Tribute bass quality

jblock · #1 07-04-2008, 05:46 AM

Just curious about other folk's experience with the quality of the Tribute basses. I just bought a new L-2500 (see photo below); it's really a beautiful bass. It's a great piece of wood and the sound is amazing. There's a couple of spots on the back of uneven poly finish and one small "drip", none really noticeable given the clear finish. There's a couple of small dings on the back of the headstock probably as a result of inserting the tuners. There's also a small mark on the front of the headstock that almost looks like an indentation from someone's fingernail. The action and fretwork is excellent, although there's a small amount of glue that was smeared beyond the 21st fret. The pickup covers also have some tiny clear spots on them.

All of these are only noticeable if you're looking for them and have the bass a few inches from your face, so really not major complaints. I'm not sure it's possible to get a "perfect" bass in this price range anyway. I just went through three Spector Legends that had major construction issues. Anyway, an amazing bass.

jimmy rocket · #2 07-04-2008, 05:58 AM

Looks a lot like mine. Nice woodgrain!

The only problem I had was that the bridge pickup that came with the bass was inoperable due to a broken coil wire. Bought it "new" but secondhand off of the bay, so no warranty. I had to buy a new pickup from G&L but a few solder joints later I was in business.

jblock · #3 07-04-2008, 07:49 AM

Wow Jimmy, nice photos. I need to take better shots of mine..just added new photos. You can see the "fingernail" indent on the headstock below the "2500" near the edge.

basss · #4 07-04-2008, 09:01 AM

Nice bass!

I like the tolex carpet too

Caimanson · #5 07-05-2008, 01:55 PM

Nice bass jblock.
After seeing the brown ash of your L2500 (just like mine), now I'm sure that my trib L2500 is a clear finish and not amber.

jblock · #6 07-06-2008, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caimanson

Nice bass jblock.
After seeing the brown ash of your L2500 (just like mine), now I'm sure that my trib L2500 is a clear finish and not amber.

How's the build quality on yours?

plankspanker13 · #7 07-06-2008, 06:03 PM

My JB-2 Tribby is of excellent build quality, to the point that I now have designs on getting a US-made version. I bought the Tribby as a "grab & go anywhere" instrument, but it's really almost a main axe for almost everything that I play. The only improvement that I could possibly make would be to get a graphite neck and some Hipshot Ultra-light tuners, and that would make it a certain main axe.

rouge127 · #8 07-06-2008, 09:06 PM

I love my SB-2 Tribby. The neck is so easy to get around on. Can't say enough good things about these basses.

lildrgn · #9 07-07-2008, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rouge127

I love my SB-2 Tribby. The neck is so easy to get around on. Can't say enough good things about these basses.

Same. I got the black on black and it pumps. One thing better about that than my older 3-bolt SB-2 is the knobs. The knobs turn so much nicer on the Tribby.

Caimanson · #10 07-07-2008, 01:40 PM

Pretty good, the only flaw was the back of the neck had some spots that were not properly finished, leading to some darkening of the wood.
Everything else seems to be spot on.
Mine is a late MIK.