Oxnard, California  (Headquarters) Córdoba Music Group
Frank Alun Ashworth-jomes and Nigel Thornbory

Woods, metal, silicon-rubber, pigment
ca. 1986-1988
Length: 18 in
Strings – Lutes – Guitars – Electric – Bass

Stamped on back of peghead: AJ 383 / made in USA

This is an original solid body fretless 1980’s Guild ‘Ashbory’ Bass, designed by Alun Ashworth-Jones and Nigel Thornbory.  When amplified the silicon-rubber strung bass with a piezo-electric transducer produces a low, resonant bass tone that emulates a plucked double bass with true clarity and accuracy.  Made by Guild, it is 18 inches long, almost half the size of a standard electric bass guitar.  Stamped on the back of the headstock is serial number AJ 383 / made in USA and is one of only 1235 originals made in the USA by Guild.

When the bass debuted at the Barbian Guitar Exhibition, it caught the attention of C.F. Martin IV, who commissioned prototypes for the Martin Guitar Company.  Nevertheless, things fell through with C. F. Martin Guitars, but George Gruhn was familiar with the Ashbory and managed to introduce the instrument to Guild. Ashworth-Jones and Thornbory later visited the Guild Factory in Westerly, Rhode Island to collaborate on production and at the 1987 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California, the Ashbory was introduced.  The Ashbory was produced by the Guild Guitar Company from 1986 until 1988.

Reference:  https://www.basscentre.com/bass-centre-ashbory-bass.html