ID that bass - vintage G&L

[thehornedone]

Apologies if there's a stickied thread for this purpose. Didn't see one.

Here's the bass in question. I can clearly see the G&L logo on the headstock, but google searches are not turning up anything resembling this bass. Could it be a vintage G&L neck on a fender body?

 

[Picton]

No, that's a G&L body. Look at the bridge. You can stick a G&L bridge on a Fender body, but not without some work.

It's an SB-1, I think. Mid-eighties?

 

[TDR1138]

It's an SB-1, I think. Mid-eighties?

Bingo!

 

[gunai]

It's a mid '80s SB-1 sans MFD pick-up.
You can see it in Red Fang's rig rundown from 3 years ago:


P.S.
I'm actually unsure whether G&L ever put out a split-coil MFD (rather than w/e other pick-up they put in the first split-coil SB-1s) equipped SB-1 with the first headstock, I'm sure someone else will chime in with facts on the matter.

 

[Tom F]

That's a mid 80's SB-1, original SB headstock, split coil MFD (possibly a Schiller - some of the early SB-1's used those before the split MFD's appeared), radio knobs, metal guard.

I had one just like it many moons ago. It was a capital-G Great bass. The neck profile was wide and flat, sound was a p bass plus a little extra, and the slightly downsized body was super comfy and balanced. Just another victim of GAS for me...

my source for many years...
GGJaguar's Guitarium and Ampeteria 1985 G&L SB-1

 

[thehornedone]

Thanks guys!! I love you.

 

[TomB]

Was there an early SB-1 that used the straight-across MFD, so a single one of the pickups that came on the early SB-2?

 

[Iridescentone]

Was there an early SB-1 that used the straight-across MFD, so a single one of the pickups that came on the early SB-2?

Yes.

 

[boombloom]

Was there an early SB-1 that used the straight-across MFD, so a single one of the pickups that came on the early SB-2?

 

[TomB]

Lovely! Bet it sounds monstrous too. I love my L-1000. I'd love to a-b those two some time. ...similar DNA?

 

[boombloom]

Older L1000s are hard to find these days! I'd love to get one. I had a mid 80s but I want an early one with the front control plate. The old SB1 is a very different sound. I figure Leo himself worked on the first G&Ls. By the way--I'm just a few miles from the Charlotte/Essex ferry.

 

[TomB]

Cool! I've played a lot of nights at The Galley over the years. Who knows, maybe again some day! Maybe you could bring that SB to a blues jam down that way some time. Hopefully there will be some in Middlebury - Vegennes area again post-COVID.

 

[boombloom]

Cool! I've played a lot of nights at The Galley over the years. Who knows, maybe again some day! Maybe you could bring that SB to a blues jam down that way some time. Hopefully there will be some in Middlebury - Vegennes area again post-COVID.

What band at the Galley? I've certainly played there. Now playing with Bill Ellis in Addison. Really I'm an upright player.

 

[TomB]

Nice to meet you. PM'd you.