Guild B402-A Active basses—What are they like?

[bitterminnows]

So I happened upon some pictures of the B402 online and was a little intrigued by its looks.

But, trying to find any videos of them on YouTube yielded no results.

Has anyone here got one, and could maybe describe a little about its ergonomics and sound? I'm interested in what those P90-esque pickups and its active electronics sound like.

Is it a heavy bass? I've only ever seen hollow-body Guilds.

 

[HaphAsSard]

So I happened upon some pictures of the B402 online
[...]
Has anyone here got one, and could maybe describe a little about its ergonomics and sound? I'm interested in what those P90-esque pickups and its active electronics sound like.

Is it a heavy bass? I've only ever seen hollow-body Guilds.

Paging @Steven Ayres

'83 Guild B-402A active bass​

@dave_anderson

The official "Show your basses" thread part 19!​

and @SMG

(Also @cool breeze and @Paul Bersh, if they get email alerts when paged.)

 

[groooooove]

I had a B-301 in 2003, probably sold it around 2007...

what I can tell you is that they are VERY cool. I was young at the time and knew a lot less than I know now, but I seem to recall the 301 pickup having a sort of '51 P bass type of sound.

they have awesome interesting bridges, set necks, and the coolest shape you've ever seen. The one I had was exceptional in build quality, the neck was dead-straight, and it was set up perfectly with no high spots or anything.

They do obviously neck dive really, really badly.

The 302 is the model with two pickups, and a 402 is active + two pickups (which implies the existence of a 401?)

I was a huge 301 fan boy at the time and have always had a soft spot for this instrument. I've never seen a 401,

to answer your question of "what are they like," the only answer many of us will have is "rare."

 

[Number179]

I "like" my b-302. Sound is the best part of it, but will be totally different than the active 402 (I'm assuming). Really bad neck dive, HUGE (in a not so good way) neck. If it was 1 iota fatter, I'd get rid of it. Worth keeping for the sound and cool factor.

 

[Steven Ayres]

could maybe describe a little about its ergonomics and sound? I'm interested in what those P90-esque pickups and its active electronics sound like.

Is it a heavy bass? I've only ever seen hollow-body Guilds.

I've been playing B-group Guild basses since I bought my B301 in '75, and I still use it. Over the years I've owned and gigged B301F, 302, 302F, 401, 401A, 401F A and 402A versions as well, and I still have my 401A and 402. I originally chose the Guild over Gibson and Fender offerings for the feel in my relatively small hand, and I still like it better. The only ergonomic issues for me are a certain amount of neck dive (some grip in the strap helps a lot) and the upper point on the lower bout, where the body meets my forearm; when I refinished the 301 long ago I scooped the body there to alleviate that problem, and it worked well. I've seen people disparage the 3-point bridge, but it's always worked great for me, with both intonation and string-spacing adjustments. I play LaBella 760N black tapes on them all but the 402, which wears half-rounds for more funky bite. The single-coil pickups have given me all the overhead and tone options I've ever needed from electric bass, and they're all every bit as hot and clear as they were when new, played through everything from '70s fridge rigs to Acoustic Image and Walter Woods amps. The active circuitry on the 400s extends the range with a lot more presence at the cost of some added compression, making those basses super funky when I want it, and while the control options took a little getting used to, once I got a handle on them I found it easy to make small and very effective adjustments on the fly. Weight-wise the mahogany bodies are a fair bit lighter than the ash (A) versions: my 301 is 8.2lbs, the 401A is 9.4. These aren't my only electric basses, but I've always been confident that my Guilds can handle any gig. It's always been a mystery to me why so few people play or even know about them: distinctive looks, great performance and range, super-playable, and always significantly cheaper than comparable Fendson products.

 

[Lo-E]

Until today, I never knew a 402 existed!

I have a fretless 302 that I like very much except for the neck dive. I plan to put some ultra-light tuners on it, which should solve the issue. The ergonomics are a little odd. There's a bit of a reach to the first position, similar to a Ric in the way it sits. The neck on mine isn't huge - similar to a P-bass but maybe just a tad narrower and deeper.

If those pickups in the 402 are the same as the ones they used in the 300 series, they're fantastic; like a cross between a J-Bass pickup and a P-90.

 

[wjcstp]

I can't speak for the active versions, but i have a B-301, for many years it was my only bass. I have fairly large hands and the neck feels good to me, chunky in a good way (i bought it after not bonding with a very thin-necked Ric 4001). Mine is mahogany, weight is fine, and i use somewhat wide straps so neck dive hasn't been a huge problem. It's a really well-made instrument, i've never touched the truss rod and only minor adjustments to the bridge for intonation. It also feels really resonant - that's one of the things that jumped out the first time i played it. Mine has always had round wounds on it, and it has a good bite when you want to dig in a bit.

I'm also surprised they aren't more popular, but it's always fun to see one out in the wild.

 

[bigtone23]

I have played a B302, which seems to be somewhat Ric adjacent, with single coils in the Ric spots. Cool bass!
Can't comment on the active 402.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have a 1978 B-301 that I happened upon at my (now defunct) local Sam Ash almost three years ago. Love it! Fairly lightweight, beautiful one-piece mahogany body, great feeling neck, about the same as my two 4004Ls. The single pickup with its passive tone control offers a lot of range, tonally. This bass is virtually like a Rickenbacker 4000 model; the same string spacing at the nut and bridge, the single single-coil pickup in the same relative location as that on a 4000, accounting for the slight scale length differences (34" vs. 33 1/4").

When I found it in one of SA's glass display cases I was thrilled as I had never seen one in the wood before. When I played it the very old strings that were on the bass really didn't let the B-301 shine but I had a feeling that with new strings on it would be good. I was right. Amazing sounding (IMO). It has become my favorite bass, among my two above mentioned Rick 4004L basses and two Martin Keith Elfin 5s, one fretless, the other fretted.

Can all you who have these various B model Guilds post photos of yours?

 

[gtirard]

I have a 1978 B-301 that I happened upon at my (now defunct) local Sam Ash almost three years ago. Love it! Fairly lightweight, beautiful one-piece mahogany body, great feeling neck, about the same as my two 4004Ls. The single pickup with its passive tone control offers a lot of range, tonally. This bass is virtually like a Rickenbacker 4000 model; the same string spacing at the nut and bridge, the single single-coil pickup in the same relative location as that on a 4000, accounting for the slight scale length differences (34" vs. 33 1/4").

When I found it in one of SA's glass display cases I was thrilled as I had never seen one in the wood before. When I played it the very old strings that were on the bass really didn't let the B-301 shine but I had a feeling that with new strings on it would be good. I was right. Amazing sounding (IMO). It has become my favorite bass, among my two above mentioned Rick 4004L basses and two Martin Keith Elfin 5s, one fretless, the other fretted.

Can all you who have these various B model Guilds post photos of yours?

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This particular bass looks a lot like a Serek!

 

[Steven Ayres]

My little stable:

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Jeff and Steven sneaked a couple by me here!

 

[blacktocomm]

I have a B-301. Chunky neck, manageable weight, incredible tone. I know "Jazz bass on steroids" gets thrown around quite a bit, but the 301 more than lives up to that description. I'm a Guild fan and had no idea they even made an active version. Pretty cool.

 

[Jeff Scott]

This particular bass looks a lot like a Serek!

More likely, the other was around.

 

[wjcstp]

Can all you who have these various B model Guilds post photos of yours?

This is mine, all original as far as i know.

 

[eruby]

So I happened upon some pictures of the B402 online and was a little intrigued by its looks.

But, trying to find any videos of them on YouTube yielded no results.

Has anyone here got one, and could maybe describe a little about its ergonomics and sound? I'm interested in what those P90-esque pickups and its active electronics sound like.

Is it a heavy bass? I've only ever seen hollow-body Guilds.

@bitterminnows I have that exact bass. I just found this forum and your post. I believe mine's a 1980. B-402A. B = Bass, 4 = Active, 2 = 2 pickups and A = Ashe body. As others have stated, the short upper bout and big Guild headstock does tend to nosedive but what bass doesn't. Also, the Ashe is slightly heavier than the Mohogany body but still manageable. Sound is very personal, but I really like the tonal range and can easily dial in what I'm looking for. I like the deep red, maybe purple, translucent finish on the one pictured (and mine) better than the all-clear Ashe finish.
My gigging days are basically over so mine is on my list to part with along about 6 others. This isn't the classified area so I won't go into that but if interested, you can DM me. I am slow are responding as I don't stay on my computer.

[edit] I bought mine used in 1998 as one of my fellow bass players had a Mohogany B-301 in HS back in the late 70s and I love the feel of it. I can't really compare the 2 as he no longer has his (fell over at a gig and broke the neck). Wood differences as well as active vs passive would make it an unfair comparison. Also, I've never actually seen a Mohogany B-402 in any listing or in person.

 

[Gunga Din]

Until today, I never knew a 402 existed!

I have a fretless 302 that I like very much except for the neck dive. I plan to put some ultra-light tuners on it, which should solve the issue. The ergonomics are a little odd. There's a bit of a reach to the first position, similar to a Ric in the way it sits. The neck on mine isn't huge - similar to a P-bass but maybe just a tad narrower and deeper.

If those pickups in the 402 are the same as the ones they used in the 300 series, they're fantastic; like a cross between a J-Bass pickup and a P-90.

same.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I bought mine used in 1998 as one of my fellow bass players had a Mohogany B-301 in HS back in the late 70s and I love the feel of it. I can't really compare the 2 as he no longer has his (fell over at a gig and broke the neck). Wood differences as well as active vs passive would make it an unfair comparison. Also, I've never actually seen a Mohogany B-402 in any listing or in person.

Upon first read I thought you said your friend fell over at a gig and broke his neck!

 

[Steven Ayres]

I've never actually seen a mahogany B-402 in any listing or in person.

I don't know that I've seen a 30x in ash or a 40x in mahogany, but the truss cover on my 401A implies a mahogany 401, at least. In the late '70s everyone was looking for more sustain, and the heavier wood may have been in support of that trend.

 

[jmlee]

My old B-302…