• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

G&L LB-100 vs. SB-1

SJLee

SJLee

Nov 7, 2007
9,384
27,751
#1
Hello TB crowd. I'm looking to purchase a G&L and I am interested in both the LB-100 and the SB-1. I am interested in hearing about the pluses and minus of both such as weight, neck finish, neck profile, and tone, particularly the difference in tone between the split pickups of the two. Also, I have a ruptured disc so weight is a concern for me. I would like to keep the weight under 9 lbs if given the choice and under 8.5 if possible.

Would love to hear peoples thoughts and opinions on these two. Thanks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: G RICH 5
#2
A better comparison might be the SB-1 versus the LB-100 because the SB-1 doesnt have a bridge pickup.

The LB-100 comes stock with a pbass neck but you can order it with a jazz neck so no big difference there.

The only two differences are in body shape and pickup. The LB-100 has a vintage style body and pick up and the SB-1 has a slimmer body and more aggressive pickup.

Thats it.

Weight wise, I would imagine the SB's would be lighter because of the slimmer body but thats very dependent on each individual piece of wood.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PawleeP
#3
Thanks, good suggestion. I made the change in my post. Do you know if there is any up change in requesting a #8 neck?


StrangerDanger said:
A better comparison might be the SB-1 versus the LB-100 because the SB-1 doesnt have a bridge pickup.

The LB-100 comes stock with a pbass neck but you can order it with a jazz neck so no big difference there.

The only two differences are in body shape and pickup. The LB-100 has a vintage style body and pick up and the SB-1 has a slimmer body and more aggressive pickup.

Thats it.

Weight wise, I would imagine the SB's would be lighter because of the slimmer body but thats very dependent on each individual piece of wood.
Click to expand...
 
#4
The SB-2 bridge pickup does give you some tonal flexibility. It's really not meant to be soloed. It's function is more tone control than anything else. My SB-2 is very aggressive sounding, but I like that. Some don't like the fact that it doesn't have a tone control, but keep in mind that your amp does.

I am not sure the weight of my SB-2, but it's fairly light. As for necks, you can get whatever you want if you custom order one. That's what I did because I wanted a P bass type neck.

I haven't seen an LB-100 so I can't comment on it. I will say that my SB-2 sounds great. It's like a P bass on steroids.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PawleeP
#7
sneha1965 said:
I have thought about the SB-2 just in case I wanted to blend pickups.
Click to expand...

If I had to do it again, I would get the SB-2 all over again. It's an awesome bass. You can mix in the bridge pickup and change the sound while still retaining that basic Leo flavor. I have a P bass that's now collecting dust. I can dial in a traditional P type sound by turning down the volumes or get something modern and aggressive sounding by cranking it up.

One word about G&L basses. You don't want to dime the controls. The PUP's are so hot that it isn't necessary unless you are looking for a very harsh sound.
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way and JPaulGeddy
#9
msact said:
One word about G&L basses. You don't want to dime the controls. The PUP's are so hot that it isn't necessary unless you are looking for a very harsh sound.
Click to expand...

I don't agree. I run my L2K turned up to 11 all the time and it sounds fine, especially in parallel mode. A nice Fender sound. The MFD's aren't harsh sounding; LF didn't design them with a feature you can't use (full throttle operation) so you can run them with the volume set wherever you like.

EDIT: here it is though my cheezy Roland practice amp. Bridge PU soloed in parallel mode, everything wide open. Good traditional Fender sound (tho mine is fretless):

https://soundcloud.com/unclejane/girard

Now true, on the older basses like the L2K, the preamp is very mediocre and gives a nasty sound when used. Pull the battery out and that problem is solved. MFD's running passive into an amp give that typical Fender chocolaty sound, though a kind of hot version. And it's also true that their output tends to be very high, so you just have to use a good amp with a good input section with it.

My L2K turned up to 11 sounds like a slightly hot version of a jazz bass plugged straight into my GK 1001RBII, not harsh at all.

Don't Fear The Volume Knob on a G&L - get a good amp! :)

LS
 
  • Like
Reactions: Calexia13
#11
unclejane said:
I don't agree. I run my L2K turned up to 11 all the time and it sounds fine, especially in parallel mode. A nice Fender sound. The MFD's aren't harsh sounding; LF didn't design them with a feature you can't use (full throttle operation) so you can run them with the volume set wherever you like.

Now true, on the older basses like the L2K, the preamp is very mediocre and gives a nasty sound when used. Pull the battery out and that problem is solved. MFD's running passive into an amp give that typical Fender chocolaty sound, though a kind of hot version. And it's also true that their output tends to be very high, so you just have to use a good amp with a good input section with it.

My L2K turned up to 11 sounds like a slightly hot version of a jazz bass plugged straight into my GK 1001RBII, not harsh at all.

Don't Fear The Volume Knob on a G&L - get a good amp! :)

LS
Click to expand...

Cool! I want a bass that goes to 11!

Also, I should state that I was mainly talking about the SB-2. I should revise my comments. I don't have much experience yet with the L2K.
 
#14
msact said:
Cool! I want a bass that goes to 11!

Also, I should state that I was mainly talking about the SB-2. I should revise my comments. I don't have much experience yet with the L2K.
Click to expand...

Yep, all G&L's go to 11... :)

The MFD's in the L2K are the hottest pickups ever made (that wasn't a custom anyway) so I'd be surprised if the SB-2 was even scoopier/clackier. Unfortunately I've never played one, just listened to them on youtube, etc. To me they sound like just a mildly hot Jazz or Precision.

In the L2K, the pickups do get excessively wooly in series mode, tho. I had a recent L2500 for about a month, tho (got stolen), and its MFD's sounded totally different. Series mode with those was only slightly woolier than parallel unlike the ones in my L2K. That bass sounded spectacular, which is why I hope the thief who stole it out of my apt. ate #### and died.

So the newer L2K's may also be less wooly these days. But I admit series mode isn't useful for a whole lot on my older L2K - on a C&W or blues gig it would work, but for other styles I use parallel mode exclusively.

LS
 
#15
sneha1965 said:
If ordering can one request light wood or do you just get what you get?
Click to expand...

You can request it, but no guarantee you'll get one lighter than the norm. I asked for a light JB, and it's about average J-bass weight.

BTW, I think the upcharge for a non-standard neck is $50. I priced out an LB-100 recently, and even with a couple of options it was under $1,200 street. It's an absolute steal relative to an Am. Std. Fender P. Still have the GAS for one, but it's tough to justify with my minimal playing these days -- and the presence of my JB and SB-2.

Edit: Go to Rocket Music's forum here on TB, and check the G&L pricing sticky for MSRP of the options. The non-standard neck upcharge is $50. It used to be free, as it was with my JB in 2010.
 
#16
unclejane said:
Yep, all G&L's go to 11... :)

The MFD's in the L2K are the hottest pickups ever made (that wasn't a custom anyway) so I'd be surprised if the SB-2 was even scoopier/clackier. Unfortunately I've never played one, just listened to them on youtube, etc. To me they sound like just a mildly hot Jazz or Precision.

LS
Click to expand...

Youtube videos of SB-2's just don't do justice. Like anything else you really have to hear it in person to appreciate it. I absolutely love mine.

I will soon have an L2K. I have a 1981 HOG on the way. Can't wait.
 
#17
You can request a lightweight one and they'll try to accomodate you. I did that on my last order and it was definitely lighter than my others (they will probably tell you that the alder is lighter).

I've ordered a number of G&L's and always had a different neck than the default one and I don't remember ever being charged extra for it. I like the 7.5 radius and vintage size frets. They will charge extra for tinting the neck, ebony fb, etc.

I've always ordered from Buffalo Brothers. They always beat everyone on price.
 
#19
I've been in this discussion before. The only reason I can think of why someone would order the LB-100 is if they really want the bigger body that's shaped JUST like a Fender P.

Otherwise, the SB-1, if you really want a Tone control, or the SB-2. With the split coil MFD pickup, you can roll the volume back to somewhere in the 50 - 75% range, and it will sound just like a tradition P bass split coil. When you turn it up is when you get that sweet, sweet wool. :-)

When I got my SB-2, I thought for sure I would want a Tone control, so I ordered the parts, so I could add it myself. Fortunately, I took it and played it in a band setting before I messed with it. Once I was playing it along with guitar and drums, all the "zing" that I wanted to tame with a Tone control disappeared and it just sounded awesome. Totally cured my desire to add a Tone.

I think the bridge pickup adds a lot to the range of sounds you can get out of it, so I definitely would prefer an SB-2 to an SB-1.

FWIW, I had a very nice '66 Fender Precision. After I had the SB-2 for a while (9 months? A year?), I just had no use for the '66 any more and sold it. Thus why I would buy an SB versus the LB-100.
 
#20
It makes sense getting the SB-1 or 2 now due to the smaller body and hopefully lighter body since that's important for me in my situation.

How many people out there have SB-1 or 2's 9 lbs or under? I would hope that this could be achieved relatively easy due to the fact that it's a 4 sting.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back