 Guild bass humbucker circa 1975 - The earliest models were fitted with Hagstrom humbuckers, but by 1971 or 72 these had been replaced by Guilds own pickups, as heralded in this 1971 Guild advertisement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 itd 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]
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Related pages from the VintageGuitars website
 The JS bass models were the direct descendent of the Guild Jetstar bass. like the Jetstar, it 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. It was launched with a companion guitar model the Guild S-100
Guild JS bass chronology
- 1967 Last Jetstar bass manufactured - model discontinued in 1969[1]
- 1970 JS bass launched as the one-pickup JS bass I ($270) and the two-pickup JS bass II ($350) [2]. Finishes: Cherry, Sunburst or Black[3]
- 1971 Hagstrom bisonic single-coil pickups replaced with Guild humbucker pickups
- 1972 Long scale (JS bass I LS, JS bass II LS) stereo, and fretless models added to the range
- 1973 Aswell as the existing finshes, natural and walnut are now available[4]
- 1974 Optional carved top on natural models only
- 1976 JS bass 1 withdrawn[5]
- 1977 JS bass 2 withdrawn[6]
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The Guild JS bass range was clearly aimed at the Gibson SG 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)
Have a look at vintage Guild JS bass advertising
 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
Back to the Guild Index
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