G&L #8 Neck - Radius Preference?

[RocketMusic]

I'm about to place two orders for LB-100's with the #8 neck (1.5" nut width). I was about to hit send on the email to my G&L guy when it occurred to me that I can have any radius I want at no additional charge (since I'm already paying to change from the default 1 5/8" nut width to the narrower 1.5").

I'd generally stick with the default 9.5" radius since it's middle of the road, but I suspect that some guys who like a jazz bass neck may actually prefer the rounder 7.5" radius?

I could guess, but why not take a poll and see what you all think? If you're not picky, you can select 2 or even all 3 of the poll responses. Cue Geddy/Neil "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice!"

 

[Ricky Rioli]

And if you want a pre-CBS radius on your A neck P bass, are you wanting gold+maple or tort+rosewood?

 

[RocketMusic]

Interesting results so far! There's no love at all for the 7.5" radius, and the two flatter radii are about evenly split.

I'm glad I didn't change things up and order the 7.5" radius on both of these.

Now do I have the guts to order one of these with the 12" radius? I've haven't placed many orders for that radius over the years, and it would be even rarer still to order the 12" radius on a #8 neck... so is it an untapped market or a fool's errand? Only one way to find out, I guess.

 

[RocketMusic]

Please do keep voting in the poll, it will be useful information for future orders.

In the meantime, here are the two LB-100's that I'm going to order today. I've gone with the rounder 9.5" radius on the sunburst, and the 12" radius on the Ruby Red Metallic one. Classic vs. Modern sort of.

LB-100 3 Tone Sunburst / Maple / 8NK / R95 / Tortoiseshell
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[Nedmundo]

Wow, that Ruby Red LB-100 will be great. I love that finish, and my favorite four-string necks are on my 2007 SB-2 and 2010 JB, which both have the 1.5" nut width and 12" fretboard radius. In fact, the 12" radius fretboards (formerly standard) were a big reason I started to prefer G&L over others including Fender. When I ordered my JB, I already had a wonderful Fender Jazz, but I wanted a J with Plek-leveled frets and the 12" radius, and it was totally worth it.

 

[RocketMusic]

Well, it appears this was all for naught. G&L just released their 2023 price list, and there are no longer any neck profile or radius options for the Build To Order line. Reverse headstock, block inlays and neck binding are also gone. Painted headstocks (clear gloss, black or body match) are still a thing. Hmmmmm.

I haven't had a chance to look closely at the price list yet, but it appears that this is also another substantial price bump. The LB-100, for instance, just went from $1825 base price to $2450 base price.

I'll dig into the price list more tomorrow and update the G&L pricing sticky thread.

On a positive note - the Fallout Bass is now officially a Build To Order thing, and it starts at $2450.

 

[RocketMusic]

Well, lucky me! G&L entered those two LB-100 orders with the neck specs I wanted because I submitted the orders just before they released the 2023 price list.

So those will likely be two of the last LB-100's made with a #8 neck. Let me know if you want to pounce on one of them! I also beat the price increase, so I'll let them go at the 2022 price that I'm currently showing on my website.

I just need a 20% deposit if you want me to reserve either or both for you.

 

[80jazz]

Well, it appears this was all for naught. G&L just released their 2023 price list, and there are no longer any neck profile or radius options for the Build To Order line. Reverse headstock, block inlays and neck binding are also gone. Painted headstocks (clear gloss, black or body match) are still a thing. Hmmmmm.

I haven't had a chance to look closely at the price list yet, but it appears that this is also another substantial price bump. The LB-100, for instance, just went from $1825 base price to $2450 base price.

I'll dig into the price list more tomorrow and update the G&L pricing sticky thread.

On a positive note - the Fallout Bass is now officially a Build To Order thing, and it starts at $2450.

I wonder if those options will only be available in the custom shop now?

 

[RocketMusic]

I wonder if those options will only be available in the custom shop now?

I think so, but I’m already plotting my “how many do I have to order” strategy to get some made in spite of the price list.

 

[RocketMusic]

And the 3 tone sunburst Ruby Red Metallic is already spoken for. Dang, that was fast!

 

[Nedmundo]

Well, it appears this was all for naught. G&L just released their 2023 price list, and there are no longer any neck profile or radius options for the Build To Order line. Reverse headstock, block inlays and neck binding are also gone. Painted headstocks (clear gloss, black or body match) are still a thing. Hmmmmm.

Wow, that's a major bummer IMO, because the neck options were such a great aspect of the Build to Order instruments. At least it gives me some clarity about my collection--there is now NO WAY I will sell either my SB-2 or JB! I'm not giving up those fantastic, now unavailable necks.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

So those will likely be two of the last LB-100's made with a #8 neck

Surely they're not going to make you (and also Upfront Guitars) go without J-neck LB-100s?!

Wonder it would work for them and their new streamlined processes to make The Rocket Music Limited Edition LB-100 — what is it? Vintage White / Mint / Indian Rosewood / Vintage Tint Satin / 1½" nut?

 

[RocketMusic]

Surely they're not going to make you (and also Upfront Guitars) go without J-neck LB-100s?!

Wonder it would work for them and their new streamlined processes to make The Rocket Music Limited Edition LB-100 — what is it? Vintage White / Mint / Indian Rosewood / Vintage Tint Satin / 1½" nut?

Yeah, that's my thought. Once the dust settles and people get acclimated to the new prices, I'll approach them with an offer to get some number of orders for LB-100's with the 1/5" nut width. Hopefully something on the order of 5 is enough to get them interested, but I'd probably do it at 10 if it comes down to it.

 

[RocketMusic]

Wow, that's a major bummer IMO, because the neck options were such a great aspect of the Build to Order instruments. At least it gives me some clarity about my collection--there is now NO WAY I will sell either my SB-2 or JB! I'm not giving up those fantastic, now unavailable necks.

I assume the JB will continue to come with a 1.5" nut width. As of the 2022 price list, the JB and the ASAT Bass had 1.5" nut, and everything else had the 1 5/8" nut. My assumption is that will continue to be the case, but we'll see once they bring their website up to date with the 2023 price list.

Interesting times we live in! I'm going through the price list more closely now, and there are some positives. All of the pickguard colors are free now, for example. So they just factored the pickguard upcharge into the base price. And most of the options actually decreased in price either slightly or a lot. There are a few things like that which take some of the sting out of the base price increases. I'll have the pricing thread updated sometime this afternoon.

 

[80jazz]

I assume the JB will continue to come with a 1.5" nut width. As of the 2022 price list, the JB and the ASAT Bass had 1.5" nut, and everything else had the 1 5/8" nut. My assumption is that will continue to be the case, but we'll see once they bring their website up to date with the 2023 price list.

Interesting times we live in! I'm going through the price list more closely now, and there are some positives. All of the pickguard colors are free now, for example. So they just factored the pickguard upcharge into the base price. And most of the options actually decreased in price either slightly or a lot. There are a few things like that which take some of the sting out of the base price increases. I'll have the pricing thread updated sometime this afternoon.

The big bummer I see here is no radius option. I will wait for the price list, as my guess is that the options that were in Build To Order will now be in the custom shop only.

 

[Lammchop93]

Well, it appears this was all for naught. G&L just released their 2023 price list, and there are no longer any neck profile or radius options for the Build To Order line. Reverse headstock, block inlays and neck binding are also gone. Painted headstocks (clear gloss, black or body match) are still a thing. Hmmmmm.

I haven't had a chance to look closely at the price list yet, but it appears that this is also another substantial price bump. The LB-100, for instance, just went from $1825 base price to $2450 base price.

I'll dig into the price list more tomorrow and update the G&L pricing sticky thread.

On a positive note - the Fallout Bass is now officially a Build To Order thing, and it starts at $2450.

wow, that's another huge price hike. that's like a 50% increase since the 2021 prices?

 

[RocketMusic]

wow, that's another huge price hike. that's like a 50% increase since the 2021 prices?

Yep, and I hope it's the last one for a while.

Inflation, I get it. And California is a kooky place to run a big business. But, yeah, this will take some adjusting.

I walked away from Music Man when they jumped up into this price range a couple years ago, but that was an easy decision because I was hardly doing any sales with them. I was just getting started with them when they jacked up their prices, and it felt like a big gamble to keep throwing money at them not knowing if things would actually take off. G&L is a much different situation. I'm well established with them, so I'll just have to roll with the changes.

 

[Lammchop93]

Yep, and I hope it's the last one for a while.

Inflation, I get it. And California is a kooky place to run a big business. But, yeah, this will take some adjusting.

I walked away from Music Man when they jumped up into this price range a couple years ago, but that was an easy decision because I was hardly doing any sales with them. I was just getting started with them when they jacked up their prices, and it felt like a big gamble to keep throwing money at them not knowing if things would actually take off. G&L is a much different situation. I'm well established with them, so I'll just have to roll with the changes.

I hope it works out. 50% increase is pretty extreme, but hopefully they can weather it. I am just glad I got my G&L when I did. I don't think I could stomach a $2500 bass.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

At the moment, I can't find any new 1½" LB-100s on the market, though I guess there are authorised dealers who I've not heard of and who aren't on reverb. Greg's Sunburst / Tort / Maple expected in the summer is the only thing I found.