1981 Guild B402-A

[neepheid]

Allow me to introduce the latest addition to my collection of "under-appreciated American basses of the 70s and 80s" - a 1981 Guild B402-A.  Please excuse the rather washed out looking mobile phone pics:





Here's one better colour from the auction (showing the original hard case):



I've always been intrigued by the Guild B300 series basses, I loved the quirky shape coupled with the traditional build touches like the set neck and 2 + 2 headstock.  However, I questioned the need in my collection for another passive, 20 fret, single coil bass (that base being covered very nicely by the Gibson G-3).  So it went on the "if I was loaded/bored" list.

That was until I discovered the B400 series.  Early active electronics, 22 fret nonsense anyone?  Yes please!  I realised that I had seen one before - one of the weird ones that they stained the front and back faces of the body and left the rest (including the contours) clear. 



I probably thought "Yuck!" and left it at that without even thinking.  Anyway, while doing my research I discovered that they were only made for 2 years (1980-81) and only 335 were made (assuming all serial numbers were allocated).  That's 335 total of single and double pickup varieties.  That's not a lot.  I didn't feel too hopeful.

So, imagine my surprise when one dutifully appears on eBay, right on cue.  I hummed and hawed for a day or so then decided to go for it.  You only live once and all that.

Well, I'm delighted with it.  Sounds great, feels great, looks weird - completely at home in my collection!

A couple of nights ago I did some cleaning - dismantled the tuners and cleaned them up, polished the brass nut and the frets.  I'll take some nicer pics with a proper camera soon.

Last night I put together some soundclips.  They're not very good (recorded direct into Audacity through an E-MU 0202 USB) but hopefully they show the tonal variety.

http://www.ifb.co.uk/~matthew/mp3/b402-a%20soundclips/

[SKATE RAT]

thats a nice bass ya got there. a B-301 is what i want the most (next to a "real" Ric)

[Pilgrim]

Nice bass, nice sound clips.  I really like [09-active-both-series-maxbass.mp3]

[gearHed289]

I've always had a thing for Guilds. Used to lust after a B-302. Played a couple of Pilots for a long time (still have my cherry/flamed 5 string). I have a '73 JS II, though I'm thinking of selling it. Untouched, though the black finish shows some honest play wear.

[Aussie Mark]

Looks and sounds great!  What other colours did they come in?

[neepheid]

Looks and sounds great!  What other colours did they come in?

I've only ever seen the 401/402 in natural or the weird half 'n' half.  Doesn't mean there weren't other options of course, but not as far as my knowledge goes.

[neepheid]

Seeing the recent thread about a Guild B301 made me remember that every story needs an ending.  I moved the B402-A on in the end.  What was an amazing sound on its own was very difficult to work in a live environment - that creamy, chorussy goodness just got lost, EQing only helped so much.

Yes, it's rare.  Yes, it probably would make a fine recording bass.  Trouble is I don't have the patience for the long game (and would fall foul of my wife's one rule about instruments - they are to be played - no stashing in cupboards) and I don't do much recording (I've only ever appeared on 5 proper studio recorded songs in my life).

I traded it for a G&L El Toro - another odd bod from the 80s.  The guy I traded with is delighted with the Guild, and I'm delighted with the El Toro.  No regrets, I'm glad I got to experience the Guild, and in the right band or the right environment it will shine.  But ultimately it wasn't for me.

Everyone lived happily ever after.  The end.

[4stringer77]

Ha! I traded a G&L in for the B-301, and I love the Guild way better! I feel like something got lost in translation from the 90's SB1 to the newer reissue. All those G&L lovers can't all be crazy could they?

[4stringer77]

Anybody looking for a 300 series Guild should check out Ludlow Guitars in NYC. I found his site when I was trying to find out if my bridge design was original and it is. Somehow this store always has some of these basses for sale. 

[Pilgrim]

Anybody looking for a 300 series Guild should check out Ludlow Guitars in NYC. I found his site when I was trying to find out if my bridge design was original and it is. Somehow this store always has some of these basses for sale. 

Dang!! Four 301's currently available!

[4stringer77]

The one with the badass bridge is a 302. The cherry one looks sweet.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Look at their in-house T-turd.

[Pilgrim]

I think it's cool.  Kind of a blend of a T-Bird and a BillyBo.

It also shows how a cleverly styled pickguard can really point up a bass.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Four grand for a set-neck Precision with a Dimarzio neck 'bucker is absurd.

[Barklessdog]

i owned/ bought  a new guild 302 fretless with a mahogany body when they came out. it was the deadest sounding bass I ever owned. I hated it and could never get any high end or sustain from it. I traded it in for a Gizmotron when they came out. i have read the same response from others that have owned one as well.

Partially the reason I did not like the Guild was my other bass was my RD Artist- so going from that to the Guild is like comparing apples to oranges.