Westerly Pilot 5 String?

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
Greetings all,
I'm looking at a Guild Pilot, made in '90. Is it a given that it's a Westerly bass? Westerly is my home town, and I'd score it if it is. It's got black lacquer (or is it poly?), and EMGs, 3 knobs.
Before I pull the trigger I would like to know something about it's pedigree if possible.
Thanks for your time!
 

GGJaguar

Reverential Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2011
Messages
21,324
Reaction score
31,416
Location
Skylands
Guild Total
49
Welcome to LTG! If you can post a few photos, that would be helpful when the bass specialists here come along.
 

fronobulax

Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
24,708
Reaction score
8,836
Location
Central Virginia, USA
Guild Total
5
Welcome,

1990 would be Westerly. I don't think I am too far out on a limb if I claim all Guild Pilots were made in Westerly.

Factory timeline here might be of interest.

Brian Bowdren's article on Pilots (here) might be interesting as well.

Pilot collectors @The Guilds of Grot and @EWH might have something to say.
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
Welcome to LTG! If you can post a few photos, that would be helpful when the bass specialists here come along.
Thanks! I don't have any very good pix of it, but maybe I'll get a couple...
Welcome,

1990 would be Westerly. I don't think I am too far out on a limb if I claim all Guild Pilots were made in Westerly.

Factory timeline here might be of interest.

Brian Bowdren's article on Pilots (here) might be interesting as well.

Pilot collectors @The Guilds of Grot and @EWH might have something to say.
Great, I'll look at those links, thank you very much! And yep, I've got an ear open here
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
Welcome to LTG. Yes Westerly, there was no Pilot made in Corona. Actually I think the last remaining stopped in first half 1995. Westerly shipped lots of poly finished models, so it could be poly.

Ralf
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
One more: Are the 5 String Pilots 34" or 35"?

... Never mind, it's a 35"...
 

fronobulax

Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
24,708
Reaction score
8,836
Location
Central Virginia, USA
Guild Total
5
Remember the way to measure scale length is to measure from nut to the 12th fret and then double the result. The speaking length of a string (nut to saddle) can easily be 35" on a bass with a nominal scale of 34" based upon intonation.

If you would buy a bass with a properly measured scale length of 34" but not one with a proper measurement of 35" then you need to get the store to remeasure. If you would buy it regardless and just not be as excited then you can afford to wait until it is in your hands.
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
No, you don‘t. Unless the westerly 1994/95 pilot pro 5 were 35“ which i heavily doubt.
Yeah, lol, I do. And now all I really am asking for is a civil answer, which I've been getting up until now.
But hey, thanks...
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
Remember the way to measure scale length is to measure from nut to the 12th fret and then double the result. The speaking length of a string (nut to saddle) can easily be 35" on a bass with a nominal scale of 34" based upon intonation.

If you would buy a bass with a properly measured scale length of 34" but not one with a proper measurement of 35" then you need to get the store to remeasure. If you would buy it regardless and just not be as excited then you can afford to wait until it is in your hands.
I'll check... and thank you for pointing that out!
But the scale-length answer does seem pretty unanimous among you guys, and the intonation detail seems reasonable.
I appreciate your all's time.
 
Last edited:

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
I've asked for a number from the nut to the 12th fret.
(I would actually prefer a 34" scale...)
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
Ok, I'm done belaboring the scale length issue, thanks everyone for chiming in.

I got some not so great pics of it, it appears to have Jazz style p'ups, said to be EMGs. Here she is...

Screenshot_20211203-210025~2.png

Screenshot_20211203-205944~2.png
Screenshot_20211203-205901~2.png
 

Count Bassie

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2021
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Guild Total
0
Bad fotos, but nice Pilot - don't sweat the small stuff and just buy it, asap...😉
Fwiw, those are screenshots of the lousy pix from the ad I answered... I really do try and take reasonable photos when possible.
Going to see it this week and put something down on it.
 
Top