What's with this Flyer Bass?

The Guilds of Grot

Enlightened Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
4,716
Location
New Jersey Shore
Guild Total
117
Yes I know this should be in the Bass Forum but since the general public never goes there this post would only be seen by about three people!

We need some new discussion threads here. All the current threads are really getting a little stale.

I was looking at this piece of Guild advertising literature and I noticed the Bass on the left is a little different. (Please stop me if we've discussed this before and post the thread to spark my feeble memory!)

Guild010.jpg


As you can see it is listed as an S-280P1K. While the black of the purpleburst is fading into the background, if you look closely it appears to be a Bass built on a Flyer body! Compare the shape to the Pilot next to it! How can I have never noticed this before? (Probably because we were discussing the white "K" Bass!)

So who has one and how much do they want for it?

I'm at the office so I can't look it up in the Beasley book. Could one of you LTG'rs either working from home or retired look it up for us and see what he has to say. (No offense Hans, please feel free to chip in if you'd like but I know you're trying to save all the surprises for Volume II!)

Oh, and one last thing, IMHO the pickguard is ugly!
 
Last edited:

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
I noticed the Bass on the right is a little different.
You mean the one on the left...

Well, it's called a "Flyer S-280...".
"P1" maybe "Prototype 1" ? Have never seen another picture of one. Who knows where it is hidden...

1603808103750.png


Ralf
 
Last edited:

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
The 1983 Modern Aviation Flyer mentions a SB-280 but without pictures, however there is a 6 string S-280 on the page, so the "SB" might very well be a typo and should have read "S-280"...

1603810815412.png


And I guess that also confused "Guitar Stories Vol. 2" by Michael Wright page 56:

1603810906792.png

1603810935716.png


So I guess that SB-280 wasn't really a model in that context at least but why the one in the initial picture is called S-280 is beyond my imagination...Anyway, I have the feeling that was a one time Flyer bass prototype even if the P1 seems to be for the single pickup.

Ralf
 
Last edited:

amnicon

Member
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
360
Reaction score
159
Guild Total
6
I just learned that the Pilot shape and the Flyer shape were different by accident. I love my Pilot, but mostly play guitar and was curious about the Flyer. I found one last month, eager to have the twins together and was surprised when I saw that the horns were very different. Of the options, I'd be interested in a Pilot-shaped guitar too!
 

The Guilds of Grot

Enlightened Member
Joined
Oct 10, 2006
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
4,716
Location
New Jersey Shore
Guild Total
117
The 1983 Modern Aviation Flyer mentions a SB-280 but without pictures, however there is a 6 string S-280 on the page, so the "SB" might very well be a typo and should have reads "S-280"...

So I guess that SB-280 wasn't really a model in that context at least but why the one in the initial picture is called S-280 is beyond my imagination...Anyway, I have the feeling that was a one time Flyer bass prototype even if the P1 seems to be for the single pickup.

Ralf

If you think about it SB-280 would/should be the correct Model Number for a Bass with a Flyer body.
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
If you think about it SB-280 would/should be the correct Model Number for a Bass with a Flyer body.
Agreed! But it would not be Guild if they wouldn't mix up such numbers and letters in the now two different pieces of literature. Calling the S-280 a SB-280 and calling the SB-280(P1K) a S-280(P1K)...

Ralf
 

amnicon

Member
Joined
May 3, 2009
Messages
360
Reaction score
159
Guild Total
6
Why "by accident" ?
Ralf

Having never seen them side-by-side, I assumed the Flyer was the guitar version of the Pilot. Well, probably poor research by me as well. After I bought a Flyer recently, and had it in my hand next to the Pilot, THAT is when I learned of the difference in the horns.
 

SFIV1967

Venerated Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
18,442
Reaction score
8,956
Location
Bavaria / Germany
Guild Total
8
Having never seen them side-by-side, I assumed the Flyer was the guitar version of the Pilot. Well, probably poor research by me as well. After I bought a Flyer recently, and had it in my hand next to the Pilot, THAT is when I learned of the difference in the horns.
Ah, o.k.., I think I misunderstood what you said initially. All clear now. I'm not aware that there is a 6 string with Pilot body.
Ralf
 
Top