SB-2 toner control mod

strummin · #1 10-26-2008, 01:05 PM

What is the advantages/disadvantages of an SB-2 tone control modification? Are these strictly aftermarket modifications, because I don't see them on the G&L website options list? I'm trying to decide between two used SB-2's, one has the mod and the other doesn't. Thanks for your input.

sunbeast · #2 10-26-2008, 01:23 PM

The stock SB-2 has only 2 volumes. A tone pot is something that alot of people add on later, and doesn't seem to affect the value at all on these basses (as the lack of a Fender-esque tone knob is often what scares people away from these basses). The SB-2 without the mod can be very harsh with either of the volumes turned up all the way, the tone control can calm this down. I did a tone mod to my old SB-2 and couldn't have been happier. There are also plenty of SB-2 users that claim a tone control as unnecessary, as rolling back the volume on the pickups (not playing "full on") has a similar tonal effect.

Karl

Ken Baker · #3 10-26-2008, 01:52 PM

Karl has it nailed.

I've had the tone pot mod on my SB-2 and found it only useful for taming new strings, so it's back to V-V only for me.

And yeah - I'm one of those "back off the volume" kinda guys because it gives me more control over the instrument.

Ken...

strummin · #4 10-26-2008, 04:21 PM

Thanks for the feedback. As expected, there's always opinions on either side and the decision comes back to where it belongs, mwaaah!!! I just like to make educated guesses . . . errr . . . decisions.

Fact is, when I played the SB-2 in the show room (V-V), the sound just blew me away. So I'm not really sure why I'd want to mess around with it anyway. Cheers!!

johnnyz · #5 10-26-2008, 09:15 PM

Thanks for asking strummin. I logged in to ask the same question.

rkingly · #6 10-26-2008, 09:38 PM

I like my SB 2 the way she is & also use the volume controls to tailor the sound. here's a pic

strummin · #7 10-27-2008, 09:36 AM

Johnnyz, you're welcome.

Rkingly, great bass. Matter of fact, the one that I'm looking at that has the tone mod has the same finish as yours, except the graphics of course.

rkingly · #8 10-27-2008, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strummin

Johnnyz, you're welcome.

Rkingly, great bass. Matter of fact, the one that I'm looking at that has the tone mod has the same finish as yours, except the graphics of course.

Thanks Strummin, The SB 2 is the first G&L I Bought & I fell in love with the MFD's & since then all hell broke loose & I have been buying G&L's left & right! The sticker is from the Grindhouse movies.

Hope you get the bass!!