G&L LB-100 + JB or Fender CS P + J

[geekrock]

Hey guys,

I'm about to pull the trigger on a P & J duo and wanted to have your opinions on which I should go for as I can't neither play or compare each of the brands.

Even if I live in a major city, stores rarely have these models in stock, let alone in the same store, let alone in lefty models.

Price is not much of an issue but I would love to pay less with the G&L's and be settled with it, but if you guys think there's no other thing than the real thing, I might have to shell the dough.

So, what's your take an opinions on this?

Thx!

 

[mpdd]

the custom shop pickups are in the new american standards, and they are only a little more than the g&ls

i only have mfd g&ls so i can't comment on the tone of their alnico basses, but i can tell you that the craftsmanship and playability is amazing, and you can order the great playing jazz neck on the lb 100 if you like

 

[Nedmundo]

I've never owned a Fender Custom Shop bass, but I've tried a few over the years. IME, the quality varies considerably, with some not much different from off-the-rack MIA Fenders, and some in another league. (And of course the Custom Shop has different levels, from catalog models to one-off Master Built pieces, which accounts for some of the variation.)

I do, however, have two U.S. G&L basses as main players, and they are fantastic. Honestly, IMO they have boutique levels of quality, but many boutiques including Fender C.S. are usually lighter, which is definitely an advantage. Unless you want that light weight, vintage Fender characteristics (like the old-school bridges), or some specs unavailable from G&L, I can't see much advantage of Fender C.S. over G&L.

If you go crazy with the options on U.S. G&L's, they can hit boutique prices, but the base prices are right around regular American Standard Fender prices, sometimes lower. Even with a couple of options, like non-standard neck, quartersawn neck, and painted headstock, you'll still be well under Fender C.S. prices.

BTW, I'm a big Fender fan with two MIA J-basses, an MIM J, and two MIA Strats, so I have no anti-Fender bias. I've come to prefer G&L, and they're so good that, unless I really needed a lightweight bass (like most Lulls I've tried), I don't think I'd ever bother spending more.

 

[Lucky Strike]

G&L, I own both the JB and the LB-100 and they are incredible. I'm in no way a Fender hater, as I have owned more than a few. But these G&L's are better built than your average American made Fender. Now, custom shop Fenders are different, and I don't have experience with those... so keep that in mind.

But I still vote G&L

 

[geekrock]

Yep, build quality of the G&L it seems, is stellar.

I picked up a JB once and it sure felt very well built. Unfortunately, setup was horrible and dead strings. Not G&L's fault though but the store's. Well I couldn't appreciate the bass to it's full potential.