I recently bought a used 2016 Tribute MJ-4 in blueburst. The outer edges look black to me, but I was expecting them to be black. I'll take a closer look when I get a chance under bright light to see.
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Since the factory is now shut until the new year, its going to be at least another month before it arrives with me, so from the moment I click send on this, I'm going to be trying to forget about it.
The only remaining explanation why my order remains unfulfilled is that I paid my deposit a couple of weeks before they announced the big price rises: choosing to build your bass rather than mine earned them more $$$. Every order that comes in seemingly goes above mine in their to do list.
Meanwhile they drip-feed rubbish to be passed on to me: there was a shortage of quartersawn maple; the bass is shipping by Oct 31st; the bass is shipping by Dec 16th. Self-serving lies was what the little scrotes who half-inched the pink SB-1 in Spring 2021 were coming out with as I spent weeks manoeuvring them into returning it to Greg.
Incompetence and foolishness have a kind of charm I enjoy forgiving, but this has wiped out all the fondness I had for the company. Wanting something to string with flats, I had plans ready for an order for a second LB-100 (pearl white, gold pg) but yeah
I picked up a holoflake G Bass for a steal as it had been on the wall for ages. I liked the look.
Kim
I have a blue burst Tribute L2000, and the edges fade to black. Interestingly, the "blue" is more of a turquoise on mine…after seeing so many pictures of the deep blue, I was disappointed at first, but it has grown on me.My 2014 L2k. It's super quiet on stage, under the lights. Bought new at Bass North West. The only thing I ever needed (still need) to do is a fret job-- due to being worn down from playingand a few of the higher frets are starting to lift slightly.
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An interesting thing about the blue-burst finishes: the outer edges are a deep purple-- not black. It's such a subtle detail that is only noticeable if you are looking at it under bright light. I've always wondered if the Tribute line does the same thing (?)
Kim
The 2016 Tribute MJ-4 that I just picked up is such a deep blue that it looks black until the light hits it just right. I was hoping for something a little lighter. It looked dark in the photos online, but seldom have I had one show up that looked exactly like the photos. It was rated as "excellent", but when it arrived, I was amazed that, to me, it could have been rated as "mint." And it sounds great, but it ain't your grandpa's jazz bass.
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I really hope this bass gets to you soon Ricky, and more importantly, I hope it's a good one.Since the factory is now shut until the new year, its going to be at least another month before it arrives with me, so from the moment I click send on this, I'm going to be trying to forget about it.
The only remaining explanation why my order remains unfulfilled is that I paid my deposit a couple of weeks before they announced the big price rises: choosing to build your bass rather than mine earned them more $$$. Every order that comes in seemingly goes above mine in their to do list.
Meanwhile they drip-feed rubbish to be passed on to me: there was a shortage of quartersawn maple; the bass is shipping by Oct 31st; the bass is shipping by Dec 16th. Self-serving lies was what the little scrotes who half-inched the pink SB-1 in Spring 2021 were coming out with as I spent weeks manoeuvring them into returning it to Greg.
Incompetence and foolishness have a kind of charm I enjoy forgiving, but this has wiped out all the fondness I had for the company. Wanting something to string with flats, I had plans ready for an order for a second LB-100 (pearl white, gold pg) but yeah
I was surprised you ordered another after the last fiasco.
Can't imagine the disappointment of ordering a custom only for it to come in wrong.
It's a pity this company has such weak management and QC considering how great some of Leo's designs are.
He would not be happy about sloppy production.
Thank you for sharing, too bad I cannot buy it; I lived in New England for several years, but now that I am down in Florida, seems like all the decent deals I see are up North!
If anybody here is considering to get rid of a Kiloton Tribute, please pm me.
Hey everyone, hope all is well. Recently purchased a Kiloton 5 from the classifieds, very excited about it! I use flats on all my other basses and was wondering if anybody had recs for the Kiloton 5. I searched this thread and read that most folks dig rounds or halfs on them.
Any sole flat users? I was considering LaBella LTFs or GHS precision flats, but I'd likely use the custom set then buy a single B string.
Thanks!
Any sole flat users? I was considering LaBella LTFs or GHS precision flats, but I'd likely use the custom set then buy a single B string.
Thanks!
I like TI Jazz flats on MFD pickup G&L basses. They tame the MFD bark/brightness in a good way. Cannot speak to them on the Kilo as I am having them installed on the replacement neck that G&L is currently working on. I have them on my L2500 and L5000 and have for several years.
Thanks! Def heard of and seen demos of TI Jazz Flats but never tries them in person. Interesting about taking the bark/brightness of the MFD. I wonder if warm thumping flats (maybe higher instead of lower tension?) would be similar. I'm most familiar with LaBellas (having tried the 760-FL, 760-FS, and the LTFs.)
TI Jazz flats are lower tension. I have only tried a few other flats and found TIs to be a little more on the roundwound end of the flatwound spectrum. When I say they tame the bark/brightness, they tame it just enough. Part of the charm of the MFD is that tone. With rounds, I usually rolled off most of the treble all the time. With TI Jazz Flats, I find the full range of the tone knob is useful.
I love the TIs, but if you like the feel/tone you get from the LaBellas, then I would probably try them first on the Kilo.
I love the TIs, but if you like the feel/tone you get from the LaBellas, then I would probably try them first on the Kilo.
Mine is a 4 string, but I love it with LaBella 750N, black tape wounds.
FWIW I like the Fender ML Flats on my L-2000 best. I have some TIs which are also nice but still the Fender win in my book.
The LaBellas are great to have a "thumpy" tone - the Fender and TI give more tonal options IMHO.
The LaBellas are great to have a "thumpy" tone - the Fender and TI give more tonal options IMHO.
I've enjoyed both Ernie Ball Slinky flats and Rotosound Jazz 77 flats on my Tribute JB-2. The Ernie Balls seem a tad brighter. While I like the sound of the Rotos when I'm just playing by myself, the Ernie Balls drop into a band mix really well. The Rotos have a reputation of going dead kinda fast, but I can't say that I've found that to be the case because I don't play the JB-2 real often. I have 3 G&Ls with MFDs, but I'm sorry, I've never tried flats on any of them. I recently put a set of GHS Pressurewounds on my SB-2, and I was shocked that they are very bright. I like a bright sound, but I'm not sure how long the Pressurewounds will be on my SB-2 if they don't mellow out after a while.
I have used TI flats that sound great on my kiloton.
They will mellow out with more play. They are somewhat brighter when new but not so much it can't be dealt with by adjusting the amp or premaps EQ to compensate. At heart they're really a roundwound type with a wrap that helps take out the zing and string noise assocaited with a pure round. It happens so gradually one day you'll find them "just right". They're what I've often called my Goldilocks string.
Being that you already have experience with flats on other basses, you likely know how they differ from rounds, and have established what you like/don't like about flats in general.
What are your goals for this bass? Mellow it out... keep the feel of flats, yet retain the more aggressive tone...? That would guide me in the type of flats to use.
Personally, on a G&L like the Kiloton I'd go for something on the brighter end of the flats spectrum: Chromes, EB Cobalts flats... Dunlop has a brighter set I think...
My L2K has worn Chromes for the last year or so and I really enjoy them. When it's time for a change (most likely after an overdue refret) I'll be going with a set of Cobalt flats mainly for that extra zing.
Congrats on the new bass!
Strung some used 40-95 EB flats last night on my L-2000, replacing DSBN 45-100 rounds. Just about the same tension I think (no buzzing).
So far... core flexibility (bends) similar, as well as mid-range presence. Less.. not warmth but... hair than the DSBN. The DSBN were quacky on the G, and not in a way fine-controllable with the treble knob.
Not certain I like how they interact with the Series/Parallel toggle, or sit in a mix, so the jury's still out.
