I agree the SB requires more amp EQ and volume/gain adjustment than any of my Fenders. The pickups are much hotter and I have to tone the amp down a bit. Switching between Js, Ps, and PJs is not as traumatic.
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It definitely sounds like you're also noticing the SB's unusual exploitation/ interaction with the other pieces of gear in the chain. I found it too "driven", maybe warm and fat... which as near as I can tell, is what most of you all like!I sat for a long time with a Kiloton and the SB-2, side by side and end up going with the SB. It was that special something in my ears that the SB had vs. the Kiloton... but man! that Kiloton sounds amazing!!!
I will say this for it so far, I was about to rip the Way Huge Pork Loin that I just got off of my pedalboard because I HATE it with all my guitars and my L-2500 (I've not played my 004 through it). BUT the SB-2 is able to make it sound like the aggressive, crunch monster that I'd heard/ hoped it would be. It just doesn't sound good at all paired with the 2500... which is still weird to me. I attribute the difference to the overall tone of the SB-2 being brighter than the 2500.
As I spend more time with the SB-2, I intend to really put it through its paces to see if it will actually replace the Model T or if I will need to get another T. Right now, the SB-2 holds a comfortable lead... but we'll see how it holds up over the next few weeks as I start to really put it to work
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I have 2 of each of my main basses and bring 2 amps all the time.
Spare cable, ect...
I don't know which earns you more credit... being so wise, or publicly admitting that you're like me. Lol. Glad to know that I'm not crazy Tony!
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You add in a Nordstrand 2 band preamp and it slays...That Nutral-ish pre adds a bit of clarity and it shines with those pickups...
I wish they where in 5 string form...Thank god for Big Singles...
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Well your Italian like me soooooo, you might have a little crazy ginni genes going on
Shhh...I'm only half...Don't tell "The Family"
Well that answers the question of whether the Tribute and USA JB-2's have different pickups.
Gotta save $ somewhere, I guess. Wonder what pickups go into the Tributes, if they're something like MityMite, that could explain a weak thin sound.
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I just did this to my Trib JB2 this weekend. I will note that the "arches" in the DiMarzio Model J pickups did not exactly match the location of the arches in the OEM pickups. I had to adjust the corners of the arches in the routes to accomodate the DiMarzios. I did it with a chisel, you could also use sandpaper or a dremel.
I did series on the pickups themselves with a series/parallel push pull for the pair. Series/series has more output than my L1Ks . . .
In general I've found the OEM Tribute single coil pickups to have more output and bite than the OEM US JB2 pickups.
The only thing that would be a show stopper for me would be if I blew both cabs. I have spare everything, including a Rumble 500 head that stays in the car.
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Very cool, and thanks for sharing that info.
Tonally speaking this makes sense to me as compared to the video I have heard. I like the Tribute pickups better then the USA.
Craig I ended up getting another set of Model Js BUT I'm giving them to Steve A from G&L for his next build.
This is the most logical explanation so far!Well your Italian like me soooooo, you might have a little crazy ginni genes going on
Shhh...I'm only half...Don't tell "The Family"
I'm looking to add a G&L JB5 to the stable in the near future. I played a four string a year ago that was strung BEAD. Sounded great but the output wasn't as strong as the MFD's or even the EMG equipped L5500.
Is this something that can be remedied with higher output pots? Have they gotten better in recent years?
Already have a L2500, L1000, L5500, and think this would round out a tool box of gigging five strings.
Is this something that can be remedied with higher output pots? Have they gotten better in recent years?
Already have a L2500, L1000, L5500, and think this would round out a tool box of gigging five strings.
This is a hot topic over the last 3-4 days here. Two of the guys have the specifics so hang tight... @TonyP- and @jmlee I believe.
And @Kriegs is the King of using a four when there is no 5
That's not encouraging given what my OEM Tribute single coils are like...
I'm toying with putting Bartolini Classic dual coils in mine. Always loved Barts...
Taking the JB-2 out to big band tonight for the 3 or 4 songs I use an electric on and will try out the Boss graphic EQ pedal with it to see if I'm really happy using that as a cheap (I have it already and don't otherwise use it) fix for the low output and weak low end.
[BTW, the Tribute single coil OEMs also hum superbly when used one at a time and there's not much more than a cursory attempt at shielding the control cavity.]
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MFD have just crazy output from what I can tell...
I run most of my basses in series and with preamps (granted the preamps are not really boosted) which is pretty hot signal and the MFD on the M2500 is noticeably more. My biggest complaint on that is not having a passive option and they should add a internal trim pot. I can physically see how much more it is when I look at my compressor on my board...
Adding a solid preamp would resolve the issue.
Both Bart and Nordstrand pres have a 18volt option which would resolve this issue in a JB5.
An Audere drop in plate pre would work good as well.
The MFDs are certainly hot pickups; however, they're quite manageable in the L-series which can all be run in passive mode. One really interesting feature with these pickups is the way they change character as the volume pot is turned down. Not only does the pickup signal decline, the pickups become less biting and aggressive: tamer or more polite if you like. Therefore, turning a passive MFD bass (L-, SB-, Kiloton) down to keep from overloading a "passive instrument" input on an amp is quite the wrong thing to do unless you want that more polite character to the signal. [This is a really key thing to understand in dealing with the SB-series which become more classic P-bassish as you turn them down.] The M-series is indeed pretty hot, but because of the preamp buffering you can turn them down without changing the essential character of the instrument. An internal trim pot would indeed be nice.
Now that you mention it... I did forget, that on my Orange AD200, running the SB2 into the active jack worked wonders for me. Are you saying that was bad? As I recall it was a huge help.
No, that's good! That way you can dime the volume on your bass without overloading the input stage and get the real MFD quality that makes the SB basses special. Or you can turn it down if you don't want to be you and wander back toward "Fender" land.
