Have any of you guys ever played...owned one? How do they compare to the American Fender jazz basses?
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G&L JB bass
- Thread starter b-bottom
- Start date
A bit better than an American Standard. The finishing is definitely superior, and the G&L bridge is simply outstanding. The G&L may be a pound or so heavier if that matters to you. IMO, Fender pickups are often underrated. So, the difference in that dept may be a matter of individual taste. Both are very good.
I'm a great admirer of G&L basses and guitars (have an LB-100, JB, ASAT Classic Custom and an ASAT Bluesboy). Aside from the excellent Fender AVRI series, I'd put the Fullerton G&Ls above any production Fender models.
I'm a great admirer of G&L basses and guitars (have an LB-100, JB, ASAT Classic Custom and an ASAT Bluesboy). Aside from the excellent Fender AVRI series, I'd put the Fullerton G&Ls above any production Fender models.
That's my experience as well. My JB is about as good as a passive jazz bass can be.
I certainly prefer the sound of it over the Fender and the workmanship is top-notch.
My g&l JB blows any fender jazz I have ever owned out of the water. Fit and finish is superior to fender. Sound is nice and growly. Frets are plek'd (standard). Dozens of standard finishes to choose from ( not just four or so, like fender). And the caveat, they are slightly less cost wise than Fender.. It is no brainer. My bass just happened to come with mojo, something very rare. It feels like a broken in glove. Actually, both my g&l basses feel this way. Like I do not have to get used to them. They are just comfy.
Here you can create a custom jb and see all the standard options. Every bass can be custom ordered with standard options at no additional cost.
G&L Bass Index
Here you can create a custom jb and see all the standard options. Every bass can be custom ordered with standard options at no additional cost.
G&L Bass Index
I'll guess I'll be the lone voice of dissent. I have two JBs and a Fender American Standard Jazz. My Fender has much better fit and finish than any of the four US G&L's I own or have owned. Playability is equal. I also prefer the stock Fender pickups compared to the G&L single coils. All of my G&L's have been noisy instruments, requiring shielding or a pickup swap. In the case of the JB's, I opted for a pickup swap. My stock Fender is silent.
The only advantage the G&L's have over the Fender is the bridge and the satin neck finish. Fender's neck finish is also called "satin", but it's more of a semi-gloss. The Fender necks also have graphite rods. Whether that makes any real difference is debatable.
With all that said, they are comparable. There's not a huge difference between them. Cost is very similar. One of my JBs cost less than the Fender, but the other one cost more than the Fender.
The only advantage the G&L's have over the Fender is the bridge and the satin neck finish. Fender's neck finish is also called "satin", but it's more of a semi-gloss. The Fender necks also have graphite rods. Whether that makes any real difference is debatable.
With all that said, they are comparable. There's not a huge difference between them. Cost is very similar. One of my JBs cost less than the Fender, but the other one cost more than the Fender.
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I have a passive L1k and an active L2ke, and they both strike me as quiet (not noisy) instruments with excellent build quality.
My 83' L2k is completely silent, even in active treble boost mode. It's heavily shielded with a fitted copper plate in the bottom of the electronics cavity, don't know if they still do that.
My JB's pretty dead quiet. Although I've never had major noise issues with Fenders either.
Gotta say though, main reason the JB is a keeper is it has the fastest neck I've never played. I've played other G&L's with slightly thicker necks too, so I don't think the fast neck is an inherent JB quality--I just got really lucky.
Gotta say though, main reason the JB is a keeper is it has the fastest neck I've never played. I've played other G&L's with slightly thicker necks too, so I don't think the fast neck is an inherent JB quality--I just got really lucky.
I'm going to have to try some of the new G&L stuff. I sold G&L in the late 80s and early 90s and the fret work always sucked. I use to send "friends" down the road to look at Musicman stuff at another dealer if they were checking out G&Ls.
Just got one - and it feels and sounds like my '62 Jazz. I think it is a great bass.
I was interested in these at one point, but they all appear to be around 10lbs (the alder ones).
Love mine! But it is heavy (10.5lb)
Also, IMHO the sound is not quite as warm as the Fender (especially the ones with the Custom Shop pups). But that might be subjective and it might be the maple fretboard. But when I dig in on mine, it roars.
As others have said, fit and finish are top notch.
Mine is dead quiet in terms of single-coil buzzing.
Obligatory pic:
Also, IMHO the sound is not quite as warm as the Fender (especially the ones with the Custom Shop pups). But that might be subjective and it might be the maple fretboard. But when I dig in on mine, it roars.
As others have said, fit and finish are top notch.
Mine is dead quiet in terms of single-coil buzzing.
Obligatory pic:
Huh. The JB's run heavy? Even the alder ones?
This is very surprising to me, and runs contrary to my experience with JB-2's. I'm on my eighth JB-2 now, and all have been under 9 lbs. I know there is more wood involved with the JB, but....dayum.... 10+ lbs is well into EBMM territory. I guess I'm glad I'm not gassing for a JB.
This is very surprising to me, and runs contrary to my experience with JB-2's. I'm on my eighth JB-2 now, and all have been under 9 lbs. I know there is more wood involved with the JB, but....dayum.... 10+ lbs is well into EBMM territory. I guess I'm glad I'm not gassing for a JB.
