New (to me) SB-2

[snappytom]

Got this one off eBay last week.

ButterScotch Blonde over Ash, Tort guard, excellent quarter-sawn 6-bolt neck with the Gun Oil Tint Finish, Rosewood fretboard.

Previous owner(s) modified the pots to be V/T V/T, and shielded the cavity. Not a ding or gouge on it. The truss rod could use just a bit more free-play on the tight side, but I have the neck set where I want it with very little relief. Curious to see how the change in seasons around here treat me on that in the future.

Great tone the the semi-rounds it came with. The color is not something I would normally choose, but it looks really good with the Ash grain faintly coming thru.

[rok51]

Gorgeous...simply gorgeous.

Kim

[idoru]

I'm glad that's not a maple fretboard, or I'd be insanely jealous

c-

[Youngspanion]

What other basses do you or have you owned that you can compare it to?

Real nice by the way.

[peterbright]

Very nice!

[snappytom]

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

What other basses do you or have you owned that you can compare it to?

Real nice by the way.

Thanks .....

I like P/J basses, but in that world the SB-2 seems to stand alone. IMO it is because of the MFD pickups. That opinion seems to be shared by many here at TB.
Have never owned a straight P-Bass so I cannot compare with that but can honestly say that nothing else I have played is like an SB-2. Which does not mean they are outrageously different, they just have their own vibe.

An SB-2 is very comfortable to play (balance and body contour), the 1.5" neck is what I like, and the tone can go from smooth and mellow to a snarling junkyard dog.

Also, the truss-rod tightness mentioned above has been solved with the "washer trick" which can be found in the Setup and Repair forum.

In hindsight, I should have posted this in the "Club" or "Show your G&L's" thread .........

[FidgetStone]

Snappy,
Since you own or have owned an ASAT and an L-2000, how would you compare those to the SB-2?

Also, though I know you are just getting to know the SB-2, if you were forced to choose between an SB-2 and an ASAT or L-2000, which would you choose and why?

Yes, I like to impose essay questions on unsuspecting G&L owners.

[snappytom]

Originally Posted by FidgetStone

Snappy,
Since you own or have owned an ASAT and an L-2000, how would you compare those to the SB-2?

Also, though I know you are just getting to know the SB-2, if you were forced to choose between an SB-2 and an ASAT or L-2000, which would you choose and why?

Yes, I like to impose essay questions on unsuspecting G&L owners.

I did not have the ASAT too long ..... it was not ergonomically correct for me. The short horn caused it to hang different and the "reach" on the neck was more than I could deal with. Tone and versatility wise, the ASAT and the L-2000 are about the same.

The L-2000 I had was eronomically excellent. It had the #8 Jazz neck which I liked and the same controls as the ASAT. The amount of tone variations was almost overwhelming and I probably only used 1/3 of the switch combination capabilities. I regret selling it and hope to get another some day.

The SB-2 fits as good as the L-2000. What it does for me that the ASAT and L-2000 did not is to provide more "grit" in the tone if needed. I attribute most of that to the P split-coil MFD pickup, with a bit of bridge pickup dialed in too. 3 of the 4 SB-2's I have are modified with tone controls which (IMO) makes it more versatile. Cosmetically, I also like pickguards which the ASAT and L-2000 do not offer.

If an SB-1 with a skinny neck ever surfaced, I would like to try that too.