I'm considering getting a G&L Tribute SB-2 bass because I like P-basses with a Jazz width neck and it's in my price range. Any opinions of it appreciated and is there another similar style bass that I should consider for the same money? I play mostly blues and classic rock and have a G&K MB212 combo amp. Thanks!
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G&L Tribute SB-2
- Thread starter Figaro
- Start date
Hi, I own an American SB-2 and in my opinion it is perfect for coping classic rock and blues sounds, particularly when strung with flats. I'm sure there are other good instruments capable of similar results but I think you'd be very pleased with an SB-2. The quality of the Tribute line is usually on par with instruments with a much higher price tag too, I own a couple Tribute L2000s and they are very close in quality to my American L2000.
SB-2 has been my go to for blues/rock for years. Nothing wrong with Tributes. Get it. You won't be disappointed.
I have an MIA SB-2. I also have an MIA Peavey Fury (which is a P-style bass). The Fury has a very nice, slim Jazz-style neck. I would at least consider a MIA Fury before buying a Tribute SB-2. Furys usually sell for $200 or less in very good condition, and they are excellent quality.
The only thing I don't like about the SB2 is it has no tone control. It's a simple job to add a concentric one but you still have to do it - depending on the sounds you want.
The build quality, value, tone, and playability of Tribute G&Ls is very high. You can do much, much worse than purchasing a G&L Tribute.
The build quality, value, tone, and playability of Tribute G&Ls is very high. You can do much, much worse than purchasing a G&L Tribute.
I don't miss it. The two volume controls work together to achieve assortment of tones. Also there there should be an eq on your amp.
Somehow I have ended up with both a US 1997 and a Tribute 2011 version of the SB-2. I can't figure out which one to sell. 
They're both super-playable, well made and punchy as can be. At least they're different colors. 
Not as bassy as a classic Precision, but seriously powerful tone. You gotta love that #8 neck. Hard to go wrong with a G&L. In a perfect world though, the SB-2 would have a tone control...
They're both super-playable, well made and punchy as can be. At least they're different colors. Not as bassy as a classic Precision, but seriously powerful tone. You gotta love that #8 neck. Hard to go wrong with a G&L. In a perfect world though, the SB-2 would have a tone control...
Solo the P pickup and set its volume to about 75% and it will sound exactly like a classic Precision. Search for a poll thread that I started a while back, if you want proof.
When I got my SB-2, I didn't miss the Tone either, for about a year. Now I've added it and I am so glad I did. It didn't lose anything and it gained a whole lotta thump.
I added Master Volume and Tone, actually. So I replaced the entire stock control assembly with a new one that I made up myself using 2 stacked pots and a new output jack. It made the swap out really easy and totally reversible.
My stacked pots are Master Volume (top)/Tone (bottom) and then Neck Volume (top)/Bridge Volume (bottom).
I could have accomplished the same thing with 1 Blend pot, instead of the stacked pot for the individual volumes. But, I am anal and I prefer the look of 2 stacked pots versus 1 stacked and 1 regular.
Or some people just replace one original pot with a stacked pot and wire it so that the stacked pot is master volume and tone and the original pot that's left is the bridge volume. But, wired that way, that means you can never have the bridge pickup volume louder than the neck pickup. I have found that the bridge pickup does not sound good at all when soloed. But, if you turn the bridge all the way up and turn the neck down to about 10%, then you do get a nice bridge/single coil tone. So, I definitely wanted to be able to have the bridge volume higher than the neck volume.
There's a thread with my wiring diagram here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/my-wiring-diagram-correct-1012992/
And some crappy sound clips after the mod here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sb-2-stock-vs-w-tone-vs-fury-w-sound-clips-1016632/
My stacked pots are Master Volume (top)/Tone (bottom) and then Neck Volume (top)/Bridge Volume (bottom).
I could have accomplished the same thing with 1 Blend pot, instead of the stacked pot for the individual volumes. But, I am anal and I prefer the look of 2 stacked pots versus 1 stacked and 1 regular.
Or some people just replace one original pot with a stacked pot and wire it so that the stacked pot is master volume and tone and the original pot that's left is the bridge volume. But, wired that way, that means you can never have the bridge pickup volume louder than the neck pickup. I have found that the bridge pickup does not sound good at all when soloed. But, if you turn the bridge all the way up and turn the neck down to about 10%, then you do get a nice bridge/single coil tone. So, I definitely wanted to be able to have the bridge volume higher than the neck volume.
There's a thread with my wiring diagram here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/my-wiring-diagram-correct-1012992/
And some crappy sound clips after the mod here:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/sb-2-stock-vs-w-tone-vs-fury-w-sound-clips-1016632/
Two years ago I bought an Tribute SB-2 from AMS, or was it Zzounds, doesn't matter anyway... BUT what does matter is that it was the worst fret job. Edges could easily slice your fingers. Sent it back for another, and the new one had the same damn issues!
My suggestion is buy the MIA model or go with a, ugh, Fender P-Bass Special MIM.
(I recently bought an MIA P-Bass-5 and was FLOORED to see the same-type of shoddy fret job. Sharp as a blade. Who wants to shell out over a grand for crappy QC? Not me. I'll stick with MTD or Spector. Good luck in your search.
My suggestion is buy the MIA model or go with a, ugh, Fender P-Bass Special MIM.
(I recently bought an MIA P-Bass-5 and was FLOORED to see the same-type of shoddy fret job. Sharp as a blade. Who wants to shell out over a grand for crappy QC? Not me. I'll stick with MTD or Spector. Good luck in your search.
Somehow I have ended up with both a US 1997 and a Tribute 2011 version of the SB-2. I can't figure out which one to sell.
Not as bassy as a classic Precision, but seriously powerful tone. You gotta love that #8 neck. Hard to go wrong with a G&L. In a perfect world though, the SB-2 would have a tone control...
And THAT is the TRIBUTE DILEMMA . Because you know if you try to sell it you won't get enough money back to make the sale worth it - since the bass is SOOOO close in feel and performance to your US made one................ It just feels so much more worth it than it costs used that selling one for $400 makes almost no sense. And you will STILL want to buy any one you see for sale used at $200-300 when they pop up.
