You possibly did, but that didn't mean it was a successful experiment long term. The real problem is that you've modified the body pretty significantly, so restoring it back would really be a chore. I have re-wired my SB-2 because I didn't like having to mess with two volume controls to change the volume while still trying to keep the tone balanced. I bought a B250k pair of concentric pots to run the pickup volumes to, then ran from there to one of the A250k pots as a master. That way I am still faithful to Leo's idea of no tone control while making it possible to change volume more easily. It works great.
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Quite possibly a twisted string. My M-2500 Tribute has excellent balance string to string
^
The tone of the M2500 is sonic bliss.
In the Serek owners fanclub someone did a build with the L2500 pre and it slays.
Indeed it is. I just acquired my first M2500 to add to other G&Ls, an SB2-t and an LB100. I was surprised at the tone. I started with all EQ neutral and blend in the middle. I think I'll super blue them in place.
No NBD announcement, yet. It went immediately to my luthier for a proper setup. The action was not to my liking and he know exactly how to set my basses up.
Thanks! I think @svtbass covered it much better than I could. When I had an L-1500, I often thought about adding a J-type pickup to get more fatness, and I was considering a DiMarzio Model J, but I really don't know what would be a good match for the MFD humbucker for both tone and output. A Barden might work, because IMO they sound like a mix of two thirds traditional J-bass pickup and one third MFD humbucker, and they have fairly high output for a J-bass pickup.
This is my 2016 Tom Hamilton Signature ASAT bass. This thing is an absolute BEAST. The neck is super sweet!! There are plenty of tonal variations and you can toggle between active and passive mode. May I have a number please?
So, today I visited the G&L shop in Fullerton. Still no signs of my custom bass, but I got to sit in Leo's chair!
Hi everyone, very happy Kiloton 5 user and have come to love the MFD pickup, especially backing off the volume to get some vintage thump. I'm looking into the SB-1 since I need a passive P-style bass. I don't play rock music so I'm not really looking for aggressive clank. Can the SB-1 get into vintage thump for soul, jazz, and funk (fingrestyle, no slapping) genres by also backing off the V and T like the Kiloton can?
I know the LB-100 is more vintage voiced, but I really dig the MFDs, so I'm mainly looking into the SB-1 for now. Thank you all!
I know the LB-100 is more vintage voiced, but I really dig the MFDs, so I'm mainly looking into the SB-1 for now. Thank you all!
I was thinking along the same lines but have gravitated towards an L-1000 that would serve to give me some MFD goodness along with P bass vibe due to pickup placement. I also have a Kiloton and love it for its unique character, comfort and tone. Have you considered the third stage in Leo's single pickup classics?
As an L5000 owner (who has played SB1 and SB2 a few times), P Style MFD + Flats + Foam is as vintage thump as you can get. I like NordyMutes for Foam, but any foam will do.
An SB-1 could get you there, but I'd agree with @dwellers and say that the L-1000 would be my choice. I have an L-1000 with GHS P-flats and it just has such a wonderful fat thumpy finger style tone. I find that my SB-2T is better suited for rounds/aggressive tone, but it can be tamed if you really wanted to go that route. One advantage to the L-1000 is that you can roll off the bass, which helps it sound more in the neighborhood of a vintage P, in my opinion. The SB pickup sounds great, but to me it's pretty full and modern sounding.
Hello.
SB2 player here, for several years in different settings.
How close do you want it to be to a P? My SB2 can come very close to a P in a live setting, if I want it. But alone in a quiet room, I can definitely tell the difference.
The real advantage of an SB bass vs a P is that the SB is a lot more versatile. A lot more.
It really depends on what you want. Ultimately if you want a tone that sounds exactly like a P all the time even outside of a mix, I'm not sure that an MFD pickup is the best route. I'm not sure that an MFD pickup is possible of that. And if it is, you will need to use a lot of smoke and mirrors.
SB2 player here, for several years in different settings.
How close do you want it to be to a P? My SB2 can come very close to a P in a live setting, if I want it. But alone in a quiet room, I can definitely tell the difference.
The real advantage of an SB bass vs a P is that the SB is a lot more versatile. A lot more.
It really depends on what you want. Ultimately if you want a tone that sounds exactly like a P all the time even outside of a mix, I'm not sure that an MFD pickup is the best route. I'm not sure that an MFD pickup is possible of that. And if it is, you will need to use a lot of smoke and mirrors.
Here's my SB2 that I ran with for 5 or 6 or 7 years as my number one. Sadly, these days it's more my number three than anything else. It's a beautiful bass, and I love it regardless.
Having a dilemma with my LB-100. I've had it for about 10 years, and the only complaint I have is that I'm lukewarm on the color. But it's fallen down the list of basses that are getting my attention.
I really want a nicer fretless, so part of me is thinking of selling/trading for a fretless.
Part of me wants to try rounds on it.
And when I pull it out, part of me thinks I'm an idiot for even thinking of getting rid of it or changing the strings.
An update to my silly dilemma…
Pulled the Fender flats off my LB-100, cleaned and oiled the fretboard, polished the frets, and put on a barely-used set of D'Addario XLs. Got it all nice and set up and… they lasted all of about 2 hours on the bass before the flats went back on. But the whole process gave me a chance to give the neck a little TLC and a fresh setup, so all's good there.
I did have a chance to gig the LB-100 this week with a mid-week church group that I sit in with occasionally. Played great, sounded great, and looked green. So I'm back on the "I don't want to get rid of it" train. For now, anyway.
As for the fretless plans, they're still rattling around in the back of my head, through I'm starting to think I can just slowly build out a decent parts fretless - or rather, upgrade my current cheap parts fretless slowly and as funds allow. The benefit of Fender parts. So that's the plan for now. Though I'd really love a fretless L-2000 at some point.
And if you read this, thanks for the indulgence.
Funny thing is that I've tried a few different sets of flats and maybe two other sets of rounds over the years, and I just keep coming back to the same flats. Literally, the same set. They've probably been on the bass the better part of 10 years, save for a few moments of experimentation.
