The Guild JS bass models were the direct descendant of the Guild Jetstar bass. Like the Jetstar, the Guild JS had a mahogany body, three-piece mahogany (short scale models) or maple (long scale models) neck with rosewood fingerboard, 21 frets, Chesterfield and Guild inlays and Hagstrom bridge and (initially) pickups. The body was redesigned with a new double cutaway 'SG' shape, as with its companion guitar model the Guild S-100.
The Guild JS bass range was clearly aimed at the Gibson SG (EB-0/EB-3) bass market, which had just had its peak year in 1969. The JS bass 1 was first priced in October 1970 at $270 and the JS bass 2 cost $350[2]. The Gibsons at this time (September 1970) were more expensive; the EB0 was $350 and the EB3 was $410[7].
By the late seventies tastes had changed; Gibson had all but abandoned their EB0 and EB3 basses, and things were no different for the similar Guild JS basses. In 1976 Guild introduced the B301 and B302 basses, which were more in keeping with the times. The JS basses were withdrawn, almost immediately (JS bass 1 in 1976, JS bass 2 in 1977)
Guild bass humbucker circa 1975 - The earliest models were fitted with Hagstrom humbuckers, but by 1971 or 72 these had been replaced by Guilds own pickups, as heralded in this 1971 Guild advertisement
The following description of the JS bass 2 is taken from the 1970 Guild catalogue
Now a wider neck, larger headpiece, 2 new Guild Anti-Hum pick-ups for a tighter harder sound - same as on SF bass 30½" scale. Tone switch. Sunburst, Cherry-red, or Black.
The following description of the JS bass 2 is taken from the 1971 Guild catalogue
Now a faster neck, larger headpiece, 2 new Guild humbucking pickups for a tighter harder sound. Tone switch. Sunburst, Cherry-red, Black, Walnut or Natural.
...and this comes from the 1975 Guild catalogue
An instrument with a distinctive character of its own, recognized for its correct intonation over the entire scale. The JS bass gives you the leverage and presence you need - whether laying down a hard-driving beat or working on a melodic line. A great fingerboard lets you play long sets without fatigue [more JS bass 1 and 2 LS and fretless models | JS bass 1 and 2]
1) The Guild Guitar Book by Hans Moust 2) Guild October 1970 price list 3) Guild November 1971 catalog 4) Guild November 1973 catalog 5) Guild November 1976 price list 6) Guild September 1977 price list 7) Gibson September 1970 price list
Guild JS basses, from left to right: (1) 1970 JS bass 2 with the old-style Hagstrom pickups (2) JS bass 2 fretless, black (3) JS bass 2, cherry (4) JS bass 2, natural with carved top
Electric bass advertisements originally published from 1971 onwards. Click on the images for larger copies. Check out other vintage Guild advertisements
Guild JS - New Anti-Hum Pick-Ups on All Guild Guitars and Basses (1971)
This advert from December 1971 doesn't say too much - rather it lets the guitars do the talking. It does, however, underline the fact that all Guild guitars ship with humbucking rather than the old...
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Guild JS - New Solid Bodies From Guild (1971)
Early seventies Guild advert for their solid body range - featuring the new S-100, the JS basses, and the solid-body version of the BluesBird. The guitars pictured are the early versions - old styl...
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Guild JS - Maybe its time you played a different bass! (1972)
Black and white advert for the solid body JS II (fretted and fretless) and M-85 II basses, and the hollow body Starfire SF-bass II
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Guild JS - Guild Humbuckers (1974)
Advertising new-design humbuckers for Guild guitars and basses; replacing the Guild single coil pickup on the guitars and Hagstrom Bisonic on the basses.
Guild humbucking pick-ups have new w...
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Guild JS - Solid Guild (1974)
Black and White advert for the S-100 standard guitar, and JS bass 2. Both are fitted with the newly introduced Guild humbuckers.
In this case the guitar is actually an S-100 SC (standard c...
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