G&L Latest Arrivals

[Ricky Rioli]

I remember picking up my SB–1 from my tech, peering doubtfully at the Indian Rosewood fretboard, asking carefully, this has been oiled....? and him laughing and nodding.

 

[Music Man Dan]

Here's a gorgeous redburst L2K that just arrived today. This was a special order that took some doing to get right. I think we're finally there, hopefully the third time is the charm with the neck on this one.

If this were ordered today, the quilted maple top and the reverse headstock would make it a Custom Shop order. This one got started back in March of 2022, though, so it's a BTO.

It took a little doing to get the neck specs right. Thankfully, my customer for this one was exceedingly patient and understanding. First, G&L missed the reverse headstock which was a mid-stream spec change. Then they got the reverse headstock right on the second neck, but the default L2K nut width had since changed from 1.5" to 1 5/8" so the nut width was wrong on the second neck. Finally, this third neck has both the reverse headstock and the 1.5" nut width. All is well, at long last!

It's a beautiful bass, and hopefully the story can be told with a smile down the road.

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I can't wait to wrap my hand around that neck! Thank you, Greg, for doing your best with my order for this bass. What a crazy and long-winded story on this build. Just reading about it already makes me laugh.

I think I might be the poster child for why G&L did away with so many of their options on their build-to-order basses. By the way, Greg, you forgot to mention that this bass also has the vintage-sized frets. I really love the vintage-sized frets. Most of my G&L basses have them. Too bad that those frets are also no longer available on the build-to-order basses. Custom shop only now for those frets.

And thank you, Greg, for oiling up the ebony fret board while you were restringing the bass. That fret board was very dry! I'm sure the ebony fret board will also be gorgeous after you've oiled it.

 

[RocketMusic]

It's not often I see a G&L finish that I've never seen in person before, but this Sunset Coral is a new one for me. Gorgeous! A little warmer than Shell Pink, I'd say? This one makes me want to play some Jimmy Buffett tunes...

The bass was a special order for @Lammchop93. Congrats, Mitch! La Bella Olinto flats will get installed tomorrow, and then I'll get it on the way to you.

G&L LB-100 Coral Sunset / Indian Rosewood

 

[jfh2424]

Greg I'm curious as to what finishes disappointed you when you saw them in person versus on the net. And which ones looked better in person.

All that is very subjective of course. Still, I'm curious.

 

[RocketMusic]

Greg I'm curious as to what finishes disappointed you when you saw them in person versus on the net. And which ones looked better in person.

All that is very subjective of course. Still, I'm curious.

G&L's finishes are great. We'll all have our own personal tastes, but whether I like a color or not they execute the colors very well.

I find the various whites to be the most difficult to capture accurately in a photo. I think my photos probably tend to be too warm, too yellowish.

Over the years, a few of the burst finishes (Blackburst, Redburst, Blueburst, etc.) have arrived with a pretty wide burst edge. My personal preference is for a thinner edge burst so that there's more of the color and wood grain to be seen.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Over the years, a few of the burst finishes (Blackburst, Redburst, Blueburst, etc.) have arrived with a pretty wide burst edge. My personal preference is for a thinner edge burst so that there's more of the color and wood grain to be seen.

The Honeyburst you have in stock definitely has that thinner edge. Wonder if the swamp ash makes the guy spraying the paint want to show the grain off?

There's a Reverb advert for an MJ-4 that I keep returning to - the black edge of its Redburst almost reaches the pickups.

 

[RocketMusic]

The Honeyburst you have in stock definitely has that thinner edge. Wonder if the swamp ash makes the guy spraying the paint want to show the grain off?

There's a Reverb advert for an MJ-4 that I keep returning to - the black edge of its Redburst almost reaches the pickups.

Yeah, that bass is practically black at that point. LOL

 

[RocketMusic]

Here's one that arrived on Friday.

This was a special order, and its a near miss on the specs so it's going back to G&L for a fix. The headstock was supposed to be black, not matching. The fretboard was supposed to be Caribbean RW, too, but the Indian RW is sort of a "bank error in your favor" situation. We'll leave that as is. So close to right! G&L can paint this neck's headstock black, and that should be a pretty quick fix.

G&L JB Graphite Metallic

 

[RocketMusic]

Here's another recent arrival from G&L that was a special order. Gorgeous bass!

G&L L-2000 Pearl White / Ebony

 

[RocketMusic]

Here's another L-2000, this time in their gorgeous Lake Placid Blue! This one is available, I ordered it for inventory back in the spring.

G&L L-2000 Lake Placid Blue / RW

 

[RocketMusic]

Here's a tricked out LB-100 that arrived yesterday! This one was a special order, so it's already on its way to its new home.

And, yes, it's got some options that you can no longer get on G&L Build To Order instruments. This order went in right before that policy change.

G&L LB-100 Blackburst / Ebony

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Wow, 7.7 lb Swamp Ash!

 

[RocketMusic]

Wow, 7.7 lb Swamp Ash!

Yep, I was a little shocked. And this was attempt #2 at the body. The first blackburst left a little to be desired, so we sent it back and they made a new body. It went from 8.9 lbs to 7.7 lbs, so the little extra wait was probably worth it.

 

[RocketMusic]

Wow, 7.7 lb Swamp Ash!

BTW - I know you're being all zen about your neck repair. Thanks for that! I did want to let you know that two RMA's that went in a little ahead of yours (and this bass was one of those) have since come back to me. They were both body things which tend to be a little quicker than neck things... but, still, yours should not be too far off. Hopefully. Back to zen, that's the way to play it.

 

[Spidey2112]

If I only knew Zen, what I know now.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

BTW - I know you're being all zen about your neck repair. Thanks for that! I did want to let you know that two RMA's that went in a little ahead of yours (and this bass was one of those) have since come back to me. They were both body things which tend to be a little quicker than neck things... but, still, yours should not be too far off. Hopefully. Back to zen, that's the way to play it.

I'm just glad that you haven't been sent a terse little email from the Basilica of St Leo saying, tell that twerp in blighty to naff off. I've just bought a motorbike, which is helping distract me from the 50% reduction in basses in my home.

After a while, a diet of nothing but Chromes-through-a-Fralin left me needing a change, any change, so at the moment I've got a 40-100 set of Swing Bass uptuned to F# standard, which is very entertaining. Such a perky sound!

Though it is forcing me to produce some rather more disciplined articulation than what those over-forgiving Chromes let me get away with.

 

[Wood and Wire]

I've just bought a motorbike, which is helping distract me from the 50% reduction in basses in my home.

So you really are practicing Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

PS just realised that my tactic has been, to adapt a well-worn saying, ask them no questions and they'll tell you no lies

 

[RocketMusic]

Here's a beautiful bass that is just passing through since it was a special order. It's Clear Red Frost on Okoume with an Indian RW fretboard and a Black Frost headstock.

These frost finishes are pretty hard to photograph, glare is even more of a problem than with gloss finishes. But I sure do love the way they look. Every time one comes in, I think "I should order a LOT more of these".

G&L L-2000 Clear Red Frost / Indian Rosewood

 

[RocketMusic]

Hmmmm.... I just received a fretless SB-2 BTO with the 1.5" nut width. That's not supposed to happen. Fortunately, my customer had originally asked for that nut width, but I had told him no can do. So this should be a pleasant surprise, thank goodness.

My second most recent G&L arrival came in a gig bag. Upon inquiry with G&L, I was told that the gig bag would be the case of choice going forward. So of course today's SB-2 shows up in a hardshell case.

I try very hard to maintain a reputation as an expert with the G&L line of basses... but they're making it really freakin' hard when they change their minds willy nilly on these details that are kinda/sorta important.

A New Years resolution for me will be to have a pow-wow with my new G&L sales guy (Steve Araujo).