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G&L's Kiloton vs Stingray or Sterling?

Mark_70

Mark_70

Dec 31, 2013
1,102
1,410
Minnesota
#1
I am very happy with my EBMM Sterling, but was reading through some of the threads on the G&L Kiloton and was looking at some of the stuff on youtube on this.

Have to say - I'm feeling a bad case of GAS coming up. From the clips, the Kiloton sounds great. 1.5" (jazz?)neck, G&L quality.. What's not to like, other than the fairly steep price tag?

Anyone out here ever did a side-by-side between a Sterling or Stingray and a Kiloton ? It's hard to say from these little clips but this beast may have the same mid-range punch that makes my Sterling such a great gigging axe?!

Anyone played one ? Should I fight the GAS or just give in and get one? May be too close to the Sterling to make sense to have both (in which case, I may go back to an old plan and get a G&L MJ-4.. I don't have a jazz bass yet)??

Regards
Mark
 
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#3
i've never played the other basses, but the kiloton is no joke, the punch and focus of the sb-2 with the raw power of the L2000 and a tone reminiscent or of the L1500

i would highly recommend it if you play any sort of metal or funk as well as if you play in a band with a bunch of other instruments
 
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#4
I have a Sterling HH 4 and a Kiloton and they both sound/feel great. There is tonal overlap due to the pickup location and they both have ceramic pickups, but they don't sound the same. It's definitely worth giving the Kiloton a try IMO.
 
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#7
joebar said:
My logic tells me that the kiloton is based on the L1500 which isn't G&L's most popular bass. I could be wrong but I'm betting the sterling would be a better choice
Click to expand...

It really depends on your preferences but I personally find more in common between the Sterling and L1500 than different. They are both pretty damn aggressive. I prefer the Sterling neck to just about any neck besides my T-bird. Why the L1500 isn't more popular is beyond me. It kicks the hell out of any Stingray out there. I would love to own another L1505 at some point. Amazing bass.

Mark_70 said:
Well - you may have a great point there. Talk me off the ledge, willsellout :)

I could get a Kiloton in one of those crazy sparkled colors.. My Sterling is sunburst..?!?

Regards
Mark
Click to expand...

Im not here to talk you off the ledge, this is TB. We are here specifically to make other people spend money on gear! Lately though, and since I really like both of my current basses and have no desire to get rid of one, I find it better for me personally if I just go "Hey, I want another bass" and leave it at that;)
 
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#8
willsellout said:
What does it have that your Sterling doesn't?
Click to expand...
This pickup and this bridge.
Not to mention color choices.
4lrjmo.jpg
 
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#9
I have a Sterling by Musicman SB-14 (a copy of the Sterling) loaded with a Nordstand pickup and it sounds oddly similar to the Kiloton. The pickup selection settings are the same as well. That being said the Kiloton has more mojo and a bit more bark, hence the GAS I am feeling in my guts right now.

Anyway from what I've heard I think the Kiloton is tonally closer to the Sterling than the Stingray.
 
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#12
The Kiloton has given me G.A.S. even though I just got an Epi JCB. I have played the G&L 1000/1500 and 2000/2500 over the years and I've preferred the former. I own up to having 'druthers for passive gear. The Kiloton has a neck and body I like a lot, the assertive single MFD pickup that calls my name and a certain je ne sais quois. Let us know what you get and what swayed you.
 
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#13
joebar said:
My logic tells me that the kiloton is based on the L1500 which isn't G&L's most popular bass. I could be wrong but I'm betting the sterling would be a better choice
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's kind of the mutt hybrid of an L-1500 and SB-1/SB-2. It's funny, I got excited about it at first, but then realized that the L-1500 is a little more what I'd want aesthetically. Plus, I don't totally agree with G&L's choice in the cap value of .022uF or the decision to omit the .001uF loading cap that the L-2000s have. It surprises me a little that G&L chose to put the Kiloton out as a stripped down model of a bass that's always struggled in the market due to some simple component changes. I would think that someone there would want to take a step back and really solve why the L-1500 isn't more popular. I don't think it's the packaging.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge G&L fan, and would love either a Kiloton or L-1500. I had an L-1500 for a while and really miss it. But, if/when I ever acquire another one, the first thing I'm doing is breaking out the soldering iron.
 
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#19
Mark_70 said:
I am very happy with my EBMM Sterling, but was reading through some of the threads on the G&L Kiloton and was looking at some of the stuff on youtube on this.
Have to say - I'm feeling a bad case of GAS coming up. From the clips, the Kiloton sounds great. 1.5" (jazz?)neck, G&L quality.. What's not to like, other than the fairly steep price tag?
...... Regards - Mark
Click to expand...
Same price tag as a Fender Am Pro P, and pretty less than a Stingray. And it can be customized exactly to your liking.
You can get a G&L Tribute Kiloton for $600. Differences are very minor compared to the MIA, the Tribute is 4-string only and with a choice of two color and fingerboard combinations (rosewood/alpine white or maple/sonic blue).
 
#20
So, I am at the same crossroads. I have been looking to buy a Sterling Ray 34. I found a great deal on a Kiloton Tribute and I don't know if I should pull the trigger or go with my original idea of a Ray 34
 

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