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Guild B-301 Electric Bass

Guild B-301 Electric Bass

$1,000.00 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (2)

2 Reviews

Find out who is using Guild B-301

2 wishlisted

3 saved

Page last updated Jun 14, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 14, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (5)

$1,000.00 3 available Used

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Average Price: $1,000

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Electric Basses category, Guild B-301 Electric Bass is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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Discover the Guild B-301 Electric Bass, a classic instrument that channels the spirit of vintage rock while offering modern playability. Originally introduced in the late 1970s, this bass guitar has been cherished by musicians for its distinct sound and rugged build. The B-301 boasts a solid mahogany body, delivering a warm and resonant tone suitable for various music genres. Its sleek maple neck and rosewood fingerboard offer smooth action, making it a favorite for both studio sessions and live performances.

The Guild B-301 is equipped with a single humbucking pickup, providing a powerful, punchy sound that cuts through any mix. The simplistic control layout—featuring a master volume and tone knob—allows players to easily shape their sound, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate straightforward, no-nonsense design. With its vintage appeal and reliable construction, the Guild B-301 Electric Bass remains a timeless piece for bassists seeking a blend of character and quality.

Key Features:

Solid mahogany body for warm, resonant tones
Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability
Single humbucking pickup for powerful, punchy sound
Simple control layout with master volume and tone knob
Vintage design with modern playability

Product specs

Brand	Guild
Model	B-301 Bass
Year	1977
Made In	United States
Categories	4-String Basses
Active / Passive Pickups	Passive Pickups
Active Preamp	No Preamp
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Color Family	Brown, Natural
Fretboard Material	Rosewood
Number of Frets	20
Number of Strings	4-String
Pickup Configuration	SS
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed

FAQs

What type of music is the Guild B-301 Bass best suited for?: The Guild B-301 Bass, with its passive pickups and double cutaway design, is versatile and well-suited for rock, blues, and funk genres, offering a warm and punchy tone.
How does the pickup configuration of the Guild B-301 Bass affect its sound?: The Guild B-301 features a single-coil pickup configuration (SS), providing a clear, articulate sound with a strong midrange presence, ideal for cutting through mixes.
Is the Guild B-301 Bass suitable for beginner bass players?: While the Guild B-301 Bass is a vintage model, its straightforward design and comfortable playability make it accessible for beginners, though its unique tone may appeal more to experienced players seeking a classic sound.
What is the neck profile like on the Guild B-301 Bass?: The Guild B-301 Bass typically has a slim neck profile, allowing for easier playability and faster movement across the fretboard, which is beneficial for both beginners and seasoned players.
Does the Guild B-301 Bass have any active electronics?: No, the Guild B-301 Bass features passive pickups and does not include an active preamp, offering a more traditional, organic bass tone.

Videos

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Bass734

79' Guild B-301 with SansAmp ( Doom Riff )

Bass734

Guild B 301 1977 demo

Kellen Boersma

1978 Guild B-301 Electric Bass - Walnut Made In Westerly RI - USA - Beast From the NE!

The Guitar Dude

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Guild B-301 Electric Bass.

Build quality

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The Guild B-301 is described as heavy, with a solid feel, but prone to neck dive due to a heavier neck.
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A repair done over 20 years ago that has held may still concern buyers due to the potential for future issues, particularly with tension changes.
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Features and functionality

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The pickup is noted for being very powerful, delivering a sound similar to a P-Bass but with more crystal-clear highs.
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User experience

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Owners report that the tuners are exceptionally reliable and rock solid, contributing to the instrument's overall durability.
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Some users suggest that the peghead is prone to diving, which could affect playability for certain players.
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Use cases and applications

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It's considered a great bass for rock and "sludge" metal, with a snarly, assertive tone well-suited for these genres.
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While generally praised, some users find the standard pickup sound not to their liking, hinting at potential for customization.
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Value and pricing

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A Guild B-301 in good condition is regarded as a valuable find, with one owner purchasing it for $2100 in great condition with a hard case.
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One owner recently acquired a Guild B-301 for $500 with a leather case, noted as an exceptional deal, especially given current market trends.
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A bass with a broken and repaired headstock, even if stable, is valued much lower; offers around $600-$700 are considered reasonable by some users.
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Comparisons

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Compared to a P-Bass, the Guild B-301 offers a more versatile and meaty sound, though some find it less suitable for funk or jazz.
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The B-302, with its dual pickups, is compared to the Rickenbacker 4001/4003 due to similar pickup placement, though the Guild offers a thicker neck with more taper.
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Setup and maintenance

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A poorly executed headstock repair can necessitate future work, especially if string tension changes are made.
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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 2 Ratings

5 star

4 star

3 star

2 star

1 star

niko9

almost 2 years ago

Excellent, this bass is a hidden gem

I own a B301-A, where "A" means ash body + maple neck. The sound is somewhere between a 4001 Rickenbacker and a P-bass, with both a fat low-mid and a snarly clang. Ideal for old progressive and classic rock (eg Jethro Tull, Rush, Yes etc).

Built like a tank, it features Schaller tuners and bridge, as well as a custom DiMarzio pickup. If you don't like the standard three-point bridge, the Babicz FCH works as a zero mod replacement and provides individual string adjustment.

Some people complain about neck dive. This may only be a problem with the mahogany version. In my case, the ash body is quite heavy, the balance is perfect when sitting and close to ideal when standing with a wide strap (this particular bass weighs 9.5 lbs, while non-A models typically weigh around 8 lbs).

Roles:

Bassist

Genres:

Rock Funk / Soul Progressive rock

skylinerr

5339

over 6 years ago

Great

Mine was originally fretless the bass, which is finished in natural, has had fret slots sawed in to the board and has been fretted and I found this risk payed off giving me a great bass I also like the lack of inlay as none were added after the fretting great bass all stock with a seymour duncan humbucker put in it as it was when it was made in 1979, love its goofy oddball nature

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Metal

Artist usage

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Dee Dee Ramone

Bassist

Ramones

Verified via iCollector.com Online Auctions

This November 15, 2018 auction states:

"Circa 1978 Guild B301-A electric bass guitar with a natural finish, serial number 196556, personally played by original Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone during sound check before a show at My Father's Place in Roslyn, New York, on July 5, 1978, with Ramone etching his name and date into the black pickguard, “Dee Dee Ramone, 7/5/78.” An off-white “Ramones” bass pick is taped to upper horn. Includes the well-worn hardshell carrying case. In very good to fine condition, with heavy wear to the case, and expected light wear to the bass.

Accompanied by two photos bearing images of Ramone playing and etching the offered bass, and a letter of authenticity signed by longtime Ramones tour manager Monte A. Melnick, which reads, in full: “This Guild Bass owned by Roger Risko friend, Super Fan and contributor to the Ramones 40th Anniversary Exhibition was very nicely electronically engraved by Dee Dee Ramone and played during a sound check on July 5th, 1978 at the club ‘My Father’s Place’ in Roslyn, NY.”

The consignor notes that the original recipient, ‘Rockin’ Roger Risko, who brought the engraving kit to the show, later applied Wite-Out to the etch to better emphasize Ramone’s signature. Although bass guitars signed by Dee Dee Ramone are occasionally offered at auction, basses featuring irremovable etched signatures are undeniably rare, with this potentially being the only example extant. Given the uniqueness of the signature, in addition to the date of its signing—just the fourth show to feature new drummer Marky Ramone—this Dee Dee-used and –etched bass is an outright punk rock rarity."

Andy Rourke

Bassist

The Smiths

Verified via Smithsonguitar

Towards the top of this page, there are photos of Rourke playing a Guild B-301.

Nicky Wire

Bassist

Manic Street Preachers

Verified via Photo

Wire can be seen playing a Guild B-301 in this live photo.

Ryan Waste

Singer, Guitarist

Municipal Waste

Verified via Photo

Ryan Waste consistently uses the Guild B-301 Electric Bass during performances with his band "BAT," as evidenced in multiple music videos and live performances. Specifically, the bass is prominently featured in the music videos for "Beware of the BAT" and "Revenge of the Wolf," where it is clearly visible throughout. Additionally, numerous live performance videos further confirm his use of this instrument. An image supporting this has been attached.

William Butler

Bassist, Keyboardist

Arcade Fire

Verified via Photo

Butler can be seen playing a Guild B-301 in this photo.

Michael Dempsey

Bassist, Composer

The Cure

Verified via Pinterest

In this photo, Dempsey can be seen playing a Guild B-301 Bass.

Chris Cross

Bassist, Keyboardist

Ultravox

Verified via Ultravox

"During the time in which Ultravox was led by John Foxx, he used a Guild B-301, a white Gibson EB-3 and fretless Fender Precision basses, and an EMS Synthi AKS and later Mini Moog synthesisers with an Ampeg amplifier with 8×10" speaker cabinets.

While the recording of Vienna album, he used a Yamaha bass, a Fender Precision bass, a Mini Moog synthesiser and Yamaha synthesiser

Later he also used Status and Steinberger basses.

Cross's distinctive grey bass is an Ibanez RoadStar from the early 1980s; this bass has been used on many of Ultravox's albums and was Cross' primary instrument during the first stage of the 'Return to Eden' Tour in 2009.

On the 'Return to Eden' tour in 2010 and the 'Brilliant' tour in 2012, he also used a Rickenbacker 4003 Fireglo finish bass and a standby black Fender Telecaster Bass."

Mlny Parsonz

Royal Thunder