Tribute G&L jb-2 V.S. Fender Marcus miller jazz bass

[schrumrev]

I've played the macrus miller and loved it. It feels comfortable. I really like the tone you get from the ash body and maple fretboard. I consider the marcus miller a passive bass, because I probably wouldn't use the preamp. The badass bridge is massive, and i've always loved the thumpy wallop they add to a jazz bass. I've looked at the tribute jb-2 on the internet and it looks to have alot of the same features and materials as the marcus miller, ash body and maple fretboard, jazz pickups, llike i said, I probably wouldn't use the active preamp, so it's pretty much the same to me. The tribute looks like it has a smaller body and might be more comfortable to play. But i've never played one, and there isn't a store within fifty mile that sells g&ls, so i can't easily test one out, but the reviews of it sound pretty good. Is the action good, does it have a comfortable neck? And it's a heck of a lot cheaper than the fender. So which bass would you all rank as a better deal?

[Nikoubis]

The jb-2's fully passive output is probably hotter than mm's active output. The pickups are that hot. Note that the jb-2's body is not a jazz body (a good thing for some of us). As for the neck, I'm not sure wether all the options available for US G&Ls apply to Tributes, but I'm pretty sure you could get one with a jazz-size neck, if you do not want a manly one.

[plankspanker13]

The Tribby JB-2 has a J-sized neck, but the maple board is only available on the sunburst; the natural ash has rosewood.

[Dr. Cheese]

I think the Tribute JB-2 ans SB-2 are some of the best new values on the market. Quality wise, I think they compare very favorably with MIJ Fenders. I know I love my JB-2, and I may yet get a SB-2.

[Wwolof]

Going to play mine out for the first time tonight. Loving this thing!

[Nedmundo]

I believe the JB-2 has G&L's #8 neck, which affords very low action and is comfortable to me. I have them on my U.S. L-1500 and SB-2. But it will feel different from the Marcus Miller. Both have a 1.5" nut, but the G&L has a flat 12" fretboard radius while the MM has a vintage 7.25" radius. To me, this makes a big difference in feel. Some don't care that much, but in case you do, I'd suggest getting the MM if you liked the tone and found it comfortable, and can't find a JB-2 (or other G&L with #8 neck) to test. I've been very impressed with the MM's I've played, so I don't think you'll go wrong.

[Wwolof]

The MMs I've played have been big heavy mothers. Not an issue with the JB-2, very light and comfortable.