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LB-100

attackz

attackz

Supporting Member
Apr 8, 2006
526
370
California
#1
Over the past few months, I've noticed that G&L LB-100s come and go through the classified super frequently.

My best guess as to why is that people have bought them off of the strength of the Ed Friedland review but then found them not to be to their tastes.

I had one and thought it was a very comfortable instrument; it was light, had great upper fret access and the #12 neck profile felt very natural to me. I've also heard that the #11 profile is fantastic. Ultimately I returned it because of a dead spot I couldn't get over on the high D (G&L note consistency) but I wasn't totally happy with the sound either, a bit too pronounced in the high mids for me, even with flats. I've since been looking for a mellower sounding P.

I'm curious to hear from people that have purchased one recently and ended up selling it on or returning it - how did the bass differ from what you were expecting? What were you looking for, and what have you ended up with?
 
#2
I bought and sold one in the past few months. The neck just wasn't as wide as I've become accustomed to with my 50s style P-Basses. I liked the sound, feel, and workmanship. I ended up getting an AVRI 58 instead as a companion to my Road Worn 50s. I was able to get the action on these Fenders lower without buzzing than I was on the LB-100 I had, but that's a pretty small sample size.
 
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#3
wilder said:
I ended up getting an AVRI 58 instead as a companion to my Road Worn 50s. I was able to get the action on these Fenders lower without buzzing than I was on the LB-100 I had, but that's a pretty small sample size.
Click to expand...

Interesting about the lower action on your Fenders, because in my experience G&L basses with Plek-leveled frets set up lower than MIA Fenders. The Fender fours have gotten very close to my G&Ls, but my Jazz V didn't set up as low as my M-2500 -- even AFTER getting Plek treatment!

Anyway, I'm curious about the OP's question because I'm considering an LB-100 and would like to learn why some have moved on. I've tested a few, and they seem great to me, though I haven't tried one with my preferred 1.5" nut and 12" radius.
 
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#4
I agree I'd expect the pleked neck to be capable of lower action, but so far I haven't found that to be the case. I've owned two pleked basses and neither of them will go as low as my 50s style Fenders. Maybe the radius has something to do with it. Once again...small sample size so grain of salt.
 
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#7
My LB-100 was set up perfectly (for me) from the factory. I haven't touched the action since I bought it. I bought mine primarily for the lightweight empress body, but I love it all around. I've noticed that there have been quite a few for sale on TB lately, though. Not sure what to make of that. It's definitely a buyer's market!
 
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#9
attackz said:
I'm curious to hear from people that have purchased one recently and ended up selling it on or returning it - how did the bass differ from what you were expecting? What were you looking for, and what have you ended up with?
Click to expand...

I traded for one recently and have it up for sale. I knew pretty much what I was getting into since I had tried one of the originals many years ago.

Mine has a #8 neck (1.5" nut width, 12" radius) with a satin finish that is one of my favorite necks in the world -- actually pretty much every satin finish 1.5" nut width G&L neck falls in this category for me. Ergonomically a "normal" bodied G&L (not a tele-style ASAT, not an offset waist JB) with a skinny neck is "it" for me for comfort. I was curious about the slightly different body shape from my usual SB-2s and while you can see the difference, it's more subtle in person than in pictures (IMO) it's not a big deal and not really noticeable strapped on.

The reason it is up for sale is that I like MFDs. I have an L1K & SB2 that are my main G&Ls and while the LB100 pickup is fine, and I'm sure some folks love it, I want the output, lows, punch, and everything else an MFD gives. If it doesn't sell I'm going to swap in an MFD split-coil. That's the opposite of you wanting a mellower P sound, though :)

I know there are a lot of LB100s out there being passed around, I'm not sure of the reason for that in particular. They are much more "standard" than the MFD-equipped G&Ls so I can see them having a wider audience to be tried out, and I think there is a lot of attraction to the G&L "customization" that you can do on a new order (finish, body wood, neck dimensions, fretboard, etc.) at a reasonable cost.
 
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#10
craigb said:
The reason it is up for sale is that I like MFDs. I have an L1K & SB2 that are my main G&Ls and while the LB100 pickup is fine, and I'm sure some folks love it, I want the output, lows, punch, and everything else an MFD gives. If it doesn't sell I'm going to swap in an MFD split-coil. That's the opposite of you wanting a mellower P sound, though :)
Click to expand...

I completely understand this, because my SB-2 kicked a fantastic Fender P (and others) straight out of the herd. For me, the G&L #8 neck and MFD split-coil are a killer combination.

In recent years, I've been thinking about an LB-100, figuring I'd like a more vintage P-bass tone again, especially paired with the #8 neck and a lightweight empress body. But last weekend, I tested an LB-100 straight after playing an L-2500, and after that monstrous MFD punch, the LB-100 just wasn't all that exciting. It's a fantastic bass with an excellent pickup, but there's nothing like the full range power of MFDs.

So I'd still love to have an LB-100, but I think I want an L-2500 first! :D
 
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