G&L Club Part 7

[bonin in the boneyard]

People often do what they have to do instead of what they want to do.

That said, it's unlikely I'll ever look to them for a new bass again, seeing my fellow lefty still waiting 18+ months later for his bass.

 

[jglunt]

Imagine how many more basses G&L would sell if they actually focused on their Option Order business and could produce a bass in 60 days or less? Ever since larger volume dealers like Sweetwater and Andertons took on their line it seems production is focused on supplying that market and the waiting period for a single customers Option Order has been stretched out farther and farther and that's if they get it right the first time through.

That's true. Plus they supply the Musicians Friend group with Fullerton Deluxe basses as well as Tributes. Those online companies certainly have to be demanding. G&L seems to be dedicated to remaining a small company, and since hiring employees with a reasonable degree of dedication seems to be an issue these days, any kind of growth would seem to be out of the question. But they need the Fullerton Deluxe line out there for advertising as much as anything. It's a tough choice. Maybe they should just do away with the option orders and have only the Tributes, the Fullerton Deluxe, and the Custom Shop.

 

[Robert Booker]

People often do what they have to do instead of what they want to do.

That said, it's unlikely I'll ever look to them for a new bass again, seeing my fellow lefty still waiting 18+ months later for his bass.

There's currently 746 new and used G&L Basses listed on Reverb alone. Add in whatever is currently in dealer inventory and I have to wonder if a buyer wouldn't be better served just buying from the inventory of what's already out there. I know I would surely pursue that first before waiting 6 months or more for G&L to produce one for me.

 

[Robert Booker]

That's true. Plus they supply the Musicians Friend group with Fullerton Deluxe basses as well as Tributes. Those online companies certainly have to be demanding. G&L seems to be dedicated to remaining a small company, and since hiring employees with a reasonable degree of dedication seems to be an issue these days, any kind of growth would seem to be out of the question. But they need the Fullerton Deluxe line out there for advertising as much as anything. It's a tough choice. Maybe they should just do away with the option orders and have only the Tributes, the Fullerton Deluxe, and the Custom Shop.

Their dealers are also buying up Option Order stuff for their inventories so I doubt they'll drop those but it's one more issue of at times becoming the last man in a daisy chain when it comes down to individual orders.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Maybe they should just do away with the option orders

Better to have no wait for nothing, than a long wait for exactly what I want?

 

[Robert Booker]

Better to have no wait for nothing, than a long wait for exactly what I want?

That's what they're counting on.

 

[jglunt]

They could make basses with more colors in the Fullerton Deluxe line if they weren't doing option orders. For example, the Fullerton Deluxe Kiloton is currently only available in metallic orange (I think they call it 'tangerine') with a tort pg. If you want something exactly your way, the custom shop would be available.

I have to admit, since I can't even afford a new Fullerton Deluxe off the rack, it's all a moot point to me...just letting my mind wander, and it's gotten way off the beaten path. In fact, I seem to have lost it altogether.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

That's what they're counting on.

As Kurt sang, just because you're paranoid that doesn't mean Dave McFraggle isn't out to get us all.

 

[gunai]

Imagine how many more basses G&L would sell if they actually focused on their Option Order business and could produce a bass in 60 days or less? Ever since larger volume dealers like Sweetwater and Andertons took on their line it seems production is focused on supplying that market and the waiting period for a single customers Option Order has been stretched out farther and farther and that's if they get it right the first time through.

Add to this the fact that quotes on the various options have skyrocketed this year.

Me, as much as I don't mind waiting a while, and as much as I'm aching to have a fully roasted L-1000 or RMC SB-1... If I were to get another bass it'd be another Sandberg, since they accommodate any whim and request, and don't even charge you extra for a bunch of them.

This isn't to besmirch the instruments themselves in the least bit, of course. I sometimes toy with the thought of what if I had ordered an L-1000 instead of my SB-1, and then get all confused because then I wouldn't have my killer bass.

 

[TDR1138]

They could make basses with more colors in the Fullerton Deluxe line if they weren't doing option orders. For example, the Fullerton Deluxe Kiloton is currently only available in metallic orange (I think they call it 'tangerine') with a tort pg. If you want something exactly your way, the custom shop would be available.

I'm of the notion that more colors for the Fullerton Deluxe line might reduce a small amount of the Option Order instruments, I doubt it would be enough to notice significant improvement in build times. Yeah, color is one component, but my main reason for going with the Option Order was to get the neck profile specs that I wanted. I like that I could do that at a reasonable price. Custom Shop prices? I wouldn't be able to justify that.

Me, as much as I don't mind waiting a while, and as much as I'm aching to have a fully roasted L-1000 or RMC SB-1...

If RMC were an option with build-to-order SBs, I would have ordered it when I got my SB-2T, and probably would have upgraded to a deluxe finish as well.

 

[gunai]

If RMC were an option with build-to-order SBs, I would have ordered it when I got my SB-2T, and probably would have upgraded to a deluxe finish as well.

If RMC were an option with build-to-order SBs at the time, I would have gotten it with ss frets, ebony fretboard, matching headstock to a trans red, and would probably not be owning an RMC Sandberg VS at the moment (no extra charge even!).



At least the CS route now offers RMC and roasted woods and whatnot, so it's a 'depends' rather than an outright no as it once was. Sure, it depends on whether you want to pay what I think was mentioned to be around a grand just to have it RMCed, but hey... it is an option

Frankly, I mind it the least in the SB-1 out of the basses with the SB body. Unsurprisingly, it's the Kiloton with its half a pickup and change in the body and half a pickup sans change in the pickguard that I dislike the most.

 

[Bleeder]

Link Removed

I dig this.

 

[Alex-Thompson]

Hey folks.
I'm GASsing for a birthday bass. I have a Ric 4003, P, Stingray (selling BYW) and my awesome L2000.

I don't love the colour of the L2000 but love the sound. Anyway I've also been coveting the DROC. It's pretty beautiful and has tonal options a plenty. I was going to get another Tribby but I figured I may be better spending a bit more and get something different like the DROC

I cover metal / prog rock stuff so it's definitely the right tool as far as I can tell. Has anyone tried one or has one as well as an L2K? Any comments on the similarities/ differences good or bad?

 

[jglunt]

I'm of the notion that more colors for the Fullerton Deluxe line might reduce a small amount of the Option Order instruments, I doubt it would be enough to notice significant improvement in build times. Yeah, color is one component, but my main reason for going with the Option Order was to get the neck profile specs that I wanted. I like that I could do that at a reasonable price. Custom Shop prices? I wouldn't be able to justify that.

Sorry, I guess I didn't state my idea clearly. The Option Order basses would be discontinued. They could slightly expand the Fullerton Deluxe models (or not...up to them), but with them, you would still get a "buy-it-as-is-off-the-rack" choice. So the USA G&Ls would be either Fullerton Deluxe models as-is or come from the Custom Shop. I'm not necessarily espousing that, but I'm thinking that, with the same number of employees and fewer orders coming in due to higher prices for the Custom Shop, things would move along a little more quickly. I know for those of you who order Option Order instruments but can't justify the cost of a full-blown Custom, this is an awful idea, but since I can't afford any of G&L's USA basses new, it doesn't sound that bad.

 

[MrB64]

I'm of the notion that more colors for the Fullerton Deluxe line might reduce a small amount of the Option Order instruments, I doubt it would be enough to notice significant improvement in build times. Yeah, color is one component, but my main reason for going with the Option Order was to get the neck profile specs that I wanted. I like that I could do that at a reasonable price. Custom Shop prices? I wouldn't be able to justify that.

If RMC were an option with build-to-order SBs, I would have ordered it when I got my SB-2T, and probably would have upgraded to a deluxe finish as well.

The neck specs were exactly why I went with option order. I demoed a CLF Research L-2000, and loved the electronics but didn't really like the neck. I've played jazz basses for years and I'm really used to that 1 1/2 inch nut width. I didn't think that the 1 5/8" nut width that the L-2000s come with would be that noticeable, but to me it was. Hence the order. I basically ordered an L2K with a JB neck. It should be here any time now, I can't wait to get my hands on it. I just hope there's nothing wrong with it. Pics forthcoming, of course.

 

[TDR1138]

Sorry, I guess I didn't state my idea clearly. The Option Order basses would be discontinued. They could slightly expand the Fullerton Deluxe models (or not...up to them), but with them, you would still get a "buy-it-as-is-off-the-rack" choice. So the USA G&Ls would be either Fullerton Deluxe models as-is or come from the Custom Shop. I'm not necessarily espousing that, but I'm thinking that, with the same number of employees and fewer orders coming in due to higher prices for the Custom Shop, things would move along a little more quickly. I know for those of you who order Option Order instruments but can't justify the cost of a full-blown Custom, this is an awful idea, but since I can't afford any of G&L's USA basses new, it doesn't sound that bad.

The Fullerton Deluxe is definitely that "buy it off the rack" line for a US G&L, which I think is great, but the Option Order is a nice bridge between that and the CS. I couldn't see paying CS prices for a different nut width or neck radius or whatever. If I was going CS, it would probably have to be something pretty non-standard… not that I could justify the prices. I love my US G&Ls, but when you start talking $3k instruments, G&L drops off my radar.

 

[jfh2424]

If G&L had real attention to QC and read option orders properly, they'd save loads of time and money. For one thing, they wouldn't have to fix all these screw ups, which takes time and money. And secondly, more people would have faith in them, so they would buy more. Or at least consider it.

That's just basic business. They need to do the basics well. The rest will come, if they do that.

 

[Spidey2112]

I just hope there's nothing wrong with it.

Ditto.

 

[jmlee]

My last purchase from G&L, a tangerine orange CLF Series 750 L-2500–not even an option order, took more than 6 months to arrive. Amazing.

 

[Robert Booker]

As Kurt sang, just because you're paranoid that doesn't mean Dave McFraggle isn't out to get us all.

LOL