super loud but sounds great when you use mics in the room to record.
Hope you find one. They pop up on ebay occasionally.
Personally, I think it's one of the best ABGs ever made, but that's just me. I use bronze strings so it's nice and bright, but the larger body size keeps the low end and volume at about the best you can expect from an ABG.
It's a short scale, so you can play it easily and it really does have a singular sound. Some guys try to get their ABGs to sound like electrics, or worse, a standup, but this baby is it's own instrument and I think it responds best when you approach it like that.
I've had some great moments putting together a guitar ensemble with other guilds, especially the orchestra models. The bass isn't super loud but sounds great when you use mics in the room to record.
Hope you find one. They pop up on ebay occasionally.
I have a couple acoustic basses(including a B-30 and a rare Thunderchief CB-28) currently for sale in the classifieds section if anyone's interested.
I owned a Guild B4CE thin line acoustic bass which i purchased new at Guitar Center through the Gen Manager, first year model (1993). It was to replace my Epiphone El Capitan 5 string that was stolen. The Guild B4CE was awesome. Sounded thin unplugged, but outstanding plugged in and is shorter scale, and the neck ripped. I could play scales up and down that neck like lightning. Had to sell it a few years later, cir 1995 and regretted it all this time. I have a beautiful Alvarez acoustic bass, but... finally ran across a B4CE HR (Hand Rubbed) that was under $1000 (i picked it up for about $600 on eBay). Phenomenal. If you have the chance to get one... This is the best acoustic bass ever. I've had 5 now, and still have the Alvarez, but... There is nothing like a hand made, hand rubbed Guild acoustic bass, made in the Rhode Island factory before they were purchased by Fender. If you can get one... highly recommend.
Disclaimers: 1. If you aren't plugging in to an amp or PA, a deeper bodied bass will have more low tone. This Guild has great tone plugged in, but again, is thin sounding, as it is a thin-line guitar. 2. Lastly, this has an oval sound hole. You cannot get a fuzz buster (rubber insert for the sound hole that helps mute feedback acoustics tend to get) for this shape (only round).
Disclaimers: 1. If you aren't plugging in to an amp or PA, a deeper bodied bass will have more low tone. This Guild has great tone plugged in, but again, is thin sounding, as it is a thin-line guitar. 2. Lastly, this has an oval sound hole. You cannot get a fuzz buster (rubber insert for the sound hole that helps mute feedback acoustics tend to get) for this shape (only round).
