"J-type" bass with a "Guild-ish" neck?

[Minnesota Flats]

I was watching some of Scott Devine's YouTube bass videos when the narrow string spacing of this thing caught my eye. "J-type" basses generally have a 1.50" nut, but much more neck taper (width-wise) and wider string spacing at the bridge than, say, a Starfire. This neck looks much "Guildier" in that regard than most "J"s:

Audio - SDJ Series 4 - Overwater Basses

overwaterbasses.com

Too bad they're so expensive. I'm sure they're very nice (company has a good reputation) but equally sure that I don't have that kind of discretionary cash to spend on a single bass.

Ah, well...

 

[fronobulax]

Some how I am reminded of this...

 

[Rambozo96]

IIRC Guild Pilot Basses can be had for reasonable prices. The Dearmond variant being even more inexpensive.

 

[Rambozo96]

Some how I am reminded of this...

Wasn’t that a one off Guild?

 

[fronobulax]

IIRC Guild Pilot Basses can be had for reasonable prices. The Dearmond variant being even more inexpensive.

Pilot prices are all over the map, but you an easily get a nice one with patience and $500, IIRC.

I'm not sensitive enough to react to the variations in string spacing but I will note that the neck profile on the Pilot is much more comfortable for me than P or J necks.

 

[fronobulax]

Wasn’t that a one off Guild?

Not really. Glenn Quan (of Badass Bridge fame) took a JetStar neck and Bisonics from Jack's stash and built the bass. mgod has played it enough to say it doesn't work sitting down.

Jack Casady: Guild Starfires and custom Guild V bass >> FlyGuitars

Fly Guitars Interview: Jack Casady - part 3: Jack Casady's association with Guild guitars is well known; Jack talks about his Guild Starfire and Custom Guild V basses

www.flyguitars.com

It has been discussed on LTG before so you can search.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

Guitars, basses: the whole "Flying V" concept has never appealed to me in the least, Guild neck or not.

The ergonomics look hideous.

 

[fronobulax]

Guitars, basses: the whole "Flying V" concept has never appealed to me in the least, Guild neck or not.

The ergonomics look hideous.

 

[DThomasC]

In my youth I spent a couple of years as a violin maker's apprentice. During that time a viola player commissioned a custom viola with a flying V shaped body. I don't remember the details of the story, but supposedly he had an issue with his neck and he hoped that this shaped instrument would be easier to hold. It was pretty far out there considering that violin and viola players are incredibly conservative about the apperance of their instrument. The volute on the peghead, the f holes, the perfling, the color of the varnish... everything had to look exactly the way they had for hundreds of years or the instrument would not be accepted by any musician.

Why didn't I take photos of that thing? I was actually more into photography then than I am now that I carry a camera in my pocket everywhere. Why are there no photos?

 

[Nuuska]

 

[DThomasC]

I think that was kind of the idea as far as comfort goes. Violas are bigger than violins and I imagine they can be a challenge to hold under one's chin. Not that I would actually know first hand.