Guild B-302 Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1978)
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Item # 12421
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Guild B-302 Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1978), Westerly, RI, serial # 189015.
This bass is a bit of a "dark horse" 1970s instrument, and not just because it is finished in ebony lacquer! After a period of creative lethargy in the early '70s Guild rose up and launched a series of highly original designs in the late '70s that deserved more recognition than they ever got from players at the time. The slightly axe-like body shape was an original look in an era of copies, and even if many players thought it ugly the look has a definite and distinctive panache all its own.
This dual pickup Guild B-302 (and its single pickup sibling the B-301) is a case in point, a very original and ergonomic bass design. The set-neck mahogany construction continues in the old Guild/Gibson tradition but elements of Fender (the 34" scale) and Rickenbacker (the pickup locations and wiring scheme) crept in as well. Still, the bass presents as an original, well-thought and very functional design with an extra badass look in this one's all-black livery.
The B-302 mounts two of Guild's then-new DP-8 single coil pickups, which are basically fattened up Fender Jazz Bass units, using a similar 8-pole layout with a wider coil. They and the 4-knob, one switch control rig are all mounted to the large sweeping pickguard, a Fender-like technique new to Guild at the time. The long-scale mahogany neck feels rather like an older Guild profile crossed with a Fender and is quite comfortable. The fully adjustable chromed bridge is a stouter, better engineered version of the sort of floating, top mounted design Gibson never quite got together in the 1970s supported on the biggest bolts ever tapped into a guitar top.
The all mahogany B-302 appeared on Guild price lists in late 1976, but only lasted until 1981. The body design was shared with a companion guitar series that were also not particularly successful. This bass is very playable with a great sound, clear and aggressive in the Rickenbacker/Jazz bass mode but it tones down a bit warmer thanks to its mahogany chassis. We'll let Guild themselves (from 1978) have the last word on this cool and frankly rather underrated instrument:
"The greatest bass we've ever built, with everything you want for the way you play today! Long-scale curved fingerboard. Wide frets. New solid brass bridge/tailpiece for perfect intonation. New double pick-ups. And a comfortable shape. Even more! Fretless fingerboard no extra charge. Available wired for stereo. Or left-handed. At Guild, one success follows another. Because we're in tune with today's players and what they need."
Overall length is 46 3/4 in. (118.7 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This bass appears played but original, with some light general wear but no visible structural repair. The ebony lacquer finish shows dings and dents overall but the only heavy wear spot is an area in the center of the back of the headstock where it looks like the finish somehow melted and was filled in with black paint. We have no idea how this happened, it is odd but not a playing issue. There is also an area of very discreet strap burn to the back of the neck in the area of the 12th fret area which is hardly noticeable.
All hardware appears original and complete; there is a small crack in the pickguard by the jack but it is still solidly functional. The large knobs are not a standard Guild fitting but we have seen them on other examples of this model. For some reason the knobs are installed so the pointer lines up to the indicator dot on the pickguard when the control is turned to off instead of on; it seems to be a factory quirk as we have seen this on others as well! There is some wear to the huge bridge height adjustment screws but all work as designed.
The original large frets show hardly any wear and this bass plays very well, with a powerful and versatile sound. It resides in the original HSC and the Guild warranty tab/booklet is still in the pocket. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This bass is a bit of a "dark horse" 1970s instrument, and not just because it is finished in ebony lacquer! After a period of creative lethargy in the early '70s Guild rose up and launched a series of highly original designs in the late '70s that deserved more recognition than they ever got from players at the time. The slightly axe-like body shape was an original look in an era of copies, and even if many players thought it ugly the look has a definite and distinctive panache all its own.
This dual pickup Guild B-302 (and its single pickup sibling the B-301) is a case in point, a very original and ergonomic bass design. The set-neck mahogany construction continues in the old Guild/Gibson tradition but elements of Fender (the 34" scale) and Rickenbacker (the pickup locations and wiring scheme) crept in as well. Still, the bass presents as an original, well-thought and very functional design with an extra badass look in this one's all-black livery.
The B-302 mounts two of Guild's then-new DP-8 single coil pickups, which are basically fattened up Fender Jazz Bass units, using a similar 8-pole layout with a wider coil. They and the 4-knob, one switch control rig are all mounted to the large sweeping pickguard, a Fender-like technique new to Guild at the time. The long-scale mahogany neck feels rather like an older Guild profile crossed with a Fender and is quite comfortable. The fully adjustable chromed bridge is a stouter, better engineered version of the sort of floating, top mounted design Gibson never quite got together in the 1970s supported on the biggest bolts ever tapped into a guitar top.
The all mahogany B-302 appeared on Guild price lists in late 1976, but only lasted until 1981. The body design was shared with a companion guitar series that were also not particularly successful. This bass is very playable with a great sound, clear and aggressive in the Rickenbacker/Jazz bass mode but it tones down a bit warmer thanks to its mahogany chassis. We'll let Guild themselves (from 1978) have the last word on this cool and frankly rather underrated instrument:
"The greatest bass we've ever built, with everything you want for the way you play today! Long-scale curved fingerboard. Wide frets. New solid brass bridge/tailpiece for perfect intonation. New double pick-ups. And a comfortable shape. Even more! Fretless fingerboard no extra charge. Available wired for stereo. Or left-handed. At Guild, one success follows another. Because we're in tune with today's players and what they need."
Overall length is 46 3/4 in. (118.7 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This bass appears played but original, with some light general wear but no visible structural repair. The ebony lacquer finish shows dings and dents overall but the only heavy wear spot is an area in the center of the back of the headstock where it looks like the finish somehow melted and was filled in with black paint. We have no idea how this happened, it is odd but not a playing issue. There is also an area of very discreet strap burn to the back of the neck in the area of the 12th fret area which is hardly noticeable.
All hardware appears original and complete; there is a small crack in the pickguard by the jack but it is still solidly functional. The large knobs are not a standard Guild fitting but we have seen them on other examples of this model. For some reason the knobs are installed so the pointer lines up to the indicator dot on the pickguard when the control is turned to off instead of on; it seems to be a factory quirk as we have seen this on others as well! There is some wear to the huge bridge height adjustment screws but all work as designed.
The original large frets show hardly any wear and this bass plays very well, with a powerful and versatile sound. It resides in the original HSC and the Guild warranty tab/booklet is still in the pocket. Overall Excellent - Condition.