G&L JB bass

[seansbrew]

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:

Ha Ha, I just created this bass with the bass generator. I love that color.

I agree, the Fenders have a warmer sound with more low end.

The G&Ls slay like a dragon with a nicer midrange.

 

[NWB]

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.

Mine is about 9 lb. It's also alder.

It's very comfortable.

 

[b-bottom]

Have any of you tried the Rustic JB's?

As hard as it is to find the normal JB's.....I'm finding it impossible to find the black rustic version

 

[seansbrew]

You won't find many in stock as you can custom order whatever you want form G&L. Both my G&L's are custom. I never test drove them, just took a chance and won. And I'm horribly picky. Just click the 'Buy Now' button.

 

[b-bottom]

I've contacted G&L in the past and they told me that I would need to go through a retail store.

Do you have a suggestion on a store to contact? Is their a G&L dealer that is what Wildwood guitars is to Ricks?

 

[seansbrew]

I've contacted G&L in the past and they told me that I would need to go through a retail store.

Do you have a suggestion on a store to contact? Is their a G&L dealer that is what Wildwood guitars is to Ricks?

Absolutely, I ordered my G&L from Rocket Music

Here is the bass generator where you can create your bass.
G&L Bass Index

 

[seansbrew]

Rocket Music

 

[strost]

Yes, order from Rocket! The prices on that bass generator are old, see Rocket's page here for current prices.

 

[b-bottom]

thanks guys

 

[RED J]

Just got one - and it feels and sounds like my '62 Jazz. I think it is a great bass.

I can't say I have played one, but Ed Friedlands review was great...and the only J I've heard *nail* the tone of my long gone '65, the sound in my head. If i ever get an inheritance, I'm buying a JB Rustic.

 

[John Bottom]

the Fender "vintage" series is closer to the quality of G&L.. G&L meets session needs-producer needs/wants.. And yes, guitars that compete are just as hot.. Fender "can" have a consistency problem.. Everybody does really, It just seems Fender "issues or problems" are widespread and not addressed.. Like the nut.. Why? On an American Deluxe J Bass..why? Why can't there be any precise "advancement" in that area take place.. We have the Sadowsky brothers.. There are key areas.. Improve in these areas and everything goes up. I can go down the list-or at least what I have done before I even touch it after I've found one I really like..(I like the Am Deluxe V). 1.) swap to a HS tuning machine I like.. 2.) swap nut to a quality bone nut..(or depending on fret board might consider a graphite/plastic nut-high quality-I tend to like a graphite nut with a maple fret) 3.) swap PU to quality single coil (Fralin etc.) 4.) drop in a Sadowsky (on board) preamp.. *or a John East*. With a G&L, I do nothing..you're already there.. More guitar for much less money.. Base Fender Am Deluxe J V $1799. (before upgrades) G&L L series 5 string (very apples to apples) $1500. Fender Am Deluxe J 4 $1599 to $1699 (before upgrades). G&L JB $1100-$1400. All conjecture-my opinion.

 

[bdgotoh]

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.

I bought an early JB and it was 10 lbs, didn't keep it long. I've been watching them ever since and I haven't seen one under 9 lbs and very few under 9.5. For some reason the JB is much heavier than the JB-2.

The exception is Empress bodied JB basses. There have been a number built in the last 6+ months and they've all been 8-9 lbs so that's a good way to go if you want a light JB. There are two on the G&L factory inventory that are 9.2 lbs and ready to ship - I assume they are alder since the body wood isn't listed and ash/empress are upcharges.

 

[W.Roberts]

Here I am late in this discussion but I put on order a G&L JB used, metallic grey, rosewood or something fingerboard offa Guitar Center site to replace this Flea Signature I got approx. one week ago. The Flea Signature is definitely more gimmick than gear. The shortfalls are too unacceptable for these old hands and ears. It's funky looking, plays nice but the pickup height adjustments are completely rigid and loud at to 1st and 2nd strings and the bottom end ain't bottom enough. Can't even EQ out these deficiencies. That being said I need to be able to adjust pick-up height where I need to hear it toward to low end. I am trusting the JB can be adjusted like I need it to me. Oh. And how does this stack up against any Fender Standard or beyond? I am disappointed in Fenders now. Just too damn many coming in from all over the globe coupled with these Goddamned big box stores where one has to pay and order before one gets it in one's hands. Jes' sayin'.

 

[W.Roberts]

the Fender "vintage" series is closer to the quality of G&L.. G&L meets session needs-producer needs/wants.. And yes, guitars that compete are just as hot.. Fender "can" have a consistency problem.. Everybody does really, It just seems Fender "issues or problems" are widespread and not addressed.. Like the nut.. Why? On an American Deluxe J Bass..why? Why can't there be any precise "advancement" in that area take place.. We have the Sadowsky brothers.. There are key areas.. Improve in these areas and everything goes up. I can go down the list-or at least what I have done before I even touch it after I've found one I really like..(I like the Am Deluxe V). 1.) swap to a HS tuning machine I like.. 2.) swap nut to a quality bone nut..(or depending on fret board might consider a graphite/plastic nut-high quality-I tend to like a graphite nut with a maple fret) 3.) swap PU to quality single coil (Fralin etc.) 4.) drop in a Sadowsky (on board) preamp.. *or a John East*. With a G&L, I do nothing..you're already there.. More guitar for much less money.. Base Fender Am Deluxe J V $1799. (before upgrades) G&L L series 5 string (very apples to apples) $1500. Fender Am Deluxe J 4 $1599 to $1699 (before upgrades). G&L JB $1100-$1400. All conjecture-my opinion.

I think you're right about Fender's consistency issues. Organizationally they're a global octopus and helped to bring about Guitar Centers and the cheap crap that came outta Asia and Mexico with the Fender brand. I have scorn for all these brands who have beginner, intermediate, "advanced" or pro or what have you, the latter for a premium and still one doesn't know what what is getting because it's all warehoused. I don't think G&L has these intermediary stuff but I have to presume they do based on pricing I've seen over the Net.

Anyway, I have an unknown year G&L JB on order as of today to replace the brand new Fender Flea Signature which is a huge disappointment. It's far more gimmick than gear and real players, especially cats like me in funk and jazz, can't tolerate this road worn garbage that is second class rubbish. I have high hopes for the G&L JB in metallic grey.

 

[Rodslinger]

My G&L JB4 made of Empress Wood weighs less than 7 lbs. Its quite amazing & such a wonderful bass.