G&L Tribute Basses Allegedly Back Ordered Until 2022

[dedpool1052]

...based on my recent experience, I'm not at all confident in USA G&L QA anymore.

I'm in the same boat.

 

[TonyP-]

Agreed. For anyone thinking this is a one-time deal...you have another thing coming.

 

[guitar ed]

Another part of the problem is that quality on the paint jobs for the Tributes has been problematic recently. A friend of mine signed up to be a G&L dealer, and got some Tributes. They had to return the whole lot of them due to paint problems.

Also, if go to the G&L website, you can buy some b-stock guitars. Last I looked they were all Tributes with paint issues.

 

[Wood and Wire]

The store in Montreal did explain to me at some point that, G&L USA in California is performing quality assurance on every instrument that comes from Asian factories. Then, after instruments pass Q/A, then they get shipped to distributors.

I'm just speculating here, but if that's the case - in addition to the global backlog due to COVID - there was recently a major break in at G&L.

I've no idea how much inventory was stolen (or if that actually included Tributes), but that could be an additional spanner in the works.

 

[73_Blazer]

Drum City has a couple nice ones

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[73_Blazer]

 

[Gizmot]

Business is tough for lots of companies right now thanks to material shortages, shipping difficulties and labor issues. If you buy USA G&Ls, your chances of getting what you want faster are probably better than the Tribute models.

 

[brisonic]

Back on May 19, as a birthday present to myself, I ordered a G&L Fallout Tribute bass in Candy Apple Red. 104 days later, I still have not received the bass. Once a month, I would call the retailer in Montreal, Red One Music, to inquire about the status of the order.

I called again today and, this time, they told me that G&L USA was pushing delivery on all orders to 2022.

I wonder why? It's not like there is a computer chip in the bass.

Another COVID pandemic fatality I guess. Anyhow, I suggest that prior to ordering a G&L bass from any retailer, please get a firm confirmation that your favorite retailer as the bass in stock because, if they don't, God only knows when the retailer will be able to deliver it to you.

Or if they will go out of business after taking your deposit but before delivering your bass.

 

[Iridescentone]

How long do you forsee this lasting?

Until the next one comes along.

 

[Ihaveshingles]

What would really suck is if you have to wait as long some of you have to for a new bass just to find out… you don’t like it LOL

 

[Iridescentone]

Drum City has a couple nice ones

Search

This Calypso Coral looks hawt.

 

[Katoosie]

Buy local, that's what I do and what me and my partner have agreed to

 

[bobba66]

Maybe the basses do have chips in them, "they" just don't want us to know about them.

 

[Roger W]

Buy local, that's what I do and what me and my partner have agreed to

Sure, and that works for items produced/grown or in stock locally. We buy most of our food from local farmers, but we still have to get toilet paper from somewhere else. And while we get a lot of our coffee from a local roaster, it’s grown in other countries, or in Hawaii, and shipped just like the bass in the OP.

 

[2F/2F]

I have to vent a little here, so you G&L devotees may wanna scroll on by...

Holdups aside, based on what I've read here on TB the last couple years, and based on my recent experience, I'm not at all confident in USA G&L QA anymore. I think it's hit or miss with them now. My MJ-4 arrived recently after having a new neck built and fitted under warranty. To their credit they did use quarter sawn maple and they matched the painted headstock, as was OEM. And they completed the job in a timely manner, so there's that.

The neck is straight and the truss rod functions smoothly in both directions (thank God). But the "setup" is poorly done. I've filed the nut slots down a lot to get them to proper spec. If this bass went through a PLEK machine (which I highly doubt), all I can say is they better take a look at that machine and the person running it.

With the nut slots fixed, it's on to the next step...string height. The action can't come down to where it should be without all sorts of frets buzzing. IOW, it needs a good fret leveling, which I'll do myself because I know how and I have all the tools. Should I have to?...I don't think so. But I'd rather just do it myself than deal with those people again.

Also, the bass has no serial number now. That may be standard procedure for a factory neck replacement job, or it may be due to negligence. Dunno, no explanation was given. The bass just showed up unexpectedly sans the tracking info I was promised beforehand.

Nevermind the $118 Fedex shipping I had to pay to get the bass to them because I lost my original envelope with paperwork, build sheet, and original invoice, which G&L insisted that I produce before agreeing to do the repair. Ordinarily G&L will email a pre-paid shipping label for warranty work. The Bass Place where I bought the bass has no record of the sale, so no invoice copy to be had from them. This, despite the fact that G&L surely has my original warranty card on file. With my back against the wall I agreed to pay the shipping cost "penalty" as a compromise at Memo's suggestion. Okay better than nothing, I thought. That left a bad taste in my mouth right off the bat. In fact, no part of this experience has left a positive impression on me, start to finish.

I feel better now...rant over, sorry. Carry on.

Yup. Sounds like what I have come to expect. My experience with, and inside knowledge of, the current form of the G&L company over the past 10 years has been horrendous. They’re bloody amateurs, as far as I can tell. It is so poorly managed that I can’t believe any dealer even works with them. They are a far cry from what they were pre-BBE. I have been a G&L lover and player for over 30 years, and I own about 30 of them by now, mostly vintage ‘80s. But I simply won’t buy a new one any more. My last handful of experiences were the last straw, after dealing with building problems for nearly a decade. Their quality started slipping, as well as every single interaction I have had with them leaving a terrible taste in my mouth. Yet people in various venues online are gushing about them more then ever. I don’t get it.

As for the OP…what did you supposedly custom order on a Tribute? Delays are common these days…but so is that bass. It would have been wise to have bought one in stock somewhere.

FWIW, I ordered a dealer exclusive Squier Tele from Sweetwater, back in early May. It just shipped yesterday, over 3 1/2 months later.

 

[gt96g]

I have some insight here. I know someone in the industry and the way they describe it, it's a horrendous confluence of events. The first thing dates back to the early pandemic. Many companies hit the breaks hard on ordering for fear the global economy and more specifically the musical instruments industry would tank, the global economy definitely took a hit, but instrument sales exploded, so everyone was behind the 8 ball. The other issue is that many of the overseas factories produce multiple brands, and they did not have the capacity to meet multiple clients increased demand. This situation is still the case and greatly constraining new production. The fact that many of these overseas manufacturers are in countries where Corona is running rampant, also isn't helping the situation. But the biggest issue making it impossible for companies to predict when gear will make it to dealers is, as others have said, the shipping industry. Container ships are piled up off coasts waiting to be unloaded and then, once the containers are on shore, it can take another month or two for them to actually leave port for their final destinations. It sucks to say but this is going to be how things are for a while. Quite frankly, I ordered a high end custom bass back in Dec. I received it last month, I have friends who have waited that long or longer for run of the mill production gear. Just the world we live in now.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I recently ordered a new stove that took three weeks to get, not because they are unavailable in warehouse, but because not enough drivers to deliver them. The labor shortage is bad at every link in the chain. QC always slips under conditions like these, sorry to hear its hammering G&L. My 83' L2K os still the best built production bass ive ever owned.

 

[Rib 13]

Back on May 19, as a birthday present to myself, I ordered a G&L Fallout Tribute bass in Candy Apple Red. 104 days later, I still have not received the bass. Once a month, I would call the retailer in Montreal, Red One Music, to inquire about the status of the order.

I called again today and, this time, they told me that G&L USA was pushing delivery on all orders to 2022.

I wonder why? It's not like there is a computer chip in the bass.

Another COVID pandemic fatality I guess. Anyhow, I suggest that prior to ordering a G&L bass from any retailer, please get a firm confirmation that your favorite retailer as the bass in stock because, if they don't, God only knows when the retailer will be able to deliver it to you.

my usual The Sky Is Falling Response:

While Covid plays into it as well, less and less people are learning guitar or bass as in previous decades. Less players means less demand for instruments and less demand for instruments means 'only fire up the factory when the order quota (whatever that # is) criteria would be met'....Thats my opinion and Im sticking with it

 

[Spidey2112]

This is actually a relief, as I refuse to order from them until they get their act together... I think I have time.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I have an L-2000 on order through Sweetwater now - placed order in early July. My rep told me then that there was a minimum 3-4 month back order, which would have put me in October/November 2021 but I'm guessing now it will be next year. I'm going to check in with him today or tomorrow and see what they have to say about delivery time frame.

edit to add: mine is an option order US bass - nothing extravagant, just tweaks to the neck specs