G&L Club Part 7

[ahbass2500]

Hey all. Im having a very annoying problem and I want to know if anyone has experienced this:

I noticed the D peg on my JB-5 was bent. The top clover is now very loose in the rivet that holds it to the peg. Now, I got this bass brand new built from G&L. It came mint from Rocket Music. Seeing as how the pandemic knocked out all my gigs, I took the bass out to one practice and that was basically it. I was dumbfounded on how this could have happened. I didn’t drop, knock or kick it around in any way. I started to investigate further and I noticed the D tuning peg literally smashes against the edge of the case. And there’s no wiggle room because the body of the J Bass sits flush with the other end. Depending on where the peg is positioned when in tune, it could have massive pressure on it in the case, and I figured out the only way to relive it is to detune it into a position where it’s not being bent. I ordered a new peg through G&L but, then what? Have the case bend the new peg? Do I have to detune that peg every time I put it away? Why should I buy a new case that might fit the headstock better, when it came with what is supposed to be a very nice one? Sorry, Im kind of frustrated. Here’s some pics of the damage.

I hate G&Ls new G&G cases. They look great on the outside, but do not fit well on the inside and have nearly no storage for accessories (cannot fit a decent strap in that little cubby). My solution... get rid of the G&G case. The JB5s fit really well in SKB Jazz Bass Cases. Mine is photographed below in an I-Series model, but interior fitment should be similar across their line. Added bonus... the SKB cases actually have accessory storage space.

 

[Matt_Raymond]

I hate G&Ls new G&G cases. They look great on the outside, but do not fit well on the inside and have nearly no storage for accessories (cannot fit a decent strap in that little cubby). My solution... get rid of the G&G case. The JB5s fit really well in SKB Jazz Bass Cases. Mine is photographed below in an I-Series model, but interior fitment should be similar across their line.

View attachment 4113827

View attachment 4113828

View attachment 4113829

Yup looks like yours fits exactly like mine. Bummer! But that SKB and your bass are beautiful! I have SKBs for my other Jazz Basses. Maybe I’ll see if one fits better and swap it out.

 

[dave64o]

I was never that impressed with the case for my L-2500. I still have it but I always carry my bass in either my Access Stage 5 (a single) or Gator Pro-Go 2 (a dual) bag.

Love that JB-5!

 

[jfh2424]

Sorry, Im kind of frustrated. Here’s some pics of the damage.

View attachment 4113799
View attachment 4113800
View attachment 4113801

Wow. G&L should be ashamed of themselves, to put a new customer through this. Have you spoken to them? But then, what could they say? It seems pretty clear.

Just shameful.

 

[Matt_Raymond]

Wow. G&L should be ashamed of themselves, to put a new customer through this. Have you spoken to them? But then, what could they say? It seems pretty clear.

Just shameful.

I didn’t talk to them directly because their replacement tuners are right on the website. They’re like $18. So I ordered it and I won’t make a big stink. But I am a little disappointed. The bass is literally perfect. It’s everything I wanted in tone, weight, feel, looks. I mean I LOVE it. This is an annoyance that should never happen. It’s such a stupidly small oversight but since it’s so stupid, it should be avoidable! I hate saying I’m glad I’m not the only one because I know my theory was correct. But yea, it shouldn’t happen at all. I’d hate to have it happen a second time and be told “you knew there was a chance”. So instead of stirring the pot I’ll eat the $18, swap cases, and enjoy an outstanding bass. It’s not worth the headache.

 

[ahbass2500]

Wow. G&L should be ashamed of themselves, to put a new customer through this. Have you spoken to them? But then, what could they say? It seems pretty clear.

Just shameful.

I agree. I have no idea how they could feel good shipping basses in these cases. JB5 tuner hits as shown. L2500 slides around loose in the case. It is just a poor case design. I have one of their form fitting G&G G&L custom shop cases for my L5000. It is a much nicer/better fitting case. The old SKB style cases they had fit the L2500 and L5000 really well. I think the issue is they wanted one case to fit everything (speculating but since they only offer one case probably correct). As a result it is a compromise for everything and not really up to the quality they should be delivering.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

I didn’t talk to them directly because their replacement tuners are right on the website. They’re like $18. So I ordered it and I won’t make a big stink. But I am a little disappointed. The bass is literally perfect. It’s everything I wanted in tone, weight, feel, looks. I mean I LOVE it. This is an annoyance that should never happen. It’s such a stupidly small oversight but since it’s so stupid, it should be avoidable! I hate saying I’m glad I’m not the only one because I know my theory was correct. But yea, it shouldn’t happen at all. I’d hate to have it happen a second time and be told “you knew there was a chance”. So instead of stirring the pot I’ll eat the $18, swap cases, and enjoy an outstanding bass. It’s not worth the headache.

I agree it's not worth making a stink about. But I hope you (or maybe Rocket?) let them know about it anyway. Yeah, they screwed up. But if nobody even tells them about it, are they ever gonna fix it?

If you're still ticked off about it then, no, just let it go. It's not worth further anger. But it sounds like you might be able to simply copy them the same stuff getting posted on TB. Maybe they ignore it. But maybe it's the last straw that pushes them to fix it.

Yeah, I know, I'm a real PollyAnna. (Even my blood type is A positive.) ;->

Stay well, be happy, make the world a better place when ya can...

 

[jmlee]

I agree. I have no idea how they could feel good shipping basses in these cases. JB5 tuner hits as shown. L2500 slides around loose in the case. It is just a poor case design. I have one of their form fitting G&G G&L custom shop cases for my L5000. It is a much nicer/better fitting case. The old SKB style cases they had fit the L2500 and L5000 really well. I think the issue is they wanted one case to fit everything (speculating but since they only offer one case probably correct). As a result it is a compromise for everything and not really up to the quality they should be delivering.

I virtually never carry a bass to a rehearsal/gig in a hard shell, but in a high-end, framed gig bag. When I do use a hardshell that isn’t form-fitting, the bass gets wrapped in a beach towel with foam pads to keep it from moving. It’s wishful thinking to suppose that generic hardshell cases with room for the bass to move can protect them.

 

[ahbass2500]

I virtually never carry a bass to a rehearsal/gig in a hard shell, but in a high-end, framed gig bag. When I do use a hardshell that isn’t form-fitting, the bass gets wrapped in a beach towel with foam pads to keep it from moving. It’s wishful thinking to suppose that generic hardshell cases with room for the bass to move can protect them.

I agree though I do not think that should be the case (they should just supply a decent case to begin with). I started using Gator Titan series and SKB i-Series cases for anything that I frequently move. They fit quite snug and are extremely durable. That said, my old G&L supplied SKB case crossed the country in the back of semis and box trucks several times. Case took a few licks but the bass was always intact. I am confident that would not have happened with the G&G cases G&L supplies now.

 

[Nedmundo]

Hey all. Im having a very annoying problem and I want to know if anyone has experienced this:

I noticed the D peg on my JB-5 was bent. The top clover is now very loose in the rivet that holds it to the peg. Now, I got this bass brand new built from G&L. It came mint from Rocket Music. Seeing as how the pandemic knocked out all my gigs, I took the bass out to one practice and that was basically it. I was dumbfounded on how this could have happened. I didn’t drop, knock or kick it around in any way. I started to investigate further and I noticed the D tuning peg literally smashes against the edge of the case. And there’s no wiggle room because the body of the J Bass sits flush with the other end. Depending on where the peg is positioned when in tune, it could have massive pressure on it in the case, and I figured out the only way to relive it is to detune it into a position where it’s not being bent. I ordered a new peg through G&L but, then what? Have the case bend the new peg? Do I have to detune that peg every time I put it away? Why should I buy a new case that might fit the headstock better, when it came with what is supposed to be a very nice one? Sorry, Im kind of frustrated. Here’s some pics of the damage.

I had this exact issue with my JB-5, which I bought used. The seller warned me about the tuner hitting the end of the case, and advised me to turn it so it wouldn't run into the end of the case. And when I got home, I figured out what may have happened: it was a case for a G&L bass with a 3+2 headstock, not a four-in-line headstock. It was the same length as my M-2500's case, but my 2010 JB has a slightly longer case that accommodates the four-in-line (or 4+1) headstock perfectly. (Internally, it's not identical to the M's case, which has a larger storage compartment in the center instead of a small rectangular compartment in the corner.)

I always assumed my JB-5 could not possibly have left the factory in the wrong case, and that a previous owner must have placed it in the shorter case for whatever reason. But apparently it could have left the factory like this, which is really a bummer. As you've discovered, the short case can damage the tuner, as mine did. I think G&L should replace the tuner AND send you the proper case.

I ended up finding a used case at GC that fits my JB-5 perfectly, and it was only $30.

 

[Nedmundo]

The case that came with my JB-5 is on the left, and my JB's is on the right. That extra inch makes all the difference.

 

[ahbass2500]

View attachment 4114704
The case that came with my JB-5 is on the left, and my JB's is on the right. That extra inch makes all the difference.

Do they still offer the longer case? Not that I am interested in one, but their website just has 1 Bass case.

edit: longer one looks like the older G&G case that they offered. I know it has had a few iterations. Length and latches look similar to the overstock Custom Creations one I ordered from G&Ls page years ago.

 

[jmlee]

View attachment 4114704
The case that came with my JB-5 is on the left, and my JB's is on the right. That extra inch makes all the difference.

Yup, just checked my cases. The JB-5's case is similarly taller than those for my L-2500, M-2500 (both 3+2), L-1000, and LB-100. The in-line 4 tuners and the offset body make the difference—and those are all the cases that came from G&L's option order shop with the basses. The JB-5 is the newest of the lot.

 

[Nedmundo]

Do they still offer the longer case? Not that I am interested in one, but their website just has 1 Bass case.

edit: longer one looks like the older G&G case that they offered. I know it has had a few iterations. Length and latches look similar to the overstock Custom Creations one I ordered from G&Ls page years ago.

I also saw they offer only one case on the web site, but maybe they use multiple variations for new basses. I don't know. The longer one for my JB is from 2010, and it's completely form-fitting, with a cutout for a J-bass body.

 

[jmlee]

Yup, just checked my cases. The JB-5's case is similarly taller than those for my L-2500, M-2500 (both 3+2), L-1000, and LB-100. The in-line 4 tuners and the offset body make the difference—and those are all the cases that came from G&L's option order shop with the basses. The JB-5 is the newest of the lot.

Ha! I'm an idiot! After @Nedmundo's last posting I thought I'd look inside my JB-5 case and discovered that the case is sitting on a piece of 2x4 while the rest are on the basement floor. That's why it seemed longer! But it's not... Same size as the rest.

 

[ahbass2500]

I also saw they offer only one case on the web site, but maybe they use multiple variations for new basses. I don't know. The longer one for my JB is from 2010, and it's completely form-fitting, with a cutout for a J-bass body.

Reasonably sure that is an older style one then. That is around the time I bought my custom creations case. I have not see a cutout case on a newer one on their webstore for years. They used to have multiple cases on their page. My 2016 JB5 definitely came with the wrong size open cavity case.

 

[ahbass2500]

I did a little looking around. They switched to generic (non cutout) case in summer of 2015. Bad move IMO.
Source: The G&L Discussion Page - View topic - G&L/G&G Cases

 

[Nedmundo]

Looking into the case issue further, I found one of my posts on another forum from just after I acquired my JB-5:

The led me to experiment with how my G&Ls fit in their various cases. I was sure my JB-5 would fit comfortably in my JB's longer case, and indeed it does. I also figured my M-2500 would easily fit in the JB-5's shorter case. Check. My JB, with its longer 4-in-line headstock, almost fits in the JB-5's shorter case. The headstock buts against the end of the case, so it isn't ideal, but it could work. But, interestingly, its G-string tuner is at less risk than the JB-5's D-string tuner because they aren't in the same place; the JB-5's is placed farther out on the headstock. With this, its tuning peg, when turned parallel with the headstock, reaches the end of the headstock, and thus also buts against the end of the case. That is probably what caused the damage to the tuner. Weird. [Edited slightly for corrections and clarity.]

So, it's not just about a headstock with four tuners on top; the JB-5's tuner is actually more exposed than the JB's G-string tuner because it's further out on the headstock. Maybe G&L has failed to account for this aspect of the JB-5. Which would be lame.

 

[Chewy_B_i_T_s]

You are not alone, and I agree, they should be ashamed of this oversight. I received my JB5 in September and let them know about this issue. They sent me two replacements. I recommend everyone who has this issue to complain and ask for a replacement for free, not purchase one yourself. I'm too afraid to use my hard case anymore.

Below is an excerpt from the email I sent along with photos.


Attached, please find photos and a video of the damage I described to you yesterday.
I believe that due to the angle of the bass in the case, when the tuner button is rotated to certain angles, a jolt along the neck axis can transfer force to the tuner and not just the end (wood portion) of the headstock.

 

[Holdsg]

Saturday night in OC
there was a gig
a G&L was played
and no one was arrested