G&L SB-1 vs L-1000

[ravlin]

This thread talks a bunch about it:

Change a pickup's resonant frequency and tone with a loading capacitor

Hero! Thanks.

 

[L. L. Elwood]

One thing not discussed here is the tone circuit on the L1000 compared to the SB-1. While I've not owned an SB-1, I currently own series 1 1983 SB-2 with 3 way selector and the tone knob, and a 1988 L-1000. The L-1000 is WAY more versatile. For starters you have the 3 way switch with parallel, Single Coil then OMG modes, secondly and most important are the TWO tone knobs. The separate Bass cut and Treble cut knobs are absolutely genius. They can bring real definition...or... hugeness to the party unavailable on a p bass or SB-1. Just my two cents, but damn that L-1000 tone circuit and 3 way switch on a single humbucker that have yet to be rivaled IMHO.

 

[GroovyBaby]

Hi everyone. So, this might be a weird thread, since I'm asking about the difference between an SB-1 and an L-1000, and I actually own both of these basses.

However, my L-1000 is out of commission and has been for a while, so I bought an SB-1 to fulfill the role of the P bass/L-1000 and that's what it's been doing. It's an excellent bass.

I am kind of considering buying another L-1000, one of the new CLF ones. But:

1) One day I'll buy a new neck for the L-1000 from G&L and

2) I just don't know if it will do all that much, other than the OMG mode, that my SB-1 doesn't do.

I could sell the SB-1 to fund the new L-1000.

So my question is, for those of you that own both, or that have an SB-2, do you find that they pretty much overlap?

My other thought is buying a Kiloton, which would obviously add a lot more different sonic character to what I have.

What do you all think?

Curious what you ended up doing, and what you ended up keeping. Inquiring minds want to know…

 

[Larry Mal]

Curious what you ended up doing, and what you ended up keeping. Inquiring minds want to know…

Been a while on this thread! Well, I basically haven't done anything, I guess. I bought a Gibson Thunderbird, but that was an unrelated event.

The L-1000 still waits in its case, sadly. But the SB-1 is still with me and I recorded with it just today. Honestly, the SB-1 is just such a fantastic instrument that I have a hard time seeing myself parting with it or that any P-bass type guitar would really be that much better. I guess some sort of vintage reissue P-bass would be cool- I'm getting beyond myself.

So, yeah, I didn't end up doing anything! The idea of parting with the SB just scares me, though, since I've come to love it so much and I'm afraid I won't like anything else as much, maybe not even- I hate to say it- the L-1000 at this point.

 

[GroovyBaby]

Been a while on this thread! Well, I basically haven't done anything, I guess. I bought a Gibson Thunderbird, but that was an unrelated event.

The L-1000 still waits in its case, sadly. But the SB-1 is still with me and I recorded with it just today. Honestly, the SB-1 is just such a fantastic instrument that I have a hard time seeing myself parting with it or that any P-bass type guitar would really be that much better. I guess some sort of vintage reissue P-bass would be cool- I'm getting beyond myself.

So, yeah, I didn't end up doing anything! The idea of parting with the SB just scares me, though, since I've come to love it so much and I'm afraid I won't like anything else as much, maybe not even- I hate to say it- the L-1000 at this point.

That makes sense. I bought a bass recently thinking I would sell another one. Ended up just resisting the one I bought as I already have ones I really like. GAS is a real thing.

 

[Larry Mal]

That makes sense. I bought a bass recently thinking I would sell another one. Ended up just resisting the one I bought as I already have ones I really like. GAS is a real thing.

I can say I've regretted selling pretty much every bass I've ever sold, and never regretted buying one. At this point I have the, uh, bases covered, and I also play guitar, so I have some real problems.

 

[Tom Angelus]

Yeah, that's the thing... over the years, the SB-1 has kind of evolved into something that would slot into where a P-bass could go, but that's always where the L-1000 lived anyway.

Does anyone know if the split MFD on the SB-1 is much different from the L-1000 MFD?

I have a 1981 G&L SB-1 that has the same pickup as the L1000. I don't thin it was altered. I bought it back in 1985-ish. I have searced for pictures of an SB-1 showing the L1000 Pickup, but they are al labeled L1000. Not sure if mine is an early version of the L100 with an SB-1 decal. Any ideas?

 

[davelowell2]

I have a 1981 G&L SB-1 that has the same pickup as the L1000. I don't thin it was altered. I bought it back in 1985-ish. I have searced for pictures of an SB-1 showing the L1000 Pickup, but they are al labeled L1000. Not sure if mine is an early version of the L100 with an SB-1 decal. Any ideas?

I'd love to see pics of that!

 

[TomB]

I have a 1981 G&L SB-1 that has the same pickup as the L1000. I don't thin it was altered. I bought it back in 1985-ish. I have searced for pictures of an SB-1 showing the L1000 Pickup, but they are al labeled L1000. Not sure if mine is an early version of the L100 with an SB-1 decal. Any ideas?

That's weird! Does it have L1000 electronics and body shape? I wonder if it's an L1000 with SB1 neck. I'm not certain, but I think the early SB1 necks were the wider 1-3/4" ones (the SB2 is (was?) 1-1/2". The earliest L1000's were 1-11/16" at the nut. Did you find a date on the neck?

 

[Tom Angelus]

I'd love to see pics of that!

OK, Here are the photos of this strange SB-1 / L1000. Please let me know what you think.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bTvPHCZX3R6B4zAA7

 

[davelowell2]

I'm going to say that the neck and body were combined from two basses…
Sweet bass!

 

[TDR1138]

OK, Here are the photos of this strange SB-1 / L1000. Please let me know what you think.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/bTvPHCZX3R6B4zAA7

I'm going to say that the neck and body were combined from two basses…
Sweet bass!

Agreed. I'd say that it's a 1980-81 L-1000 body with a 1983-84 SB-1 neck. Date stamps would be in the neck pocket or neck heel to confirm the age. The original neck probably developed some issues like a twist or ski jump or something, as they can be prone to doing, and was replaced with a neck that was available. Or maybe the prior owner just wanted maple instead of rosewood or ebony or whatever. Either way, as long as it plays good…

 

[Tom Angelus]

That's weird! Does it have L1000 electronics and body shape? I wonder if it's an L1000 with SB1 neck. I'm not certain, but I think the early SB1 necks were the wider 1-3/4" ones (the SB2 is (was?) 1-1/2". The earliest L1000's were 1-11/16" at the nut. Did you find a date on the neck?

I really don't want to pull it apart. It plays really well and has a great sound. I measured the width at the nut and is hard to determine exactly between 3/4 and 11/16. I think is the 11/16 one.