G&L JB vs JB-2

[Joebone]

JB-2 was a great design - I'd still have one if I'd not converted to 5-string.

 

[TomB]

A little added history:
Yes, the JB-2 was G&L’s first “Jazz” bass, introduced at the 2001 NAMM show with 2 Mary Kay-finished ash bodied basses with figured maple fretboards and binding. So stunning that I bought one!
I got it from long-gone Bass NorthWest, who told me that they had convinced G&L to issue it thinking it would be a big seller. I guess it wasn’t, really.
I liked it well enough - should have kept it around for G&L’s current “marketing renaissance”, but I traded it to a TB’er long ago.
I have to guess that the JB does indeed have the “traditional” J-bass appeal with G&L quality, like the LB-100. I preferred the P-style body, but not enough, I guess.
I thought it would be fun to share this “origin” story with you JB-2 fans.

 

[Hot Rats]

The JB2 Tribute was frequently discounted for an amazing price in some stores around here (online section, if that matters) compared to the JB. Admittedly, I'm a bit partial to the JB design, but by no means think the 2 looks bad, at all.
My only bug when hypothetically considering going for one, was that the pickups are the same size, IIRC, so pickup swaps might not be as straightforward. Am I wrong? Does the US model feature direct replacement sizes instead?

Yep, the U.S. models are standard L/S pickups.
My 2001 JB-2

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Yep, the U.S. models are standard L/S pickups.
My 2001 JB-2
View attachment 3944796

And frankly, that can be a game changer. Just that feature... Am I really the only one who'd get very bugged by knowing you have to resort to custom/different roads in case you want to swap the magnets, or at least you have one tenths of the options?

 

[woodyng2]

A little added history:
Yes, the JB-2 was G&L’s first “Jazz” bass, introduced at the 2001 NAMM show with 2 Mary Kay-finished ash bodied basses with figured maple fretboards and binding. So stunning that I bought one!
I got it from long-gone Bass NorthWest, who told me that they had convinced G&L to issue it thinking it would be a big seller. I guess it wasn’t, really.
I liked it well enough - should have kept it around for G&L’s current “marketing renaissance”, but I traded it to a TB’er long ago.
I have to guess that the JB does indeed have the “traditional” J-bass appeal with G&L quality, like the LB-100. I preferred the P-style body, but not enough, I guess.
I thought it would be fun to share this “origin” story with you JB-2 fans.

Would love to see a picture of that bass if you’d be kind enough to oblige....
A few years ago I had a really nice American Standard Fender Jazz, that i loved the sound of, but it was kind of heavy and the body just felt too big for me. After a brief detour with a yamaha that didn’t work out, I found out about the JB2 model,and found a used one online from GC. It’s exactly what i hoped for,and the standard pickups sound fabulous.

 

[woodyng2]

Yep, the U.S. models are standard L/S pickups.
My 2001 JB-2
View attachment 3944796

Nice! (I love white basses).

 

[Crispus]

Well, they do have the same pickups and wiring circuit,compared to the mfds in the sb2.
The jb2 sounded more focused than the jb to me.

And, sb-2s rule!!

I wonder if the basses in Ivan's video were new with new / same strings?
The first time I listen to the SB-2 (finger style, both pups on), it's clear that there is this huge Fender "Gank" that also sounds distorted (to me).
Like maybe a big bump at 800 - 1K ish and not crystal clear.
The second time I hear it me thinks, while non-conventional, maybe it would sit in the mix like a big rock dog should.
Thoughts?
Also, is that a good photo of the color for a blue JB2; I was afraid it would be too baby blue but that one looks awesome

sb-2s are excellent basses and punch right through! No need for a tone control either, just take a little time and work with it

 

[SJan3]

To fix this you just do like the Fender style Basses with no microtilt, you use a shim.

Well, both basses are long gone but I wouldn't shim a micro tilt neck.

 

[woodyng2]

And frankly, that can be a game changer. Just that feature... Am I really the only one who'd get very bugged by knowing you have to resort to custom/different roads in case you want to swap the magnets, or at least you have one tenths of the options?

I am having that issue with my Spector NS2J to a degree. It has 2 of the shorter J bass pickups.
Although actually all the really good pickup manufacturers offer either size individually,so it’s just a matter of ordering 2 of the same size. I just haven’t been able to decide what i want to replace the active emgs with.

 

[EmaTheMirror]

Yes, they do, but you have to specify one goes to the bridge, different impedance and most importantly polarity. And that might be an extra compared to buying, say, a set of Duncans

 

[woodyng2]

Yes, they do, but you have to specify one goes to the bridge, different impedance and most importantly polarity. And that might be an extra compared to buying, say, a set of Duncans

Yeah, Lindy Fralin did mention that when I inquired about buying a set.

 

[TomB]

Would love to see a picture of that bass if you’d be kind enough to oblige....
A few years ago I had a really nice American Standard Fender Jazz, that i loved the sound of, but it was kind of heavy and the body just felt too big for me. After a brief detour with a yamaha that didn’t work out, I found out about the JB2 model,and found a used one online from GC. It’s exactly what i hoped for,and the standard pickups sound fabulous.

I wish I had some pics but that was a few phones/hard drives ago, I’m afraid. I did see its twin for sale on Reverb a few years ago. I may be able to check with my trading partner, but who knows?

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

I still have my 2001 G&L JB-2 with custom ebony fretboard.
Road worthy tank. Was my only bass for over 10 years.

Only thing I changed was the OG pups to some Fender custom shop 60’s.

Truly an awesome instrument. Gigged the heck out of it and gave hundreds and hundreds of bass lessons on that one.

Might look for “beefier” pups just for the fun of it. But it really sounds amazing live and in the studio.
Played everything from straight ahead jazz to latin to metal to funk with that bass.

 

[TomB]

Would love to see a picture of that bass if you’d be kind enough to oblige....
A few years ago I had a really nice American Standard Fender Jazz, that i loved the sound of, but it was kind of heavy and the body just felt too big for me. After a brief detour with a yamaha that didn’t work out, I found out about the JB2 model,and found a used one online from GC. It’s exactly what i hoped for,and the standard pickups sound fabulous.

I did check and my trade partner (in 2013) was last seen here in 2018. These twin NAMM Specials are special enough to keep an eye out for ‘em if they’re still around!

 

[palmann]

I can't help it, I love the simple clean design. 2x USA + 1x Tribute. All fantastic sounding.

Viele Grüße
Pablo

 

[Pluckoff]

View attachment 4523099

I can't help it, I love the simple clean design. 2x USA + 1x Tribute. All fantastic sounding.

Viele Grüße
Pablo

Do you notice any differences between the US made and Tribute?

 

[Jim C]

I have a US JB and a JB2 Tribute.
The US version is a much better bass.

 

[Pluckoff]

I have a US JB and a JB2 Tribute.
The US version is a much better bass.

In which ways? Worth the $700 or more difference?

 

[Jeff Scott]

In which ways? Worth the $700 or more difference?

In real life it didn't cost me anywhere near that difference in price.

 

[Jim C]

In which ways? Worth the $700 or more difference?

That particular Tribute had a pickup die in the bass (because it was smashed into an undersize rout) and also has a small ski jump. To be fair, my SB2 Tribute has a good neck and no issues.
The overall refinement, fret work, and fit and finish are better on US models. How much so will depend on you

The JB is optioned (Empress, CAR metallic, painted headstock, blocks) and plays better.
Truthfully, it is a $1,500 bass; it's not worth much more than that to me. For example, spending $2,600 on Stingray bass would be a better value than the same amount on a G&L due to the overall quality IMO/IME (I have 2 US SR's and a Ray4)

As far as pricing goes, upper end quality is a diminishing return cost wise.
I recently sent a deposit for a custom bass that will end up being approx. $3K and it won't be THAT much better than the G&L (which I bought used for about $1K)