I think the answer would be an SB-2.
The question?
How to find a fretless.
Maybe custom shop, but some of the more knowledgeable G&L heads will chime in pretty quick.
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The question?
How to find a fretless.
Maybe custom shop, but some of the more knowledgeable G&L heads will chime in pretty quick.
I'm thinking that Alder on the right would make a great fretless. Anybody know whether or not G&L would sell just a JB5 neck?
LOVE that JB5! What color is that? Old school tobacco? I'm surprised there's no visible wood grain
There's a clearance neck page on the G&L Online Store, but I don't remember ever seeing anything there. I'm guessing you'd have to give Memo a shout and ask. Please post what he tells you if you do contact him. Good luck!
Clearance Necks
Have any of you looked at Clearance Basses on the G&L Store recently? There are some beauties, including this B Stock L2K from 2004:
B-Stock Instruments - L-2000 - Cherryburst - RW – G&L Online Store (g-l-online-store.myshopify.com)
B-Stock Instruments - L-2000 - Cherryburst - RW – G&L Online Store (g-l-online-store.myshopify.com)
They will custom make you a neck tailored for that instrument. For a fretted neck, prices used to start at $500, which is what I paid for the new neck on my '07 SB-2. It seems like a fretless should be less, or at least not any more. It does eliminate a couple extra steps. Contact G&L or an authorized dealer.
Definitely a few minor cosmetic defects, but nothing crazy for a 20 year old bass. Someone needs to buy it at that price. You will not find a better deal on the used market.
Yes, both basses are Tobacco Sunburst--Old School, Pine on left, Alder on right. Under different light the pine actually does show a very faint grain.
A few years back, they used to propose lots of Tribute bass necks for something like $60 (B-stock for most, no decals). However, there is nothing in existence such as a Tribute JB5. And both JB5's (USA) and JB4's (Tribute and USA) have a particular dedicated neck with 4 bolts and 20 frets, that cannot be replaced by a neck from another model.
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Interesting. I don't know nearly enough to say whether this is a proprietary-based decision by G&L, but my goal at least is not to cut any corners in fitting a proper neck to the JB-5 body. It's taken me a VERY long and expensive search to find a Jazz 5 with a properly-dimensioned neck that still feels like a Jazz 4 and facilitates that style of playing. The G&L JB5's 1.77" nut width and 9.5" radius accomplishes this and allows me the virtually same ease of access and tonal range as my 1974 Fender Jazz, but with an eminently playable B string as well. When I'm ready to move I'll pay the money. And while I've always thought that I'd step up to ebony in a situation like this, I'm kind of thinking that for the sake of tonal consistency between the two basses, it might be better to go with a more stock rosewood and have it epoxied.
This looks like an elegant solution! Do they really achieve the Stingray sound? Even if it's just pretty close, it seems like a useful tool. Thanks.When in doubt, buy a pedal!
Your choice, 2 or 3-band circuit.
Manta Ray 2 & 3 Band | mastereffects (mastereffectspedals.com)
The SB-2. Killer PJ sound. The J pickup is a massive single coil way up against the bridge. Picks up tons of overtones. On a Fretless, it would sound awesome.
Additionally, let's note that both the JB4 and the JB5 have a rounded shape neck heel, à la Fender, as well as the pocket shape in the body, whereas all other G&L models have a squared heel and pocket.
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Have you considered having that neck converted to fretless?
Meet "Cocaine"!
Having lusted after a Tookay for decades, I chased this bass on local Craigslist for a couple of years. The seller would list it, I'd respond, then he'd change his mind and pull the listing. Finally, once I had his address and showed up with a fistful of cash, he upped the price at the door! I couldn't say no... and thankfully I had the extra Robert Bordens (our weird brown plastic Canadian Benjamins) in my wallet.
The guy had just picked up a NYC Sadowsky and still had trouble letting go of this US-made L-2500. Having owned it for 4 years now, I understand why. The neck is phenomenal, low action is easily achievable, the B string is respectable for a 34" scale, and with the K-mod it's a ludicrously flexible instrument.
Having lusted after a Tookay for decades, I chased this bass on local Craigslist for a couple of years. The seller would list it, I'd respond, then he'd change his mind and pull the listing. Finally, once I had his address and showed up with a fistful of cash, he upped the price at the door! I couldn't say no... and thankfully I had the extra Robert Bordens (our weird brown plastic Canadian Benjamins) in my wallet.
The guy had just picked up a NYC Sadowsky and still had trouble letting go of this US-made L-2500. Having owned it for 4 years now, I understand why. The neck is phenomenal, low action is easily achievable, the B string is respectable for a 34" scale, and with the K-mod it's a ludicrously flexible instrument.
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…..which you could still do by adding a whole new fingerboard to the old neck.
I do like the idea of keeping the old fretted neck "just in case" the new fretless combination isn't what you'd hoped for.
Quoted from Ken Baker (www.bassesbyleo.com)
"K stands for Kurosawa - the name of the Japanese company that first ordered an L-2000 with single coil capability."
Note - A distributor for Made in Fullerton instruments.
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