Some (most?) Tribby Kilos look great. If I had it to do over again, I might have bought that Irish Ale Tribby Kilo I was looking at as opposed to the Blueburst USA model I bought (or maybe not).
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Some (most?) Tribby Kilos look great. If I had it to do over again, I might have bought that Irish Ale Tribby Kilo I was looking at as opposed to the Blueburst USA model I bought (or maybe not).
Not quite
All my swapables are SB's so the guards don't match up to LB100 bodies. Wish we could get an aluminum black wrinkle one like on my SB1 fretless.
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I have a USA Kiloton, but always gassed over that Irish Ale Tribute Kilo. G&L discontinued it, but I recently bought a used one in excellent shape, so now, we're a 2-Kiloton family.
LoveThatBass
Supporting Member
I am not usually a fan of sparkle but that is amazing looking!Hopefully G&L is ok with me linking an image to comment positively on one of their finishes. I am usually not a huge redburst fan, but the metal flake makes this finish for me.
Going to likely ask a stupid question--after brief searching. I occasionally see mention of "B00 serial" as if that were special. Doesn't it just go to the age and indicate an early G&L? Is there something extra special about an instrument with a B00 serial number? My L1k has that, but I just figure all in that certain age range were so designated. Please clear my thinking.
Indicates it is an early one. Think they were all the original headstock design. Also some pickup/pole piece differences on the early ones. Discussed a little here. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/vintage-g-l-club.1071856/page-6#post-19294216
Thanks for confirming it just indicates an early date, and for the link. My '81 L1k has the original headstock and slot poles, which agrees with the link info.
I posted over there - but didn't get replies. There were quite a few posts about the Sterling SB14 but no apparent interest in how its value compares to a Tribute Series Kiloton. Some folks over there did lament the lack of a 3-way Series/Parallel/Single coil switch (as the Kiloton has) - but didn't mention the G&L Bass in comparison.Bleep 'em if they can't take a joke
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I have made some research in the G&L Registry.
B00xxxx serial numbers (900 basses registered) are found:
1) For L-1000, L-2000, L-2000E and L-2000EF models, produced in years 1980 to 1982. The oldest L-1000 found in the registry is dated Jun. 1980 and has number B000502 (Another L-1000 with number B000500 is without a date).
2) For some L-5500, L-2500 and L-2500 Custom models, produced in the early- to mid-nineties (mostly ranging from B000008 to B001180).
My own Jan. 1997 L-2500 Custom (so stamped on the neck and the neck pocket) is number B001080.
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and the six screw neck plate (versus the three) is another "tell" that you have a 90s bass versus an 80s bass.
not saying one is better than the other, just one of those "tells" other than serial number.
not saying one is better than the other, just one of those "tells" other than serial number.
According to the early but informative book by Paul Bechtold (mentioned early in this thread), the production bass numbering began with BO00500. The earlier numbers (<500) were supposedly reserved for custom and special issues. I'd expect there are some out there.
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Thanks, I love that bass! Forgot to mention it also has a quartersawn neck. First bass I ever owned that had one, not sure if it's any better but they claim it's more stable.
Yeah I think you're spot on with the 500 number thing. Same as with the early MM Stingrays...500. I got a first-batch Stingray when they came out (which was factory-recalled btw, due to severe finish flaws, but I got it anyway...long story). At the time I didn't understand how my serial number could possibly be over 500. Decades later, I found out why. Makes perfect sense that Leo would use the same numbering system with G&L.
TB member 'dukeplaysbass' has/had a Cherryburst '80 L-1000, serial number below 500. IICR, he thought it may have been a proto, but special or custom order seems just as plausible.
As I recall, the 5500's had their own numbering system, apart from the other L-series basses. Just another peculiar aspect re the "un-G&L" L-5500 that adds to it's uniqueness.
As of yesterday the pristine 35 year old finish on my SB-1 is no longer pristine. 
