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Guild Pilot bass question
- Thread starter lowendblues
- Start date
I bought a pilot in 1986. I was playing a 70's jazz 5 nights a week in small, smokey night clubs. My shoulder was in pain from the weight of the jazz. The pilot was purchased as an alternative to the weight of the jazz. Never expected it would become my ace bass. But it did. I fell in love with the sound and the playability. And no more shoulder problems.
If you can buy one of these basses for $300 do it fast. $99.00 for a Guild pilot is absolutely insane.
If you can buy one of these basses for $300 do it fast. $99.00 for a Guild pilot is absolutely insane.
Never owned one, but I can tell you in the mid to late eighties, virtually every bass player in Nashville was playing a Pilot. I tried one while i was there, and really liked the feel.I have a Pilot that I bought in 1987 I'm pretty sure its a 602 B the serial is BE102657 any info would be appreciated
like actual build year and current value or even cool story about other pilots Thanks in advance
For a few years Guild Basses were manufactured in Westerly RI. I was able to buy this one direct from them, it was my first 5 string. It's long since gone but she treated me well for many years. I didn't realize that they made a PJ model as well. Not sure what the value is today but I'm sure the sound and quailty make it a useable bass.
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My pilot has the P J setup emgs solid maple with maple neck and rosewood fretboard love this bass and continue to gig with it recently read about an 18 volt upgradeusing a 5 dollar wire I got on Ebay really brought up some headroom
through my old Acoustic 220 thanks for the feedback guys this site is great for getting quality info
through my old Acoustic 220 thanks for the feedback guys this site is great for getting quality info
Here's my $99 1994 Pilot Pro. It's one of my two favorite fretted basses (the other a Gretsch Electromatic G5123B hollowbody). It has active EMGs and a Mighty Mite active preamp with 2-band active EQ. It has a mahogany body, which sweetens up the sound and gives it a richer tone. The EMGs have an articulate singing voice. I've gotten compliments from crowd members when I play it at gigs. The reversed P/J pickup combo + active EQ gives it a wide range of tones in a well-balanced, lightweight body not burdened by a lot of knobs and switches.
Almost as good a deal is this 1984-ish fretless Pilot with P-style EMG active pickup. I got it for $200 including the case shown. It's cosmetically in better shape than the black one--metallic red and mostly free of dents and dings. The single pickup means less magnetic force and therefore unexpected sustain.
When I played this fretless at band practice (and I've played two other fretlesses with them) the flautist/backup singer flipped at how good it sounded. She said I sounded the most in-tune with the leader/guitarist that she'd ever heard. There's something about how the neck of this bass falls readily to hand and it's easy to intonate well on it. I'm really looking forward to gigging with this one. Although it has only one pickup, it sounds so good I hardly care. I can vary the tones with the tone control plus my picking position. E.g., if I want something more like a bridge pickup sound I just pluck closer to the bridge. When I want a fat and full sound I pluck between the pickup and the fingerboard.
I have GHS Pressurewound strings on the black Pilot Pro and roundwound NPS strings on the fretless. A couple days ago I did full setups on both including lessening the relief and they are both incredibly quick and playable. The quartersawn necks keep them more rigid and make it easier to have minimal relief and low action without buzz.
I can see why a Pilot fretless was the one current production bass (at the time) that Jaco played and endorsed. These things KICK ASS!
Nice basses, I like my 5 a lot. Still undervalued at about $400, in my opinion worth more. It's probably not a flamed maple top, more likely a solid flamed maple body (mine is). The exagerated body is slightly awkward, but overall a really comfortable, great sounding and playing bass. Enjoy.
- Jun 3, 2009
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- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
Guild is a brand that is often overlooked because basses were an afterthought for them. The most famous bass by Guild was of course the Starfire, having come to prominence with Jack Casady and Jefferson Airplane.
One of the few Made In America instruments that its value doesn't match what it should. Same with the Peavey T-40.
I have one of the early Pilot SB-602s, the ones with the pickguard, "foot" headstock and the normal P/J config. A year or two after this they moved to the reverse P-J config and eliminated the pickguard. The headstock on the bass on this post is called "cake cutter."
Guild, like most famous guitar brands, started in NYC, then moved to Weehawken NJ. The headquarters and most of the famous Guild acoustics were made in the NJ factory. Guild moved a majority of production to Westerly RI in the 70's, and kept the business office in Elizabeth, NJ.
Garry Tallent played an SB-602 for the entire year and a half Born in the USA tour. I forget the entire conversation, but I know that the weight of the Music Man Ray he played for the River tour was too much, especially given he played Danelectros for all the previous tours. The Pilot was a perfect compromise, being of a decent light weight but still having tone to kill.
I like my Pilot. I like its tone. It is versatile, and the neck is great.
Not sure why you can still find them for $500 or less. The pickups and electronics in them alone are worth $300.
One of the few Made In America instruments that its value doesn't match what it should. Same with the Peavey T-40.
I have one of the early Pilot SB-602s, the ones with the pickguard, "foot" headstock and the normal P/J config. A year or two after this they moved to the reverse P-J config and eliminated the pickguard. The headstock on the bass on this post is called "cake cutter."
Guild, like most famous guitar brands, started in NYC, then moved to Weehawken NJ. The headquarters and most of the famous Guild acoustics were made in the NJ factory. Guild moved a majority of production to Westerly RI in the 70's, and kept the business office in Elizabeth, NJ.
Garry Tallent played an SB-602 for the entire year and a half Born in the USA tour. I forget the entire conversation, but I know that the weight of the Music Man Ray he played for the River tour was too much, especially given he played Danelectros for all the previous tours. The Pilot was a perfect compromise, being of a decent light weight but still having tone to kill.
I like my Pilot. I like its tone. It is versatile, and the neck is great.
Not sure why you can still find them for $500 or less. The pickups and electronics in them alone are worth $300.
Picking at this older thread...I just bought a used older Guild Pilot bass, black, black hardware and the big fat canoe paddle headstock, in GREAT condition for $375. I have seen several beaters for under $400, but anything in decent shape is going for $500-$700 now...Guild was recently sold by Fender to an importer, so REAL Guild guitars are a memory.
FWIW, I have a DeArmond Pilot, MIK, that I just did a simple repair on and set up yesterday and it is a great player - for $100. I am so delighted with it, I wanted a US made Pilot and I was very happy to find this very nice one. Pics when I get it delivered.
Added: the one I just bought looks exactly like this one...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121344965300
So I assume it's a late '80's version...Jaco Pastorious played them? I'd expect them to sell for about a grand...????!!!???
FWIW, I have a DeArmond Pilot, MIK, that I just did a simple repair on and set up yesterday and it is a great player - for $100. I am so delighted with it, I wanted a US made Pilot and I was very happy to find this very nice one. Pics when I get it delivered.
Added: the one I just bought looks exactly like this one...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121344965300
So I assume it's a late '80's version...Jaco Pastorious played them? I'd expect them to sell for about a grand...????!!!???
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I have found a second Guild Pilot bass, this one in Royal Blue, fretless, made in 1987, same as my first Pilot... they are 118 serial numbers apart...Just got the fretless about an hour ago, and it looks great for a 27 year old bass. Beautiful rosewood on that neck, great balance and feel. This one came from out west, has a coffin hard case with it.
I guess I will be selling my DeArmond Pilot active bass now that I have 2 old original Guilds. Pics of both coming shortly - have to go through Photobucket.
I guess I will be selling my DeArmond Pilot active bass now that I have 2 old original Guilds. Pics of both coming shortly - have to go through Photobucket.
