usa sb-2 on the way

[watspan]

Well, I took the plunge and am acquiring a usa made SB-2 w/ rosewood neck. I snagged a new old stock one off ebay that per the description and photos has been in the music store for an unknown # of years and hence picked up numerous cosmetic dings but is represented as sound otherwise and comes w/ a G&L case. I'll find out when it arrives. (and post the obligatory photos) I had considered a new tribby but thought the usa made w/ cosmetic flaws for an in-between price ($720 w/ case) might be worth trying! This joins the line up of US & MIJ fender, Reverend, Lakland & Dean. I suppose I need to hunt down a EBMM now! LOL!

[ljazz]

Congrats!

I love my SB2. Slim, fast neck.... and the tone is wicked. To me, it cried TI Jazz Flats, so that's what I threw on. It's a seriously funky axe.

Ljazz

[Infernal Affair]

Mine just came today. Black with gun oil tinted and polished maple neck, no front dots, and both pots stacked with the tone mod. This thing looks beautiful!

[watspan]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

Mine just came today. Black with gun oil tinted and polished maple neck, no front dots, and both pots stacked with the tone mod. This thing looks beautiful!

sweet! pics and review required!

[quickervicar]

Great. Now I'm going to have to fire up the old Tobaccoburst tonight.

[watspan]

well my usa SB-2 was waiting on the porch when I got home! Quick impressions: (more complete review to follow)
Bought off ebay as a new instrument, cosmetically flawed, from a music store for around $700. Item as represented--still has hang tags and p/g film--numerous (6-8) dings and scrapes (of the kind a bass gets when it's been in a music store too long and unsupervised 14 yo's handle it) good news is all the dings/scrapes are on the back and the one on the front isn't too bad--probably wouldn't be noticed by anybody 6 feet away and similar to what I'll do to the bass after a series of bar gigs! p/g film left a lot of residue when removed but a little elbow grease cleaned it up. Needs a setup (no surprise) a bit of relief in the neck and the action too high.
Man is the output hot! (and this coming from a reverend rumblefish devotee!) glad I read the threads here about different pup settings--seems quite versatile--50% P and 20%J sounded real fine to me! (elixir roundwounds on it) Ran out to a blues jam last night w/ 10 minutes time on the bass and it did real well. Only negative: ebay ad says G&L case--no case! That will be dealt with with seller later today!

net effect: a good setup required but I think I got a good deal on a keeper bass. more thoughts after rehearsal tonight.

[quickervicar]

SB-2: to own is to love.

[Wwolof]

Rocks.

[Edge767]

Originally Posted by quickervicar

SB-2: to own is to love.

True that.

OP: Very nice bass. Did you get the case issue sorted?

[whoneedstherapy]

Congrats on your purchase mate. I'm about to go put some cash down on a tribby SB2 tonight

[watspan]

g&l case being sent--guy who ships the bass different from the guy who list the auctions--didn't know case was included.

per my math, a new tribby would be about $450-500 w/o a case so I figure for another $200 it was worth a us model w/ case and a few dings. I believe the us sb-2's typically sell for over $1K, don't they?

played it at rehearsal last night--nice tight, ringing tone but can get real snarly if you dig in w/ the pup up a bit--very nice!

[GaryLC]

Congrats!! I just bought a new USA SB2 (I also have an older USA, and a Korean Tribby), but decided to take the plunge for a new one. Very glad I did, here's mine:


These things are just about the ideal bass for me, the sound is everything I've been dreaming about for the last 40 years!

[peterbright]

Great deal Do they have any more?

[Jason P Bass]

Originally Posted by watspan

I believe the us sb-2's typically sell for over $1K, don't they?

Don't know about that, but a couple of months ago I bought a newish 3-bolt USA SB-2 for $750 with a couple blemishes and a cheap case. Pretty much the same deal and I'm happy with mine.

[Mytola]

Originally Posted by watspan

I believe the us sb-2's typically sell for over $1K, don't they?

Retail @ $1500 without any options, street price is around a grand, yep.

Congrats! Really nice deal on a really cool bass. I would love to get a SB-2 some day, and I hope G&L starts making fivers of them as well.

[watspan]

Originally Posted by peterbright

Great deal Do they have any more?

robbie's music in wayne nj was the seller on ebay. looked like a nice black/maple sb-2 in tb classifieds too!

[watspan]

case arrived, still in the original G&L cardboard box, all candy included--allen wrenches, COA, decal etc.

just got the bass back from a set up (no truss rod/nut issues) and partial fret dressing--it plays and sounds like a killer! new set of light gauge SIT silencers. pleasantly surprised by the nasally burp tone you can get too--more versatile tone-wise than I expected--I currently have no interest in tone control modifications--gonna use it like leo intended it!

[amos]

watspan, that thing is so beautiful it makes me cry with lust.

same goes for GaryLC. What is the color/finish on that called?

[watspan]

Originally Posted by amos

watspan, that thing is so beautiful it makes me cry with lust.

thanks! i'm enjoying it quite a bit