I have a great Empress Special JB for sale at a great price if folks are interested...
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/g-l-usa-empress-jb.1653409/
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/g-l-usa-empress-jb.1653409/
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Heyas, I have 2 newer G&L Fullerton basses, my JB was built 9/16/2021, and my L2K was built 10/13/2022 (dates according to their spec. sheets). I've had no QC issues to speak of at all with them.
I have good news !
This is a Kiloton 5 from the Fullerton Custom Shop.
They allowed me to select the exact pickup placement and electronics. The body is roasted alder and the fingerboard is wenge.
Both MFDs are wired in series , humbucking. The switch simply turns on or off, a tone cap. I changed the hardware to black.
The hipshot bridge helped the dead spot on the C# and allowed me to get 19mm string spacing.
The body has only 3 coats of satin as does the back of the neck. The bass resonates really well.
I've moved the MFDs on 3 different L-1505s with tone results in the direction of what I want. This time, I hit the bullseye
with pickup placement. This one is a life-time bass.
This is a Kiloton 5 from the Fullerton Custom Shop.
They allowed me to select the exact pickup placement and electronics. The body is roasted alder and the fingerboard is wenge.
Both MFDs are wired in series , humbucking. The switch simply turns on or off, a tone cap. I changed the hardware to black.
The hipshot bridge helped the dead spot on the C# and allowed me to get 19mm string spacing.
The body has only 3 coats of satin as does the back of the neck. The bass resonates really well.
I've moved the MFDs on 3 different L-1505s with tone results in the direction of what I want. This time, I hit the bullseye
with pickup placement. This one is a life-time bass.
Attachments
nice bass.
Is the neck width adjusted for the 19mm spacing? Sometimes the G string slipped of the fret with default 17.5mm spacing.
Is the neck width adjusted for the 19mm spacing? Sometimes the G string slipped of the fret with default 17.5mm spacing.
Congratulations on your tailored bass, looks beautiful and I'm certain it sounds unique.
While I have no immediate or near future plans to get another G&L, seeing the newfound willingness of the Custom Shop to accommodate such requests has me fantasizing on a fully roasted reverse SB-1 again. Thank you!
Yesssss!
Love that they deleted the pickguard AND control plate!
First G&L for me and the first maple fretboard in over 20 years. The grain looks interesting. 17mm string spacing had me concerned but it's all good.
I am looking at possibly picking up a new CLF Research L2000. I am a little confused on the woods used. According to the G&L site, opaque finishes such as black and candy apple red are Alder, but according to the GC and Sweetwater sites it is Basswood. I'm a little Leary of paying for a premium instrument to have it made of Basswood.
I wouldn't believe Sweetwater. I've found that they enter those specs for, say, one L2000 and just copy & paste it onto the specs of other like basses. Cut corners, save time. I love Sweetwater, but their employees are only human. If you're looking at a new CLF Research L2000 from them, ask your sales rep to scan a copy of the build sheet and email it to you. Same if you're buying it from anyone else. Basswood is actually a decent tonewood, but I don't believe it was used on any CLF Research bass. Admittedly, that's a guess on my part. However, the tonewoods on G&L's USA-made basses can vary widely. My 2018 opaque emerald green.metallic Kiloton is alder.
Anyone else find themselves frequently swapping the pickup in their non-MFD basses to something hotter? Just realized I nearly always do this. Bought a Mustang Bass and swapped the pickup in the first week of having it.
My hotter pickup swaps that I blame on G&L
Peavey Milestone I —> Duncan Quarter Pounders
G&L JB5 —> JBE 5 string Jazz bass
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Bass —> Nordstrand NM4 (not super hot, but quite a bit more output than the stock pickup)
I have done a few others, but no longer have those basses so don't recall what the swaps were.
Mustang Bass pic for post attention (with my Tribute Fallout Bass because G&L thread).
My hotter pickup swaps that I blame on G&L
Peavey Milestone I —> Duncan Quarter Pounders
G&L JB5 —> JBE 5 string Jazz bass
Fender Vintera 60s Mustang Bass —> Nordstrand NM4 (not super hot, but quite a bit more output than the stock pickup)
I have done a few others, but no longer have those basses so don't recall what the swaps were.
Mustang Bass pic for post attention (with my Tribute Fallout Bass because G&L thread).
I agree. When you play a non-MFD equipped bass it just feels weak
Man, I hear ya. I just put some slightlier higher output noiseless Seymour Duncan pickups in my Fender Geddy Lee Signature jazz, and I'm considering doing something similar with another bass I own. Then I always come back to the idea of getting another L2K. MFDs are awesome.
I get why folks do that, but I take a different route.... 
Here ya go y'all.
Life's been a whirlwind but I picked this up last week. I am impressed that it's in such good shape. Love the neck and tight string spacing, I wish tighter string spacing was common on more 5 strings.
Problem now is, I really am not sure if I can keep it. Long story short, life happened and I'm pretty certain I need to free up some cash. So in the next week or so it might be posted, but if any of you are interested just shoot me a PM.
Life's been a whirlwind but I picked this up last week. I am impressed that it's in such good shape. Love the neck and tight string spacing, I wish tighter string spacing was common on more 5 strings.
Problem now is, I really am not sure if I can keep it. Long story short, life happened and I'm pretty certain I need to free up some cash. So in the next week or so it might be posted, but if any of you are interested just shoot me a PM.
Attachments
Has anyone had experience communicating with G&L via email? I emailed their repairs department email four weeks ago and their general email a week ago and have received no response. Inquiring about getting a new body built for my G&L SB-2 that UPS destroyed (see pics). The bass was well packed in its G&G case and they still managed to obliterate it!
Attachments
Oh my. In that first pic, did it break at a glue line? It looks so straight. Sorry you have to deal with all that!
