No, you don't. Without pics, it don't exist. ShawnG has a beautiful black one (with tort even!), but you got nothin'. Just stories, made up to torment GASin' fools like me.
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Sorry, I don't make the rules here.
my only regret is no longer owning my LB100 in fullerton red. First let say that red is a beautiful color. Pics do not do it justice. second, the build quality is excellent....kind of (i will get to that) and the sound is excellent. To me the LB100 pickups blow away anything i have heard from a modern made fender. This includes the American Original 50s that i currently own and the AO 60s that i sold last year.
Back to the quality. They are phenomenal. The feel, the frets, the build quality overall was top of the line. HOWEVER - G&L seems to have a real issue with their truss rods. Both my LB 100 were returned due to the truss rod being at max tightness and not having enough relief. this means the neck had to much upbow and i could not tighten the rod anymore to flatten the neck. Which translate to higher than wanted action. I live in NE Ohio and if you have 4 seasons like we do here, thats trouble.
This same issue applies to my SB1 which has been at G&L for 7 weeks now. It is in their fret shop this week as they are building me a new neck for my SB1 40th Anniversary bass.
Also, my Fullerton Jazz and defective pickups that G&L replaced in about 2 weeks turn around time.
To G&L credit, their warranty is 10 years and its completely hassle free. Memo is great over there and they covered all shipping costs.
Based my experience, I would not buy another G&L. However I still feel if you get one with no issues you will get the best bang for your buck because when they are right, they are really great. My G&L jazz is one i the best basses anyone could ever play. And without the truss rod issues, so is my SB1.
She’s actually Ruby Red Metallic, poor lighting in the pic above, this one shows the paint much better!
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I simultaneously had a ‘93 LB-100 and an ‘06 Fender American Standard Precision. The P has since moved on, but I still have the LB-100.
(keeping in mind that I’m talking about the older run of LB-100s and not the current production models, which I have no experience with)
If I had the Fender and had not had the G&L, I don’t think I would have let the P go. It was an incredibly nice bass, played well, sounded great, looked sharp, etc. No complaints. But my LB-100 just has a little something extra. The pickups are punchier. The neck is more comfortable (specs similar to a ‘60s P, if you like ‘em wide and round), and the slightly smaller body and extra fret just felt a little easier to get around on up high. The only reason I ever think to sell my LB-100 is because I’m lukewarm on the color (Belair green). I like it, but I tire of it at times. Now, if it were Fullerton red....
(keeping in mind that I’m talking about the older run of LB-100s and not the current production models, which I have no experience with)
If I had the Fender and had not had the G&L, I don’t think I would have let the P go. It was an incredibly nice bass, played well, sounded great, looked sharp, etc. No complaints. But my LB-100 just has a little something extra. The pickups are punchier. The neck is more comfortable (specs similar to a ‘60s P, if you like ‘em wide and round), and the slightly smaller body and extra fret just felt a little easier to get around on up high. The only reason I ever think to sell my LB-100 is because I’m lukewarm on the color (Belair green). I like it, but I tire of it at times. Now, if it were Fullerton red....
It feels strange to “like” a post about issues, but at least they stand behind the product.
Too bad about that Cutlass. Nice Bass.
However...I have a '68 Fender P-Bass that as you can imagine I'm not selling, ever.
Nonetheless, I have a beautiful Trans Blue G&L LB-100 with a quartersawn maple neck and fingerboard, white pearl blocks, white pearl pickguard, light vintage tint. It's body is Empress wood and the whole bass weighs 7 lbs 2 oz. I've got a Lindy Fralin pickup in it with a custom white cover. Seeing how the bass is a G&L, it has a great bridge, string-seating lightweight tuners, and fit and finish are first rate. Sure, I could have bought a "professional" Fender P-bass, but this option build is precisely what I wanted, it's resonant, responsive, sounds great, plays great, and looks better. That's why I have a US G&L LB-100.
Empress is a real game changer. My G&L JB is about 7.5 lbs and the difference between it and my 72' J (9.2 lbs) is huge after 2 sets.
BTW, there are 2 LB-100 Tributes on the G&L site (slight scratches) early today at 11.2 and 11.3 lbs.
And I thought my 73' P was heavy at just under 10 lbs.!
I simultaneously had a ‘93 LB-100 and an ‘06 Fender American Standard Precision. The P has since moved on, but I still have the LB-100.
(keeping in mind that I’m talking about the older run of LB-100s and not the current production models, which I have no experience with)
If I had the Fender and had not had the G&L, I don’t think I would have let the P go. It was an incredibly nice bass, played well, sounded great, looked sharp, etc. No complaints. But my LB-100 just has a little something extra. The pickups are punchier. The neck is more comfortable (specs similar to a ‘60s P, if you like ‘em wide and round), and the slightly smaller body and extra fret just felt a little easier to get around on up high. The only reason I ever think to sell my LB-100 is because I’m lukewarm on the color (Belair green). I like it, but I tire of it at times. Now, if it were Fullerton red....
Pics please!
Saw those beautiful boat anchors. My GAS was fleeting indeed!! I thought those were L2Ks. Might have to look one more time…
The only pics I have handy of the P include my dog. I have a couch next to my desk and I tend to set a bass on it and noodle periodically. My dog tends to use the bass as a pillow.
And here’s the oft overshared LB-100:
Oh, you're so right! Even my Empress JB-5 is only 8 lb 4 oz—and that's with the bigger body, bigger/more hardware, etc. With my wide GruvGear strap, it's idiotically comfortable even on a long show.
BTW, I recently bought a Sterling by MM Stingray 4 for a persuasive price on Musician's Friend. It sounds really great—but it's 11.5 lbs and feels like a boat anchor—even heavier than I remember my Peavey T-40 feeling.
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I feel like my LB-100 gets a lot of screen time here, and I really need to show these two off more...
Love both of these! (Esp., the no-control-plate look).
Fun story...
My dad’s friend used to run a country and western bar not far from Fullerton. Lot of up-and-coming acts would roll through. Leo was a friend and patron. He’d give instruments to my dad’s friend to pass along to musicians as promos. That burst L-2000 was one of such instruments. It left the factory in Leo’s car.
(admittedly, I have no way of proving that other than the word of my dad’s friend...)
My dad’s friend used to run a country and western bar not far from Fullerton. Lot of up-and-coming acts would roll through. Leo was a friend and patron. He’d give instruments to my dad’s friend to pass along to musicians as promos. That burst L-2000 was one of such instruments. It left the factory in Leo’s car.
(admittedly, I have no way of proving that other than the word of my dad’s friend...)
Great story, and I choose to believe it.
I bought my Kilo used online from a Guitar Center. The photos made it look like it was a transparent green, warm and nice. It ended up being a bold, bright, brash, solid Kelly green metallic, and I didn't care for it at all, though it played and sounded incredible. I finally spent the bucks to swap the black pickguard for an aged white pearl, and that made all the difference in the world. Now I like its appearance as much as everything else about it. Maybe try that.
