paulbuzz Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 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] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBeefChief Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 BASS FERRET - STEP AWAY FROM THE KEYBOARD! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 i think its a guild but dunno what model, my local shop has one in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbuzz Posted December 4, 2008 Author Share Posted December 4, 2008 Oh my word; instant answers! Aren't teh internets marvellous! Prizes? Hmmm - sticky buns all round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4000 Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Indeed, 4000 is right. I have a 301 Fretless which is a doozy of a bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 He was playing that when I saw them at the Cornwall Coliseum in about 1979-my first ever gig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilLordJuju Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 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] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulbuzz Posted December 5, 2008 Author Share Posted December 5, 2008 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...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRev Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 The bassist from the Feeling plays one as well I believe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
99ster Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 [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... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 [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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jono Bolton Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 [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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickeyboro Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 He has a thing for unusual shapes, clearly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd_david Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 It's a B402A, the 4 series was active and A was an ash body, not the usual mahogany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd_david Posted May 12, 2013 Share Posted May 12, 2013 Ah, 5 yr old thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metissekit Posted March 21, 2019 Share Posted March 21, 2019 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.