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The way the truss rod route is done in the Pilot headstock you can't use a 1/4" Nutdriver because you can't get it it the slot and on the nut. What you need to use is a 1/4" box wrench like this:
There is enough clearance below the truss rod nut to allow you to slide the box wrench over the end of the nut. The length of the wrench provides a lot of leverage so you don't need to lean on it very much!
There is enough clearance below the truss rod nut to allow you to slide the box wrench over the end of the nut. The length of the wrench provides a lot of leverage so you don't need to lean on it very much!
I actually used a 1/4" box end wrench and it worked perfectly. Thanks for the info and suggestions everyone!
It plays great now, super low action and just a touch of grit when I dig in.
Can't say I've ever seen a recessed truss nut on a Pilot and I'm not sure how you can fit such a long socket in the slot. The way the truss rod nut slot is milled it has "vertical" walls so you can't get a wrench in at an angle.
Just loosen the one string, move it out of the way and slide the box wrench on the nut!
I got a truss rod wrench about 20 years ago that works fine on Pilots. The socket part isn't as long as the one in RyanOh's photo. The box wrench works, but was a pain to use on my Pilot Pro.
Yeah you're right, wrong Guild club.
My SB-202. The tilt back headstock is perfect for a shafted nut driver, but I was able to use it on the Pilots too. I just bought my first Pilot late last year, I love them!!
My SB-202. The tilt back headstock is perfect for a shafted nut driver, but I was able to use it on the Pilots too. I just bought my first Pilot late last year, I love them!!
Wouldn’t the shape of the headstock also determine what you use to adjust the truss rod? I know there are a few different headstock shapes on Pilots. I just had my bass teacher do a deep clean on my Pilot. I believe it was originally red, since there was a bit of red paint on the pickups.
By the way, the headstock on mine is the same as Flashback Bass’s. I like the foot shape the best.
By the way, the headstock on mine is the same as Flashback Bass’s. I like the foot shape the best.
Since all of the Pilots have a "flat" headstock (as opposed to angled back), regardless of the shape, they all have the same truss rod nut arrangement.
Hey Everyone. Throwing out some pictures of my Guild because I feel like it needs to be documented somewhere. I assume it's a custom paint job... people did crazy stuff in the 80s. Bought it used in Boulder, CO in 1999. Still sounds phenomenal... except for a buzz in the A string I can't track down. The pickups don't register the buzz though, so only I can hear it 
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Hey Everyone. Throwing out some pictures of my Guild because I feel like it needs to be documented somewhere. I assume it's a custom paint job... people did crazy stuff in the 80s. Bought it used in Boulder, CO in 1999. Still sounds phenomenal... except for a buzz in the A string I can't track down. The pickups don't register the buzz though, so only I can hear it
That Pilot is incredible - congratulations with it...
The nut actually isn't brass. It's the same faded white of the body. I've always speculated that nut is the source of the odd A string buzz...
Here's a couple of Pilots you don't see every day!
1985 SB-603: (One EMG pick-up)
1985 SB-602-NT: (Natural finish Poplar!)
1985 SB-603: (One EMG pick-up)
1985 SB-602-NT: (Natural finish Poplar!)
Here's a couple of Pilots you don't see every day!
1985 SB-603: (One EMG pick-up)
1985 SB-602-NT: (Natural finish Poplar!)
That's for sure...!
That's a stunnerHere's a couple of Pilots you don't see every day!
1985 SB-603: (One EMG pick-up)
1985 SB-602-NT: (Natural finish Poplar!)
