Happy Face
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A lovely thing. $2500 might work for someone.
M-85 GSR on TB
- Thread starter Happy Face
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Minnesota Flats
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Been watching that one with drool on my shirt since it went up, but just can't justify spending that kind of money on a bass right now.
Really wish they would put the M85II back into the NS line up in any color but black (for about $1K less than he's asking for that GSR) but doubt that's gonna happen.
Really wish they would put the M85II back into the NS line up in any color but black (for about $1K less than he's asking for that GSR) but doubt that's gonna happen.
Link? What is TB?
Just had a look, and it's not my old one! I liked mine, but I like my Starfires better.
Happy Face
Justified Ancient of MuMu
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Yes. Talk Bass.
Happy Face
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I recalled that someone here had one once.
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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I didn't find it on TalkBass, probably due to impatience on my part but if someone snags a link they should share.
I did find @twocorgis 's old listing.
@mavuser has one.
I did find @twocorgis 's old listing.
@mavuser has one.
SFIV1967
Venerated Member
It's a GSR M-85 II located in Jupiter, FL:
SOLD - Guild M85 II
In excellent+ condition, never gigged it just used it on a few sessions. Fully hollow with bisonics is pretty hard to beat. This was part of a limited...
www.talkbass.com
That's the one which was sold in Germany about 2 years ago, afterwards quickly again sold in Napa, CA, and now in Jupiter, FL.
Here are the two previous links:
Guild M-85 GSR 2014 USA 25 pcs. | Reverb
I am selling a new (NOS) Guild M-85 II GSR.The ones who know, know.....It’s such a fantastic player and has a monster sound!Extremely light with just 3 kilograms/ 6,6 lb.Guild introduced a very special limited edition "Made in USA" run of the M-85 II Bass in 2013/14, which doubles the power and p...
reverb.com
Guild GSR M85-II Limite Run 1 of 25 2014 Cherry Red | Reverb
For sale is a rare find 2014 Guild GSR M85-II. There were only 25 of them made and this one is new in its original hard case. Still has the plastic on the pickups. In the late 60s Guild made the BluesBird Bass M85-I bass that was a thick hollow body bass about the thickness of an acoustic guita...
reverb.com
And to comment on Sandy's comment, no, it wasn't the last one, there are at least two serial numbers that were made later. (NR008xxx and NR038xxx)
Ralf
Last edited:
I liked mine, but with a body that light and a headstock that big, the neck dive issue couldn't be resolved, even with Hipshot tuners. Also, the pickups really left something to be desired, especially compared to my Dark Starred DeArmond Starfire, and Greenie too.
And if you never play bass, maybe consider starting? You have some nice ones!
mellowgerman
Senior Member
If that was a 60's vintage hollow example, I would be all over it. Which reminds me, in case anybody sees one for sale, please drop me a line 
The new ones look nice, but I can't justify dropping over $2k on a bass with import Bisonics. If they were Dark Stars or Novaks, I might have a harder time ignoring it.
On a related side-note, for those of you with experience playing the vintage hollows, how was the neck-dive factor on them? I know a lot of folks complain about neck-dive on NS Starfires, but I've never had an issue with that with any of my vintage Starfires. Hoping the same goes for the M85 models (i.e. Reissue problem vs. Vintage non-issue)
The new ones look nice, but I can't justify dropping over $2k on a bass with import Bisonics. If they were Dark Stars or Novaks, I might have a harder time ignoring it.
On a related side-note, for those of you with experience playing the vintage hollows, how was the neck-dive factor on them? I know a lot of folks complain about neck-dive on NS Starfires, but I've never had an issue with that with any of my vintage Starfires. Hoping the same goes for the M85 models (i.e. Reissue problem vs. Vintage non-issue)
mellowgerman
Senior Member
I know they kept pretty on-point with vintage-correct neck and body dimensions on the reissue basses, so I wonder if they're using particularly heavy mahogany and maple for the necks these days? Again, none of my vintage Starfires have had neck dive, even with standard heavy tuners, both maple and mahogany necks. It's also not the case that I'm somehow less sensitive to neck dive, because I've had to either install ultralites on basses in the past (my '62 EB-0 being a good, current example) or just get rid of them when it's particularly bad and incurable
mavuser
Enlightened Member
thanks, I am down to only 2 basses now, and no bass amp. I would like to put Novaks in the M-85, and sell my last vintage SF bass (and buy a bass amp). might be a while, however
None of the Starfires I've owned (two vintage, three DeArmonds) have ever had a hint of neck dive, but I think that's because they're pretty heavy to begin with, at least for a semi-hollow. The body on the GSR M85II is so light, and the headstock is so big, that ultralite tuners didn't help at all. And there's no practical way to add mass to the body, like when I added the Supertone bridge to the Casady bass. The GSR much lighter than the NS reissue, or even Grot's hollow vintage example, if I recall correctly. It was a beautiful bass, especially the finish, but not really the greatest design. And the pickups left something to be desired as well. For the kind of coin that Guild was asking for them, they really should have come with something better. I really had nothing to complain about, because I spent Newark Street kind of money on mine, but others didn't.
I have a decent practice amp you can use if you'd like! The Novaks would definitely help the tone, and it's possible one of the Hipshot Alembic style bridges might help add a little mass to the body. If you know Jason Ferguson, he'd be the go to guy for all of that.
mavuser
Enlightened Member
i didn't find any issue at all with neck dive, or anything else, on the GSR M-85 bass...it plays like a dream! I sold off a major Starfire bass collection after realizing this one suited me best. neck dive however never really has been a thing for me. i like when the neck just falls into your palm. i do not like when the neck starts creeping up ("ass dive!"), and usually that means there is a boat anchor of a body weighing down the other shoulder. but that's just me!
has anyone ever actually Novak'd or Dark Starred a GSR-M-85? of the 13 that exist? a pair of Novak pickups in 2022 is no small investment
and thanks for the offer on the amp, Sandy!
has anyone ever actually Novak'd or Dark Starred a GSR-M-85? of the 13 that exist? a pair of Novak pickups in 2022 is no small investment
and thanks for the offer on the amp, Sandy!
Happy Face
Justified Ancient of MuMu
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If that was a 60's vintage hollow example, I would be all over it. Which reminds me, in case anybody sees one for sale, please drop me a line
The new ones look nice, but I can't justify dropping over $2k on a bass with import Bisonics. If they were Dark Stars or Novaks, I might have a harder time ignoring it.
On a related side-note, for those of you with experience playing the vintage hollows, how was the neck-dive factor on them? I know a lot of folks complain about neck-dive on NS Starfires, but I've never had an issue with that with any of my vintage Starfires. Hoping the same goes for the M85 models (i.e. Reissue problem vs. Vintage non-issue)
I am lucky enough to have and use a vintage hollowbody M-85. Unlike my "warhorse" JS-II, it has little head-dive.
The one downside is the depth of the bass, like a cigar box. But I quickly realized that was not the worst thing since it forced me to use better right hand technique as opposed to hanging my hand over the top.
I bring this up because some time ago one of you commented that the GSRs in question had different dimensions. Not as deep as mine but still deeper than the solid body versions which followed. That did sound attractive, but not enough to forgo the beautiful tone from my vintage model
I've not heard of anyone installing Novaks in a GSR M85II, but despite the investment, it would almost certainly be an improvement. I considered it, but decided to sell mine instead and do the Dark Starred DeArmond SF thing, with a lot of help from @mellowgerman (thanks again buddy!). I'm very happy with my decision too. The Dark Starred DA is perfect.
The amp offer still stands though, and all you have to do is show up here! Do I have to restring another 12er to sweeten the offer?
fronobulax
Bassist, GAD and the Hot Mess Mods
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I do not obsess over neck dive. I think that is a combination of my technique, or lack thereof, and a wide non-slippery strap that tends to hold all of my basses in place where I want them. So I am not going to join the chorus of folks who complain about neck dive on a vintage or NS Starfire. My limited play of @The Guilds of Grot 's 1970 M-85-I didn't seem to have any neck dive. Ergonomically it was different enough from the Starfire (body thickness) that I preferred the Starfire but neck dive didn't seem to be an issue for me.