SB-2...A True P??

[homercaholic]

Im in the market for a P Bass to add to my arsenel and Im wondering the th SB-2 Tribute fits the bill? I know its a P/J with 2 volumes but does it have that P thumb and bottom end you get with a traditional P? I think I may have the option to get one for about 350 but Id like a little info first.

[Nedmundo]

Originally Posted by homercaholic

I know its a P/J with 2 volumes but does it have that P thumb and bottom end you get with a traditional P?

No, it has much MORE thump and bottom end than you get with a traditional P. Not to mention the additional punch. I'm a P-bass fanatic, and I love my SB-2.

[Webtroll]

How does the weight compare? I love my recent P acquisition but it's about to send me to the chiropractor. Maybe if I tie helium balloons to it?

[goatrider]

The Sb-1 and the LB-100 are more like P's. The SB-1 has an amazing MFD pickup that is much MORE than a regular P. The LB-100 is more traditional.

[earlgray]

I have a US P-bass that sits in the closet now, partly because of my SB-2 (and my L-1000).

The SB-2 is my workhorse gig bass. With the 2nd volume, you can blend in the bridge pickup to get the tone you want. With the neck pickup vol @ around 80% and the bridge about 20%, you get a fine-sounding p-style tone. Of course, TI Flats help give it that thumping sound.

[Nedmundo]

Keep in mind that, due to the SB-2's lack of a tone control, you need to roll off the treble at your amp to maximize old-school thump. (Slightly rolling off the split-coil's volume can help too.) I've played mine only once in a band situation, and used a Hartke head with approximately ten bands of EQ. I cut the top 2-3 bands a little, and had loads of thump using roundwounds. In fact, the drummer used the word "thump" to describe the tone. Due to the SB-2's deeper lows, it produces a heavier "thump" than a traditional P-bass.

[lug]

The other big difference is the neck. SB2's have a jazz-sized neck, FYI.