Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I was wondering...Whoops.. Rickenbacker post deleted……
But, DANG, them was some nice lookin' Ricki's!
Thanks!
Been playing Ricks since the mid -70s, and the 2 Cheyennes I have now are my favorites out of
the dozen-plus ones I've owned over the years.
Those were some pretty Rics. Why you gotta hide them? (hint: throw a G&L in frame next time to keep it "on topic.")
Okay, here's my L1k, 2 Cheyennes, Tune fretless, Fernandes 8 string, and my Veillette-Citron. (Not pictured are my GL Kiloton, JB2, and Yamaha rbxa2 which I'm trying to sell).
Thanks!
Been playing Ricks since the mid -70s, and the 2 Cheyennes I have now are my favorites out of
the dozen-plus ones I've owned over the years.
I've always wanted a Ric, but every time I start saving up money that could be used for one, I end up with a G&L…
I was just doing some window shopping and stumbled across this MIA LB-100 demo at a discounted price. I have no affiliation with the manufacturer nor the retailer. Just passing along info for anyone that might be interested.
G&L Fullerton Deluxe LB-100 Bass Guitar - Old School Tobacco Sunburst
G&L Fullerton Deluxe LB-100 Bass Guitar - Old School Tobacco Sunburst
I played a Ric 4003 for ten years, I don't really miss it. Now, though, I'm very happy with my JB, and am still waiting with bated breath for my L2K build to order.
I shan't bother mentioning the other infelicities that stop the level of finish being equal to the Indonesian Yamaha that was ⅓ the price, but.... but it's just as well I spent my £££$$$ in the search for the right combination of specs for me, not because I wanted an exquisite objet d'art to hang on my wall. I don't think Cher Horowitz would quite be calling it a full-on Monet, but, y'know.....
Anyway, I'll be getting the gold SB-1 back from the tech today, and hopefully I can finally get on with getting lost in playing the thing and revelling in its qualities.
I know I like how he sets pickup heights - lots of warmth, just a little bite - but he's not encountered an MFD before. So I asked him, do them with the volume on 8, so I've still got the option of turning on the afterburners.
And hopefully I haven't bitten off more than I can chew by going for 49-109 La Bellas
We'll see 
Ricky, your bass looks stunning and I hope you get it playing to your satisfaction.
Just to clarify, I have owned quite a few G&L`s, Tributes and a stunning ASAT that I stupidly sold last year. I cannot think of any problems with the Trib models or with any of the older 3 US models I have owned. But regarding the LB100 bought recently, as well as the earth wire never been connected, the shoddy way the pick guard has been manufactured and the dry board, the latest escapade was the sound.
Having had it in the studio a few times, sad to say that the sound didn`t match up to my Fender Nate Mendel. I get it that they are different, ash compared to pine etc but the NM has a duff truss rod and I have got away with it until now but it`s becoming unplayable so the LB was a replacement.
So I removed the Tonerider pickup and the electrics made by a long standing member of Basschat who makes great kit with the plan of putting it in the LB and see how it sounds. Having removed the plate on the LB, I found the the volume pot and input jack were jammed in place, they wouldn`t move at all. In the end I had to force them out using pliers and have likely buggered them up in the process. Who knows how they got them in there in the first place!
Got a small reamer drill bit, enlarged the holes slightly and the old NM pots fitted in. Result is the bass sounds so much better than before. I realise that this is all very personal and most folks are happy with the original set up but for me this has proved to be a worth while escapade and I am at last a happy camper.
But to be honest, would I buy a brand new US G&L? No but I would get an older US one or a Tribute as the quality seemed better on the previous ones.
Just to clarify, I have owned quite a few G&L`s, Tributes and a stunning ASAT that I stupidly sold last year. I cannot think of any problems with the Trib models or with any of the older 3 US models I have owned. But regarding the LB100 bought recently, as well as the earth wire never been connected, the shoddy way the pick guard has been manufactured and the dry board, the latest escapade was the sound.
Having had it in the studio a few times, sad to say that the sound didn`t match up to my Fender Nate Mendel. I get it that they are different, ash compared to pine etc but the NM has a duff truss rod and I have got away with it until now but it`s becoming unplayable so the LB was a replacement.
So I removed the Tonerider pickup and the electrics made by a long standing member of Basschat who makes great kit with the plan of putting it in the LB and see how it sounds. Having removed the plate on the LB, I found the the volume pot and input jack were jammed in place, they wouldn`t move at all. In the end I had to force them out using pliers and have likely buggered them up in the process. Who knows how they got them in there in the first place!
Got a small reamer drill bit, enlarged the holes slightly and the old NM pots fitted in. Result is the bass sounds so much better than before. I realise that this is all very personal and most folks are happy with the original set up but for me this has proved to be a worth while escapade and I am at last a happy camper.
But to be honest, would I buy a brand new US G&L? No but I would get an older US one or a Tribute as the quality seemed better on the previous ones.
that's a great price! Bass looks to be from the same batch as mine based on the serial number.
Just picked it up from the tech. No taxis to be had at just an hour's notice in my city this Friday afternoon, so I'm walking the two miles home thinking appreciative thoughts about today's dull summerless skies and empress' extraordinary lightness. 
The 49-109 La Bellas apparently gave the neck something to think about, but nonetheless the action is now raked from 5/64" on the E to 4/64" on the G, which is about 1/256" off my ideal
A quick twiddle unplugged told me that I'll be fine with these strings.
My tech told me that on the lower strings he found dropping their half-pickup a tiny bit and then raising the poles eversoslightly gave them clarity whilst not overpowering the upper strings. I like having a tech with an obsessive mentality. Very reassuring.
Right, time to be getting back on my feet, getting home and getting this plugged in
The 49-109 La Bellas apparently gave the neck something to think about, but nonetheless the action is now raked from 5/64" on the E to 4/64" on the G, which is about 1/256" off my ideal
A quick twiddle unplugged told me that I'll be fine with these strings.
My tech told me that on the lower strings he found dropping their half-pickup a tiny bit and then raising the poles eversoslightly gave them clarity whilst not overpowering the upper strings. I like having a tech with an obsessive mentality. Very reassuring.
Right, time to be getting back on my feet, getting home and getting this plugged in
Just picked up this poor JB-2, there was an attempt at a de-fretting, there was an attempt at refinishing, and there was a chance to get it for €140 shipped.
The guy, or ladyy, before me routed a jazzbucker in, and did a fairly clean job.
@Pilgrim's wrong neck will get here in a few days/weeks and I'll get tuners for the fretless, once I hit it with CA glue and a new decal.
My initial plan has been foiled.
I wanted to put P bass pickguard and install some split coils and either a 2- or 3-way switch for the jazzbucker.
Alas, it is unfeasible unless I move the split coils up towards the neck. Would that even sound good?
Anyway, the current plan 3 step plan is:
- get one of my friends to bring the new neck from the US to Vienna.
- scrape/sand the body, and either finish it with Euro-Varatheane aka floor WB poly and keep it natural, or dye it blue like in the picture below, then do the satin finish.
- install series/parallel switch, maybe SC too, not sure yet.
- cry that there aren't used MFD humbuckers in Europe, but it'll sound great either way. The fretless neck feels good too.
Any ideas or suggestions for improvement are welcomed!
The guy, or ladyy, before me routed a jazzbucker in, and did a fairly clean job.
@Pilgrim's wrong neck will get here in a few days/weeks and I'll get tuners for the fretless, once I hit it with CA glue and a new decal.
My initial plan has been foiled.
I wanted to put P bass pickguard and install some split coils and either a 2- or 3-way switch for the jazzbucker.
Alas, it is unfeasible unless I move the split coils up towards the neck. Would that even sound good?
Anyway, the current plan 3 step plan is:
- get one of my friends to bring the new neck from the US to Vienna.
- scrape/sand the body, and either finish it with Euro-Varatheane aka floor WB poly and keep it natural, or dye it blue like in the picture below, then do the satin finish.
- install series/parallel switch, maybe SC too, not sure yet.
- cry that there aren't used MFD humbuckers in Europe, but it'll sound great either way. The fretless neck feels good too.
Any ideas or suggestions for improvement are welcomed!
My tribute fallout is here, but it's going right back. The QC is horrendous. The pickup cavity is ROUGH, tuning keys are all crooked, and the neck seems twisted. Fret buzz is awful unless I have the string a mile off the fretboard on the bass side of the neck.
I've bought 3 different Tribute B-stock basses from the G&L online store and only had one with any issue that wasn't mentioned in the description. The bridge pickup pot was not grounded, so when it was turned all the way down, it didn't kill the sound of the pickup. It was a simple fix and something that would have been easy to overlook when doing QC. I can't imagine having things as messed up as yours.
What a disappointment.(Sorry for the last "phantom" post...fat fingers, tiny phone keys.)
I've bought 3 different Tribute B-stock basses from the G&L online store and only had one with any issue that wasn't mentioned in the description. The bridge pickup pot was not grounded, so when it was turned all the way down, it didn't kill the sound of the pickup. It was a simple fix and something that would have been easy to overlook when doing QC. I can't imagine having things as messed up as yours.
(Sorry for the last "phantom" post...fat fingers, tiny phone keys.)
I bought it from a dealer as "used" on reverb, but it definitely was a new bass. It had never been opened. They just had it. Marked as used so they could list it for cheaper than MSRP.
