G&L SB2 or Fender Tony Franlin?

bluebear · #1 02-01-2008, 05:22 PM

I'm wondering if anyone has had the opportunity to see how the G&L SB_2 and Fender's Tony Franklin fretted signature bass compare?

Nedmundo · #2 02-01-2008, 06:47 PM

Run a search in the "Basses" forum, because someone who has both commented on the differences in a thread about the Tony Franklin, which he preferred due to more even balance between the pickups. I have an SB-2, but have never tried a TF.

bluebear · #3 02-01-2008, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'll have a look.

Nedmundo · #4 02-02-2008, 10:49 AM

Here it is:

Tony Franklin FRETTED bass

bluebear · #5 02-02-2008, 12:15 PM

Thanks again Nedmundo. There was a lot of intersting reading in that link. I have a G&L L2000 Tribute right now, which I
plan on keeping. I keep thinking that I would like another bass though and after going back and forth between various brands and styles the Tony Franklin has shot to the top of my list. In the meantime I'll keep an eye out

at my local music store and see if they have one in to try out. Darn this GAS.

ljazz · #6 02-03-2008, 03:43 AM

Boy, the TF really looks sweet, but the thing that will keep me from gassin' for it is the pu selector. If it had a v/v, I'd probably be interested.

I just got my SB2 last week, and I'm in love! The new strings I put on are starting to break-in, and it's tonal heaven. In fact, it's so nice that I'm thinking of flippin' my '02 L2K so I can pick up a SB2 fretless.

I used to think the p/j combo a bit of an ugly step child. Go straight P or get a Jazz. My SB2 is changing that.

Ljazz

bluebear · #7 02-03-2008, 08:44 PM

ljazz,

I have a L2K and even though it is a Tribute I've always figured it is a bass that I will keep. Do you find that the SB2 gets enough tonal variation that it can take the place of your L2K or do you just prefer the tones from the SB?

And the TF does look sweet, especially the white version.

ljazz · #8 02-04-2008, 03:57 AM

It's a funny thing with me...... I've played P's or J's for so long, that it is what I hear in my head when I'm coming up with the lines I play. With my L2K, I feel like I'm a fish out of water. However, I will admit that lines I've already created sound great on the L2K.

Nedmundo said it in another thread I think..... the P tone is not very versatile in the amount of tonal variation it gets.... but the P tone works with everything. And nothing impresses me more than seeing some guy just flat out kickin' with a beat up old P bass!!!

I have a SB1 here that I've played for 20+ years, and a MIA Jazz that I've played 15+ years. I think those 2 have ruined me for other basses.... tone, feel, playability, and adjustability (these two are just the easiest basses to get setup, no matter what strings i cram on them).

The guys I'm playing with now like to play tuned down a half step. I like to use the Jazz for slap and more modern sounding stuff, and the P on finger stuff. Problem is I like to play out with others a bit, and don't like readjusting everything to accomodate standard tuning. Hence, my purchase of another bass.

The L2K experiment is failing. The SB2, however, is filling the bill nicely. The Jazz neck feels awesome, and the bass feels a bit lighter. Definitely the most comofortable bass I have. And I have enough tonal variation with the v/v to find my sound and place in the mix. (oooooo and I swear TI flats were made for this bass!)

Ljazz

Root 5 · #9 02-13-2008, 10:09 AM

As much as I love G&L and have the belief they build a superior product, I would have to suggest you go with the Fender Tony Franklin model simply because you will have more tonal variation at your fingertips as the SB-2 has no tone controls. If you get a tech to install a tone control which would be fairly simple, hmm, then we have a dilemma!

4Mal · #10 02-13-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

As much as I love G&L and have the belief they build a superior product, I would have to suggest you go with the Fender Tony Franklin model simply because you will have more tonal variation at your fingertips as the SB-2 has no tone controls. If you get a tech to install a tone control which would be fairly simple, hmm, then we have a dilemma!

It could get worse yet ...

How about a stack knob vol on tone for each pickup and a Series Parallel switch for the P coils (it's in series now which is why it sounds so darned big ...) that SB-2 just got somewhat more flexible... not a real expensive mod at all. The harness is easy to build - I did it with AllParts pots and Sprague cap's on a Fender PJ.

Infernal Affair · #11 02-13-2008, 07:15 PM

Excuse my ignorance with electronics, but is the reason the SB-2 doesn't output enough power in the jazz pickup because of the actual pickup itself or the pot or what? Just wondering if someone replaced the jazz pickup with something else if it'd even out the volume.

ljazz · #12 02-14-2008, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Root 5

As much as I love G&L and have the belief they build a superior product, I would have to suggest you go with the Fender Tony Franklin model simply because you will have more tonal variation at your fingertips as the SB-2 has no tone controls. If you get a tech to install a tone control which would be fairly simple, hmm, then we have a dilemma!

hmmmmm.... more variation with a tone control, but only three choices for pup blending?...... I don't buy it. On a passive bass, the tone control is great for taming new roundwounds, and taming some of the P pup "bark"..... but beyond that, don't you find the tone control useless? You kind of find the "sweet-spot" and leave it there. On the TF you've got three choices.... P, P/J, and bridge J. I'll take my v/v over the switch any day.

Ljazz

DavePlaysBass · #13 02-14-2008, 05:32 AM

Either bass could be easily wired V/V/T for maximum flexibility. At the end of the day it is about personal preference. Do you like the P-bass on steroids sounds of an SB-2 with a bit of bridge pickup dialed in.

For the money I think the SB-2 is the bargain. The only mod you would need would be the tone mod for $15. With a Fender, there is always the pickup upgrade question. And it probably lists a couple hundred higher.

Dave

DavePlaysBass · #14 02-14-2008, 10:45 AM

OTOH if the Tony Franklin is a 1 5/8" neck, I would go for it. The 1.5" G&Ls are pretty skinny

Thunder Pulse · #15 02-14-2008, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

Excuse my ignorance with electronics, but is the reason the SB-2 doesn't output enough power in the jazz pickup because of the actual pickup itself or the pot or what? Just wondering if someone replaced the jazz pickup with something else if it'd even out the volume.

Bump. I'd like a better understanding of this too.

**Chef** · #16 02-14-2008, 03:45 PM

The SB2 J pup isn't wound anywhere near as hot as the MFD designed P pup; it's meant to be a tone control.
That's why there's no tone control...

But! Jack that mutha all the way up, and yer pretty close to fine.

If one was to replace it, you could put the L2K 'bucker in there, or, a Nordstrand Fat Stack Single....mmmmm....

Infernal Affair · #17 02-14-2008, 04:56 PM

Ok. I figured it was the hotness of the pickup. This has many possibilities. Hmm.

DavePlaysBass · #18 02-14-2008, 06:00 PM

The J pup on an SB-2 looks to be really close to the bridge. This may account for it not seeming so loud. It appears to be in a 70's J position if not a little closer.

4Mal · #19 02-14-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chef

The SB2 J pup isn't wound anywhere near as hot as the MFD designed P pup; it's meant to be a tone control.
That's why there's no tone control...

But! Jack that mutha all the way up, and yer pretty close to fine.

If one was to replace it, you could put the L2K 'bucker in there, or, a Nordstrand Fat Stack Single....mmmmm....

You know- I haven't pulled mine apart to look but ... my understanding is that the split coils are wired in series. Your normal P Bass split is wired in Parallel... and that is where the big volume comes from. I'm thinking seriously that if I keep my SB-2 - or land another that I'll do a series / parallel switch. That easy you can set it up for the parallel setting and have the boost in reserve...

IMO - overwould pickupos tend to lose hi's and low's. They get a large low mid hump. Typically I can't stand them ... the one time I've liked overwound pickups was in a bass so bright it needed taming. There they worked to my advantage ... The SB-2 pickups seem pretty 'full range' to me which is one of the reasons I lend some credence to the series wiring scheme.

So my thinking is rather than intrusive (routing) mod, attain the balance off a switch. Now one aspect I'm sure we can agree on is - the SB-2, as delivered from G&L sounds freakin' huge. It is a monsterouse P Bass sounding beast ...

sunbeast · #20 02-15-2008, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

You know- I haven't pulled mine apart to look but ... my understanding is that the split coils are wired in series. Your normal P Bass split is wired in Parallel... ...

I'm pretty sure all stock Fender P basses have the split-coil wired in series and always have as far as I am aware (except on "S-1" equipped P-basses, where you can chose either/or)... The G&L sounds the way it does due to pickup design and not any difference in wiring.

Karl