M-85 Bass in Black

Chambered. The companion to Guild’s M-75 Aristocrat guitar, the M-85 Bass boasts authentic mid-’60s style with a compact semi-hollow body and big Guild BiSonic bass pickup that together create the sonic boom of an instrument twice its size.  The single-cutaway body measures 2 3/4″ deep and a mere 13 1/2″ across the lower bout, with an arched spruce top and maple back and sides. The body also features elegant ivory white body binding, black/white purfling, partial center-block bracing and dual finger rests. This distinctive bass also features a 30 3/4″ scale length, bound three-piece mahogany neck with a vintage-style “soft U” profile, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with 12″ radius and pearloid dot inlays, volume and tone controls, combo bridge/tailpiece with rosewood saddles, Grover tuning machines, nickel hardware and cool Jet Black gloss finish. Includes plush-lined hard-shell case.

List Price: $1,610

This model is no longer in production and 2016 USA pricing is reflected. Check out our other electric basses here. If you have any troubles finding a dealer near you, please don’t hesitate to contact us and a Guild Representative will be happy to help. 

The Guild BS-1 BiSonic pickup was originally found in many of the solid and hollow body Guild basses in the 1960s and 70s. The BS-1 has developed a cult following resulting in several reissue versions and designs, including the famous Darkstar by Fred Hammon and BS-DS by Curtis Novak. Wound to 6.4K Ohms, similar in specification to a Hammon Darkstar, the Guild BS-1 provides a refined modern tone in a classic package.

Specifications

Body:

Body ConstructionChambered with Braced Top
Body TopArched Laminated Spruce
Body BackLaminated Maple
Body SidesLaminated Maple
Body ShapeGuild® M-85
BracingPartial Center Block
FinishGloss Polyurethane
Body Depth Upper Bout2 3/4″ (70 mm)
Body Depth Lower Bout2 3/4″ (70 mm)
Body Length17 1/4″ (438 mm)
Body Width Lower Bout13 3/4″ (349 mm)
Body Width Upper Bout
Overall Guitar Length45″ (1143 mm)
Body BindingIvory White with Black/White Purfling
PurflingBlack/Ivory White

Neck:

Neck Material3-Piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany
Neck ShapeVintage Soft “U”
Neck FinishGloss Polyurethane
Scale Length30 3/4″ (781 mm)
Nut Width1 1/2″ (38.1 mm)
Nut MaterialBone
Fingerboard MaterialIndian Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius12″ (305 mm)
Fingerboard InlaysPearloid Dot
# of Frets21
Fret SizeNarrow Jumbo
Tuning MachinesGrover® Vintage 142 Series
Hardware Finish/PlatingNickel Plated

Truss RodDual-Action
Truss Rod Wrench7mm Hex Truss Rod Wrench

Features:

BridgeGuild® Adjustable Bass Bridge with Rosewood Saddles
StringsD’Addario® EXL165 Nickel Wound Bass, Custom Light, (.045-.105 Gauges)
Case or Gig BagTKL Deluxe Hardshell
Bridge PickupGuild® BS-1 “BiSonic” Bass
Pickup ConfigurationS
Control KnobsBlack Plastic
ControlsMaster Volume, Master Tone
Strap ButtonsVintage-Style

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