G&L Club Part 7

[RocketMusic]

The Vintage Tint necks have always varied widely. I've seen them not much darker than Light Tint, and I've seen them so yellow it practically glows in the dark. And all points in between.

I've often wondered if they try to tailor it to the body color, or are they just winging it?

 

[Ricky Rioli]

What they published in 2013

My Vintage Tint Gloss

 

[MrB64]

Now I'm wondering if I got the right one, in spite of what my spec sheet says. Mine is satin, though. I don't know if there's a difference in lightness between gloss and satin. Either way, I love my G&Ls. It's interesting how they seem to vary so widely.

 

[Jim C]

For a machine made bass, I think the variance is sloppy workmanship and poor management.

 

[Spidey2112]

For a machine made bass, I think the variance is sloppy workmanship and poor management.

Bingo bango.

 

[deepestend]

'85 SB1... I think they went a little overboard with the yellow stain. Sure, it's old, but look at the overspray on the nut. That's the color they were going for.

And yes, I removed the bullet truss cover. Always thought that looked out of place on these basses.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Fitting the parchment replacement guard to my SB-1, and suddenly thinking admiring thoughts about rear-mounted controls.

Hilariously, the third hole isn't wide enough for the jack socket. Hmmm. Which kitchen knife will suit the task best.....?

 

[Lammchop93]

Here is my clear satin (bottom) and satin vintage tint (top). I always thought the vintage tint looked pretty light, but I'm not a fan of the yellow tint that squier uses. It looks very fake to me. I think my GL is very tasteful.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Hilariously, the third hole isn't wide enough for the jack socket.

Even more hilariously, the replacement pg doesn't totally cover the cavity:

 

[deepestend]

Even more hilariously, the replacement pg doesn't totally cover the cavity:

View attachment 4945695

When I had access to the tools and my skills were up, I made a rear control cavity in my SB-1 and installed a side jack (pickguard kept cracking at the jack). That jack area has a gap on mine too. They really need to redesign that. It always cracks at the jack and if you wan to install a preamp there is barely enough room.

 

[deepestend]

Is there any market for old G&L bass tuners? I'm thinking of switching out my '85 SB1 tuners for some newer hipshot hb1's (lighter). Wondering if I can fund the purchase by selling the old ones.

I just switched out my tuners for some hipshot hb1's (which fit perfectly). Just put the old '85 german tuners on the classifieds.

 

[RocketMusic]

Fitting the parchment replacement guard to my SB-1, and suddenly thinking admiring thoughts about rear-mounted controls.

View attachment 4945656

Hilariously, the third hole isn't wide enough for the jack socket. Hmmm. Which kitchen knife will suit the task best.....?

Even more hilariously, the replacement pg doesn't totally cover the cavity:

View attachment 4945695

Oy!!!

 

[jglunt]

Even more hilariously, the replacement pg doesn't totally cover the cavity:

View attachment 4945695

Where did you get the replacement PG from?

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Where did you get the replacement PG from?

It is an official G&L product

 

[Ricky Rioli]

So (cropping the photo carefully) we can see that parchment on Pharaoh Gold works very nicely, even in awful light.

 

[gunai]

suddenly thinking admiring thoughts about rear-mounted controls.

That is until you realize that in order to have a rear-mounted controls SB-1 you'd have to go the custom shop route which with the 2023 price list is probably like, IDK, guessing 4.5 grand or something? and that's before the RMC upcharge.

I'm happy with my RMC-for-no-added-cost Sandberg. (Thumbnail 'cause it's not a G&L after all, but do click!)



However, I cannot entirely rule out an RMC SB-1 at some point far far down the line. Given that neck and fretboard radius and gods know what other options are now CS only as well, might as well go big if/when I order a G&L next.

 

[Spidey2112]

It is an official G&L product

View attachment 4945778

Of course it is... and hand crafted.

 

[Spidey2112]

So (cropping the photo carefully) we can see that parchment on Pharaoh Gold works very nicely, even in awful light.

View attachment 4945813

Totally agree. I have a parchment pg on my Highway One Jazz and selected it for my SB-2T, as well.

Beautiful bass, R²!

 

[Nedmundo]

Even more hilariously, the replacement pg doesn't totally cover the cavity:

My SB-2 came stock with a gap like that, but on the other side of the jack. So maybe, paradoxically, you've made it more authentic by modding it! (The gap has never bothered me, but it probably should have been caught by QC.) I love that finish by the way. Looks fantastic.

 

[jglunt]

It is an official G&L product

View attachment 4945778

Yeah, that was stupid of me. (Thank you for not pointing that out.) You did say the bass was new, right? Let's just say the bass is so beautiful that the pictures stunned me, so I overlooked that fact. I'll bet they cut the cavity too large rather than the pickguard too small, but who knows? The control cavities on the SB basses are a very tight fit. It's even more disturbing to wonder if they completely missed that at final inspection (if there is such a thing at G&L) or if they saw it and figured it was no big deal.