G&L Club Part 7

[MascisMan]

Pickups are the key to the tone of any P bass.
Differences between versions can be subtle or significant. the G&L vintage P pickup in the LB-100 is a very good pickup. Nails the classic P tone.
So after that, you add goodies like Nedmundo mentions, you could easily claim that the LB out-Leo’s Fenders.

I personally prefer the Lollar pickup for vintage tones. I just put those in my SB-1 to make it more vintage sounding. Yes I’m keeping the MFDs if I ever want to go back.

I too love the Lollar stock wind P and the Lollar overwound P.

 

[Nedmundo]

Pickups are the key to the tone of any P bass.
Differences between versions can be subtle or significant. the G&L vintage P pickup in the LB-100 is a very good pickup. Nails the classic P tone.

Yes, the pickup is the key, and the G&L is great. My favorite traditional P-bass pickup is Lindy Fralin, but I think in recent years Fender pickups, and later the LB-100's pickup, have moved in that direction. The LB-100's pickup and current Fender pickups are worlds better than the stock pickup in my old 2004 American Series, which had weak output and muddy lows. (Though it somehow came alive with Chromes. Go figure.)

I also think the bridge makes a difference, and of course not just with P-basses. Years ago I built a project fretless P out of MIM Fender parts with the pickup from my 2004 MIA P. I used that for awhile, then switched the bridge to a Gotoh 201, which produced more focus and sustain. I was surprised how much it affected the tone, and as with pickups, G&Ls and recent USA Fenders have higher mass bridges more like the Gotoh. I think that's one reason the American Pro Fender and LB-100 sounded nearly identical to me.

 

[JES]

View attachment 3930153 New Bass Day.

Custom Shop Matador

Alder body
Quartersawn maple neck with birdseye maple board
2 MFD pickups
2 vol, 1 tone and kill switch
Candy Apple Red with matching headstock

View attachment 3930151

Amazing. Any chance we can get demos of the bridge pickup and some blends. I would be happy with just quarter notes on your open A and G strings. I just want to hear it!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I compared modern LB-100s against American Pro Fenders a couple of times at GCs, but the first comparison wasn't very revealing because the Fender had dead strings. Second time, both had fresh strings and I thought they sounded almost identical, but the G&L pickup had slightly more output. Both sounded great, like I'd want a P-bass to sound.

They're both excellent, but I prefer the G&L because of the bridge, better finishes, Plek-levelled frets, and the ability to order the finish, nut width, and fretboard radius I want. I generally think USA G&L's quality is slightly higher, but it's not a big difference, and some of that perception probably comes from G&L's finishes, which are simply the best in the biz IMO.

I would heartily agree with you up through the Fender American standard. I have a P Select and a 100. Both are great, but I'd have to say the P is my to my liking; however, my SB-2T has to be my all time favorite bass. It is in the empress wood. That and the smaller body make it much lighter. Being a small guy (5"7", 160), the body fits better and the neck feels like it was custom built for my hand.

 

[NOLA Bass]

Amazing. Any chance we can get demos of the bridge pickup and some blends. I would be happy with just quarter notes on your open A and G strings. I just want to hear it!

I don’t have an interface at the moment; however, I just got a Shure MV88 that plugs into the iPhone. I’ll record some samples and post them.

 

[Holdsg]

Pickups are the key to the tone of any P bass.
Differences between versions can be subtle or significant. the G&L vintage P pickup in the LB-100 is a very good pickup. Nails the classic P tone.
So after that, you add goodies like Nedmundo mentions, you could easily claim that the LB out-Leo’s Fenders.

I personally prefer the Lollar pickup for vintage tones. I just put those in my SB-1 to make it more vintage sounding. Yes I’m keeping the MFDs if I ever want to go back.

pic

 

[nitrobrother]

It's been rough down in the cave - contact with real people has been a rare thing for a long time, and it doesn't look like I get to be humanoid for another 6 months...so I gotta dream a bit. How about a L-2000 in tiger maple with tobacco burst and matching headstock, no-dot maple neck (ok, maybe roasted maple...) and an almost-winning PowerBall ticket to pay for it all. Sorta-kinda like this with a different neck...(this was on Reverb last year or maybe year-before)

 

[TDR1138]

pic

View attachment 3931924

You decided to keep it then?

 

[MascisMan]

pic

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Is that LPB? Seems lighter. Lovely color.

 

[Holdsg]

You decided to keep it then?

yes, it’s exactly how I like a P-bass now. Mo also reshaped the fret ends for me. Good for another 20 years.

Is that LPB? Seems lighter. Lovely color.

yes. I think with a black PG it looks lighter shade than usual. Could be lighting too.

 

[TDR1138]

yes, it’s exactly how I like a P-bass now. Mo also reshaped the fret ends for me. Good for another 20 years.

I was actually evaluating what to sell to free up some cash to make you an offer... but hey, if it’s solid for you now, all for the best. Get some good use out of it.

 

[NOLA Bass]

I have a Lollar in my "All Parts" P bass, which really nails a great vintage tone. The MFD's in my new Matador are slamming. Definitely hotter and more aggressive. I should have shared a few closeups on this one. the neck wood is just gorgeous.

 

[NOLA Bass]

Is that LPB? Seems lighter. Lovely color.

My buddy @husky123 has a US L2000 and an import JB both in Lake Placid Blue. The US is darker like you think of LPB. The import is that same lighter color as the one above.

 

[Holdsg]

Lee bought the Tribute JB from me. what comes around, goes around.

 

[fcleff]

After a long and arduous quality control and customer service nightmare with G&L, I finally got my custom order. Even still, they sent with it the wrong spec sheet showing that the board is rosewood (it’s ebony) with pearl dot inlays (there are no top dots). My dealer is going to get a correct spec sheet from them (my dealer, Guitar Resurrection, has been nothing short of wonderful throughout this horrendous process, and even helped to make up for the shortcomings of G&L [I am a bit shocked that G&L never once offered to make some sort of concession for their mistakes]).
It’s a beautiful bass and plays wonderfully. I’ll likely never sell it. Still, after this experience I will never purchase a new G&L again. But I digress. Here it is.
SB-1

 

[NOLA Bass]

Lee bought the Tribute JB from me. what comes around, goes around.

Yes! I got to play it at his house in June.

 

[SJLee]

After a long and arduous quality control and customer service nightmare with G&L, I finally got my custom order. Even still, they sent with it the wrong spec sheet showing that the board is rosewood (it’s ebony) with pearl dot inlays (there are no top dots). My dealer is going to get a correct spec sheet from them (my dealer, Guitar Resurrection, has been nothing short of wonderful throughout this horrendous process, and even helped to make up for the shortcomings of G&L [I am a bit shocked that G&L never once offered to make some sort of concession for their mistakes]).
It’s a beautiful bass and plays wonderfully. I’ll likely never sell it. Still, after this experience I will never purchase a new G&L again. But I digress. Here it is.
SB-1
View attachment 3932688

Those bound necks look sweet!

 

[NOLA Bass]

After a long and arduous quality control and customer service nightmare with G&L, I finally got my custom order. Even still, they sent with it the wrong spec sheet showing that the board is rosewood (it’s ebony) with pearl dot inlays (there are no top dots). My dealer is going to get a correct spec sheet from them (my dealer, Guitar Resurrection, has been nothing short of wonderful throughout this horrendous process, and even helped to make up for the shortcomings of G&L [I am a bit shocked that G&L never once offered to make some sort of concession for their mistakes]).
It’s a beautiful bass and plays wonderfully. I’ll likely never sell it. Still, after this experience I will never purchase a new G&L again. But I digress. Here it is.
SB-1
View attachment 3932688

Sorry to hear this, but glad the bass turned out great.

 

[fcleff]

Sorry to hear this, but glad the bass turned out great.

One more small quip. The strings are wound like absolute poopie. But I plan on replacing them with my standard Black Beauties anyway.

 

[TomB]

I have a Lollar in my "All Parts" P bass, which really nails a great vintage tone. The MFD's in my new Matador are slamming. Definitely hotter and more aggressive. I should have shared a few closeups on this one. the neck wood is just gorgeous.

View attachment 3932596

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View attachment 3932600

That thing should just be killer! An SB-2 with every enhancement, including a very worthy bridge pickup. Enjoy!