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G&L SB2 not all that great
- Thread starter growler571
- Start date
+1. I bought my SB-2 new after only playing one for a short while at low volumes. I remembered really liking the one I had played and I was freaking out looking for a heavy John Wetton-esque tone, so bit the bullet when I ran across a stupid good deal on a brand new custom one (I'm convinced it may have been a NAMM bass).
It seemed really clanky and thin when I first got it, but it was cranked up in the band mix that it really revealed its true face: a really heavy low-mid punch that carried the band coupled with a really present grind on top that filled out and added definition to the sometimes muddy guitar in my ambient metal band.
With the addition of a tone control (a really cheap and easily-reversible modification), I was able to really dial in any P-bass eque tones I could ever want- not to mention a range of tones using the blend of the bridge pickup that went beyond the scope of a P-bass (I found some very convincing Rickenbacker and almost Jazz bass-ish tones as well).
I stupidly sold my SB-2 when I began my love affair with my vintage L2000, though I guess something's gotta go sometime! I'd feel waaaay more regret if I had chosen to sell the L2000- that bass fits me like a glove (actually better than most gloves!).
Karl
Another fan of the SB-2 here.
I'm on my second one (sold the first one to finance the purchase of a new L-1000) My SB-2 is my main bass. Gigged it this weekend and it sounded huge!
To the op, I would also agree that you should try it in a band/gig scenario before you give up on it.
I'm on my second one (sold the first one to finance the purchase of a new L-1000) My SB-2 is my main bass. Gigged it this weekend and it sounded huge!
To the op, I would also agree that you should try it in a band/gig scenario before you give up on it.
The SB2 cuts through the mix for me and I've tried it with a few bands and they said what kind of bass is that. Zero dead spots I love mine. The pick ups are so powerful just like there active.
Hi all... old thread but I am seriously considering adding an SB-2 as my love affair with the Kiloton only grows and finds me wanting more G&L tonal variety. I LOVE the body shape and playability. And I think the combo of the Kiloton and SB-2 would cover just about every tone I could want in the rock world.
Thoughts and or comments would be appreciated!
Thoughts and or comments would be appreciated!
Appreciate you checking the Elite P which is indeed both active and passive. I just LOVE the body and neck of the Kiloton so my thinking was that the SB-2 is sort of the love child of the two without batteries!
Also, this may just be an expression of GAS that may pass in a day or two. But many thanks for the response.
I had a G&L Tribute SB2 - neck felt good but really didn't like the electronics or the way it comes stock. Pickups are a little too aggressively modern sounding for what I typically want a PJ for, so if you're expecting a classic P or PJ sound, you 'ain't going to get it - it sounds too modern- some like it, some don't - I fall in the latter category. I also didn't like the Volume/volume control scheme although there are mods to add a tone knob and the regular US version, you have the option to order one with the tone knob , I do love the neck though and found the bass comfortable. I ended up selling it, using my Fury for my P bass fix, and getting a G&L Tribute L2000 which has greater tonal control and versatility - I really do think MFD pickups work better as humbuckers than the P or Jazz versions. Just my opinion of course.
I haven’t played a Kiloton, but if it has a similar body as an L-2000 then it is different than the SB-2.Appreciate you checking the Elite P which is indeed both active and passive. I just LOVE the body and neck of the Kiloton so my thinking was that the SB-2 is sort of the love child of the two without batteries!
The necks can differ somewhat too, so you really have to either custom order (with a specific neck style #) or ideally play a few to find your match.
The pickups (and electronics) are really the most characteristic part of the SB-2. I love the G&L P pickup, and find it can be molded very well from aggressive to old-school. The stock electronics are a bit odd due to the lack of Tone control, and I added one to my old SB-2 (a cheap and easy mod). That said, you can dial in many different tones just using those two Volumes: more traditional P tones, favor the P but turn it’s Volume down a bit (this acts like a Tone control and reigns in the mids a bit). The bridge pickup alone is quite weak, but does some really interesting things when blended with the P- a lot of SB-2 lovers consider it as essentially a Tone control for the P pickup. One thing you may not find to your satisfaction are great soloed bridge J-pickup tones. That pickup is just a different kinda thing and doesn’t have so much of that “honk”. There are some useful tones favoring the bridge pickup though IMO
I am an SB-2 fanboy. Got one in 07 or so and played it as my main bass until this year, when I picked up L1000 reissue. That said, I still love my SB-2. One word: MFD.
Yes, it's aggressive, but with regards to the thread reviver's question, the body is superb. I never had an issue with the size or feel of it. And I love how that bass sounds. It's pretty to look at as well.
Yes, it's aggressive, but with regards to the thread reviver's question, the body is superb. I never had an issue with the size or feel of it. And I love how that bass sounds. It's pretty to look at as well.
The Kiloton shares the same body as the SB-1 and SB-2, and it is a supremely comfortable body.
OP: I have an SB-1 that I'm beyond happy with.
I would indeed say that the SB-2 isn't all that different to your Elite P, but I doubt you'd end up disappointed with the SB-2.
Ah actually I didn’t even know the Kiloton bass (I’ve been out of the G&L world for several years now
) and was thinking of the M-2000. I prefer the aesthetic of the L-1000, but the Kiloton looks interesting for sure
I owned an SB-2 and I am a big fan of PJ basses. I was not a big fan of the Elite P, it was missing some bite that I like in my sound. Especially the J pickup. The SB-2 has that in spades, and the J really transforms the sound. It growls and cuts like crazy. So while the two might seem similar on paper, I think you’ll notice a big difference in sound. But if you buy used, at least you’ll minimize your losses if you decide to move on from it.
Something you might consider is picking up a G&L MFD P pickup to try in another P-bass. I've had several of them in different P-basses (including a few Fenders). They are simply one of the best P pickups made in my opinion. Of course the SB-2 bridge pickup won't fit into an Elite P for experimental purposes (I paired the MFD P pickup with a Dimarzio Model J bridge pickup in a few different PJ basses and they balanced very well together).
Agree totally on the body size and shape of the Kiloton and SB-x basses. I had an MJ-4 and the body just didn't feel as nice as the smaller, dare I say sexier, K'ton. I love playing the Kiloton and I like it's gritty tone. I think an SB-2 in a hard rock band could provide me a little more classic P tone.
I bought my Kiloton used for about $800 and I have a line on a USA SB-2 for $750. Don't see how you can ever go wrong for a USA made, Leo design at those prices.
I'm happy to have revived this thread and look forward to more thoughts/comments. Thanks!
--David
I LOVE my US JB2. I’ve owned fender J basses from the mid 60’s,early ‘70’s and the 2000teens,and loved the sound,but wanted a slimmer body without the offset. The alnico pickups in the jb2 are fabulous,and the note definition/clarity is another GL feature i love.
Oh, and has anyone compared an M-2000 to the K'ton or SB-2? And is the body shape of the M the same as the L and the rest of the "classic" G&L line?
