Guild Pilot Bass 5-String

I'm not sure of the year. USA made, 22 Frets, Solid Top, 2 Volume, 1 Tone (Jazz Bass set up), 2 Active EMG Jazz pickups, Maple/Maple, Amber flame finish. Schaller tuners. 34" scale. This has one of the nicest necks I've ever felt. I'm not used to the 5 string yet.

The sound is wonderful. It requires very little eq. I use an Acoustic 120 head with a old Fender Showman (15" EV w/tone ring) cabinet. The bass is so much quieter than my Fender Precision Plus. Nice balanced sound. It has a somewhat limited range of sounds, w/only one tone knob, but walk over to your amp and change it! This sounds great.

The only noticeable flaw was that the neck had/has a big crack in it. I bought it knowing about it. It doesn't seem to affect the sound. Tremendous sustain for a wood bolt on neck, and NO dead spots, unlike every Fender I've ever had. The workmanship on the guitar is 1st rate for a factory item.

Really solid. It works great with cracked neck. What more could you ask?

Fender bought Guild, so there you go.

This one was made in 1993, I believe. In the USA, for sure. It has a very strange finish-wine red with an applique of some silver holographic material (think Visa card) sanded off in spots, then topcoated with clear. Though I bought this bass used, I'm sure this must be original, because the bass looks like it might have been played for about ten minutes before I acquired it. Probably scared guys off with the finish, which is wierd, but cool in a late-80's early-90's sort of way. I'm sure it's solid poplar, like most solid finished Pilots are. Basic Jazz bass configuation, two passive pickups, two volume contols, one tone. Massive brass(black anodized) bridge, Grover tuners, quarter-sawn bolt on maple neck with ebony fingerboard. 34" scale, 22-fret fast neck, fairly flat radius, beautiful wood with a slight flame in it. Very tight, straight grain.
Plays very well. Sort of a Jazz-style body, but sort of pulled on the top horn, like a parallelogram(sp?)that was flattened. Attractive, but a bit diffucult/precarious to stand up against anything. Should use a stand, anyway.

I play a variety of styles; R&B, funk, jazz, some rock, and some show work(Broadway-type). Very quiet, even with stage/show lights and the passive pickups-MUCH better than my Fender Jazz as far as noise rejection, and I've had the Fender shielded. Nothing not to like about this bass. I'd agree with the other guy about the sound-sounds like a modern Jazz bass, but with its own voice that's unique to Pilots( I have three, this one and 2-four strings). Not an overwhelming variety of sounds, but what's there is excellent. I normally use an Eden WT-400 with a Eden 210XLT cab- that setup works quite well. For portability I'm currently using a Hartke Kickback 15-not bad, but not great. The word "useable" comes to mind.

I bought this used so who knows how it was from the factory? But getting it going was certainly not a big issue-very adjustable to a variety of set up options. The fit and finish are very good. Subjectively, this bass is funny looking because of the aforementioned finish, but it's well-executed funny looking. Guild sort of had a renaissance with these basses, I think. Every one I've seen has been very well made, with good wood and good components.
Stupid good for the price they go for now. My score is in comparison
with other "production" instruments-it's really not fair to judge this bass against completely handmade instruments that cost many times as much. It's as well made and as well finished as any production instrument I've ever seen. The only issue I have about action is the fact that the B-string is a bit flabby due to the 34" scale-would be improved with a 35" scale. A bit flabby, but very useable.

This bass is as durable as a Fender, but I like it so well I won't subject it to any rough treatment. I don't play really hard-moderate would be me. I aspire to have finesse. The finish seems to be very durable, and if it ias anything like the 4-string Pilot I've had since '88, it is. Truss rod adjustment? Well, Guild uses their own system which involves using a 1/4" socket and a long extension, or a special wrench, which is sort of a pain, but the neck hols its shape quite well. But any serious bassist knows that an occasional truss rod tweak is part of the deal; weather, temperature, outdoor gigs, et al make things change. Backup? I don't need no stinking backup!! This thing is rock solid.

WHo knows? Nothing's wrong with it, and this baby was built before the Fender takeover. A local luthier does my work, anyway.

I've been playing music professionally for 28 years this year (2003), but I've been known as a sax/flute/clarinet player for most of that time. But I've been a "closet" guitar/bass player since 1978, so though I'm no newcommer to music, I'm a relative novice on bass. But I own six basses, three amp set ups, and I play in a show gig now twhere I play bass about half the night, five nights a week. So I've gone from the "closet" to regular gigging on bass in a helluva hurry.
Over the years I've played a lot of different instrument-a lot of Fenders, a few Hofners, Gibsons, Ibanez, Yamahas, an occasional Alembic, Pedulla, or Tobias, and several Mike Lulls. The Guild hangs out with the limited production instruments-there's no doubt you get what you pay for to a certain extent, but the Guild Pilot is a very good instrument. If it were stolen or destroyed, I' be very upset, and I'd try to find another one. But there are other things out there that are intruiging, and I'd probably spring for a Lull if I had the money-I like Mike's basses really well. But they start at about SIX TIMES the price I paid for this Pilot.

A 1988 Pilot bass. US Made , before Guild was aqquired by Fender . Basic J Bass set up . 2 volumes, 1 tone. EMG Pickups. Blue transparent finish over a nicely flamed maple body . Maple neck with a decent rosewood fretboard . 22 frets .( Yes , I can hit the high E!)
Thick brass bridge . Grover tuners . Fast neck, not clunky at all .
The frets feel clean , but since I got this bass after it used for 13 years I can't comment on the factory setup. A simple design with a nice voice . It came with a nice Guild hardshell case .

I love this thing . It kind of sounds like a modern Jazz Bass , of which I own 2 . Very clean sounding , with a nice low mid growl . Perfect for the type of msic I play , which is a sort of funk , fusion , prog rock mix. Cuts through decently , like a j bass . The B string feels a little flabby , which is to be expected on a 5 string with a 34" scale . It still keeps its definition in the upper positions , but a 35" or 36" scale would help . It doesn't have 20 different sounds , but its basic voice is versitile . It would fit in a variety of situations. Pretty J Bass like , A little brighter , which is probably due to the body wood.

Good finish , nice book-matched flame maple body . Mine is finished in transparent blue. Solid neck joint with a tight pocket . Clean
sounding . As this bass is from 1988 , I can't comment on factory set up . Pots are tight feeling , with a decent taper .

This bass is as rugged as a Fender . Has Grover tuners which stay in tune . Has solid brass bridge on the massive side . Good black finish on all hardware . Solid EMG pickups , no need for a back up (unless your 9 volt battery is old).

Have not dealt with them . Been bought by Fender since this sucker was built . This model has been discontinued , but is made by the D'Armond company now . I have tried one , but they've gotten great reviews .

I think it was a steal for $400 . It's a great US made bass. I would cry if it were stolen . If anyone out there has EMG pickups, you can modify them to 18 volts( which provides more headroom , a little cleaner sounding ) by adding another battery clip to the harness . There's plenty of room for it . On my Jazz Basses there isn't any room
for a second battery , unless you want to route out more space , which I wouldn't do .