buy a sb-2 or jb-2 tribute

wu-del · #1 10-01-2007, 12:24 PM

I already own a tribby l-2000. love the tone. sounds great in my punk/rock band. just want a tribute with a slimmer neck. i was going to get a fender geddy lee, but realized g&l had more options for me.
so here's the question. since no dealers in my area carry these basses i'm going to have to order one blind. crappy. the sb-2 scares me with the basswood body. just always thought that was the el cheapo body wood.

what should i go for guys?

wu-del · #2 10-01-2007, 12:27 PM

i always looking for sound clips of these babies too...

plankspanker13 · #3 10-01-2007, 06:20 PM

My Tribby JB-2 EASILY beat out the Geddy in an A/B test, and cost $200US less. The body on my natural-finish specimen is swamp ash. While the pickups are the traditional single-coils found in Jazz-type basses, the shielding job was top-notch, and I get no hum (uh, from the pickups that is; after the gig might be another story

). That ought to convince you.

Dr. Cheese · #4 10-01-2007, 09:34 PM

if you can afford it, get both! I have a JB-2, and I am seriously considering getting an SB-2. Every time I go into my local store, one of their Tribute SB-2s and I hate to put it down!

I agree with Plankspanker, the JB-2 is an even better buy than a Geddy Lee Jazz, and I really like Geddy Lee jazzes.

plankspanker13 · #5 10-01-2007, 10:17 PM

Good ol' Doc Cheese takin' my back...not that it was needed. The original poster of this thread now has a second opinion to by. I forgot to mention that the JB-2, with a P-style body, is more comfy to play than a J-bass of any sub-type. If I were to get an SB-2, I would want the thinner neck of the JB-2, and a stacked-volume-knob & added tone control mod. The JB-2 is good to go as-is, and I am starting to lose interest in my Warwick Ltd. in favor of it. That's like shunning one's BMW in favor of their Chevy, although the 'wick does come in handy for recording. Even when recording, I am more likely to grab my Fender J24 (FMT-it's a beautiful thing), which plays like a dream.

Buy the Tribby JB-2 as quickly as you can, before G&L realizes that they have an absolute winner on their hands and start raising the price (as the US Dollar falls worldwide).

wu-del · #6 10-01-2007, 11:06 PM

cool guys! i called around today and found a shop that has a jb-2 in stock. i'll check that baby out tomarrow. prolly bring it home. haha! if i didnt have to shell out dough for recording i could have the sb-2 as well. that would solve all of my problems huh cheese!

Infernal Affair · #7 10-02-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

If I were to get an SB-2, I would want the thinner neck of the JB-2,

The SB-2 and JB-2 have the same neck though. At least the Tributes do.

Nedmundo · #8 10-02-2007, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

The SB-2 and JB-2 have the same neck though. At least the Tributes do.

The U.S. models do as well.

plankspanker13 · #9 10-02-2007, 07:52 PM

Didn't realize that; I had just assumed that, like the Fender originals, the "P" derivative would have the wider neck. Methinks that I'll take more interest in the eventual acquisition of an SB-2 in light of this.

p0k · #10 10-03-2007, 05:24 AM

i'd try to get a used USA SB-2 or JB-2...

wu-del · #11 10-04-2007, 02:23 PM

Well i got me a new tobacco sunburst JB-2. I like it! the neck is awesome. its missing some of the things i liked about the L-2000, but it has its own sound. sounds great in the mix at practice. can't complain for $450.

TomB · #12 10-04-2007, 03:50 PM

"Didn't realize that; I had just assumed that, like the Fender originals, the "P" derivative would have the wider neck."

The SB-2 is not a P-derivative, more of a PJ, I'd say. The neck is definitely J-like (The SB-1 was the P derivative). Since the JB-2 was meant to be G&L's J-version, not surprising it has the same neck as SB-2. Do you think G&L will issue another P derivative? Tom

4Mal · #13 10-04-2007, 04:01 PM

They've done a few - they weren't big sellers. I'm a J guy to a large extent. Had a pair of MIA JB-2's and while both were beautifully built instruments, my 62 RI and MIJ 75 RI smoked 'em from a tone and really from a neck feel perspective. For some reason the JB-2's just fall short of the mark in spite of the excellent build and materials. The last one I sold was trans Orange on a 1 pc Ash body with the body bindig option and maple neck. it was just jaw dropping ...

My Trib L2K is amazing (Clear,Ash, Maple neck). I can't believe how good that bass is particularly for the dough... I've had a couple of MIA L2K's and this one just has it in spite of it's origin's in Korea. A very cool bass indeed.

If I had been making the SB-2 v JB-2 decision - it would have been SB-2 all the way. It really isn't a PJ even though it looks like one. It behaves more like a P on Steroids. I've had one of those as well and it's one of the few basses that I've offed that I would welcome back at any point. The current owner isn't going to sell it any time soon though so I guess it's in good hande. I had to sell that one to score a Rumblefish. That one is special so it was an OK trade off but still ... it's one of those I'd love to get back. SB-2's really do rock!

DavePlaysBass · #14 10-04-2007, 08:52 PM

The J in the SB-2 looks to be very close to the bridge. I have never owned an SB-2 but the Tributes I have played in the stores have a really nice grunt to them.

Dave

TomB · #15 10-04-2007, 09:06 PM

I hear ya!

I still consider my '89 sunburst/maple SB-2 "Leo" model as the "one that got away", even though it was a bit noisy... one of the few I miss today.

Though my Am. JB-2 holds its own w/my passive J's any day, for most J-gigs I tend to grab my '71 J w/the Moon Blackbird. preamp.