Hello fellow bassists.I just recieved my brand new G&L SB2 bass the other, and am kinda dissapointed. It immediately struck me ok in quality but nothing special that makes it better than a regular Fender Bass. And there is a couple blemishes on the back of the headstock that look like black felt marker dots. I am actualy thinking about sending back to music123 and trade it for a new Classic model stingray with the 2 band EQ that are comeing out soon. Does anyone else feel this way about G&L basses not being this great?
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G&L SB2 not all that great
- Thread starter growler571
- Start date
hi, i have a 1986 g&L sb2 bass and i think this is a great bass.it sound like a my 1982 fender precision special. it's an evolution of P bass, but have more punch and output volume, it's more light and best assembled.
Depends on what you want...is yours a Tribute or US model? I have played a handful of both, and the US made ones have been consistently solid instruments. The Tributes are also great for the price- far better feeling to me than an MIM Fender to me. That said, you may be looking for something else- an SB-2 is defintely nothing like a Stingray! There's also nothing saying that a US G&L should be "better" than a comparable US Fender- they are different animals, especially tonally, and cost about the same too.
For my needs at the time (pretty "in your face" and fast/intricate music), my old US SB-2 was far superior to any of the many Fenders I auditioned in stores for years, but it is a bass that takes some getting used to if you are used to Fenders.
No tone control means you have to learn to use different balances of the volume controls to find different tonal nuances (or add a tone control, as I eventually did). The bridge pickup isn't really meant to stand on its own so much as to change the color of the P pickup. The stock tone is much clearer and more aggressive to my ears than a Fender P-bass, and maybe thats just not the tone you're looking for? By turning down the P pickup volume about 1/4 of the way and turning the bridge pickup most of the way off, you can get some more "traditional" P-bass tones if that's what you're after.
The SB-2 also comes stock with a fairly skinny neck- mine had a very comfortable and ridiculously easy-playing Jazz profile. Probably the nicest feeling Jazz-ish neck I've ever had the pleasure of owning.
Also (of less importance in my experience than the tone and playability)- The bridge is countersunk into the body and has a saddle-lock function to get maximum body coupling, which is a feature never found on a Fender.
I really miss my SB-2, if you couldn't tell!
Karl
For my needs at the time (pretty "in your face" and fast/intricate music), my old US SB-2 was far superior to any of the many Fenders I auditioned in stores for years, but it is a bass that takes some getting used to if you are used to Fenders.
No tone control means you have to learn to use different balances of the volume controls to find different tonal nuances (or add a tone control, as I eventually did). The bridge pickup isn't really meant to stand on its own so much as to change the color of the P pickup. The stock tone is much clearer and more aggressive to my ears than a Fender P-bass, and maybe thats just not the tone you're looking for? By turning down the P pickup volume about 1/4 of the way and turning the bridge pickup most of the way off, you can get some more "traditional" P-bass tones if that's what you're after.
The SB-2 also comes stock with a fairly skinny neck- mine had a very comfortable and ridiculously easy-playing Jazz profile. Probably the nicest feeling Jazz-ish neck I've ever had the pleasure of owning.
Also (of less importance in my experience than the tone and playability)- The bridge is countersunk into the body and has a saddle-lock function to get maximum body coupling, which is a feature never found on a Fender.
I really miss my SB-2, if you couldn't tell!
Karl
What your saying is pretty much:
I just got an apple but i think i wanted an orange...
An SB2 is a great bass, is it great for you? Maybe not
I just got an apple but i think i wanted an orange...
An SB2 is a great bass, is it great for you? Maybe not
IMO it could not be further from the truth.
If a basically handmade bass does not seem any better than a mass production one to you then that is your opinion but one I definitely do not agree with.
And every G&L has one of those, it is an ok from QC.
If you prefer a Stingray tone then a P-Bass style will not do it for you. In that case you should have gotten either an L1505 or 2500 as they are more in line with what a Stingray has to offer and are superior basses IMO.
Nope, I would rather play a G&L than practically anything else out there and that includes EBMM basses.
This.
I think this may be a case of the bass being exactly the way it's supposed to be but it's not exactly what you were expecting.
Obviously, if you are seeking agreement that SB-2s are "not all that great", you won't get just one opinion. I've played and passed on SB-2s but happen to like L2000s. Not the SB-2's fault - just my preference. It's disappointing to find out something you had hopes for doesn't cut the mustard for you. But don't worry about what other people think about it. All you'll hear is conflicting opinions. Just move on. You don't need anybody to tell you whether you are correct or not.
sorry.... i have write that i've a sb2, but i've a sb1...
a small out-thread consideration: i have a L-2500 Tribute, and i played some L-2500 USA models...i didn't hear any difference in the sound and construction...only two in the neck: the USA models had a more thin neck than a Tribute..and a better tuning keys.
a small out-thread consideration: i have a L-2500 Tribute, and i played some L-2500 USA models...i didn't hear any difference in the sound and construction...only two in the neck: the USA models had a more thin neck than a Tribute..and a better tuning keys.
The "dot" is a birthmark and found on just about all necks. It is a plug from a pin router.
If the SB-2 doesn't float your boat then send it back. The G&L fans will not tar and feather you because a bass wasn't your fancy.
Say something bad about a Fender Jazz around here and the fans line up with rocks to stone you with after the tar and feathers. They will even tar and feather the rocks.
Jim
If the SB-2 doesn't float your boat then send it back. The G&L fans will not tar and feather you because a bass wasn't your fancy.
Say something bad about a Fender Jazz around here and the fans line up with rocks to stone you with after the tar and feathers. They will even tar and feather the rocks.
Jim
I was just about to ask if G&L still uses pin routers, as my 82 G&L has the "plug" that sounds a lot like what the O.P. is describing.
They don't but still need to secure the neck in the process and still do the birthmark.
Kinda a sentimental thing that they kept it.
Jim
Maybe the SB-2 isn't your thing, and that's fine. But, if possible, play it with a band to make sure. Your opinion might change almost instantaneously.
maybe it's just too much bass for you.you should get a stingray
As others have already stated, maybe it's just not the bass for you.
I KNOW it's not the bass for me without even playing one...because it doesn't have a tone control. So I know not to buy one since I know that I want a tone control.
If you want a Stingray type bass, you should've gone with an L-1500 or L-2000, as someone already mentioned.
I bought my Trib L2500 via the interwebs without ever playing it. Bought it based strictly on photos, reviews, soundclips and features. I KNEW that it was a 5 string bass that I wanted to check out. After owning it for 5months, I KNOW I bought a good bass that fits what I want want it to do!
I KNOW it's not the bass for me without even playing one...because it doesn't have a tone control. So I know not to buy one since I know that I want a tone control.
If you want a Stingray type bass, you should've gone with an L-1500 or L-2000, as someone already mentioned.
I bought my Trib L2500 via the interwebs without ever playing it. Bought it based strictly on photos, reviews, soundclips and features. I KNEW that it was a 5 string bass that I wanted to check out. After owning it for 5months, I KNOW I bought a good bass that fits what I want want it to do!
G&Ls don't disappoint, if you are looking for solid construction and playability. What you are left with is whether you like the sound or not. As a JB-2 enthusiast, I am the red-headed stepchild among G&L fans, but I have a good reason to be. My beef is that G&L needs to get with the program and make basses with tool-less battery change capability. Once G&L starts making quick-change battery covers, I'll probably go broke acquiring a new bass annually.
That's a common misconception, IMO. You would be surprised how much tonal variety you can get without the tone control.
I have no doubt about that! I'm saying I am not savvy enough to use a bass without a tone control! lol!
I was only speculating that perhaps the OP has the same issue thus being dissatisfied with his purchase. So he might have been wise to go with a different model G&L for his needs.
+1000. Happened to me - I thought my SB-2 was 'meh' until I heard it in the mix, where it immediately dominated and kicked me in the face. Been a fan ever since.
