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Huh? I was under the impression an SB-2 would give a nice, soft, Jamerson thump when the bridge pickup was rolled off, especially with flats and the optional tone knob rolled down, too. Have I been misled?
Enlighten me, Charles the Younger. Speak to me, SpiderMan...
Lucky Chuck 52
Yes, I tried the button on that page for CoA replacements, and it sends me to a 404 page on their store. In the end, I used the general contact form: Contact Us and sent the serial number through there. (Got an automated confirmation that the message went through.)
Looking now, I was able to find CoA replacements (build sheet) in their online store manually at a different url, but it says they are unable to provide these for instruments built prior to 2011.
What I'd like to see is more businesses stepping up and saying, "I'm sorry we made a mistake. Allow us to fix this and compensate you by _______(refunding the cost of the mistake, refunding 10%, offering a free upgrade, etc.). I've been in food service my entire life. Even now, as a director, I am still expected to make it right, no questions asked, and to go above and beyond to keep the customer happy. This is a basic tenet of service that is, more and more, going by the wayside.
Early-mid 90s would predate a spec sheet. I haven't seen too many options on the first run of LB-100s. Standard for an LB-100 would probably have been the #5 neck (1-3/4" nut width, 7-1/2" radius), but you could remove the neck to be sure (it should be labeled with the profile number). Body would likely be alder if a solid finish or ash if translucent, but again, that's probably. Pickup if stock is most likely an outsourced Gotoh. As for color, well, how about a pic?
I like the vintage tint but it doesn't matter to much to me since I'll strip it after not too long and put on a gun oil finish. I just don't care for poly necks. Different strokes.
@luckychuck52. ( for me )Yes , the SB has plenty of thump with the bridge pickup rolled off. Like a P Bass on steroids. However , when I add any Bridge pickup at all , it does not sound like a Jazz Bass. Even with having the tone knob . The SB has it place . I use it for harder Rock music ( classic metal ) . But for my main band ( classic , southern, country) the Jazz Bass is king of the court.
I over use this statement but it is true...."I have tried many times since 1985 to fall in love with flats , but it has always been a fleeting affair "
I over use this statement but it is true...."I have tried many times since 1985 to fall in love with flats , but it has always been a fleeting affair "
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I'm painting a Squire Strat for my guitar players kid right now, and I can tell you that the pup and control route in it, was suitable for first prize. So yeah, I'm sure that it absolutely indicates the builders commitment. And with what we've been seeing from G&L lately, you should be thankful there wasn't a turd in there.Yeah, it's magnificent. It's unbelievable that it was left in that state—and got by QP. The external finish is spectacular, but I've always felt that what's on the inside tells you about how much the craftspeople care about their art. Mind you, the normal G&L option order cavity is still rough and occasionally with one half-arsed coat of conductive paint.
I compared the pickup with my '68 P-bass, the P-pickup on my Yamaha BB1025X, a build with a Bartolini Classic P, another build with a Duncan Antiquity II, and (for laughs) my SB-2 and L-1000 in various modes. I'm very familiar with Geezer and Fralin pickups from previous projects.
It's interesting that, once I completed the re-wiring, re-assembled and set the pickup height, the Fralin tone in the LB-100 was right, however the output seemed low (as it had before the pickup swap). Makes me wonder about the electronics. Looks nominal: a couple of 250k pots, a roll-off capacitor for tone and a small treble bleed on the volume control. Still...
[Edit: Just went back and A/B'ed with the Barts. Level's fine.]
As for the pups, I've been dealing with Pbass string balance issues for so long that I forgot about it. The Duncan QP has served me well, but I feel like there are much better offerings, and I adore my LB tone, so I've been contemplating that swap for quite some time. My other consideration was the 62 P (because I heard they were nice), and a very strong contender is the Dean Zone pup. The zone is a $200 bass that is sonic bliss to me (but there's zero info on it).
As for the LB electronics, many of us have had major issues with them. Over the last two years, I've seen more bad pots in G&L's than I have in 25 years of fixing instruments for other people. I've personally had two G&L pots fall apart on me in the last two years, and at that point, I replaced them all. I shouldve A/B'd the tone and output.
Thanks for the info.
The customer in question is a good friend of mine, and at this point, I'd be happy to spend another $200 per bass, to put an end once and for all, to G&L's bad pots, order mixups, and nonexistent service.
And forgot to butter it!
We shouldn't have to check a box though.
Quarter-sawn neck : no
Binding : no
Quality control : hmmmm, yeah I'll have that one.
I mean, seriously? This doesn't make any sense to me. Do they want to ditch everything but the TB line and the Custom Shop? Their fault if my next bass is a Fender.
Of course I agree, but arguing it at this point is a waste.
Groups have been formed to rally against it, certified letters and petitions have been sent to BBE Sound and G&L corporate, websites have been built to expose it, and forums like this exist and publicize it. I personally am aware of a few very valiant efforts, which have been waging on for over two years, and the calls still go unanswered.
These are G&L's most dedicated fans, regular buyers, and advertisers, and G&L could care less. I spent my life fighting corporations as a profession, and G&L is the worst of the worst. Frankly, I'm sorry I ever started the fight. You know the old saying, be careful when you go looking, you may find what you're looking for.
I was much happier buying G&L's when they simply screwed things up and had some poor traits, which I fixed myself. Now that I know they could care less about their customers, it's a lot harder to patronize them. But, as with the rest of my pals here, I will continue to do so, because I love them. I justify it all by speaking up about it, every chance I get...
And of course, I can no longer recommend them to newbs, because I'd feel terrible if someone had one built, based on my say so, only to have it be wrong.
I've bought 6 new G&L customs over the last 3 years, and I literally swap the pickguards and complete electronics, the day that I receive them. However, once I have to swap necks, I'm out!
I had no idea it had reach that point already. From the moment Thomann purges the US basses from its catalog, it practically means that G&L becomes a synonym of Tribute G&L in this part of the world, at least as far as bass players are concerned. Which is probably better for the brand image than having a terrible return rate on US models. I guess.
Brand loyalty must go both ways. I can understand some transitory problems in QC but ignoring customers is inexcusable.
I just shielded my option order 2017 USA JB this weekend. The control cavity was better than the one pictured previously but still not what I would expect from a company with G&L's reputation.
Hopefully, someone will get them back on track.
Hopefully, someone will get them back on track.
Ah, the old dry cob.
Oh yes, it definitely passed that level of severity about two years ago. I sent Paul Gagon a certified letter, in which I represented about 30 of G&L's most loyal customers. He didn't even bother to respond... Which is the worst thing that business can do. Had he responded, and I simply didn't agree with him, I couldve still respected him and the brand... Now, my allegiance is gone.
It was a very hard road for me to find a way to continue loving G&L's as instruments, while knowing that they don't like me or care about me. It's like having old dog that starts biting. I've honestly never had to do it before, but I'm still coming to terms with it now, and not sure how easy it will be for me to trust a new build.
Even if I ever do, I will simply expect it to be wrong.
Over the last year, our group has had two high end custom builds be delivered wrong (including one multiple times), countless broken pots, countless stripped screws, and at least 3 seized truss rods... and these were all delivered brand new this way.
I don't think that they can get back on track. We here represent at least 50 of their most loyal customers, and we're sticking it out... but the fact is, 85% (which is a number that I used a slide rule and data to produce (which is a lie that I just made), of their customers are first timers and people buying on a whim, based on the G&L reputation, and they won't have the allegiance that we do.
We keep giving G&L chances, I don;t think that the rest of the world will be so kind.
Damn, reading this info I feel lucky my 2012 M2500 plays and sounds like a dream with no problems.
Ordering new from G&L seems like a crap shoot. Glad I bought used
Ordering new from G&L seems like a crap shoot. Glad I bought used
You nailed it. Plenty of great G&L's out there... The question is, do you feel lucky?
