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Managed to track down some pictures of my new bass fresh from the factory on the G&L Custom Shop Instagram feed. 
Open question for fans of the SB-2:
I came across a used one in GC a few years back, liked it but was not in a position to buy at the time. I certainly don't need another bass, however...
If you have owned or spent serious playing time with both the USA made & Tribute - what are you giving up with the Tribute or gaining with the USA built?
The one I played was a USA model.
I generally prefer tighter string spacing & slim necks. I remember how the USA made SB-2 I played felt right at home with a comfortable feel like the narrow Jazz neck on my Aerodyne.
I came across a used one in GC a few years back, liked it but was not in a position to buy at the time. I certainly don't need another bass, however...
If you have owned or spent serious playing time with both the USA made & Tribute - what are you giving up with the Tribute or gaining with the USA built?
The one I played was a USA model.
I generally prefer tighter string spacing & slim necks. I remember how the USA made SB-2 I played felt right at home with a comfortable feel like the narrow Jazz neck on my Aerodyne.
I own three SB2s. Two USA, 1 Trib.
They sound the same, of course. The only sonic differences are the usual differences that you will find between any same model basses. I can’t tell the difference between my three SB2s in a mix. Probably not in a quiet room, either.
To me, the only reason to buy USA is for special needs such as weight or color.
A great, well built, lightweight Trib is just as good as it’s similar USA cousin, in my book.
You just have to be able to judge a bass well. If you can do that and find a great Trib, it’s just as good as a USA in my opinion. And way cheaper, if that matters to you.
They sound the same, of course. The only sonic differences are the usual differences that you will find between any same model basses. I can’t tell the difference between my three SB2s in a mix. Probably not in a quiet room, either.
To me, the only reason to buy USA is for special needs such as weight or color.
A great, well built, lightweight Trib is just as good as it’s similar USA cousin, in my book.
You just have to be able to judge a bass well. If you can do that and find a great Trib, it’s just as good as a USA in my opinion. And way cheaper, if that matters to you.
I have six G&Ls that I play regularly...four Tribs and two USAs. The Tribs are excellent basses. I've come across a couple that had wiring issues, but they were easy fixes. But my USA Kiloton and SB-2 are really special basses. If I were choosing a new bass between a USA and a Trib, if they were the same price, I'd choose the USA every time, but a 1/3 of the price, I think I'd have to choose the Trib...if it was a model equipped with MFD pickups. I'm personally not a big fan of Cort's Alnico pickups.
I had a Tribute SB-2 as my main gigging bass for a number of years. Only sold it in a GAS-induced fit of weakness when I was playing guitar regularly and not playing bass much at all. Regretted it pretty quickly.
Eventually I bought a BTO SB-2T. I wanted another SB-2, I wanted the “T” (which wasn’t a standard feature at the time), and I wanted a wider nut width and rounder fretboard. The only thing I really didn’t love about the Tribute was the 1.5” width and 12” radius. Plus it was fun to spec a bass and have it made. First time I had done that. So, super happy with my BTO SB-2T, but if I hadn’t sold the Tribute years ago, I don’t think I’d have built a US one. I don’t know, maybe.
As for my old Tribute, I did track it down, and I did ask the owner for first call on it should they ever decide to sell, but they seem pretty happy with it…
Hi. Does that mean only for BTO or in general? After I switched to five strings, I am trying to get MJ-5 (I had MJ-4), which will probably never happen. The M-2500 is the "substitute" I would like to try instead..
I’ve owned 4 US models, and have been really impressed and happy with every detail on each one.
I’ve only briefly played a few of the Tributes in music stores, and my general thought was they were really good
for the price, but not in the same league quality wise. Plus every one I tried was (to me) exceedingly heavy.
I’ve only briefly played a few of the Tributes in music stores, and my general thought was they were really good
for the price, but not in the same league quality wise. Plus every one I tried was (to me) exceedingly heavy.
ALL my G&Ls are heavy, but the heaviest are my two Kilotons. My USA Kiloton is alder, while my Tribute is obviously ash of some kind judging by the wood grain. (I bought it used--a few years old. The specs were not available.) The Tribute feels really heavy, but my scale says that they're both 9 lbs, 9 ozs. Interestingly, my Peavey T-40, well renowned as a boat anchor, is only an ounce heavier. And it has two very massive humbuckers compared to the K'ton's one, and the bridge on the Peavey is even bigger than the saddle lock G&L bridge.
My Fullerton Deluxe JB is a lot heavier than my L2K. I have a Tribby Kiloton fretless coming, and I think I've read that they're on the heavy side, too. I need a better scale for this. My bathroom scale is inconsistent
Being an old fart, my Medicare plan paid for me to get a food scale. It's guaranteed accurate up to 33 lbs, which is handy even for shipping basses that are boxed up. So try looking for food scales. The price isn't that bad usually. And you can even use them to weigh food!
I bought an ASAT guitar in '94 (swirl finish, back when you could get them) and have loved it for 30 years. But, for whatever reason, I've never joined the G&L bass club (even though most of my basses are F-brand, style, or inspired).
For a one or two pickup (L1000/2000/CLF) style bass with matching headstock, I'm curious what your favorite color is. Post pics if you have them/want to show off your top G&L. I'm partial to metallics, but curious as to with the consensus is on G&L's best color/finish options for that type of bass.
For a one or two pickup (L1000/2000/CLF) style bass with matching headstock, I'm curious what your favorite color is. Post pics if you have them/want to show off your top G&L. I'm partial to metallics, but curious as to with the consensus is on G&L's best color/finish options for that type of bass.
I bought an ASAT guitar in '94 (swirl finish, back when you could get them) and have loved it for 30 years. But, for whatever reason, I've never joined the G&L bass club (even though most of my basses are F-brand, style, or inspired).
For a one or two pickup (L1000/2000/CLF) style bass with matching headstock, I'm curious what your favorite color is. Post pics if you have them/want to show off your top G&L. I'm partial to metallics, but curious as to with the consensus is on G&L's best color/finish options for that type of bass.
Three Tone Sunburst is pretty standard.
Old School Tobacco is beautiful.
These are Kilotons, not matching headstocks or two pickups obviously.
LPB is pretty standard.
Purple Metallic is my favorite color ever.
These are JBs and a match for your criteria.
I bought an ASAT guitar in '94 (swirl finish, back when you could get them) and have loved it for 30 years. But, for whatever reason, I've never joined the G&L bass club (even though most of my basses are F-brand, style, or inspired).
For a one or two pickup (L1000/2000/CLF) style bass with matching headstock, I'm curious what your favorite color is. Post pics if you have them/want to show off your top G&L. I'm partial to metallics, but curious as to with the consensus is on G&L's best color/finish options for that type of bass.
My favourite G&L colour is Irish Ale. Strangely enough, a tribute colour!
Being a tribute, mine doesn't have a matching headstock but the colour is great.
If I decide I need another USA Bass I think I'd upgrade my Kiloton to an option order in Irish Ale, (with matching headstock so people know it isn't a trib). 1 5/8" neck, block inlay...
(but that's a lot of $$ when the tribute is so good)
For a matching headstock, in something metallic...
The Graphite Metallic strikes my fancy (but I don't have one of those).
That Graphite metallic KTon for sale (a few posts up) is HOT.
I have Rubyred metallic and I love that colour too. However, the finest finish on a G&L that I have seen is a CS Galactic swirl* owned by Lammchop, that is the cat's meow.
Old school tobacco and Irish ale is also
inducing. How can you pick?
I have Rubyred metallic and I love that colour too. However, the finest finish on a G&L that I have seen is a CS Galactic swirl* owned by Lammchop, that is the cat's meow.
Old school tobacco and Irish ale is also
inducing. How can you pick?I'm with you, @ADHD librarian. I have two Kilotons, a USA that I bought used a few years ago in emerald green metallic and a Tribute in Irish Ale, because I couldn't bear being without a bass in that color any longer. And last year I noticed that G&L has discontinued the color from their available colors list, making a used one the only way to go. (I don't know if they've restored it in 2024 or not.) The Tribute Irish Ale Kilotons are getting very hard to find. When I looked online for a used one back in December, the only one I found was this nicely priced one at the Guitar Center in Rancho Cucamonga. I bought it and had them ship it to me in Arizona, and it is pristine. A new one couldn't have been in better shape.
