Sorry to take so long, missed this post.
BE100342 (1984)
BH100178 (1983) So is this an SB-604 with an offset headstock and pickguard? Would like to see a photo of this bass.
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Sorry to take so long, missed this post.
BE100342 (1984)
BH100178 (1983) So is this an SB-604 with an offset headstock and pickguard? Would like to see a photo of this bass.
...and dressed him up properly:
well, simply plays and sounds fantastic,
That...is...AWESOME!!!!!
Hello, (now) Fellow Pilots! I'd like to join. I'll take any #.
1983 Guild SB-602 Pilot Bass Fretless Lined - SN BE100152
Monday I'll receive in the mail (eBay ad): "BRAND NEW, coming from unsold dealer stock. It has remained in the collection of a former Guild sales rep for the past 30 years! The low serial number indicates that this example was among the first Pilots produced."
I keep looking for other Ash bodies like this, and haven't seen any. Anyone have info on how the plain Ash bass was an option? I almost instead grabbed a beautiful 92 Orange Flame no pickguard P/J but this one seemed like a better deal.
I've not played a fretless on a maple fingerboard before, only ebony (preference) and rosewood (settle), so I'm curious about the sound, but I couldn't pass up this offer.
All of the pictures the seller posted on eBay shows the bass & case in pristine condition.
What sayeth the Guild Pilot Community? This is my first GP. I bought it because of all of the wow & flutter I read on this forum!
Also, from what I've read, it sounds like this year/model retailed at $800-1000 depending on features. Can anyone confirm/deny this for me?
1983 Guild SB-602 Pilot Bass Fretless Lined - SN BE100152
Monday I'll receive in the mail (eBay ad): "BRAND NEW, coming from unsold dealer stock. It has remained in the collection of a former Guild sales rep for the past 30 years! The low serial number indicates that this example was among the first Pilots produced."
I keep looking for other Ash bodies like this, and haven't seen any. Anyone have info on how the plain Ash bass was an option? I almost instead grabbed a beautiful 92 Orange Flame no pickguard P/J but this one seemed like a better deal.
I've not played a fretless on a maple fingerboard before, only ebony (preference) and rosewood (settle), so I'm curious about the sound, but I couldn't pass up this offer.
All of the pictures the seller posted on eBay shows the bass & case in pristine condition.
What sayeth the Guild Pilot Community? This is my first GP. I bought it because of all of the wow & flutter I read on this forum!
Also, from what I've read, it sounds like this year/model retailed at $800-1000 depending on features. Can anyone confirm/deny this for me?
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
That's a beautiful Pilot. I wanted to bid on it but with the oncoming of Christmas couldn't justify spending the money. The ash bodies were very rare as is the lined fretless. There is a major difference between the "Pickguard" Pilots and the later Pilots. If you look at photos you'll see that they reversed the "P" pick-ups after they abandoned the pickguard. The "Pickguard" Pilots have a lot more high and low end with less mids because of the pick-up arrangement. I can check the original cost later when I get home.Hello, (now) Fellow Pilots! I'd like to join. I'll take any #.
1983 Guild SB-602 Pilot Bass Fretless Lined - SN BE100152
Monday I'll receive in the mail (eBay ad): "BRAND NEW, coming from unsold dealer stock. It has remained in the collection of a former Guild sales rep for the past 30 years! The low serial number indicates that this example was among the first Pilots produced."
I keep looking for other Ash bodies like this, and haven't seen any. Anyone have info on how the plain Ash bass was an option? I almost instead grabbed a beautiful 92 Orange Flame no pickguard P/J but this one seemed like a better deal.
I've not played a fretless on a maple fingerboard before, only ebony (preference) and rosewood (settle), so I'm curious about the sound, but I couldn't pass up this offer.
All of the pictures the seller posted on eBay shows the bass & case in pristine condition.
What sayeth the Guild Pilot Community? This is my first GP. I bought it because of all of the wow & flutter I read on this forum!
Also, from what I've read, it sounds like this year/model retailed at $800-1000 depending on features. Can anyone confirm/deny this for me?
Glad a fellow TB'r got it, I hope you enjoy it!
Here are some of my Pilots:
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
I have an '86 Pilot with factory Kahler that I've had since the early 90's. I recently switched to flats and have been working on the set-up. I've got the neck dialed and it will clearly take a lower set-up, however, the G-string bottoms on the saddle hardware that is in front of the roller (not sure if you call that a saddle but it is in front of the roller and is where you adjust the string height). Years ago I think I shimmed the heal of the neck and I may just need to add a bit to the shim. Before I did that, I wanted to check to see if anyone else has encountered this and has a better solution. Seems like another approach would be to slightly route the bridge deeper in the body but that seems like a lot more work. Suggestions?
. . OK, took it apart and found that I had 1 small strip of card-stock as a shim. Added 2 more layers and that took care of it. Seems like a lot of shim when you look closely at the neck joint but not noticeable at all when playing. What is noticeable is how much better it plays now!
Update: loving my 83 Pilot. It is slowly inching toward my #1 spot because of the non existent weight and smooth playability. If it only were 35" scale, passive, and had a low B! I actually used it for my entire last gig until the last song called for a B and my POG was making weird noises. This Candy Store in NJ has what looks like its brother, except this one is rosewood (please don't be ebony or I'm making a 700 mi road trip) and fretted and mine is maple FB and fretless.
http://www.newjerseyguitarandbasscenter.com/Basses.htm
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e176/njgtrbass/6-20-09/01-564.jpg
http://www.newjerseyguitarandbasscenter.com/Basses.htm
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e176/njgtrbass/6-20-09/01-564.jpg
jako, it will be rosewood, but it is much too expensive, esp. without hsc. streetprice should be half of it.
Krysh, I agree that their price is too steep. Mine at about 650 was worth it to me b/c it was NOS. Thanks for chiming in. The FB looked so dark I had thought it might be ebony, figured rosewood.
Yes, that' '83 is definitely rw. I've seen it in person. I don't believe it is on his wall any longer because of some wiring issues. Either one of the pots or pickups, I forget which. Not that it couldn't be fixed, but it would require some work before it is playable.
That amber burst '88 below it would already be mine if the price was better. IIRC, I pm'd local TBer & Guild-guru nalipat (sp?) a few years ago about the Pilot collection in this store, and he said they should be several hundred lower. The neck on the amber burst one is shimmed w/ a business card, not that that's any deal breaker. I get the "sense" that the original owner(s) played it a lot in smoky bars, too!
That amber burst '88 below it would already be mine if the price was better. IIRC, I pm'd local TBer & Guild-guru nalipat (sp?) a few years ago about the Pilot collection in this store, and he said they should be several hundred lower. The neck on the amber burst one is shimmed w/ a business card, not that that's any deal breaker. I get the "sense" that the original owner(s) played it a lot in smoky bars, too!
Hello, Guild Pilot Club - if there still is such a thing. Last year, I bought an active DeArmond Pilot that needed a little work for dirt cheap...put it in a corner till last month, when I got around to looking at it, and fixed the wiring in about 10 minutes...I liked it so much, I found a Guild Pilot online and bought it. Then a week ago, I found a Guild Pilot Fretless in Royal Blue, and bought that, too. Turns out both the Guilds are from 1987, only 118 serial numbers apart, both made in Rhode Island. Here's the first one I bought about 3 weeks ago basic black...
And the Royal Blue Fretless that just came yesterday...
I started playing bass in 1962, and in bar bands at age 15 in '63. I used an original Danelectro Longhorn for about 12 years, then bought a new re-issue Fender Telecaster bass, which I had for a few more years. Around 1990, I recorded a radio commercial using an Aria Pro II with a J/P pickup set up that I liked very much, and about 1995,my wife bought me a beat up US made Peavey Foundation in a pawn shop that cleaned up into a gem...These Pilots are better than anything I have ever played, comfortable and great players!
Both of these combined cost me around $600, which IMO is a steal...and the fretless came with a Coffin hard case, too.
ADDED - If there still is a Pilot Club, I would like a number, please...and I am going to sell the DeArmond Active Pilot I bought last winter. Works perfectly, but missing several of the chrome dome top knobs that I replaced with Gibson-type speed knobs. It is set up and intonated, and a great player, but I have over 50 guitars and basses and no more room...
Here's a pic of the DeArmond Pilot...
I see the numbers are self serve, so I'm #47 - unless someone else has that.
The DeArmond Pilot active bass is not bad, but the Guild pilot shades any Fender I have ever played-and I started in 1962.
And the Royal Blue Fretless that just came yesterday...
I started playing bass in 1962, and in bar bands at age 15 in '63. I used an original Danelectro Longhorn for about 12 years, then bought a new re-issue Fender Telecaster bass, which I had for a few more years. Around 1990, I recorded a radio commercial using an Aria Pro II with a J/P pickup set up that I liked very much, and about 1995,my wife bought me a beat up US made Peavey Foundation in a pawn shop that cleaned up into a gem...These Pilots are better than anything I have ever played, comfortable and great players!
Both of these combined cost me around $600, which IMO is a steal...and the fretless came with a Coffin hard case, too.
ADDED - If there still is a Pilot Club, I would like a number, please...and I am going to sell the DeArmond Active Pilot I bought last winter. Works perfectly, but missing several of the chrome dome top knobs that I replaced with Gibson-type speed knobs. It is set up and intonated, and a great player, but I have over 50 guitars and basses and no more room...
Here's a pic of the DeArmond Pilot...
I see the numbers are self serve, so I'm #47 - unless someone else has that.
The DeArmond Pilot active bass is not bad, but the Guild pilot shades any Fender I have ever played-and I started in 1962.
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congrats, nice collection. how would you describe the sound differences between the 302, 202 and the 602's?
Well, there's no real difference in sound between the 302 and 202. However, the 202 weighs a TON compare to the 302 being more light weight. With the 602's, they are like wearing a feather, I like to consider them my IBANEZ, I would never buy a non-American bass. The pilots are my answer to that, they play INCREDIBLE and sound is pretty good too.
Hello, new member here. I'm not a bass player, just a half-fast guitar player. I want to buy a bass for recording, and I found a Guild Pilot that I would like to find out more about. I have searched for Guild serial numbers, but I can't find anything for Pilots, or for basses in particular for that matter. The serial number on the bass is JE000049 and it says Made in USA. (Could be JF, but I'm pretty sure it's JE.) Does anyone here know where I can find more info?
Thanks
Thanks
That is the left handed advanced pilot that has been on ebay. Flame maple body. Ebony board. Mother of pearl and abalone inlays.
Nice bass.
Nice bass.
Ah! You gave me away. Do you know how I can find the year of manufacture, or any other info? I have heard good things about these basses, and I hope to get it for a pretty good price. I don't know much about the pickups. At first I thought they were active, but after looking at their site I'm thinking they are not. I'd really like to get this one.
