G&L Club Part 7

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Significantly more low end and general thickness on an MFD in the neck position than there is on the stock JB pickups IMO. I also have a JB5, though I left stock pickups for something with more MFD-esque tone (JBE JB-5 Pickups). The MFD will lack some of the high end definition/brightness that a JB single coil can get. I am usually not after high end when I am running soloed neck pickup, but understand that some do.

Thanks, exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
I totally agree: that excellent bright high end definition is not the overall goal with the neck soloed on a jb.
In a recent thread about "modern j basses" a TBer said they thought the L2K was the logical conclusion for a jb. Interesting point, I thought.

 

[Chrome Dome]

Due to my OCD,I replaced the pitted saddles on the 86 L2000 I just purchased couple weeks ago. Got them today,just got through replacing and setting intonation,and fortunately was able to set it up,and tightened the saddle lock,on side of the bridge. Trying to find the correct screws that are on

each side of bridge. Found a couple of black screws that fit. Got a couple of pictures,with before and after. Kept the orignal saddles and screws. Old saddles are okay,just don't like the patina look myself.

 

[TheKillersFan]

Happy Friday, here are some better pictures of the new LB-100. I've always wanted a shell pink bass so I'm elated

 

[woodyng2]

On another note, and I'm sure this has been asked and answered a gazillion times, but what's the difference in sound between the kiloton and ye olde wunkay?

How much difference does that pickup placement make?

I had a Kiloton for about 6 monthes, loved the sound of it, but not the slim neck. It was difficult to compare it to directly to my L1k, because it has a alnico pickup instead of the MFD. I think i prefer the kton placement, as I'm always trying to dial down the bassiness of the L1k.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I had a Kiloton for about 6 monthes, loved the sound of it, but not the slim neck. It was difficult to compare it to directly to my L1k, because it has a alnico pickup instead of the MFD. I think i prefer the kton placement, as I'm always trying to dial down the bassiness of the L1k.

Does G&L make mfd single coil j pickups?

 

[ahbass2500]

Does G&L make mfd single coil j pickups?

Yes. Custom shop only at the moment. Requires deeper routes for the pickups. If you want something close, JBE pickups gets pretty close and they are hum cancelling.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Yes. Custom shop only at the moment. Requires deeper routes for the pickups. If you want something close, JBE pickups gets pretty close and they are hum cancelling.

I don't think I'd wanna mess with my jbs cause they sound so nice as-is. I'm just revisiting a common daydream on this thread: adding a compatible j pickup in the j spot on a kiloton, to make a K/J.
Could I use a bridge pu from an SB-2?

 

[jglunt]

I actually had a mad idea (as in "He's gone mad"). I was going to buy a Tribute Kiloton (and I have my eye on one). Then I was going to add an SB-2 single coil MFD in the jazz bass neck position. I'd leave the switch for the humbucker in place and use a set of stacked pots for the volumes. It would essentially be wired as a jazz bass, and with the humbucker in single coil mode, it should sound like a jazz bass with MFDs. I've sorta backed off on this as too much work, and I'm sho 'nuff a lazy bass player, but I might try it yet.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I actually had a mad idea (as in "He's gone mad"). I was going to buy a Tribute Kiloton (and I have my eye on one). Then I was going to add an SB-2 single coil MFD in the jazz bass neck position. I'd leave the switch for the humbucker in place and use a set of stacked pots for the volumes. It would essentially be wired as a jazz bass, and with the humbucker in single coil mode, it should sound like a jazz bass with MFDs. I've sorta backed off on this as too much work, and I'm sho 'nuff a lazy bass player, but I might try it yet.

I like it.

 

[TDR1138]

I actually had a mad idea (as in "He's gone mad"). I was going to buy a Tribute Kiloton (and I have my eye on one). Then I was going to add an SB-2 single coil MFD in the jazz bass neck position. I'd leave the switch for the humbucker in place and use a set of stacked pots for the volumes. It would essentially be wired as a jazz bass, and with the humbucker in single coil mode, it should sound like a jazz bass with MFDs. I've sorta backed off on this as too much work, and I'm sho 'nuff a lazy bass player, but I might try it yet.

The big question there is which coil on the Kilo MFD would be reverse wound reverse polarity from the SB-2 single, so you could have him canceling when using the Kilo pickup in single coil mode.

 

[jglunt]

The big question there is which coil on the Kilo MFD would be reverse wound reverse polarity from the SB-2 single, so you could have him canceling when using the Kilo pickup in single coil mode.

I think that would be simple to figure out, but maybe not. I have a friend I rely on heavily for that sort of stuff.

 

[Nedmundo]

I don't think I'd wanna mess with my jbs cause they sound so nice as-is. I'm just revisiting a common daydream on this thread: adding a compatible j pickup in the j spot on a kiloton, to make a K/J.
Could I use a bridge pu from an SB-2?

The SB-2's bridge pickup has low output, so it wouldn't be the best choice to pair with an MFD humbucker. (It's designed more for tone sculpting on the SB-2, which as originally designed had no tone control.) A DiMarzio Model J might be good, but a large pole Delano might be even better. They're available as pure single coils or humbuckers. It would certainly look cool, which counts for something:

Delano JMVC 5 FE/S Jazz Bass Single Coil Series - Best Bass Gear

 

[Glazenn]

I think that would be simple to figure out, but maybe not. I have a friend I rely on heavily for that sort of stuff.

With a small compass, you can at least determine the polarity for each coil.

 

[jglunt]

The SB-2's bridge pickup has low output, so it wouldn't be the best choice to pair with an MFD humbucker. (It's designed more for tone sculpting on the SB-2, which as originally designed had no tone control.)

That's interesting. I have an '07 SB-2 with no tone control, and I'm passionate about keeping it that way. I must say I never noticed whether the bridge pickup has less output than the split-coil neck pickup or not. I'll have to test that out before I commit to this project. I already have an '18 USA Kiloton, so the only reason I'd want a Tribute version would be to do this mod. Thanks for the suggestions on alternate pickups!

 

[Iridescentone]

Although the SB2 bridge pickup is low output, and noisy, there's another approach to the SB2 sound....the opposite of the typical way. Run the bridge wide open, then blend in the splitter as the tone controller. Sounds like a totally different bass that way.

 

[Iridescentone]

With all the buzz about the new MFD jazz pickups, and seeing as they need rerouting to drop into any typical jazz bass, I'd much rather see them re-issue the old MFD single coils as found in the first gen SB-2 and the Lynx. If they did that I'd be hard pressed to not buy a G&L bass with those in it, even though I swore to never buy another new USA G&L. On second thought, for what they'd be asking for one, I'll likely never have to break my oath.

It's a stale dead horse topic but these old G&L's were the kickassinest jazz basses ever conceived.

 

[jglunt]

Although the SB2 bridge pickup is low output, and noisy, there's another approach to the SB2 sound....the opposite of the typical way. Run the bridge wide open, then blend in the splitter as the tone controller. Sounds like a totally different bass that way.

Yes, I've actually done that. It felt quite natural to me since I do most things backwards anyhow. And I have to say on my SB-2, I never noticed an unusually low output on the bridge pickup. All bridge pickups on jazz basses or PJs--any 2-pickup bass--have a lower output because the string doesn't vibrate as widely near the bridge as farther from it. Add to that on a PJ that the split-coil humbucker naturally has a higher output than a single coil, be it on an SB-2 or a PJ with alnico pickups, and the bridge pickup will have a lower output. Now if that SB-2 single coil MFD is purposely underwound to make it usable only as a tone control, then that's another situation altogether. I'll have to do some research because if I decide to cut into the Kiloton's pickguard to accommodate that pickup, the only way of correcting it would be with a new pickguard. Thanks all for the input!

 

[bullitproof]

With all the buzz about the new MFD jazz pickups, and seeing as they need rerouting to drop into any typical jazz bass, I'd much rather see them re-issue the old MFD single coils as found in the first gen SB-2 and the Lynx. If they did that I'd be hard pressed to not buy a G&L bass with those in it, even though I swore to never buy another new USA G&L. On second thought, for what they'd be asking for one, I'll likely never have to break my oath.

It's a stale dead horse topic but these old G&L's were the kickassinest jazz basses ever conceived.

View attachment 4980152

Do you know what's the name on this dark blue finish?
These look great on the old G&L basses.

 

[Glazenn]

Do you know what's the name on this dark blue finish?
These look great on the old G&L basses.

BAHAMA BLUE ?
Below are pictures of two Bahama Blue L-5000 (1990):
The one with the maple F-B (sn#B020242) was for sale in Dublin, Ireland in 2014 (and can still be found recently listed on Reverb).
The one with the RW F-B is sn#B018723.

Then two '83 SB-2/Lynx? (not the same hue inside vs. outside, seemingly):

 

[Nedmundo]

Do you know what's the name on this dark blue finish?
These look great on the old G&L basses.

If it isn't Bahama Blue, it could be Cobalt Blue, which was a fantastic dark blue finish. One of the first G&L basses I tried was an L-1500 in Cobalt Blue, and I ordered an L-1500 a few months later.