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Doug Parent
Supporting Member
I don't have a way to measure. But from memory it's a tiny bit thicker top to bottom. I have big hands, and after playing it for 15 minutes or so, it feels very natural to me.
It's a bittersweet day. I must resign my G&L club membership for the time being. When I ordered my empress JB-5 more than a year ago I had no idea fretboard radius was something that could bother me on a 5 string. Had I known, I would have asked for 12" radius instead of the standard 9.5". I'll be back though. I see a CLF Research L-1000 strung BEAD in my future. I ended up doing a local trade for a Maruszczyk Elwood L5. It was a trade of light basses. 
I knew fretboard radius was an issue for me, but bought a used empress JB-5 with the 9.5" radius anyway because the bass felt so great otherwise, and the price was right. Turned out I just couldn't bond with it due (largely) to the radius--every time I'd switch to one of my 12" radius G&Ls, it was like "aahhhh...so nice!" I'm still thinking about ordering one with the 12" radius, but it's tough to justify when I'm not playing any gigs these days.
I had never even thought about it before! I owned a lot of 5-String basses before this purchase. I guess 9.5" is either rare or I just had crazy luck.
Peavey USA Cirrus 5
Akai Project 1997 5 String
Waterstone Passive PJ 5-Sring
MTD Kingston 5
Cort Arona 5
Peavey Axcelerator 5
ESP LTD Elite Series J5
LTD Surveyor 405
Steinberger spirit XZ-5
G&L L2500 Tribute
Ibanez SR505
Peavey Millennium 5+
After ordering over 6 months ago, this baby if finally on its way and should be here any day now. Empress wood body and 12" radius. I ordered it through Sweetwater. G&L shipped it to them for inspection, and they were nice enough to take pics for me.
I was just nosing around the Sweetwater stock, looking at weights. They've a couple of SB-1s and a LB-100 atm, Fullerton Deluxes made from alder – all three lighter than my Squier P made from basswood. (I know the SB body is more svelte than the LB, but I don't know how the two shapes relate to a standard P)
I'm guessing that somewhere along the line, a selection is being made, to avoid especially heavy bits of alder – do they do the same for their basswood? The option (MRSP $72) is advertised as "Lightweight American Basswood".
On average, do the USA basswood instruments come in much lighter than the alder? Empress (MRSP $143) seems to be at least 1 lb lighter then alder on average. Does basswood split the difference?
(And how pointless is it asking questions like this when all we have is tiny slivers of anecdotal evidence?
)
Perhaps a better pair of questions would be: do alder SB-1s always come in under 9 lbs these days, and does anyone feel the $72 for basswood is worth it?
I'm guessing that somewhere along the line, a selection is being made, to avoid especially heavy bits of alder – do they do the same for their basswood? The option (MRSP $72) is advertised as "Lightweight American Basswood".
On average, do the USA basswood instruments come in much lighter than the alder? Empress (MRSP $143) seems to be at least 1 lb lighter then alder on average. Does basswood split the difference?
(And how pointless is it asking questions like this when all we have is tiny slivers of anecdotal evidence?
)Perhaps a better pair of questions would be: do alder SB-1s always come in under 9 lbs these days, and does anyone feel the $72 for basswood is worth it?
Every single thing about it screams high end and professional. Mine was the smartest bass purchase of my life, just $625+tax. It sat in a local music shop for more than a year and I can't fathom why scores of other people didn't snatch it up before I did. It has 18v active circuitry but I've never even bothered putting batteries in it because the passive mode sounds perfect. I would recommend to anyone, if you see one of these in good condition for $1000 or less, snatch it up! It has the quality and feel of a $3000+ bass. (In my opinion)
G&L metal flake finishes are just fantastic. And the silver ……. WOW!!!
I was just nosing around the Sweetwater stock, looking at weights. They've a couple of SB-1s and a LB-100 atm, Fullerton Deluxes made from alder – all three lighter than my Squier P made from basswood. (I know the SB body is more svelte than the LB, but I don't know how the two shapes relate to a standard P)
I'm guessing that somewhere along the line, a selection is being made, to avoid especially heavy bits of alder – do they do the same for their basswood? The option (MRSP $72) is advertised as "Lightweight American Basswood".
On average, do the USA basswood instruments come in much lighter than the alder? Empress (MRSP $143) seems to be at least 1 lb lighter then alder on average. Does basswood split the difference?
(And how pointless is it asking questions like this when all we have is tiny slivers of anecdotal evidence?
Perhaps a better pair of questions would be: do alder SB-1s always come in under 9 lbs these days, and does anyone feel the $72 for basswood is worth it?
The Janka Hardness scale correlates pretty well to relative wood weights. Empress/Paulownia is around 300 and Basswood at around 410 - both lighter even than most Pines but not as light as Balsa (100). These are all softer woods and will dent more easily than denser woods.
The ratings apply generally - each wood type in reality will have a range with heavier/lighter examples. (I've seen some some really heavy basswood guitars…)
As far as G&L, I shopped around a year ago for a Tribute LB-100. I could not find an Ash-bodied type that weighed less than 10 lbs., and most were 10.5-11.25. The painted versions were Basswood. The one I bought at 9.2 lbs. was the lightest I came across, but most seemed to be 10.25 or less. (Note that these were not Swamp Ash, but the heavier and now more common American Ash.)
Empress is a good wood, though - it's light but also strong.
Has anyone else seen these G&L Tribute LB100 with block inlays and tort? There are a couple other variants as well. I had my eye on this one but someone scooped it up.
