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G&L Introduces Short Scale Fallout Bass - Launch Edition

#121
2F/2F said:
Well, it arrived today, and I just spent 2 to 3 hours messing with it through my Rumble 40 in the bedroom.

I’ll list the bad first.

G&L failed to follow the special instructions to string the bass up with flats. However, I was informed of this by the retailer prior to the bass being shipped to me (though I did have to ask them to double check for me). G&L will be sending me a set of flats, supposedly.

The build sheet states that this was supposed to come with CLF knobs, but it came with regular metal dome knobs. I have yet to bring that up, but I am hoping they will supply me with the CLF knobs.

There’s some shoddy masking work on the racing stripe, and they didn’t spray the headstock finish completely into the truss rod access channel. There are some printing flaws on the headstock decal too. I wish the racing stripe had wrapped around to the back side.

They really dropped the ball on the yellow and blue ones by using a brown fretboard, as opposed to ebony. I do think the brown looks good with the green finish and white guard, though.

Fretboard should be curvier IMO, and have skinny frets. These mediums are like railroad ties under my fingers, and the board feels too flat.

Split and parallel modes are useless to me. They sound awful. I’d rather the bass had no switch, and PTB controls.

The fact that it comes with a gig bag as opposed to hardshell case, and the mediocre quality of the bag itself (not even as good as the ones that used to come with their Tribute Series instruments for free), are very lame.

The pickup poles were not set up in the factory. The poles were flat, all the way down. After a good amount of careful tweaking, they sound a lot better in terms of having a balanced tone and volume from string to string.

The factory string setup was ridiculously low. No way to get a clear note off of the bass unless playing extremely lightly. In the end, I jacked up the saddles almost two complete turns of the screws (and I think they could still use a little more height and fine tuning).

It would’ve been nice if the nut slots had been slotted for the heavier strings that most people are almost certainly going to be putting on these basses eventually.

Now, some good stuff.

Series with bass boost sounds really good, as expected.

Over all, it feels like a very solid and well built instrument (just don’t look at some of the details I mentioned).

After balancing the pickup, it is one of the most balanced sounding basses I have ever played, note to note.

The finish is generally beautifully applied, outside of the specific flaws I mentioned above.

The fretwork is very good, as are the board edges (slightly softened).

The hardware is nice (though I had to abandon the saddle lock feature in order to get the strings to really line up exactly with the pickup poles). I will be putting Hipshots on, but only because I want lollipop buttons. The tuners from the Fallout are going to go onto a naked 1983 L-1000 neck that I am working on.

The neck feels substantial compared to most short scales. It’s not at all thick, but it has a good width to it. It feels like a “big boy” bass when playing it. Very nice that they did not go with a Jazz Bass nut width and a narrow spaced bridge on this, like you get on your traditional Musicmaster or Mustang basses. It makes all the difference in making it not feel cramped and “kiddie.”

It has several things I would have improved if I had been involved in its design (all mentioned above). And I do believe that’s it’s overpriced. The lack of a hardshell case is a big issue to me at this price point. (Not only is it a long-standing tradition for G&L to include a hardshell case with every American made instrument, but at this very moment, they sell less expensive instruments that do include the case.) But all things considered, it is the most “professional” feeling screw neck short scale I have ever played. I peeled the plastic off the guard about an hour into messing with it. If you can find one used, or new with an extreme discount, I say go for it. For $1,356, I feel OK about it (though it still should’ve had a hardshell case at that price). At standard retail of $1,700 (plus tax), no way, José.
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Dang. The pains of being an early adopter. Glad you feel satisfied with it for the price you paid.
 
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#122
monsterthompson said:
Dang. The pains of being an early adopter. Glad you feel satisfied with it for the price you paid.
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No real pains, and certainly not due to early adoption. Many of my negatives were known before ordering the bass. I simply wanted to post a complete review covering all aspects, good and bad.

Like I said, I feel OK about what I got for what I paid. Not great, but OK. There are good things and bad things about it. In the end, I’m glad to have the bass.

If you are considering this versus it’s closest competitor, an American Performer Mustang Bass, the Fender has the edge in terms of value. I have one of these too. Like the Fallout Bass, I bought one as soon as they were introduced. In terms of build quality, it’s my opinion that the two are equals. The reason to go with the G&L instead is if you want the L-1000 electronics, as opposed to the dual M/J pickups and V/V/T setup of the Fender. P/J lovers should obviously go with the AP Mustang.
 
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#123
2F/2F said:
No real pains, and certainly not due to early adoption. Many of my negatives were known before ordering the bass. I simply wanted to post a complete review covering all aspects, good and bad.

Like I said, I feel OK about what I got for what I paid. Not great, but OK. There are good things and bad things about it. In the end, I’m glad to have the bass.

If you are considering this versus it’s closest competitor, an American Performer Mustang Bass, the Fender has the edge in terms of value. I have one of these too. Like the Fallout Bass, I bought one as soon as they were introduced. In terms of build quality, it’s my opinion that the two are equals. The reason to go with the G&L instead is if you want the L-1000 electronics, as opposed to the dual M/J pickups and V/V/T setup of the Fender. P/J lovers should obviously go with the AP Mustang.
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Looking forward to the “budget” release versions.

...Though, my short scale fever may result in a Mensinger, and possibly a custom one. I mean, if I’m gonna get wet, I should just go swimming :)
 
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#125
2F/2F said:
Something else I just noticed on my bass. The fingerboard dots are not centered between the frets. Every dot is cheated a little bit higher on the neck than it should be. Looks really goofy once you notice it.
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Did you measure from the edge of the board or is it a visual alignment that might be off because of the variation is string diameters?
 
#128
monsterthompson said:
Yeah. $2,400 is ridiculous. $1,699 still raises an eyebrow. $1,299 seems more than I’d have expected but not impossibly high. Particularly if a sale price happens, or as the the used market develops.

A JMJ is $999, just for perspective.
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the JMJ is awesome but keep in mind that it’s made in Mexico and Fender didn’t spend much on the road worn finish. The price of the Fallout is right in line with what I spent on my USA L2000 and L2500.
 
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#129
I’m stoked about this bass and think it looks awesome. Far more interested in this than the Musicman shorty. Somewhere in my life short scale became my preferred bass format. Fast and fun and easier on my tendons. I’m hoping this joins the G&L custom shop lineup and that it will be available with nitro finishes and fretless options. If so, I’ll probably end up with two. They’ll be right at home with my Jerry Jones’s, SG Standard Bass, and JMJ Mustang.
 
#130
The Fallout bass is now on G&L's Custom Shop price list. For those of you that want any exotic woods or a fretless option. Prices start at $2400.
My friend just put in her order for a Custom Shop Fallout bass. Clear Red over Ash with an Ebony fret board.
 
#131
Hey guys,
Jut an update, loving my Fallout in British Racing Green. The one thing is that it's a bit heavy for a short scale, but not crazy. I think an Ash body would be ideal, but all in all it's a really fantastic bass. Done a gig with it and some recording and it shines.
 
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