B-301

[The Guilds of Grot]

Hey, Grot, do you recall what Guild called the finish coloring on the one on the right? I don't think I've seen another Guild like it.

Well, I've never seen anything in a Catalog, but I did find this:

For the B-401 Bass it says "Ash body with laminated walnut." Well I can tell you it's not laminated walnut (as in a layer of wood), it's just a dark layer of stain/finish! Maybe after Marketing listed the laminated walnut the Factory said, "That's way too much work, let's just slap some "walnut" stain on it!

I'm sure the answer to this with be forthcoming in Volume II. (Along with was there ever an S-400 guitar produced????)

Here's a better look:



(And no, off the top of my head I have no idea as to what all the switched do!)

 

[Prince of Darkness]

I'm sure the answer to this with be forthcoming in Volume II. (Along with was there ever an S-400 guitar produced????)

Not one, but two S-400 models

S-400?

Somebody posted this photo on one of the Guild facebook groups. He says the guitar on the right is an S-400! Did we know that existed?

letstalkguild.com

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Hoisted by my own postard!

How soon we forget!

 

[chazmo]

Hoisted by my own postard!

Very good, Grot. Very good. I'm adding that to my sig, if you don't mind.

 

[Happy Face]

Regarding the truss-rod, "more relief" would be more bow, in which case, if the truss is already as loose as possible, the only easy fix would be higher tension strings. My 1970 M-85-II bass is one of the uncommon cases where this applies, so unfortunately lower tension strings are only possible with 0 relief, but medium or high tension strings result in a perfect setup.
Needing less relief (a flatter neck), while the truss rod is as tight as it will go, is a more common issue on vintage instruments and that is more difficult to address. Aside from having a Luthier attempt heat-pressing the neck, a potential solution can be carefully clamping the neck to a work bench in a slight opposite/reverse bow for a few days and seeing if that corrects the excessive relief. Alternately, adding a spacer under the truss nut, if possible, can also give you a little more threading and tension to work with. It goes without saying that either method should only be attempted with utmost care and caution, otherwise it can go wrong and damage the neck.

Ah, you snowflake youngsters can't handle and welcome a nice bit of clank and buzz. Calls to mind that famous quip about listening to Chuck Rainey's isolated tracks.

Otherwise~~ good advice on using tension versus a neck reset.

 

[mellowgerman]

Ah, you snowflake youngsters can't handle and welcome a nice bit of clank and buzz. Calls to mind that famous quip about listening to Chuck Rainey's isolated tracks.

Otherwise~~ good advice on using tension versus a neck reset.

At the end of my inaugural session with the M85, it unexpectedly told me "if that's how you're going to play, I will require heavy gauge Labella tapewounds." The personified bass guitar had caught me off guard and I glanced in disbelief, only to find the it seemingly inanimate again. Could this be? Had the once-again-inanimate instrument instructed it's instrumentalist? It seemed to be so, so I trusted the M85 & followed it's recommendation. Alas, the M85 was right. It now responds perfectly to my playing style and sounds incredible. I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse that I let my instruments tell me what strings they want at any given time