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Oooo, I don't hate what they did with the pickguard / control plate, but I think I would have trimmed the plastic a little differently.
Well, these basses go to 11!
That one sold a few months back for $600 which is about right if it was lighter.
I had an American Jazz V that went to 11. It didn't last, too much on the neck and shoulder for me! My JB5 is 8.4 lbs with an alder body. You will pry it from my cold dead hands.
I know I just shared this, but I also know the rule: no picture, no bass.
memo is a very good friend and a big help. If G&L had four more of him it would be awesome.
This JB-5 makes me realize that blocks and natural headstock are actually a match!
(this is coming from a G&L matching headstock addict)
OK, wondering if those who have used all three can share differences/similarities between: SB-1, LB-100, CLK-L1000.
Are they all different takes on P sounds? Are all three bodies different? Are the LB-100 and L1K bodies the same with the SB sharing the Kiloton's more sculpted body? I can read the spec sheets so I know that pickups are different, etc. I'm looking for more qualitative differences.
And, no disrespect, I don't agree with an earlier post that the Kiloton can duplicate a P and J sound. To me it's its own thing completely. And I loved my first one so much I bought another!
Love the activity on this board!!
--David
Are they all different takes on P sounds? Are all three bodies different? Are the LB-100 and L1K bodies the same with the SB sharing the Kiloton's more sculpted body? I can read the spec sheets so I know that pickups are different, etc. I'm looking for more qualitative differences.
And, no disrespect, I don't agree with an earlier post that the Kiloton can duplicate a P and J sound. To me it's its own thing completely. And I loved my first one so much I bought another!
Love the activity on this board!!
--David
I have played the SB-1, the LB-100 and I own an L-2000 which I gather is very similar to an L-1000, just different circuitry and pickup.
I do not feel like my L2K gets close to a "P" sound. It's not so much frequency of the pickup as envelope.
Soloed, the SB-1/2 is a lot hotter and more modern, and the pickup is a little closer to the bridge than a traditional P pickup. BUT, a lot of players roll it off a bit, playing at 50-75% volume, which mellows it out, and there was a (infamous?) shootout awhile back on TB where people picked the SB-2 as the most "vintage" in a blind test. The LB-100 body is ever so slightly bigger, and sounds like a P bass with a slightly hotter alnico pickup and a beefier bridge.
Personally, I think the SB pickup is the best bass pickup that was ever made, so that's my vote. I can do everything I want with it.
Also don't forget that they have different default neck profiles.
I do not feel like my L2K gets close to a "P" sound. It's not so much frequency of the pickup as envelope.
Soloed, the SB-1/2 is a lot hotter and more modern, and the pickup is a little closer to the bridge than a traditional P pickup. BUT, a lot of players roll it off a bit, playing at 50-75% volume, which mellows it out, and there was a (infamous?) shootout awhile back on TB where people picked the SB-2 as the most "vintage" in a blind test. The LB-100 body is ever so slightly bigger, and sounds like a P bass with a slightly hotter alnico pickup and a beefier bridge.
Personally, I think the SB pickup is the best bass pickup that was ever made, so that's my vote. I can do everything I want with it.
Also don't forget that they have different default neck profiles.
I own 2 of the 3 models you mention.
I can tell you the P-bodies are similar sized and similarly, maybe not exactly but close enough shaped (despite these being built in different decades and of different wood species)
neck profiles and finishes vary a lot for these 2, but bodies are essentially the same.
I can tell you the P-bodies are similar sized and similarly, maybe not exactly but close enough shaped (despite these being built in different decades and of different wood species)
neck profiles and finishes vary a lot for these 2, but bodies are essentially the same.
The LB and L basses don't have quite the same body shape. I was looking at the two of them side-by-side on my wall, and the LB has a wider opening between the neck and the lower horn.
—> And now I just realized that the M body has a narrower space between the lower horn and the neck than does the L. So that variable opening is LB>L>M. I had assumed the latter two were the same. Hmm...
The Kiloton of course inherited the SB body shape.
My LB, L-1000, and SB-2 (let's just consider the P-style pickup) don't sound at all the same: even with the L-1000 on single coil (or parallel) or with the SB dialed back. Sure the latter two do something approximating a P tone, but the LB is the only one that has tone in league with my '68 Fender P when A/B'ed. There's something about MFD pickups that, even if you try to dial them back to soften their bite, have a chewiness to the tone that is quite different than a split-coil P.
—> And now I just realized that the M body has a narrower space between the lower horn and the neck than does the L. So that variable opening is LB>L>M. I had assumed the latter two were the same. Hmm...
The Kiloton of course inherited the SB body shape.
My LB, L-1000, and SB-2 (let's just consider the P-style pickup) don't sound at all the same: even with the L-1000 on single coil (or parallel) or with the SB dialed back. Sure the latter two do something approximating a P tone, but the LB is the only one that has tone in league with my '68 Fender P when A/B'ed. There's something about MFD pickups that, even if you try to dial them back to soften their bite, have a chewiness to the tone that is quite different than a split-coil P.
Keep in mind the L and LB body shapes have changed. My '89 L2k and '93 LB have the same body shape.
That said, I have or have had a L-1000, L-2000, SB-2 and a LB-100 (and a Fender Precision, for that matter). The LB/P is what a P is, and does its job well. The SB is a louder/hotter P with a wider spectrum. The L is close to a P, but again, a wider spectrum and very manipulatable between the three position switch and the PTB system. The L-2000 sounds just a little compressed compared to the L-1000, IMO (speaking about the neck pickup only).
That said, I have or have had a L-1000, L-2000, SB-2 and a LB-100 (and a Fender Precision, for that matter). The LB/P is what a P is, and does its job well. The SB is a louder/hotter P with a wider spectrum. The L is close to a P, but again, a wider spectrum and very manipulatable between the three position switch and the PTB system. The L-2000 sounds just a little compressed compared to the L-1000, IMO (speaking about the neck pickup only).
I think the SB-2 has my name on it. I LOVE the Kiloton body shape and neck profile and the SB-2 shares that. The high output of the MFD and the voicing is to my liking as it does cut through a noisy wall of Marshalls pretty well. And the tonal variety the bridge pickup affords makes it versatile. I do like the no pick guard look of the wunkay, but maybe just not enough.
I reserve the right to change my mind many, many times...
Thanks!
I reserve the right to change my mind many, many times...
Thanks!
And if you get tired of the MFD, you can always just swap in a regular P pickup.
@dwellers I almost feel like the SB-2T is the most versatile.
If you like the SB-2 you are in business and have the tone pot. If you want a regular P, swap out the MFD P for a regular P and disconnect the bridge pickup. If you want an SB-1, disconnect the bridge pickup. If you want a regular SB-2, bypass the tone pot and run volume/volume.
So essentially an SB-2T gives you....
1. SB-2T
2. SB-2
3. SB-1
4. LB-100 (with the more contoured SB body)
.....if you know how to solder and have a regular P pickup on hand.
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I've been going back and forth between the lb, sb, L1000 myself for a while now.
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I was always quite pleased with the P bass tone with my 1982 maple necked Hog Wonkay. Not as much with the neck pup on my Monkey Pod Tookay.YMMV
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