Product: Guild B301A-F
Price Paid: US $380.00 used
Submitted
02/16/2006
at
12:58pm
by
Joe
Email: joeinpocono at aol<dot>com
Features
:
9
This is a somewhat rare fretless 4 string single pickup made in America early '80's. I love the body style, longer upper bout and a short lower bout nice and lightweight with a tobacco sunburst and the woodgrain really comes through nicely. I believe the "A" in the model # stands for ash body.
It has a single passive pickup with a simple V & T control. The 34" neck 1 9/16" nut and seems to be dovetailed and glued into the body without a neck plate. It has no fretlines just side markers and is a dark rosewood (I think) fingerboard with solid made Schaller tuners.
The bridge is a 3 point system similar to a Gibson with lots of adjustment for setting string height, side to side string spacing and intonation.
Sound
:
10
WOW! What a sound. The tone pot provides a wide dynamic range from brilliant to dark. Lots of attack and sustain. The controls are very quiet. I have a 9 band EQ on my amp and find this bass is very controllable without having to go back and forth to tweek the amp settings.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Nice low action and very adjustable for any style. Overall the finish, chrome and materials are top notch. I really don't know how it came from the factory. But, I understand the Guild folks were the best craftsman. It has held up quite nicely for a 25 year old intrument.
I wish I knew more about the Guild history prior to Fender buying them out.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
real solid hardware and the finish has a few nicks and marks from all the years. Not the fault of the original finish. Play this baby all day long.....
Customer Support
:
5
I won't and don't need them as the warranty is obviously long gone. But, where are they now????
Overall Rating
:
10
I have and play many other types of basses (Tele '72, Martin EB-18, Peavey T45, Fender active PJ, Sigma A/E and a few customs). This Guild 301 is one of my favorites for sure.
