1974 Jetstar question

[spacefunk]

I've just seen a 1974 Guild Jetstar JS-2 for sale with what is described as Oak Inlays. It looks really nice.

Can anyone shed any more light on these basses? Thanks.

 

[fronobulax]

I've just seen a 1974 Guild Jetstar JS-2 for sale with what is described as Oak Inlays. It looks really nice.

Can anyone shed any more light on these basses? Thanks.

I'm just guessing here but..

While Guild did refer to the double cut-away solid body bass as JetStar they dropped the nomenclature in favor of JS. Sooner or later JS and oak will lead you to the carved model introduced circa 1974. Some catalog specs are here but basically it is a bass with oak leaves and acorns carved into the body as decoration. So my best guess is that is what you are looking at.

The only difference from a JS was the carving. Electronics are the same. Most of them are a light, oak colored or natural finish but there are definitely examples that are a darker brown.

I had a hard time find a good image of a bass.

There are a lot of pictures of the corresponding guitar which is held in high esteem by many at LTG. The JS bass does not command nearly as much respect and the carved version carries a slight premium at best.

What else can we tell you?

Edit: Duh. Of course, Guilds of Grot has one.

 

[spacefunk]

That's the one!!!

Thanks for the info. I saw one of these basses in a guitar shop here in London, England. I'd never seen one before but just after i posted this question i saw another for sale about a couple of miles from where i live. It's fate isn't it?

 

[fronobulax]

I never warmed to the carving but others have. The JS with Guild humbuckers gets a lot of points for shape and balance and but not for tone. However, after reading and participating in this thread (and getting a few things wrong, in the process) I am reconsidering my opinion on the humbuckers.

 

[spacefunk]

I never warmed to the carving but others have. The JS with Guild humbuckers gets a lot of points for shape and balance and but not for tone. However, after reading and participating in this thread (and getting a few things wrong, in the process) I am reconsidering my opinion on the humbuckers.

Here in the UK i've found 3 of these carved basses for sale. They are priced (after i've converted them for UK Pounds) at 1400, 1700 & 2400 U.S. Dollars.
Not cheap and we do tend to pay more for guitars and basses (no, make that nearly everything!!) this side of the pond.

 

[fronobulax]

I never warmed to the carving but others have. The JS with Guild humbuckers gets a lot of points for shape and balance and but not for tone. However, after reading and participating in this thread (and getting a few things wrong, in the process) I am reconsidering my opinion on the humbuckers.

Here in the UK i've found 3 of these carved basses for sale. They are priced (after i've converted them for UK Pounds) at 1400, 1700 & 2400 U.S. Dollars.
Not cheap and we do tend to pay more for guitars and basses (no, make that nearly everything!!) this side of the pond.

I've seen US dealers ask for $1000-$1500 for a JS II in anything ranging from good condition (for its age) to very good condition (regardless of the fact that it is a 40+ year old instrument). Don't know whether they got that or not. I am the original owner of my JS bass and think it is in awfully good condition and I would be pleased to get $1500 for it. So the first two listed might actually be reasonably priced considering the Atlantic Ocean.

 

[bluesypicky]

Here in the UK i've found 3 of these carved basses for sale. They are priced (after i've converted them for UK Pounds) at 1400, 1700 & 2400 U.S. Dollars.

Hi spacefunk,
Are you going after one of these?
If not could you give me the contact number of the first two that you listed above?

I'm one of those that have "warmed up" to the carving, and I must say that the idea to own the pair pictured above is strangely but strongly appealing to me, not to mention that I could use one good bass.

BTW: I had sent you a PM, not sure if you received it? (should show that you have a message on top of the screen when you log in)

Thanks!

BP (Pascal)

 

[spacefunk]

Here in the UK i've found 3 of these carved basses for sale. They are priced (after i've converted them for UK Pounds) at 1400, 1700 & 2400 U.S. Dollars.

Hi spacefunk,
Are you going after one of these?
If not could you give me the contact number of the first two that you listed above?

I'm one of those that have "warmed up" to the carving, and I must say that the idea to own the pair pictured above is strangely but strongly appealing to me, not to mention that I could use one good bass.

BTW: I had sent you a PM, not sure if you received it? (should show that you have a message on top of the screen when you log in)

Thanks!

BP (Pascal)

I have pmd you BP

 

[bluesypicky]

Here in the UK i've found 3 of these carved basses for sale. They are priced (after i've converted them for UK Pounds) at 1400, 1700 & 2400 U.S. Dollars.

Hi spacefunk,
Are you going after one of these?
If not could you give me the contact number of the first two that you listed above?

I'm one of those that have "warmed up" to the carving, and I must say that the idea to own the pair pictured above is strangely but strongly appealing to me, not to mention that I could use one good bass.

BTW: I had sent you a PM, not sure if you received it? (should show that you have a message on top of the screen when you log in)

Thanks!

BP (Pascal)

I have pmd you BP

Remember this thread?....
Well lookee here what came up this morning!

 

[fronobulax]

Nice. Why should Grot have all the neat sets?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Welcome to the deep end of the pool Pascal!

 

[bluesypicky]

Welcome to the deep end of the pool Pascal!

:lol: Thanks Kurt, but I'll never get close to the 102 depth!

And in case you're still around spacefunk, thanks again for the UK lead.

 

[hagmeat]

Nice one BP ! I love how JS2`s don`t have a pick guard, it just adds to the charm.
I reckon many other guitars would look better minus the pick guard.
Congrats mate. Cheers. Rob.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Welcome to the deep end of the pool Pascal!

:lol: Thanks Kurt, but I'll never get close to the 102 depth!

And in case you're still around spacefunk, thanks again for the UK lead.

I meant the deep end of the frequency pool now that you're playing bass! (Waiting for the video!)

 

[fronobulax]

[quote="The Guilds of Grot":215vxmor]Welcome to the deep end of the pool Pascal!

:lol: Thanks Kurt, but I'll never get close to the 102 depth!

And in case you're still around spacefunk, thanks again for the UK lead.

I meant the deep end of the frequency pool now that you're playing bass! (Waiting for the video!)[/quote:215vxmor]

Well we know he can do that since he and krysh swapped instruments at LMG II - an event I recall since the bass was my B4CE.

 

[bluesypicky]

Thanks Jamie, I'll come up with something. But I need to put strings on that thing first... the worn flatwounds aren't doing it for me, although I'm already very impressed by the overall quality of that bass and the sound palette (and not "palate" :lol: )
At last a good bass in BP's crib!
What really surprised me is the difference in weight with the S-100 (as they have a similar body)... not that the S-100 is heavy, but the Jetstar is a feather compared to it!
And what a great neck... color me happy. :mrgreen:

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks Jamie, I'll come up with something. But I need to put strings on that thing first... the worn flatwounds aren't doing it for me, although I'm already very impressed by the overall quality of that bass and the sound palette (and not "palate" :lol: )
At last a good bass in BP's crib!
What really surprised me is the difference in weight with the S-100 (as they have a similar body)... not that the S-100 is heavy, but the Jetstar is a feather compared to it!
And what a great neck... color me happy. :mrgreen:

My "grail" tone is a Bisonic equipped Starfire. I put new D'Addario flats on the Starfire, moved the 30+ year old RotoSounds to the JS and the JS actually sounded a bit more like the Starfire. I played (in a non destructive way) with the mod described towards the end of this thread and I am toying with making it permanent.

 

[bluesypicky]

moved the 30+ year old RotoSounds to the JS

:lol: :lol: :lol:
When I read "30+ years old" I had another "receptacle" in mind..... :lol:

 

[bluesypicky]

I meant the deep end of the frequency pool now that you're playing bass! (Waiting for the video!)

OK, so here ya go....
(to fully enjoy the carved beauty, make sure to click on the little gear wheel under the youtube screen and select 720p for HD... the Jetstar is worth it if I'm not )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr1Mp1-j ... ZQ&index=1

 

[lilyguilder77]

Nice! That's some great greasy and funky bass playing.