Ok, so as some of you may know, I originally had a gorgeous JB-2 that wound up getting a rounded nut in the matter of a few days. I was lucky enough to be able to just send that back and swap it for this.
The JB-2 didn't have just issues with the truss rod nut. Here are some of the other things I wasn't too thrilled with:
1) High Nut. The 1st fret on the E & A strings were very difficult for me to fret. My MIM Fender played easier in this position and the distance from the fret to the string was noticeably lower.
2) Playability. Now that I think about it, while it didn't play bad at all, it just felt alittle harder to play than again, my MIM Fender, which I just found really strange.
3) Frets. I had a problem where no matter how the neck was adjusted, frets 8-13 or so would buzz. Not so much that it wasn't playable in this area, but enough where if I digging in it was only a problem there.
4) Truss rod adjustment problems. Now that I think about it again, the neck never adjusted that quickly. I felt like I had to do 2 or 3 adjustments just to get alittle bit of movement. Also while straightening the neck, the rod itself felt a bit stiffer to turn.
5) Tuners. This bass came with HipShot tuners which had quite a bit of "slop" and didn't allow for very precise tuning. Also the A tuner seemed to creak and make noises.
6) Tuning. I never felt like the bass was always 100% in tune. There were spots both upper and lower that sounded slightly out of tune even if the intonation was correct.
NOW to compare the SB-2 to this:
1) The nut is perfect. I can fret very easily in the 1st fret on the E & A strings, and the distance from string to fret is spot on.
2) Playability is much easier on this bass and I can't figure out why. It's the exact same neck, a #8, and I'm literally using the same strings. This neck for some reason feels more comfortable as well in my hand. The other one felt good but this one just feels different, I don't know how to describe it. Very odd considering it's the same model neck.
3) Perfect frets, nothing more to say
Although unless it's just me, the fret size looks a bit larger on the SB-2. Maybe someone can verify if there's a difference between frets on the JB-2 and the SB-2?
4) Again, no truss rod problems. The truss rod turns easily and the adjustment takes right away (well, atleast enough for me to be satisfied until it settles). Also as with my original problem on the JB-2 regarding the truss rod nut, I can see the outline of the shape of the wrench on the SB-2 where as on the JB-2, I couldn't see the shape that much and it almost looked like it was rounded a bit upon arrival. The wrench slides in all the way and while it can be wiggled a bit, it has no side-to side play like I had on the JB-2.
5) This bass has G&L Schaller tuners. No slop, and nice tight action.
6) Tuning is perfect. It tunes up easily and stays in tune easier. Also throughout the neck, notes have been clarity and are in tune with each other.
As for my impression of the sound, it is outstanding. I'm still not sure if I want to have someone do the tone control mod but even with out it this bass is more versatile than some give credit for. With everything opened up it is LOUD. Even with my Ampeg B100R on 2 it sounds like it's at twice the volume. It is also a pretty dirty sound. Rolling off the bridge pickup smooths out the tone some, and rolling down the neck pickup rounds out the tone even more. So for people who doubt the absense of the tone control, play with the pickup volume, it does more for the tone than other passive basses.
All and all I'm VERY happy with this bass, I have no issues with it at all. As gorgeous as the JB-2 was, I'm glad it had the problems it did or else I wouldn't have the ultimately better bass for me
