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Forgive me for not being clear. I haven't been able to get Pickguard Planet/Chandler Music to message me back. I sent a couple questions regarding them making a custom pickguard for a bass I have that has no pickguard if I would send them a pattern. That was so far back, all I remember is that it was sometime in 2021. I have never received a response or even acknowledgement from them. But they did a great job with the aged pearl pickguard I ordered from them for my 2018 Kiloton. (See my avatar.)
I took a different route. I just bought a sheet of vintage pearl acrylic from an Ebay seller and had my local tech produce mine in a single day using the stock pickguard to make a template. It wasn't any less expensive than going with PickGuardian but it took less time and I didn't have to be without a pickguard waiting to someone else to get it done and deal with shipping stuff back and forth.
In the photos the pickguard appears to be more of a white pearl because the flash washes out the more muted cream color but it looks right to me now. The red tort wasn't doing it for me but I kept it just the same in case I ever want to produce more pickguards using it to produce a template. What puzzles me is why G&L won't offer pickguards for their Tribute Series instruments. They could have them made by Cort or another Asian producer for around $5 each and sell them for 5x to 10x that and still be less costly than PickGuardian or others.
Anyone know who G&L sources their tolex cases from?
Thx!
Thx!
I bought my SB-2T in '19, and they were using G&G, at the time. The case was flimsy, poor quality (IMO).
Something definitely changed with them over the years... I purchased a G&G case for my Highway One Jazz ('06), and that thing is a tank.
Complaints were registered with G&L, but we all know how that goes... I do think either a new case vendor, or using gig bags, was being talked about, as little as a year ago.
Yeah, the case from my 2022 SB-2T is nowhere near the quality or fit of the tolex cases from my '80s-era G&Ls. Looks nice, but definitely a drop in quality.
I bought my 2018 Kiloton used with the G&G case, which I assume was the original since I got the spec sheet and certificate of ownership with it as well. My case is very nice. I have no complaints about it. On the other hand, I bought my '07 SB-2 from a pawn shop & they threw in a new Fender tweed case--it actually has the Fender label on it. That case is junk.
Bwawaahaha! Our POS cases must have been fabricated on Fridays.
Note: The tank G&G case I purchased for the Highway One was even branded 'Fender'. Viva la consistency.
HSCs are only provided for Build-to-Order or Custom Builts. Fullerton Deluxe models come with a gig bag. Of course the Trubutes come with nothing but the cardboard box they're shipped in. This is according to the website.
Being a Kiloton fan, I looked up the Fullerton Deluxe Kiloton on the website and was surprised that it is offered in only one color--metallic tangerine with tort PG. And it's selling for almost two grand, with a gig bag. I am far from a wealthy person, but even if I thought I could afford a new G&L, I don't think I'd look past the Tributes. Even the Tributes are offered in two colors. And the bass with the same MFD pickup plus paying for the same gig bag G&L supplies with the Fullerton Deluxe models totals $720. No contest, in my eyes...but that's just me. A cheapskate to the end.
Believe me, you're not alone. I don't mind spending a little extra on proven quality... it burns me to no end when I get less than advertised.
Yeah, I'm glad I ordered my SB-2T before the price bump. The recent pricing effectively puts me out of the market for a new one.
If I'm remembering right, the original Fullerton Standard line came with a gig bag around the $1k mark and the Fullerton Deluxe included a hard case for around $1300 or so. That was what, 5 years ago?
If I'm remembering right, the original Fullerton Standard line came with a gig bag around the $1k mark and the Fullerton Deluxe included a hard case for around $1300 or so. That was what, 5 years ago?
That Tribute Kiloton in black frost with the white pearl blocks in the rosewood fingerboard looks sweet!
Nah, they discontinued the FS line.
Sounds about right.
Those were solid price points.
Seems like the prices of G&L have caught up with the rest of the market, and are no longer the bargain they used to be.
I remember when the MSRP of a Tookay was $1700.
My US L2500 was only $1050 brand new… that was also 20 years ago.
Back then they came with an SKB style case. It was way better than the current style (for one thing the five string basses actually fit correctly in them).
Online, the price of a Fullerton Deluxe Kiloton in stock is $1,955. That's one of G&Ls simplest basses--one pickup, no preamp. I'm not saying they're ripping anyone off. I know every expense they have has taken a huge jump in the last couple years, and I certainly hope they make a profit so they can stay in business. But to simple players like me, 2 grand is still a lot of money. Of course, that's why they make Tributes and why places like Reverb and Ebay exist.
