Guild Advance Pilot Bass B-902

I bought this new in 1990 in Florida for dealer cost as the music store was going out of business. It's beautiful. Manufactured in Westerly, Rhode Island, USA, in the late 80's (1989?), it has 22 frets , a 34" scale, 4 strings, 2 active bartolini pickups (p/j setup), 2 band (bass/treble) bartolini preamp with individual volume controls
(4 knurled black anodized knobs). The reversed offset jazz bass-like body is a solid, almost bookmatched, 2 piece maple block with a heavy "maple flame" (some call it "tiger striped") wood grain pattern throughout (front & back). The finish is translucent charcoal, clearcoated with nitrocellulose lacquer. The neck (I believe it's a 16" radius)is natural, fine grained maple with a huge, offset, 4-on-a-side headstock. The melamite nut is about an inch and a half wide, a very comfortable width. The fretboard is fine dark ebony with ivory binding. The position markers are the traditional Guild trapezoid mother-of-pearl with the top center inverted abalone triangle insert (a la their highly prized Artist jazz guitars). The bridge is a black anodized Mueller unit, very similar to a Schaller unit. The tuners are black anodized Grovers. It came with a Guild hardshell case and adjustment hex allen wrenches. Only 195 of these were made. The serial # starts with a "JE" on these basses.

The perfect rock/metal bass. With Rotosound 45-65-85-105's, it's maple w/ebony wood construction, 2 band preamped Bartolini's and that massive sustain-loving headstock this bass rolls out that thick, deep piano bass sound. Exploring tonality via the volume controls reveals many viable tone notches. Excellent. You want that raspy, bright grind sound, it's there. Barn rattling boom? Crank on the bass gain. I A-B compared it to a 5 string Pedulla w/bartolini's when I bought it, the Pilot won hands down.
This bass needs no effects. With my Sunn Coliseum 300 Bass amp w/215 cab bi-amped over to my Sunn Concert Lead w/412LH cab the FEMA disaster crew shows up. WHERE"S THE ******* EARTHQUAKE?
I've used this Pilot as a studio bass as well as a live performance bass.

Sorry. This Pilot lost it's virgin factory tuning & set-up years ago. I do my own set-up to my personal preferences. Set the string height (low), adjust the truss rod tension, set pick-up height(1/8" clearance), and reset string intonation with every new string changeout. Periodically (once a year)change the 9 volt battery by removing the contol cavity cover and rewrwap it in foam.
On this particular Pilot bass, I usually have to reset the truss rod tension every spring & fall. I think that has more to do with living in New England, as I have to do this also to my Guild S300D 6 string electric guitar, which is of an all mahogany, set neck construction.

This is a very reliable, excellent sounding bass for live or studio, however, seeing that it has such a beautiful finish, I'd be hesitant to take it on the road, as any instrument you take on the road is going to get beat. An ugly fact of being on the road. Also the Advance Pilots are rare (almost mythical according to one Vintage Guitar Magazine writer) and collectable. Why risk depreciating it? I suppose you can get Fender/Guild to custom build one still. Better have lotsa $$$$$.
As I previously mentioned, I adjust the truss rod usually every spring and fall, as I believe that's due to seasonal climatic change.

I've never had to deal with Guild when they were Guild, or present Fender/Guild. I do my own repairs and calibrations as required. I'm not sure if this Pilot had the old Guild Limited Lifetime Warranty or just one year. Something to investigate. Would Fender still honor it? Unknown.

I've been playing since the early 1970's. I own Sunn & Supro amps and Guild guitars and basses. Just about everyone who sees and plays this bass gets obsessed with it and tries to buy it. No Deal. The only basses I've heard that exceed this one are the newer Pedullas and my younger brother's old (70's) hot rodded Rickenbacker 4001. If lost or stolen the tiny alien device inside will activate and wipe out half the planet. Beware. The only thing I'd wish for is probably a half dozen more. Are you listening Fender??