Can anyone identify this unusual bass?

[paulbuzz]

Anyone able to identify this bass?
It was used by Ali McMordie of Stiff Little Fingers throughout the early part of their career.
Sorry the pics aren't very good; couldn't find any better ones.

Nothing vital hangs on the answer to the question; I was just interested, and then irritated when I couldn't find the answer!

[attachment=16849:alibass1.jpg]
[attachment=16850:alibass2.jpg]

[BigBeefChief]

BASS FERRET - STEP AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD!

[gafbass02]

i think its a guild but dunno what model, my local shop has one in

[Bassassin]

I do believe that's a Guild B302. Actually I'm not 100% sure of the model number but it's a 70s Guild anyhow.

What do I win?

Jon.

[paulbuzz]

Oh my word; instant answers! Aren't teh internets marvellous!

Prizes? Hmmm - sticky buns all round!

[4000]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='345769' date='Dec 4 2008, 06:06 PM']I do believe that's a Guild B302. Actually I'm not 100% sure of the model number but it's a 70s Guild anyhow.

What do I win?

Jon.[/quote]

Guild B301 or B302. I'm not sure of the difference; it's possible that the 1 was 1 pickup and the 2 was 2 pickup. When you're as old as me you've seen several of these things in the flesh...and brand new!l

[Mickeyboro]

Indeed, 4000 is right. I have a 301 Fretless which is a doozy of a bass.

[Deep Thought]

He was playing that when I saw them at the Cornwall Coliseum in about 1979-my first ever gig!

[bass_ferret]

I didn't need to google - thats a Guild 302. I can also remember playing a new one. Seriously under-rated made in USA basses.

And google did not give an instand answer

[evilLordJuju]

It is a guild B302A

2 meaning two pickups, and A meaning it is ash (not mahogany)

heres a [url="http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/guild78p10.php"]Guild B302 catalogue page[/url]

[paulbuzz]

Thanks everyone for your well-informed and comprehensive replies - I feel a bit guilty (Guild-y?) now, as it was only an 'idly-wondering' sort of question.

I'm pretty sure Ali was using this when I also saw SLF on the Nobody's Heroes tour (1980?) in Aberystwyth.
He's back in the band again now, (after spending time tour-managing and bass-playing for Sinead O'Connor and Moby, amongst others) but I haven't seen any recent pictures of him using this bass. I wonder if he's still got it...

I can't decide whether I think the bass is pleasingly unusual, or just quite ugly...!

[Bassassin]

[quote name='4000' post='345796' date='Dec 4 2008, 06:42 PM']Guild B301 or B302. I'm not sure of the difference; it's possible that the 1 was 1 pickup and the 2 was 2 pickup. When you're as old as me you've seen several of these things in the flesh...and brand new!l[/quote]
I don't ever remember seeing a new 'un but back in the 80s a little local music shop had a fretless version that would be in the window for a week, then disappear for a fortnight, and then be back again. I was never entirely sure what was going on there, but it was a strange little shop - the owner seemingly made more money from producing amateur porn (which he apparently participated in) than from flogging old guitars...

J.

[TheRev]

I sooo wanted to be Ali McMordie when was a bass neophyte back In Northern Ireland.

Glad he's back with SLF - good though Mr Foxton is, it just didn't seem right.

[yorks5stringer]

The bassist from the Feeling plays one as well I believe?

[MoonBassAlpha]

You can tell it is a B302 - 2v 2T controls. I had a B301F (fretless) in mahogany and it was the worst fretless I've ever played. Most of the neck was a dead spot! That might explain the recurrence of one in a shop...

[pete.young]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='346386' date='Dec 5 2008, 01:18 PM']The bassist from the Feeling plays one as well I believe?[/quote]
Yes he does, a 301. He was using it on the BBC radio 2 sessions that were shown on BB4 last week.

[99ster]

[quote name='pete.young' post='347074' date='Dec 6 2008, 10:02 AM']Yes he does, a 301. He was using it on the BBC radio 2 sessions that were shown on BB4 last week.[/quote]

Sold an identical all black one on the bay a few months back (no takers here) - I think they look very cool but mine had a VERY fat neck which didn't suit me...

[mike257]

I've used one of these at an open mic night the last couple of weeks, I just can't decide if I like the shape or not! Feels like it could be a good bass, but the strings appear to have been on since about 1980, and the electrics are on the blink.

Maybe I should offer them a fiver for it and see what happens

[pete.young]

[quote name='99ster' post='349139' date='Dec 8 2008, 10:02 PM']Sold an identical all black one on the bay a few months back (no takers here) - I think they look very cool but mine had a VERY fat neck which didn't suit me...[/quote]
Yes, the necks seem to be like that on the ones that I've played. Beedster would probably get on with them, but I can't.

[Jono Bolton]

[quote name='yorks5stringer' post='346386' date='Dec 5 2008, 01:18 PM']The bassist from the Feeling plays one as well I believe?[/quote]

Yep. He also gets to nail Sophie Ellis-Bexter too, the jammy bastard

[Mickeyboro]

He has a thing for unusual shapes, clearly!

[cd_david]

It's a B402A, the 4 series was active and A was an ash body, not the usual mahogany.

[cd_david]

Ah, 5 yr old thread

[metissekit]

Hi guys

Just saw this post after all this time.

The bass used in Stiff Little Fingers was a B302 thru neck.....I bought it as something different, as you do, 2nd hand in the mid to late '80s from Session Music when they were in York Street, Belfast. Surprisingly it was still in excellent condition and no electrical gremlins and a sweet neck, but TBH I couldn't get on with it as I'm a  Fender. Music Man high on the body player, and used to the strap nut at the 12th fret and the Guild was at the 16th fret.

I sold it pretty quickly into the marketplace. Would I ever want it back?....no!

Just my two pennies worth.

J