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Guild Pilot bass question

lowendblues

lowendblues

Supporting Member
Oct 8, 2004
3,485
4,731
Ohio
#1
A friend of mine just picked up one of these from the early eighties, and I'm trying to gather some info on it for him. All I know for now is that is an early '80s bass, bolt on neck, grover tuners, figured maple top, stock EMG's in a P/J config,, what sounds like a Schaller roller bridge, with a 'burst finish. And he say's it comes in a really plush brown case with gold trim.

I will have some pics just as soon as he gets them to me. I'm looking for model, year and value. If its really nice I might make him an offer,, or if anyone out there is looking for one,, I might be able to pass it along...:)

I'll get those pics up just as soon as possible, any info would be appreciated.
 
#3
Sorry for the quality,, but this is all I got, I'm awaiting the serial number.

Larrysguild.gif


LarrrysguildII.gif
 
#6
I own 3 Pilots. They're great basses: fast, comfortable necks, quality hardware, and great sound. I would go to the Guild Pilot thread here on TB to verify this, but judging from the headstock, the bass is a late 80's SB-602. The P/J pickups make it a 602 and the headstock, not being totally paddle-like or hockey stick-like, places it in the late 80's. As far as value goes, both of my SB-602's were around $300 (one with the OHSC, one without). My 90's PRO 4, which is a step up as far as quality goes, was $500 with the OHSC. Prices could very well have changed since I bought mine, though.
 
#7
The brother of the drummer in my last band had one of these, though it was all black. The brother pulled it out of storage last year and shipped it out to the drummer. I had it set up for him and checked it out with new strings and fairly low action.

I thought it sounded okay (though a little rubber-bandy for my taste) and played nicely. Bonus points for being fairly light. Decent bass. The drummer owns a recording studio and the Pilot is his house bass now (if someone needs a bass for whatever reason and doesn't have one).
 
#11
If you can find one, I'd recommend a Guild Advanced Pilot, which was the upgraded model. It had Bartolini P/J pickups, a Bartolini preamp (TBT, I believe) and pearl blocks on the fretboard.

I owned one for quite a while, but eventually traded it for my first Ernie Ball MusicMan Sabre.


Correction: Actually, the preamp was a Bartolini TCT, not a TBT.
 
#12
When I was at GC at the end of August, the sales guy enticed me to look at a used bass which he felt was the best deal in the room. It turned out to be a 1994 (last year made) USA Guild Pilot Pro for $99.99. I bought it on the spot and was so taken by it that I soon got a line on a 1984 fretless. I just got the fretless this week. The Pilots really speak to me. i like their quartersawn necks (which provide noticeably better stability), tone woods (the Pilot Pro has a mahogany body), active pickups (great singing clarity), shape and sculpting of the body (more ergonomic than standard shapes). The body balances and nestles against my body better than any other bass I've strapped on.

I was always a G&L guy and have two G&L basses; I used to own a third and have owned five of their guitars as well, all USA. G&Ls are great basses, but the Guild Pilots are such a good fit for me I could probably dispense with my G&Ls and not notice. The Pilots are exquisite.
 
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#14
They were 34" scale, just the DeArmonds were 35' like you thought . Here is a pic of the one I had a few years ago . It came with EMGs but I had put Ultra jazzes in it when I took this picture . Great playing basses and very well built . Solid flame maple body and a detuner on the B string .
GuilgPilot.jpg

I bought this one for $250 at the local Music Go Round just after they bought it from someone before they marked it up , best bass buy I ever did .
 
#15
$99 for a Pilot Pro is amazing. I don't regret any of the $500 I spent on mine. I feel the same way about Pilots, JohnnyB53. 4 Years ago I got an SB-602 as a replacement for a bass with a cracked headstock, and now they're the only basses I own.
 
#16
These were pretty nice basses. Modern sounding. Sleek neck. American made at the time. I owned one of these in the late 80's. The one shown in the photo is a bit odd in that it has 3 knobs, I have seen them with 4 knobs, active bass and treble, vol, vol., active EMG system. I assume the one in the photo is passive.

At any rate, depending on condition $200 -$250 should be about right. You will be getting a bass that is much better than that price suggests. These basses just did not hold any resale value.
 
#17
I played these in the late 80's early 90's as well. and had a blue 4 string and a natural fretless 5. They were very nice bar band basses, versatile, easy to play - all good stuff :) I was under the impression though that they now sold in the $300-$500 range mostly.
 
#19
In the mid 90's I had one exactly like that one in the OP's photo. The EMG's are active pickups and the bass was well made and very playable but I didn't like the tone at all. I bought it used and sold it for the same amount, around $400. If you like the sound it's a good value at that price.
 
#20
Pilots were available with passive pickups or with active ones. Most were ordered by dealers with active ones. The most common configuration was active PUPS feeding a passive VVT control circuit. The Pro and Advanced models had an active EQ as well, with four knobs- a volume control for each PUP and boost/cut bass and treble controls.

John
 

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