The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: Pilgrim on July 13, 2016, 04:18:30 PM

Title: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: Pilgrim on July 13, 2016, 04:18:30 PM

It shore is kinda purdy....but shows a fair amount of wear, although not beat.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1974-GUILD-M-85-II-2-BLACK-LES-PAUL-KAY-J-P-BASS-HARMONY-H-22-MOJO-/302013539881?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

Are those bridge saddles original? One appears to be split in half.  Fair amount of finish checking, too.

I don't follow prices for these but it seems to be priced at least 3X what it should be.

Title: Re: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: Basvarken on July 13, 2016, 04:44:18 PM

Saddles look original. But hey, they're really easy to replicate. All you need is a little bit of rosewood and some handtools.

E saddle is damaged, yes.

Price is about right. I've seen these go for more actually. Even with finish checking and all.

I had one. And I was disappointed by it. So I sold it after a while.

Title: Re: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: Happy Face on July 13, 2016, 04:52:33 PM

If it was the semi-hollow version with original Bisonic pickups the price would be reasonable.

For the solidbody with Guild hummers, it's maybe twice valued.

Just the opinion of one who over-paid but loves the former version.

Title: Re: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: Dave W on July 13, 2016, 10:55:55 PM

The saddles appear to be originals.

This same bass (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1974-Guild-M-85-II-Bluesbird-Songbird-Bass-Guitar-Worn-Cool-/222092629668?hash=item33b5c096a4%3Ag%3A4TwAAOSwD2pXF4WG&nma=true&si=%252BPHH8ghWXiqsq14Q1aY%252FzD5AV%252BQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557) sold in May for $1489.95

Only other one in the recently sold listings, also a '74, went for $1179 in May.

Title: Re: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: Alanko on July 14, 2016, 03:08:39 AM

I played a similar instrument in London last year, but it was fully (?) hollow and was as deep as an ES-175. It had one Bisonic and one Guild humbucker. It had a push-switch that cut either all the highs or all the lows from the Bisonic, but the bridge humbucker was where it was at! Quite a strong, spanky attack and little sustain. In the higher register it sounded like a banjo.

Title: Re: 1974 Guild M85 II - pretty but overpriced
Post by: dadagoboi on July 14, 2016, 05:53:59 AM

Mine, a '75, cost less than half that price about a year ago on Ebay.  Bill bought a '78 for a few hundred more around the same time on Reverb.  His was natural finish.

(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Guild/P1080518PP_zpst58qjgvf.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/Guild/P1080518PP_zpst58qjgvf.jpg.html)

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=9529.0

Replacing saddles was easy, Rob sent me two sticks of rosewood already profiled.  You have to slot the bridge plate longer to get the E and A strings to intonate.  Guild must have been following Gibson's lead when it came to the importance of bass intonation.  Starfires have the same problem.