G&L Club Part 7

[jmlee]

@jmlee the stickiness will subside after about 4 hours of play-in

They've had a lot more than 4 hr of playing, but I agree it's gradually getting better.

 

[Jugghaid]

I have several. Tribute and USA. Couple of them I bought from fellow TBers.

Couple of USA guitars too

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Hey, @_seafarer, thanks for asking! I've really enjoyed the EB cobalt flats on my (Tribute) SB-2. I had bought that set to go on another instrument but they didn't seem a good match. Since I had Chromes on my LB-100, I thought something else on the SB-2 might be interesting and I pulled those strings out of a drawer. Although I still find their surface a bit sticky compared to the glassy surface of the Chromes, the cobalt flats have an interesting "biteyness" to them that I think really suits the MFDs in the SB-2. It's difficult to describe the sound, but the inherent sonic quality of these strings is in line with the inherent sonic quality of the pickups on this bass in a way that works synergistically. Sometimes I like strings which mitigate against some annoying quality of a bass and its pickups, but this is a rare case where I think there's a similarity which is enhancing of the best features in both. In any case, they're not coming off.

less that they get less sticky, more that you get used to it.
MFD's and the Cobalt flats are a great match.

 

[TDR1138]

View attachment 3727298

My old SB-2! That's one bass I regret selling. Let me know if you ever decide to let that one go.

 

[Jugghaid]

My old SB-2! That's one bass I regret selling. Let me know if you ever decide to let that one go.

That was a pawn shop find.

 

[Holdsg]

less that they get less sticky, more that you get used to it.
MFD's and the Cobalt flats are a great match.

I put Labella Flexible Flats in my L2000. No break in time required.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I put Labella Flexible Flats in my L2000. No break in time required.

I use those on my Squier P5.

 

[TDR1138]

That was a pawn shop find.

The story with that one, if you're curious... it's an '03 that I bought on eBay in early 2004. The original owner apparently was a factory employee and had a collection of Tributes in Candy Apple Red that he was selling off. I bought it, and it came with a G&L hardcase. UPS was kind enough to damage the packaging hard enough that the hard case dented and the bass had a little compression damage right below the knobs. I was originally going to pursue a claim, but it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. After a couple of months, I rewired it to have a master volume, master tone (to SB-1 wiring spec) and an on/off switch for the bridge pickup. Gigged it that way for several years in the Bay Area, was my #1 for quite a while. Eventually, I moved to Denver and largely put my basses away and was playing guitar more actively than anything. Ended up selling that bass w/ case on Denver craigslist somewhere around 2012 in order to help fund an ASAT guitar. As I got back into playing bass in 2014 or so, I've really missed that bass. So again, if/when the time to sell comes...

 

[BassPilot]

I'm getting ready to shield my JB. I took the control plate, PG and PU's off and found that there is gray shielding paint on the inside of all the cavities and I have continuity from all locations tested. But this thing hums like crazy on most stages. The hum changes depending on where I'm standing.
Have others found that shielding that G&L uses to be deficient? I though I read that people found no shielding on their JB's from the factory.

 

[ahbass2500]

I do not recall seeing anything in mine. Shielding it silenced all of my noise issues and it was pretty bad when I bought it. I would just go ahead and copper tape yours if I were you.

 

[Jugghaid]

The story with that one, if you're curious... it's an '03 that I bought on eBay in early 2004. The original owner apparently was a factory employee and had a collection of Tributes in Candy Apple Red that he was selling off. I bought it, and it came with a G&L hardcase. UPS was kind enough to damage the packaging hard enough that the hard case dented and the bass had a little compression damage right below the knobs. I was originally going to pursue a claim, but it seemed to be more trouble than it was worth. After a couple of months, I rewired it to have a master volume, master tone (to SB-1 wiring spec) and an on/off switch for the bridge pickup. Gigged it that way for several years in the Bay Area, was my #1 for quite a while. Eventually, I moved to Denver and largely put my basses away and was playing guitar more actively than anything. Ended up selling that bass w/ case on Denver craigslist somewhere around 2012 in order to help fund an ASAT guitar. As I got back into playing bass in 2014 or so, I've really missed that bass. So again, if/when the time to sell comes...

Very cool. I always wondered who did that mod. It also had different knobs on it when I got it. One red topped and one blue topped iirc. It is now tumed to drop c and I play it every week with my kid (drummer). Great little bass. If I ever get rid of it, it's yours.

 

[TDR1138]

Very cool. I always wondered who did that mod. It also had different knobs on it when I got it. One red topped and one blue topped iirc. It is now tumed to drop c and I play it every week with my kid (drummer). Great little bass. If I ever get rid of it, it's yours.

I can't take credit for the knobs, but yeah, I did the mod. If I remember right, I also replaced the pots with full-size Alphas, but maybe misremembering due to time. Either way, glad it's in good hands and getting some good use.

 

[dave64o]

I have several. Tribute and USA. Couple of them I bought from fellow TBers.


View attachment 3727296
View attachment 3727297
View attachment 3727298
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Couple of USA guitars too
View attachment 3727300
View attachment 3727301

That's a droolworthy set of pictures, especially that metal flake. The G&L metal flake finishes are spectacular!

 

[jcburn]

Does anybody have any old parts they would like to sell to a good cause? I am looking for some old tuners, a set of L2500 pups and preamp, a battery cover and an L2K control plate.

Please PM me if you have any of these parts to sell.

Sounds like a project bass?

 

[tehuti]

I just put these Ernie Ball flatwounds on my LB-100.

 

[wvbass]

I'm a Dingwall player through and through. They are the best basses I've ever owned.

But this bass...last night using my amp with no PA support in a very small room...last night, this bass had perfect tone. I had just restrung it with nickel Super Brights.

 

[donahue]

Sounds like a project bass?

Yes sir! A brainchild I had that started with purchase of a body. You know, the TB usual

 

[tubatodd]

I just put these Ernie Ball flatwounds on my LB-100.
View attachment 3727971

How do you like the combination?

 

[Holdsg]

The old school EB Group III flats are a very good value, for that old school Motown sound

 

[_seafarer]

Hey, @_seafarer, thanks for asking! I've really enjoyed the EB cobalt flats on my (Tribute) SB-2. I had bought that set to go on another instrument but they didn't seem a good match. Since I had Chromes on my LB-100, I thought something else on the SB-2 might be interesting and I pulled those strings out of a drawer. Although I still find their surface a bit sticky compared to the glassy surface of the Chromes, the cobalt flats have an interesting "biteyness" to them that I think really suits the MFDs in the SB-2. It's difficult to describe the sound, but the inherent sonic quality of these strings is in line with the inherent sonic quality of the pickups on this bass in a way that works synergistically. Sometimes I like strings which mitigate against some annoying quality of a bass and its pickups, but this is a rare case where I think there's a similarity which is enhancing of the best features in both. In any case, they're not coming off.

less that they get less sticky, more that you get used to it.
MFD's and the Cobalt flats are a great match.

Thanks both! I'll definitely give them a spin.