Guild Pilot bass club?

[58kites]

Some Guild headstock shapes appeal to me more than others.
I very much like some of the Peavey headstocks, a few model years, not as much.
I like Fender headstocks.
I like some Yamaha headstocks, the BB Series and the Attitude headstocks look good.
I like EBMM Stingray headstocks.

The cut up Guild looks sort of like the Yamaha Attitude headstock.

 

[EWH]

Some Guild headstock shapes appeal to me more than others.
I very like some of the Peavey headstocks, a few years not as much.
I like Fender headstocks.
I like some Yamaha headstocks.
I like EBMM Stingray headstocks.

The cut up Guild looks sort of like the Yamaha Attitude headstock.

View attachment 4862699

Yes, it sure does look like this headstock was the inspiration for the cut...

 

[59jazz]

I've been reading up on the history of the Pilot bass, and am wondering why I don't have one in my small collection. Seems to be plenty of decent examples listed on REVERB, and their pricing seems a bit high to me? I'm thinking a "foot" or "cake knife" headstock, rosewood fretboard & Meuller bridged equipped bass would be ideal for me. IYO, what would be a fair price for one with an oem case/
Thanks much!

 

[EWH]

I've been reading up on the history of the Pilot bass, and am wondering why I don't have one in my small collection. Seems to be plenty of decent examples listed on REVERB, and their pricing seems a bit high to me? I'm thinking a "foot" or "cake knife" headstock, rosewood fretboard & Meuller bridged equipped bass would be ideal for me. IYO, what would be a fair price for one with an oem case/
Thanks much!

Hi 59jazz...

You are in the United States - where dream Pilots fall out of the sky at you, monthly - for "free" when considering what we Europeans are forced to pay for them...

Here's a quick guide for you when buying within the US:

- Very Good to Mint condition Pilot with 2-piece solid flame/quilt/birdseye maple body/translucent color scheme, WITH original hardshell case, including shipping "within lower 48": 700-1000.USD depending on model (SB-602M "standard" or SB-902 "Advanced")

- Very Good to Mint condition Pilot with poplar body/solid color scheme WITH original hardshell case, including shipping "within lower 48": 500-800.USD.

Feel free to PM me if you need/want any further advice on any evt. Pilot purchase - I'm a European Pilot collector with 10 Pilots, so I'm confident that I know what I'm talking about...

And, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 to you and everyone else who reads this reply...!!! I wish you all a very happy and very prosperous New Year...

 

[InkCow]

I don’t think you’re going to easily find a sub $600 Pilot unless it’s a DeArmond. Maybe someone that doesn’t know what they’ve got. They’re old and not terribly common and Mueller bridge Pilots are even rarer.

 

[EWH]

I don’t think you’re going to easily find a sub $600 Pilot unless it’s a DeArmond. Maybe someone that doesn’t know what they’ve got. They’re old and not terribly common and Mueller bridge Pilots are even rarer.

59jazz...
Try to steer clear of DeArmond "Pilots" - they might look similar to a Guild Pilot but they are most definately NOT the same bass.

InkCow...
The Mueller bridge is, in my experience, OEM on all "cakeknife" headstock Pilots as a rule of thumb. The Schaller bridge, on the other hand, seems to be on all of the "foot" headstock Pilots as well as the '93 & '94 Pro 4 and Pro 5 Pilots...

Certainly there will be exceptions here and there due to Schaller/Mueller stock availability back then, but the "rules of thumb" are accurate enough...

 

[InkCow]

59jazz...
Try to steer clear of DeArmond "Pilots" - they might look similar to a Guild Pilot but they are most definately NOT the same bass.

InkCow...
The Mueller bridge is, in my experience, OEM on all "cakeknife" headstock Pilots as a rule of thumb. The Schaller bridge, on the other hand, seems to be on all of the "foot" headstock Pilots as well as the '93 & '94 Pro 4 and Pro 5 Pilots...

Certainly there will be exceptions here and there due to Schaller/Mueller stock availability back then, but the "rules of thumb" are accurate enough...

I stand corrected then! I’ve never actually seen one with a Mueller bridge in person, but then again I’ve seen very few in person at all.

 

[FRoss6788]

59jazz...
Try to steer clear of DeArmond "Pilots" - they might look similar to a Guild Pilot but they are most definately NOT the same bass.

InkCow...
The Mueller bridge is, in my experience, OEM on all "cakeknife" headstock Pilots as a rule of thumb. The Schaller bridge, on the other hand, seems to be on all of the "foot" headstock Pilots as well as the '93 & '94 Pro 4 and Pro 5 Pilots...

Certainly there will be exceptions here and there due to Schaller/Mueller stock availability back then, but the "rules of thumb" are accurate enough...

I don't know...

I've a Cakeknife and a Foot and they're sportin' the same bridge....

Great basses!

 

[59jazz]

59jazz...
Try to steer clear of DeArmond "Pilots" - they might look similar to a Guild Pilot but they are most definately NOT the same bass.

InkCow...
The Mueller bridge is, in my experience, OEM on all "cakeknife" headstock Pilots as a rule of thumb. The Schaller bridge, on the other hand, seems to be on all of the "foot" headstock Pilots as well as the '93 & '94 Pro 4 and Pro 5 Pilots...

Certainly there will be exceptions here and there due to Schaller/Mueller stock availability back then, but the "rules of thumb" are accurate enough...

Not try....."DO" stay away from the DeArmond's.....Had one many years ago.

 

[58kites]

Hi 59jazz...

You are in the United States - where dream Pilots fall out of the sky at you, monthly - for "free" when considering what we Europeans are forced to pay for them...

Here's a quick guide for you when buying within the US:

- Very Good to Mint condition Pilot with 2-piece solid flame/quilt/birdseye maple body/translucent color scheme, WITH original hardshell case, including shipping "within lower 48": 700-1000.USD depending on model (SB-602M "standard" or SB-902 "Advanced")

- Very Good to Mint condition Pilot with poplar body/solid color scheme WITH original hardshell case, including shipping "within lower 48": 500-800.USD.

Feel free to PM me if you need/want any further advice on any evt. Pilot purchase - I'm a European Pilot collector with 10 Pilots, so I'm confident that I know what I'm talking about...

And, HAPPY NEW YEAR 2023 to you and everyone else who reads this reply...!!! I wish you all a very happy and very prosperous New Year...

Happy New Year to you, my friend.

 

[InkCow]

I don't know...

I've a Cakeknife and a Foot and they're sportin' the same bridge....

Great basses!

My cake knife came with a Schaller. It’s sporting a non-original Kramer branded Schaller now, but it originally had a Guild branded one.

 

[58kites]

My 1985 foot headstock Pilot had the Schaller roller bridge on it.

 

[EWH]

I don't know...

I've a Cakeknife and a Foot and they're sportin' the same bridge....

Great basses!

I wonder if there wasn't a material "crossover period" during the shift from Schaller bridge/foot headstock Pilots to the Mueller bridge/cakeknife headstocks - the early cakeknives getting the last remaining Schallers until stock was depleted before the Muellers started going on...

There are other ecplainations and possibilties as well - running out of Mueller bridge stock during cakeknife Pilot production and using a batch of Schallers until new Mueller stock arrived being but one...

I have 6 cakeknife headstock Pilots - all 6 have Mueller bridges. I have 2 foot headstock Pilots - both have Schaller bridges...

In any case, BOTH bridges are incredible. To this day I ask for Schallers to be put on my Custom Shop builds - it's my "go to" bridge. The Muellers are unfortunately no longer produced, to my knowledge.

 

[EWH]

My 1985 foot headstock Pilot had the Schaller roller bridge on it.

It still does...

 

[EWH]

I don't know...

I've a Cakeknife and a Foot and they're sportin' the same bridge....

Great basses!

Let's see them, FRoss6788 - time to take your first new fotos of 2023...

 

[59jazz]

Found a Pilot SB-605 for $200 on the Musicgoround website. It has a twisted neck (which I can easily fix) Just don't need another 5'r in the house. If it were a 4 string I'd be all over it. If any of you have one in need of ANY kind of neck repair & would like to sell it, I'd be very interested.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[deepender]

Let's see them, FRoss6788 - time to take your first new fotos of 2023...

I’ll try to snap some shots tomorrow.

 

[Iridescentone]

This Pilot had a cake knife headstock, though I can't find the pic. I think it was their best looking headstock.

 

[EWH]

This Pilot had a cake knife headstock, though I can't find the pic. I think it was their best looking headstock.

View attachment 4921371

Hi Templar...

The Pilot in your foto is a Pro 5 model - it should have a headstock like mine below and not a cakeknife - unless someone exchanged it's original neck for a neck from an earlier model 5 string Pilot...

 

[EWH]

Count me in!

View attachment 1220912

Happy New Year, @tombowlus...!!!

As the owner of one of my Holy Grail Pilots (which I daydream of owning myself one day), would you mind taking some new, 2023 hi-res fotos of it to share with us...?

And, I know you're not interested in selling it (sadly, it's not on your blog's mountain of "gear for sale"...yet...) BUT, if you ever do want to pass it on, PLEASE contact me and let me have an opportunity to convince you why I should be it's new caretaker, I beg you...