G&L SB-1/SB-2 owners. Recordings wanted!

While I am not a G&L owner, I am in the market for a custom SB-2 fretless and I think that not running the volume on full would take care of the output volume. If you want one, I would say go for it!

I can't answer the 1 or 2 debate for you though. It depends on what you want from the bass, and if you are after a typical PJ bass, the SB-2 is not (but what it does sounds superb).

Maybe there should be a SB-3, with a MFD humbucker in the bridge.

 

Hey fellow lefty,
I have a (left handed) 1996 G&L SB-1 that is my #1 bass. I have many recordings on www.wikiloops.com that you can check out -a recent one is track #122599 shows the tone in the mix pretty well.

 

Yeah the MFD pickups are pretty hot. That is one passive bass you may have to back off the volume on if you play hard at all. But the tone, quality and craftsmanship of every one I have played is superb.
These two videos do a good job of covering the tonal possibilities.

 

Lefty getn it done.

 

Your last sentence is why I think the SB-2 would be an excellent choice.

I also agree that hearing in person would be better. Based on sound clips, I think I would go with the SB-2 (but I do not doubt the excellence of the SB-1).

Edit: You CAN get the SB-2 as VVT, but I think that dealers have to have a certain minimum number before they will do this.

 

I had the chance to play an SB-1 at a shop this summer, and I found it remarkable:
With the controls dimed, the bass is hot, bright, and punchy, with a very full (and full-frequency) tone. But as the volume gets turned down (it takes a while for the actual perceived volume to drop), it enters into more classic P-bass territory. The tone control acts almost like a rotary switch, compared to a typical passive tone control--turn it down a tiny little twist and the tone changes; another tiny little twist, it changes again, etc. And then the volume and tone controls interact, too, further expanding the palette. All to say, I've never experienced a passive, single pickup instrument with this kind of tonal variety. The range of tones makes it feel more like a single pickup active instrument or a two-pickup passive instrument.

G&L does sell pickups separately: Pickups - G&L Online Store

 

Here is another track from Wikiloops - #72052 - this is just bass and drums with tone wide open - I love this tone! I've never played an SB-2 but my SB-1 is just it for me. Btw, Adirondack Guitar has one in stock that is identical to the one in the track I just cited. In fact, I bought the bass from them It's a 2015 model.

 

Here are a couple tracks I made on my SB-2 to test out the source audio aftershock. First one was P pickup only. Second one was both. Volume completely up. First example of each playing style is direct recording, followed by either AmpliTube SVT sim or the aftershock.

 

Agree with 80jazz, just roll the volume back. I do that with my JB-2 Tribute. Such versatile pickups. Punchy as all heck, but with a little tweaking of the tone and volume you can also get some vintage-esque tones as well.

 

I haven't tried an SB-1, but I just got an SB-2 off the classifieds here, and it sounds like a good choice for you. Mine came with a VVT mod. It's an easy and cheap mod a lot of people like.

That said, I wanted to try it more like the stock. I installed some Mojotone CTS 250k Vintage taper pots, went back to VV and I'm happy.

That G&L P humbucker is capable of a lot of tones.

By the way, one thing I was worried about before I got mine was whether backing off the volume would reduce the output so much that I'd be tweaking my amp all the time. This is not the case if you just roll it back about a quarter to half way which is plenty to change the tone. You'll get a much more vintage tone out of the P pickup. I don't lose enough volume that I feel like I have to do much of anything with the amp at all.

As you already know, blending in the bridge pickup can change the tone and also tame the P pick up. As many others have said on this forum, the SB-2 is a versatile bass.

 

Go for it! (And then tell us about it/show pics when you get it.) With the pickup thing, you're probably thinking of Music Man.

 

Just bought an '83 SB-1 off Talkbass classifieds and I could not be happier with the tonal range. It has Fender Flats on it and right now I am very satisfied with the sound. Rounds might be too hot.

 

I have Fender 9050CLs on mine…perfect match.

 

I have a first run sb-1 with the flat back, not concave, and the straight bar single pickup. the output is hotter than any other passive bass i've plugged in. it zings. it sears. i run a ton of distortion on it often. it's comfortable. it's durable. it's fantastic. i want another. it's the only bass i'll play regularly. i can get about any sound out of it that I want. If you spot one, grab it. It's worth it.