Glad to hear the JB-2 is still rockin' your world, Jay!
I'm hangin' on to my '82 L-1000 and purple SB-1, though. I like the beefier necks, personally. Can't say enough good things about G&L quality, craftsmanship and tone.
Michael
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G&L Basses
- Thread starter SJLee
- Start date
Glad to hear the JB-2 is still rockin' your world, Jay!
I'm hangin' on to my '82 L-1000 and purple SB-1, though. I like the beefier necks, personally. Can't say enough good things about G&L quality, craftsmanship and tone.
Michael
Just for the record, the pointy "eye gouger" on the headstock was George's idea.
While it may appear to be non-functional, it's not. The gouger is actually an ingenious "anti-lemming filter".
It acts as a disturbing visual repellent. Players with a lemming mentality are instantly so un-nerved by the headstock shape that they won't even bother to play or listen to a G&L.
In this way, G&L mantains a level of exclusivity, appealing only to those players who judge a bass with their hands and ears.
You've heard this before...."G&L's are not for everyone".
While it may appear to be non-functional, it's not. The gouger is actually an ingenious "anti-lemming filter".
It acts as a disturbing visual repellent. Players with a lemming mentality are instantly so un-nerved by the headstock shape that they won't even bother to play or listen to a G&L.
In this way, G&L mantains a level of exclusivity, appealing only to those players who judge a bass with their hands and ears.
You've heard this before...."G&L's are not for everyone".
Certainly not looking to hijack this thread but, it seems like as good a place to ask about this inspection tag that was in the case of this beautiful late 83 L-1000 I bought about 6 years ago. Anyone ever see Clarence's initials before? Do you think this is legit? Yeah..and it plays like butta 
Certainly not looking to hijack this thread but, it seems like as good a place to ask about this inspection tag that was in the case of this beautiful late 83 L-1000 I bought about 6 years ago. Anyone ever see Clarence's initials before? Do you think this is legit? Yeah..and it plays like butta
Wow!
That bass may just be too pristine to gig.
Hi Tkozal
I see you got most of your questions answered but one does not seem to have been addressed - why no tone control on an SB-2? I had the exact same question and then.....I ended up with one in a complex trading deal. It sat and languished for quite some time as it was not the initial object of the trade.
Eventually I plugged it in, gave it a whirl and the question was answered.
The P P/U does as intended when used alone but then the Jazz/Rear P/U adds mids and highs as it is turned up and when it is at a higher volume setting than the P, turns the bass into what I consider a good F jazz bass. The interplay of the two volume controls provides a very wide sound palette.
I see no need for a tone control, nor apparently did Mr Fender; the simplicity of the concept yet another example of Leo genius.
I tend to rotate P-bass, L-2000 and L-1000 but the SB-2 is now first grab. Did I mention how it cuts through?
I am told by someone who has owned 4 or 5 SB-2's that mine has the best tone he has ever encountered. It's not leaving any time soon.
BTW, Unless it has not yet been covered - eye gouge headstocks are for unruly drummers - very handy!!
I see you got most of your questions answered but one does not seem to have been addressed - why no tone control on an SB-2? I had the exact same question and then.....I ended up with one in a complex trading deal. It sat and languished for quite some time as it was not the initial object of the trade.
Eventually I plugged it in, gave it a whirl and the question was answered.
The P P/U does as intended when used alone but then the Jazz/Rear P/U adds mids and highs as it is turned up and when it is at a higher volume setting than the P, turns the bass into what I consider a good F jazz bass. The interplay of the two volume controls provides a very wide sound palette.
I see no need for a tone control, nor apparently did Mr Fender; the simplicity of the concept yet another example of Leo genius.
I tend to rotate P-bass, L-2000 and L-1000 but the SB-2 is now first grab. Did I mention how it cuts through?
I am told by someone who has owned 4 or 5 SB-2's that mine has the best tone he has ever encountered. It's not leaving any time soon.
BTW, Unless it has not yet been covered - eye gouge headstocks are for unruly drummers - very handy!!
The headstock thing is purely subjective. I think its a good twist on a familiar design.I find this interesting. Beyond intro art courses in high school, I have no education is the visual arts. I have no idea what I'm doing when putting anything two or more things together due to how they compliment each other visually or spacially. Even buying the right tie for a shirt that isn't a solid color is typically difficult...
... and I think the G&L headstock is one of the most attractive stocks out there, in both the 3+2 and 4-on-top configurations!
Good think I'm a musician
<dons super flame retardant bunny suit> Has anyone stopped to think how dumb the Fender headstock really is? its derived from a violin/cello/DB scroll- and a very cheapo imitation at that. Its just that its so familiar that we think it looks "right".
Thanks, my concern is I play in NYC, and I very frequently have to use house amps in crowded spaces, and the need for quick tone shaping at my fingers I realize has become essential.
Thanks, thats actually the kind of informed answer I hoped I would get!
You got it a few times. Glad it finally clicked.
Considering your level of comprehension of my other postings, one might think I was on your ignore list yesterday. Good luck with those neck options.
Well, to be perfectly fair, I thought we should have a couple of photographs of a 3+2 pointed doo-hickey. It reminds me less of a "Brand F" headstock than many of the other basses on the market, particularly those that are the "Super Jazz Basses"
Of course, I really wish that it had a pickup blend knob...
imp
Certainly not looking to hijack this thread but, it seems like as good a place to ask about this inspection tag that was in the case of this beautiful late 83 L-1000 I bought about 6 years ago. Anyone ever see Clarence's initials before? Do you think this is legit? Yeah..and it plays like butta
Wow Look at that. Leo Fender actually tested your bass before it was sent out.
it's not every day God intervenes with us mortals
I think I seriously have the bug - the "I want a black and maple L2000 for christmas" bug.
Damn - now I got to go to Manny's - I hate that place.
Chef
In Memoriam
Good night that's pretty.
Certainly not looking to hijack this thread but, it seems like as good a place to ask about this inspection tag that was in the case of this beautiful late 83 L-1000 I bought about 6 years ago. Anyone ever see Clarence's initials before? Do you think this is legit? Yeah..and it plays like butta
I custom ordered my L-2000 with a #6 neck in 1998. It cost me $840.
The one thing that I didn't like about the switching is the 3 position switch. The bridge pickup by itself is useless to me. Having a 3 position mini-toggle, it's difficult to balance that switch in the middle position- so I swapped out the switch for a two position- neck solo or neck+bridge.
As far as sound- Mine is really "aggressive" sounding. It doesn't mellow out like my Jazz. It always records more 'sterile' than the Jazz- even with the preamp turned off. It really lends itself more to a live setting than recording- in my opinion.
It's an awesome bass- it's been my #1 all-around bass since around 99 or so- considering my other 2 usable basses are a 1965 Jazz and a 1979 T-Bird...
The one thing that I didn't like about the switching is the 3 position switch. The bridge pickup by itself is useless to me. Having a 3 position mini-toggle, it's difficult to balance that switch in the middle position- so I swapped out the switch for a two position- neck solo or neck+bridge.
As far as sound- Mine is really "aggressive" sounding. It doesn't mellow out like my Jazz. It always records more 'sterile' than the Jazz- even with the preamp turned off. It really lends itself more to a live setting than recording- in my opinion.
It's an awesome bass- it's been my #1 all-around bass since around 99 or so- considering my other 2 usable basses are a 1965 Jazz and a 1979 T-Bird...
I custom ordered my L-2000 with a #6 neck in 1998. It cost me $840.
The one thing that I didn't like about the switching is the 3 position switch. The bridge pickup by itself is useless to me. Having a 3 position mini-toggle, it's difficult to balance that switch in the middle position- so I swapped out the switch for a two position- neck solo or neck+bridge.
As far as sound- Mine is really "aggressive" sounding. It doesn't mellow out like my Jazz. It always records more 'sterile' than the Jazz- even with the preamp turned off. It really lends itself more to a live setting than recording- in my opinion.
It's an awesome bass- it's been my #1 all-around bass since around 99 or so- considering my other 2 usable basses are a 1965 Jazz and a 1979 T-Bird...
My how times have changed. I just ordered a custom L-2000 with a #8 neck (and a quilted maple top and binding). Slightly more than $840.
Beautiful basses you've got there!
Certainly not looking to hijack this thread but, it seems like as good a place to ask about this inspection tag that was in the case of this beautiful late 83 L-1000 I bought about 6 years ago. Anyone ever see Clarence's initials before? Do you think this is legit? Yeah..and it plays like butta
I had an '83 L-Grand that looked just like your's except the finish had yellowed a bit. Turns out it was one of my favorite instruments of all time. Regretfully I traded it away before I realized that. I also had a Mahogany bodied L-Grand from the same era but it was considerably heavier and didn't sound as good.
I only recently got a similar feeling as my Ash L-Grand from a Bongo 4HH using only the neck pickup. Someday I plan on getting another Ash '83 L-Grand.
