B301 bridge tilt adjuster

[czach]

I just had the good fortune of purchasing a B301. It is missing the tilt adjuster on the bridge. Would anybody out there have an extra they would be willing to part with?

 

[fronobulax]

Welcome, but I have no parts lying around

 

[killdeer43]

WELCOME TO LTG!
Alas, I have no parts to offer, either, but stick around and someone might be along to help. :wink:

Enjoy,
Joe

 

[czach]

Thanks, guys. I had seen some posts from people that had replaced the entire bridge so was hoping that somebody had some parts stashed away from the old ones.

 

[hagmeat]

I just had the good fortune of purchasing a B301. It is missing the tilt adjuster on the bridge. Would anybody out there have an extra they would be willing to part with?

Welcome czach. Congratulations on scoring the B301. I have one myself, it`s a 1981 sunburst,
they are great basses. What year/colour is yours ? Are you able to post any pics ? We like pics
around here. Anyway, try contacting forum member and Guild expert Hans Moust through his website
http://www.guitarchives.nl/guitarsgalore/index.php
and he might be able to help you. Goodluck.

 

[czach]

Hey, thanks for the lead. I just e-mailed Hans.
My B-301 is a black 1976. It had a cracked headstock and one of the previous owners removed the original pickup and installed one of those Bartolini MM replacements and a TBT pre-amp. I repaired the headstock (really an easy fix) and I still need to clean up the mess they made of the control install. In spite of all that and missing the tilt adjuster, it plays and sounds phenomenal. I think this is the first bass I've had that retains it's acoustic tonality when you crank it up through an amp. It sounds the same only louder! When I get the control situation straightened out and put knobs on that match I'll be sure to post a photo.

Craig Z.

 

[lilyguilder77]

Hey everybody! Glad to join you all here. Figured I'd reply in this thread than create unnecessary cluter. I too just acquired a B-301. It's a 78'. I fell in love with the sound and couldn't pass it up after I playing it at Boston Guitar Works in Brockton Mass.
My only concern was the tilt adjuster as well. Although I've since seen one on E-Bay that seems to have the same type of screw in place of the star wheel adjuster. Here's a pic of mine.

and here's a close up of the tilt screw.

Is it possible the bridge was originally constructed this way? It seems kind of precarious yet it has proved functional.

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Here are some photos of what the star wheel adjuster looks like.

We must have been down this road before as I had these photos sitting in my photobucket account.

Interesting the difference in the anchor spud in the bass. Yours looks solid for a screw to bear on. Mine is threaded for the star wheel.

 

[lilyguilder77]

Thanks for responding. I have seen those pics searching this forum. So is it your opinion that this bass has not been modded? I thought perhaps since mine is a 78' it had features that Guild changed in later production. For instance the original control knobs were different as well. I decided the smaller G reflector knobs looked nicer than the bigger ones it originally had. Here's another pic of the bridge.

and the serial #

group photo of my basses.

I'm going to get new strings and a set up for the B301. Was wondering if I should leave the tilt adjuster screw as is. Any string recommendations? I was thinking nickel rounds. Maybe SIT powerwound or Warwick yellow label.

 

[lilyguilder77]

Well I'm going to go ahead and answer my own question in case anyone else here or searching this site is interested to know. It seems the bridge tilt screw is indeed original to the bass. As far as I can tell this was the initial design for this type of bridge before Guild switched over to using the star wheel adjuster. I discovered this after looking at pictures of Guilds for sale and previously sold by Ludlow guitars in NYC. I saw at least two different basses with the same bridge set up as my own.
Cheers!

 

[fronobulax]

Thanks for reporting back.

 

[czach]

Well, this is good news for me. My B-301 is a '76 and the depression in the body where the tilt adjuster was is far smaller than the star wheel model. It looks like something that will be relatively easy to duplicate without having to search for original parts. Thanks to all for your posts!

Craig Z.

1976 B-301
1989 Pilot

 

[hagmeat]

Well I'm going to go ahead and answer my own question in case anyone else here or searching this site is interested to know. It seems the bridge tilt screw is indeed original to the bass. As far as I can tell this was the initial design for this type of bridge before Guild switched over to using the star wheel adjuster. I discovered this after looking at pictures of Guilds for sale and previously sold by Ludlow guitars in NYC. I saw at least two different basses with the same bridge set up as my own.
Cheers!

Welcome lilyguilder77, good to have you on board mate. That`s a great looking B301.
My B301 is a 1981 Sunburst and has the star wheel adjuster. Although, my 1977 JS2 LS has the screw instead.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=29320
I agree, I think that in the late `70`s Guild switched over to the star wheel adjuster.
Cheers. Rob

 

[lilyguilder77]

Glad to be aboard and happy to help czach. That JSB-2LS is way cool hagmeat! Can't be to many of those around. Hope you had a great summer. Must have been some nice scenery around Bondi beach. I wonder what the production totals of the B series basses are. Seems like Ludlow guitars ended up with more than their fair share.

 

[hagmeat]

Glad to be aboard and happy to help czach. That JSB-2LS is way cool hagmeat! Can't be to many of those around. Hope you had a great summer. Must have been some nice scenery around Bondi beach. I wonder what the production totals of the B series basses are. Seems like Ludlow guitars ended up with more than their fair share.

Thanks mate, I haven`t seen another one like mine. I`ve seen a few JS2`s with the same bridge, but not with those Guild
single coil bass pick ups, and being a `77 as well, it`s my No.1 bass. The summer here was torture for me, I work outdoors
and I am not a summer person. Bondi beach is about a half an hour drive from me an I haven`t been there for years, I
prefer my sisters pool which is just up the road. Have you been to Oz before ?
As for ludlow guitars, I was looking at some of their B301`s/B302`s before I bought mine, but their prices are steep and I
end up getting mine for $650 off ebay. My cousin lives in Florida, so she brought it over with her as baggage so I saved
on the shipping too. I`m very happy with it.

 

[lilyguilder77]

Been to Sydney when my cousin lived there. My Uncle met his wife there after nam and so my cuz has dual citizenship. I went on my summer break so it was winter down under. Hung out in the city for a bit and took a hike through the blue mountains and then we took off for Bali. Kuta beach was cool and I bagged a bird from Perth. The club I met her in got bombed by Al Qaida the next year. Vegemite is way better than Marmite btw.

 

[hagmeat]

Been to Sydney when my cousin lived there. My Uncle met his wife there after nam and so my cuz has dual citizenship. I went on my summer break so it was winter down under. Hung out in the city for a bit and took a hike through the blue mountains and then we took off for Bali. Kuta beach was cool and I bagged a bird from Perth. The club I met her in got bombed by Al Qaida the next year. Vegemite is way better than Marmite btw.

Sounds like you had a great holiday mate. I like hiking through the Blue Mountains and I have some friends
that live there, so I try to go visit whenever possible. Vegemite is better than Marmite, but I prefer Mightymite
over both of them, it tastes much more like beer !

 

[lilyguilder77]

Cool tip about the mightymite. Hope I can find it in the states.
Thanks,
Ari