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Pricing and availability

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Description

The Guild Pilot Bass is a distinguished choice for bassists seeking a harmonious blend of vintage charm and modern performance. Known for its sleek, contoured body, this electric bass offers a comfortable playing experience, perfect for both seasoned performers and budding musicians. Its active electronics provide a dynamic range of tonal possibilities, allowing you to dial in everything from deep, resonant lows to crisp, articulate highs. The fast, slim neck is designed for effortless playability, enabling fluid navigation across the fretboard.

This instrument is equipped with high-quality components, ensuring reliability and longevity. The Guild Pilot Bass is crafted with precision, reflecting Guild's legacy of excellence in musical craftsmanship. Its versatile sound makes it suitable for a variety of genres, from jazz to rock and everything in between. Whether you're laying down the groove in a live performance or recording in the studio, this bass delivers consistent, reliable performance.

Key Features:

  • Active electronics for enhanced tonal flexibility
  • Fast, slim neck for comfortable playability
  • Sleek, contoured body design
  • High-quality components for durability and performance
  • Versatile sound suited for multiple music genres
  • Precision-crafted with Guild's renowned craftsmanship standards
EricBlackmonGuitar

EricBlackmonGuitar

MY GUITARS The 90's USA Guild Pilot Bass Guitar @EricBlackmonGuitar

Video thumbnail for MY GUITARS The 90's USA Guild Pilot Bass Guitar @EricBlackmonGuitar by EricBlackmonGuitar

MY GUITARS The 90's USA Guild Pilot Bass Guitar @EricBlackmonGuitar

EricBlackmonGuitar

EricBlackmonGuitar

Video thumbnail for 1982 Guild Pilot 5 string bass guitar demo - Andy Irvine by Andy Irvine

1982 Guild Pilot 5 string bass guitar demo - Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine

Video thumbnail for "Beautiful" single released - Andy Irvine (1982 Guild Pilot Bass) by Andy Irvine

"Beautiful" single released - Andy Irvine (1982 Guild Pilot Bass)

Andy Irvine

Andy Irvine

Video thumbnail for CRAB RAVE 🦀 Noisestorm Cover III Guild Pilot Bass Guitar + Lesson Link @ericblackmonmusicbass9175 by EricBlackmonGuitar

CRAB RAVE 🦀 Noisestorm Cover III Guild Pilot Bass Guitar + Lesson Link @ericblackmonmusicbass9175

EricBlackmonGuitar

EricBlackmonGuitar

Video thumbnail for Stevie Wonder - 'Sir Duke' Bass Cover - Nate Watts - Guild Pilot by GPB Bassman

Stevie Wonder - 'Sir Duke' Bass Cover - Nate Watts - Guild Pilot

GPB Bassman

GPB Bassman

Reviews

Owner Insights

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

User experience

  • The Guild Pilot basses from the 80s and 90s have been noted for their durability, with one owner using theirs for over 15 years in numerous gigs.

    Source
  • Owners cherish the Guild Pilot for its sentimental value, with stories of long-term use and emotional attachment to the instrument.

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  • Owners describe the Pilot as "fun as hell" to play, with a notable appeal despite its pricing.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Guild Pilots are reportedly lighter than comparable Fender models, offering a different playing feel.

    Source
  • The Guild Pilot is notably lighter than the Mexican J Bass, providing a different, more comfortable playing experience.

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Use cases and applications

  • Prince, known for his eclectic music, used a Guild Pilot bass for recording, suggesting its versatility in studio settings.

    Source
  • The Guild Pilot has been extensively gigged, with one user reporting hundreds of shows over 13 years, showcasing its reliability for frequent performers.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Current pricing for Guild Pilot basses ranges between $650 and $900, reflecting their status as solid but not exceedingly popular instruments.

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  • An '83 Guild Pilot is considered overpriced at $900, with similar models from '84 listed at $600.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • An '84 Guild Pilot with a rare pickguard has been modified, yet the owner retains all original parts, indicating flexibility for customization.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Guild Pilot from the 1980s is noted for its distinct period-specific aesthetics, appreciated by owners as a "product of its time."

    Source
  • The '83 model features a unique natural finish with a large black pickguard, distinguishing it from later years.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Pilot Review | Guild | Bass Guitars | Reviews @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com

ultimate-guitar.com

The Guild Pilot Bass shines with its impressive action, solid hardware, and overall feel, making it a high-quality instrument from the pre-Fender acquisition era. However, the EMG pickups detract from its sound, which could be a dealbreaker for some. Despite this flaw, it remains a reliable and well-crafted choice for bass enthusiasts.

positive

3.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Prince uses Guild Pilot Bass

Prince

Singer, Guitarist

Prince

...
Verified via Tripod

"Other basses include an old Guild Pilot and a gold-colored Ibanez Soundgear."

See how Jaco Pastorius uses Guild Pilot Bass

Jaco Pastorius

Bassist, Keyboardist

Weather Report

...
Verified via Photo

Jaco became an endorser of both Guild and Hartke cabinets in 1986. From an interview with Jaco's son and Larry Hartke, to be found at: http://jacopastorius.com/features/stories/the-jaco-hartke-connection/

"JP: Bob Bobbing told me something about how my Dad was actually the one responsible for getting you the deal with Guild in the very beginning. How did that go down?

LH: Mark Dronge, the owner of Guild at that time, was developing a new Guild Pilot Bass. Mark went to see Jaco at the club to show him the bass. Jaco liked the Pilot Bass, but came back at Mark with the comment that his new experimental bass cabinet that he was using was the “real deal,” and “IT” was what he really should be interested in. Shortly there after Mark actually contacted me, and BAM, just like that, we got a distribution deal. The rest is history.

JP: Actually, I was always a little confused when I saw that ad with my Dad holding a Guild bass. My Dad always played Fender jazz basses when he recorded and played out… He was playing his Fender jazz in New York during the period you knew him wasn’t he?

LH: Jaco did like the pilot bass that Guild made for him, and he did play it live a lot during that period. They had early EMG pickups and they sounded very full and clean. The Fenders were always around though and he did continue to use them.

See how Sergio Vega uses Guild Pilot Bass

Sergio Vega

Bassist

Deftones

...
Verified via YouTube

Sergio Vega plays a white Guild Pilot Bass in this video. It looks like he has covered it in stickers.

See how Mike Mills uses Guild Pilot Bass

Mike Mills

Guitarist, Bassist

R.E.M.

...
Verified via Photo

Used extensively from 1984 through 1986.

See how Benjamin Orr uses Guild Pilot Bass

Benjamin Orr

Singer, Bassist

The Cars

...
Verified via YouTube

In the mid-1980s, Benjamin Orr incorporated Guild Pilot basses into his performances, as evidenced by footage from "The Cars ☮ Just What I Needed" on YouTube. He was seen playing both black and red models during this period. By 1987, during the "Door to Door" era, he returned to using Fender Precision Active basses.

See how Zeta Bosio uses Guild Pilot Bass

Zeta Bosio

Bassist

Soda Stereo

...
Verified via Photo

Zeta Bosio used the Guild Pilot Bass during rehearsals and some performances for the album "Nada Personal" (1985), as shown in the image provided on Imgur.

See how Jack Donovan uses Guild Pilot Bass

Jack Donovan

Bassist

Elder

...
Verified via YouTube

Jack now plays a Guild Pilot from the mid 80's. A lightweight pj bass.

See how Harley Flanagan uses Guild Pilot Bass

Harley Flanagan

Singer, Bassist

Cro-Mags

...
Verified via YouTube

at around 18 seconds you can see the headstock semi clearly say "guild" and the body shape is quite distinct so it wasn't very hard to put together which one it was.

See how Alec John Such uses Guild Pilot Bass

Alec John Such

Bassist

Bon Jovi

...
Verified via YouTube

Such became an endorser of Guild Pilot Bass from 1986-1987. He played with this bass on two songs like "You Give Love A Bad Name" and "Livin On A Prayer".

See how Levi Seacer, Jr. uses Guild Pilot Bass

Levi Seacer, Jr.

Guitarist

The New Power Generation

...
Verified via Guitarcloud

Levi used a Guild Pilot bass with Prince in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

See how Doug Carrion uses Guild Pilot Bass

Doug Carrion

Bassist

Descendents

...
Verified via YouTube
Color/Finish: White

Doug Carrion is confirmed to use the Guild Pilot Bass, as evidenced by the live video recording from March 27, 1987, at Fender's Ballroom in Long Beach, California, where he is seen playing this bass with Dag Nasty. The performance was captured by Daghouse Archives and is available on YouTube.

Album Usage

The Guild Pilot Bass has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Guild Pilot Bass, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

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Gear Guides

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    haas123
    haas123

    Gear IQ 21966