hi friends, i’m on the fence to buy a Guild Jetstar II, the seller tells it’s a 1969, is it possible with those Guild humbuckers ? i thought Guild buckers JSII models was from 70/71 and early 69 models was with Hagstrom bisonics...what do you think ?
Dating a JSII
- Thread starter walterlzd
- Start date
mellowgerman
Senior Member
Normally I'd want to see the serial number to be sure, but in this case, that is not a 1969 JS-II bass. The pickups (introduced in 1971), the mini-toggle (I believe also 1971), and the larger headstock (introduced in 1970), all say it is not from 1969.
Not to mention, as far as I know, the JS model was not introduced until 1970. Of course, it's possible one may have been completed in the factory in late 1969 (maybe a prototype or the very earliest production model) but it is unlikely and definitely not with those pickups, that switch, and that headstock.
Regardless, cool bass!
Not to mention, as far as I know, the JS model was not introduced until 1970. Of course, it's possible one may have been completed in the factory in late 1969 (maybe a prototype or the very earliest production model) but it is unlikely and definitely not with those pickups, that switch, and that headstock.
Regardless, cool bass!
hansmoust
Enlightened Member
Hello Walter,
Welcome! I would say 1972 or a little bit later!
Sincerely,
Hans Moust
www.guitarsgalore.nl
fronobulax
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You have a definitive answer but the pickups alone make it a '71 or later. Chesterfield on headstock seems to not have lines. If that is true then it is a "later" bass in the approximate 1970-1977 period of production. Control cavity shape changed. Serial number would be pretty definitive.
Welcome, by the way.
Welcome, by the way.
fronobulax
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While it is always fun to have a manufacturing date for an instrument, the JS II bass was pretty consistent in its specifications over the years of production.
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
Welcome ;]
Missing a bridge pickup adjusting screw, but maybe the spring is underneath. In typically unique Guild fashion, these screws are quite unique and rather hard if not impossible to find. Not to despair however, contact Ken Nash - also on this forum - he may well have it;
You'll want to find a screw with the correct amount of aging to match so it doesn't stick out.
Is there a case?
Missing a bridge pickup adjusting screw, but maybe the spring is underneath. In typically unique Guild fashion, these screws are quite unique and rather hard if not impossible to find. Not to despair however, contact Ken Nash - also on this forum - he may well have it;
The Guitar Mechanic
A full service guitar and bass repair shop in New London, CT.
www.theguitarmechanic.com
You'll want to find a screw with the correct amount of aging to match so it doesn't stick out.
Is there a case?
Minnesota Flats
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I guess my morning coffee hasn't kicked in yet: when I read the thread title, I took it figuratively: to mean that you were speaking "tongue-in-cheek" and were planning to borrow this bass and start "dating" it with a possible "proposal of marriage" (offer to buy it) in mind at some point in the future if the two of you turned out to be compatible.
Come to think of it, I guess that's actually not entirely inaccurate.
I must still have one foot in dreamland or something, so I'd better go drink another cup or six of coffee now to get my head working properly...
Kinda jealous: would enjoy getting my hands on one of those since, unlike some, I like the way Guildbuckers sound and have only played Starfires.
Welcome and enjoy the JS if you decide to go for it!
Come to think of it, I guess that's actually not entirely inaccurate.
I must still have one foot in dreamland or something, so I'd better go drink another cup or six of coffee now to get my head working properly...
Kinda jealous: would enjoy getting my hands on one of those since, unlike some, I like the way Guildbuckers sound and have only played Starfires.
Welcome and enjoy the JS if you decide to go for it!
fronobulax
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Good catch. Compared to my 1971 the bridge PU adjustment screws on the bass side are suspect. It looks like one is missing
Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
I don't think it's Phillips, it looks to me like a slotted head, just tarnished in a way that looks like a Phillips cross maybe.
A trick to aging a screw to match if you can only find a correct but unused plated screw; dunk it in miuriatic acid for less than a minute, long enough for the plating to bubble off - don't breathe the fumes, wear gloves and glasses, observe all precautions - then let it soak in a solution with a few rusty nails or a mildly salty brine for a few days and you'll hardly be able to tell it apart from the other ones.
A trick to aging a screw to match if you can only find a correct but unused plated screw; dunk it in miuriatic acid for less than a minute, long enough for the plating to bubble off - don't breathe the fumes, wear gloves and glasses, observe all precautions - then let it soak in a solution with a few rusty nails or a mildly salty brine for a few days and you'll hardly be able to tell it apart from the other ones.
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i’m french, excuse my strange french idiomatic syndrom, yes i could have a rendez-vous and date this honey moon bass, but i think the seller is asking too much for it ($1460 case included, telling it’s a 1969 guitar) moreover, he told me the neck might be slighty warped...i wish to find one with Hagstrom bisonic PU, but i really could live with those Guild buckers, may be i should wait to find the good one, if the seller don’t want to reduce his price.
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Guildedagain
Enlightened Member
We'll "pardon your French" ;]
He's wrong on the year, but this is still a great bass, a great way to "get into Guild".
If he means the neck is slightly bowed, so it mine. If it's warped diagonally, like airplane propeller, forget it.
A quick sight down the frets will tell you what you need to know.
You can take some of the bow out with lower tension strings, like Thomastik Infeld Flats, although wound strings are actually lower tension than flats, the TI's are very low tension. I have D'addario Chromes on mine, the relief is perfect.
The relief is there without any strings on in fact, slightly bowed neck. I let it sit with no strings on for about a day, limbered up the truss rod that had probably never been turned, tightened it as much as it would go, 1/2 turn from seated - with nut driver only - to counteract string tension and it come out perfect with strings on.
Get him to reduce his price because it's not a '69, they didn't even exist then, the bowed neck, and the missing screw, and whatever else you notice wrong with it, fret wear, electronics operation, etc.
He's wrong on the year, but this is still a great bass, a great way to "get into Guild".
If he means the neck is slightly bowed, so it mine. If it's warped diagonally, like airplane propeller, forget it.
A quick sight down the frets will tell you what you need to know.
You can take some of the bow out with lower tension strings, like Thomastik Infeld Flats, although wound strings are actually lower tension than flats, the TI's are very low tension. I have D'addario Chromes on mine, the relief is perfect.
The relief is there without any strings on in fact, slightly bowed neck. I let it sit with no strings on for about a day, limbered up the truss rod that had probably never been turned, tightened it as much as it would go, 1/2 turn from seated - with nut driver only - to counteract string tension and it come out perfect with strings on.
Get him to reduce his price because it's not a '69, they didn't even exist then, the bowed neck, and the missing screw, and whatever else you notice wrong with it, fret wear, electronics operation, etc.
mavuser
Enlightened Member
i wish to find one with Hagstrom bisonic PU, but i really could live with those Guild buckers, may be i should wait to find the good one, if the seller don’t want to reduce his price.
Tom Jacobs, of Jacobs Custom Guitars, is selling a 1970 JS-2 w Hagstrom Bisonic neck and Hagstrom mini humbucker bridge pickups. He is very well respected in the Guild community, and is "Fixit" on this LTG forum. I was just in his shop a couple weeks ago. Hit him up at:
Jacobs Custom Guitars – Custom Guitars & Guitar Repair
www.jacobscustomguitars.com
fronobulax
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$1460 would be high in the US market today, in my opinion, but European prices seem to be consistently higher so it might be reasonable.
A Bisonic equipped JS II is going to be much harder to find because there were not many made. I would expect to pay a premium for it. Seems to me a vintage Bisonic without a bass attached is at least $500 so $1500 might be what you need to get one.
A Bisonic equipped JS II is going to be much harder to find because there were not many made. I would expect to pay a premium for it. Seems to me a vintage Bisonic without a bass attached is at least $500 so $1500 might be what you need to get one.
mavuser
Enlightened Member
that price sounds low, for any Bisonic equipped JS-II, in 2021.
Happy Face
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Tom Jacobs, of Jacobs Custom Guitars, is selling a 1970 JS-2 w Hagstrom Bisonic neck and Hagstrom mini humbucker bridge pickups. He is very well respected in the Guild community, and is "Fixit" on this LTG forum. I was just in his shop a couple weeks ago. Hit him up at:
Jacobs Custom Guitars – Custom Guitars & Guitar Repair
It would be interesting to hear what he is asking for that hen's tooth.
Idle curiosity....
fronobulax
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Could be. I was trying to set expectations for someone who thought $1460 was high. A Bisonic equipped JS II will be higher. Would be nice to know what Tom is asking...