2 days to NBD... tell me stories about your G&L SB-1!

Which version, please? There are 2, I believe.....the older version and the newer with the p-pickup....

 

They're like a bright P bass. The tone knob takes it back nicely to a Fender P sound about one quarter to halfway. All the way off is a round sound.

The SB-1 uses a lighter tone cap so it cuts less highs. It seems to work well for getting more vintage tones.

The tone knob also has a resistor in series to ground. The main benefit is you don't get that mud when the tone is rolled off completely.

Otherwise the output is almost active level in terms of how loud it is. They're bright enough to slap on.

SB-1s are just a more versatile P like bass. The body is a bit slimmer though.

The saddle lock bridge seems to make the body wood resonate well.

 

I got a new one for Christmas back in '84. Played it till it started to fall apart on stage one night (at that point which was after about 6 years of having it, it looked like a road worn, flood victim, dragged down the road bass), great basses, if I was better at fixing my bass back then as I am now I'd still have it.
Still considered getting one recently but I'm more into jazz basses at the moment.
Make sure to post pictures when you get yours, let us know how you like it.

 

I picked up a '85 about 15 years ago. Unfortunately, the original pickups had been replaced with active EMGs. I eventually replaced it with an older used SD Quarter Pounder. I've been playing 60s R&B the last few years and it is perfect for that type of music string with flats. It really resonates even when it is not plugged in - love it!

 

Mine's haunted. And Slimer green, too.

 

I got an SB-2 this year, I love it. Even with just the P pickup (like your SB-1), it just has a fantastic sound. And of course it's beautifully built.

 

I've had an SB-2 for nine years, and it's fantastic. In 2007, I went to the Philly area guitar show hoping to find a good rosewood fretboard P-bass. I brought a 1981 Ibanez Studio guitar to trade. It was my first instrument, but I never liked it after trying a Strat, and I'd been trying to sell it for over a year.

At the show, I came upon a dealer with a beautiful new SB-2, vintage white/tort/rosewood, at an extremely good price. To my immense surprise, he offered me $350 in credit for the Ibanez, which was more than it was worth. I didn't even plug in the SB-2; I just took the incredible deal and ran out of there!

When I got home, I plugged into my rig, and after two notes just started laughing at the enormous tone. It's a total monster, and yet still has an old-school Fender-ish vibe. I added a tone control and almost never use the bridge pickup, so it usually functions like an SB-1. It's so great that it essentially kicked THREE basses out of my herd, all of which were very good in their own right. (I do miss the Fralin-loaded 2004 Fender though.)

 

My SB-1 was bought new in 1984... Still plays well. If it had a fifth string and fanned frets I'd play it more often.

 

I played one back in the 1980s - probably around 1985. I hated it because I didn't like the neck, the strings were ancient and filthy and it was set up badly and acoustically dead-sounding (probably the strings), and I think I played it through a terrible-but-not-cheap amp. It had a black pickguard and a 3 tone sunburst I think (the kind that you see on some Univox hi-flyers). Maple neck. Yes, I have a very good memory (for important things!).

I regret this experience all the time because it soured me on these basses, but I'm sure they're excellent instruments. Mind you, this experience was in a music store - so shame on them for having a terribly set up instrument (not that that's rare)....

But, now, I'm really hankering to check out one of these. They seem to sound absolutely incredible and maybe with a better setup and new strings, etc. etc. they'd be absolutely killer. I like the smaller body size.....and BIGGER sound (I've seen many review videos)!

LL

 

She's a looker!

 

Oooh, Blueburst!!!
Congrats!

 

Very nice, congrats!

 

An SB-1 is on my short list. I had a Tribute SB-2 that was modded to an SB-1 circuit plus and on/off for the bridge pickup. Played it as an SB-1 about 95% of the time. Just wonderful tone, IMO.