G&L Club Part 7

[Protagonist]

Thank you man - I think I had actually watched those demos before but wasn't sure where to start the search for a comparison. I'm really digging the SB-1 tone that Steve Araujo (spelling?) is getting.

So - a few more questions. I have a bass routed for PJ. I'm sold on the tone of the MFD P, and I think the output will be close to that of my L2000 (so that when playing live changing basses doesn't have a huge volume difference).

I know this is probably covered regularly - but is there a standard J-sized pickup that would compliment the MFD P for a slightly brighter/scoop PJ tone? I'll be honest I will mostly use just the P pickup for the tone I'm after, but having the J option would be cool. My initial thoughts are a Dimarzio Model J - but has anyone ever combined the MFD P with a standard sized J pickup with successful results?

There is a MFD J pickup set in development. It's discussed in the last 5 pages or so.

 

[Bassclef46]

might be different pots, capacitors, strings, etc. As always YMMV.

I put some time into this today and I guess I never realized that the volume does roll the tone off a bit. I am so used to full volume and turning down the amp that I never play with the volume from a tone perspective.

 

[jcburn]

There is a MFD J pickup set in development. It's discussed in the last 5 pages or so.

Hey man - yeah I'm all over it!!!
I looked into purchasing said MFD J pickups but got the response that they wouldn't be ready for outright purchase any time soon.
I guess I could just go with the MFD P for now and add the J down the line?

 

[jmlee]

Anyone have experience with an Okoume bodied bass from G&L?

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

About the MFD Js, it seems that part of the secret of the SB-2's awesomeness is the relative weakness of the J compared to the P. A PJ with the new MFD J might be a different beast altogether, but one that I will definitely have to investigate----possibly in my Warwick P/J.

 

[Bassclef46]

Anyone have experience with an Okoume bodied bass from G&L?

My 40th Anniversary SB-1 bass is Okoume. what did you want to know?

 

[jmlee]

My 40th Anniversary SB-1 bass is Okoume. what did you want to know?

What’s the grain in the okoume look like under the finish, assuming you could see through it? I think that some of those basses were in transparent finishes, no? Also, what’s your feel for the resonance/response with that wood? Thanks!

 

[Bassclef46]

What’s the grain in the okoume look like under the finish, assuming you could see through it? I think that some of those basses were in transparent finishes, no? Also, what’s your feel for the resonance/response with that wood? Thanks!

One of the most beautiful aspects of the bass is being able to see the wood grain.

here is a link for my exact bass. You can see the direction of the grain and how visible it is. What these pics don’t show is how different lighting effects what you see from the finish. Iridescent effect to say the least.

FYI this link won’t open in my phone. Only on my laptop will it open

G&L 40th Anniversary SB-1 Bass Guitar, Caribbean Rosewood Fretboard, Clear Ruby Red Finish

The response of the wood is excellent. I don’t know if it’s the combination of the MFD pickups and saddle lock bridge with rosewood board, but i get very deep lows and growling mids/highs depending on the tone knob with sustain that lasts all day. It really does sound fantastic.

but I have never played a G&L USA or tribute that didn’t sound great. I have played tribute lb100 and l2000 as well as USA lb100. And I own the sb1 and a jazz. Hope this helps

 

[jmlee]

the of the most beautiful aspects of the bass is being able to see the wood grain.

here is a link for my exact bass. You can see the direction of the grain and how visible it is. What these pics don’t show is how different lighting effects what you see from the finish. Iridescent effect to say the least.

FYI this link won’t open in my phone. Only on my laptop will it open

G&L 40th Anniversary SB-1 Bass Guitar, Caribbean Rosewood Fretboard, Clear Ruby Red Finish

The response of the wood is excellent. I don’t know if it’s the combination of the MFD pickups and saddle lock bridge with rosewood board, but i get very deep lows and growling mids/highs depending on the tone knob with sustain that lasts all day. It really does sound fantastic.

but I have never played a G&L USA or tribute that didn’t sound great. I have played tribute lb100 and l2000 as well as USA lb100. And I own the sb1 and a jazz. Hope this helps

Nice! I’m looking at buying a trans-finished okoume SB-1 (at some distance) and I can’t get a good feel for how it looks in person. The look of the finished wood seems to depend strongly on the lighting. In flash pictures there seems to be a lot of grain ends in the okoume that don’t seem particularly attractive but in other photos it’s quite gorgeous—but that may be the source of the directional iridescence you’re describing. The wood response is interesting. I have a couple of terrific Fearless cabs in okoume plywood for light weight but no experience in an instrument body with that wood. This may be like the empress in a couple of my G&L’s: light but resonant woods.

 

[Bassclef46]

My jazz is empress. Both are equally light weight. Both are rosewood boards. The different pickups are obviously what sets them apart but both are great basses. The mfd pickups are more resonant but I think that is more about the pickup rather than the wood.

 

[Remoman]

Nice find, L-2000 representing!
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Boitameuh]

About the MFD Js, it seems that part of the secret of the SB-2's awesomeness is the relative weakness of the J compared to the P. A PJ with the new MFD J might be a different beast altogether, but one that I will definitely have to investigate----possibly in my Warwick P/J.

I came to the same conclusion with mine, this J pickup is a strange animal indeed. Best sound I was able to get was 100% P and approx 80% J, with the bridge pickup set at about mid-height or even below. It was clearly audible when the pickup started to change the sound and that was the sweetspot.

That's why I think the volume/tone mod on this basse is not a good idea, and I went for a series mod instead with a very nice result.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

About the MFD Js, it seems that part of the secret of the SB-2's awesomeness is the relative weakness of the J compared to the P. A PJ with the new MFD J might be a different beast altogether

How much of current effect is due to the pickup and how much us down to its position unusually close to the bridge?

 

[TomB]

How much of current effect is due to the pickup and how much us down to its position unusually close to the bridge?

Good question! Has anyone used that pickup in the P or J-neck position? I always got the impression that it was relatively low output for an MFD pickup but never tested or moved it.
I too am a believer in using it as a “brightness control” and have never longed for a tone control on my SB-2’s. I also never turn my P volume up to 100% or the bridge much past 50 or 60%, using my ear to find that sweet spot mentioned above.
We all tend to run our instruments in different ways, I guess.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

How much of current effect is due to the pickup and how much us down to its position unusually close to the bridge?

That, too!

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I too am a believer in using it as a “brightness control” and have never longed for a tone control on my SB-2’s.

I once found myself imagining a single knob that when turned backwards from its central detent brings in the tone pot and when turned forwards from the detent brings in the bridge pickup. Like a kind of treble boost/cut control, except passive

 

[jfh2424]

...We all tend to run our instruments in different ways, I guess.

This is very true. I think it applies even more to the SB2. The SB2 seems very simple, but it isn’t. There’s many different tones and layers to that tone. Hence why many people run them differently, in my opinion.

 

[richwag]

I came to the same conclusion with mine, this J pickup is a strange animal indeed. Best sound I was able to get was 100% P and approx 80% J, with the bridge pickup set at about mid-height or even below. It was clearly audible when the pickup started to change the sound and that was the sweetspot.

That's why I think the volume/tone mod on this basse is not a good idea, and I went for a series mod instead with a very nice result.

The tone mod just gives you even more control. Jazz basses have come with one for years right?

I suppose it depends on what tone you're looking for.

I run my bridge pickup super close to the strings. I like the growl it adds in. But I still roll the tone off because I'm not looking for the super bright piano like sound.

 

[Boitameuh]

In my case a very muffled sound is not often required, so I could totally go without a tone control directly on my bass. On rare occasions I simply use the amp EQ...

My SB-2 Is now sold, but I think the best mod for this model would be installing 2 push/push pots, one as a pickup selector (P or P+J mode) and the other switching from parallel to master series. The pots would allow the usual master volume and master tone, giving the most possibilities while remaining visually simple. The master series mod is rarely mentionned, but gives a completely different sound to the SB-2, very modern but still retains the typical MFD warmness and dynamics.

My next SB-2 will totally include that!..

 

[Temcat]

I think that one of the best upgrades for SB-2 would be a matching humbucking bridge pickup.