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NBD: G&L Tribute SB-2

#23
How obvious is it that the SB-2 should have a 5 string version? SB-25
please please please
G&L could even skip the USA version and just start with a Tribute SB-25
I would volunteer to, you know, test the prototype.
2 knobs are fine with me
But 5 strings
 
#24
Congrats on the Bass, looks beautiful. I picked up a G&L M2000 Tribute in honeyburst(i think its called) awhile back when it was the SDOTD at musicians friend and dispite the reviews being mixed the Quality did not disappoint when i picked it up. The nect and frets were great, the finish was perfect and it was just ready to go. I also had bought a G&L comanche tribute guitar that was of great quality.

Im not sure what your Shorty budget is, but id recommend also checking out the Gibson SG specials, I think they regularly run around $650 new with a really nice hard shell case. it has 2 pick ups one humbicker and one mini humbucker. i absolutely love mine. If something ever happened to it, id buy another one in a second. Tho i do love those pawnshop mustangs too(its on my gas list!)
 
#25
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1416500810.512842.jpg


Congratulation on your purchase!

Here's a pic of me with my US SB2. The bass really shines in band settings as it can really cut through with its thick low midrange/bassy fundamental. Very likely that you won't have problems hearing yourself.
 
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#26
MusicStoreLive said:
It's volume, volume. About as simple as it gets!

Interesting thing about the SB-2: Rolling back the volume knob almost kind of has a similar effect to rolling back a tone knob. There is a lot of tonal versatility, despite no tone knob. If you fully utilize the different tonal options you can get from, for example, plucking up by the neck, plucking over the pup, plucking down by the bridge, having both pickups 100% on, having one pickup hotter than the other, having both pickups at 50%, etc, then there really is no need for a tone knob.

Also, if a tone knob is a big deal, modifying the SB-2 to have a tone knob is something that any half-competent guitar tech should be able to do easily and without costing too much.

Don't let the simple design fool you, it's a very versatile bass.
Click to expand...

I've had my SB-2 for 17 years and I strongly suggest you resist the urge to modify it to have a tone control. The SB-2 is its own kinda monster. It is not a Fender in a different wrapping. Let it do its thing. MusicStoreLive person is correct. You DO have tone control. Spend time listening to what is coming out of the amp as you blend the two volume knobs. Leo designed it that way for a reason. Let the monster live!
Most of the time I have P at 75% and J at 25% for a clear but fat P dominate tone and it lets my B100R shine. For super aggressive P tone the P is 100% and J off, you will punch through the mix with all the subtly of a Mac Truck. P alone in the 50% to 75% is the sweet vintage P tone of yore. If you leave the P @ 75% and start rolling the J up you can find the Dark Zone and you will get a nice deep dark tone.
One thing to keep in mind with the MFD pickups is that they are pretty hot. The P pickup on full does not play well with my pedals. I have to dial the P back to something like 50% and add more J past the dark zone to brighten the tone. Doing this makes my Tech21 VT pedal really shine at a mild overdrive setting. J at 100% and P off through an aggressively set distortion or fuzz pedal is very cool!
Rock-On!
 
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#29
I had never really looked at one of these before, but I am very interested in the control set up. When I was still playing a lot of guitar I had an Epi LP that I had wired for for one tone / volume knob. It worked great! Still had a ton of tonal versatility. I'd love to get that same groove going with a bass.
 
#30
NightCat said:
I've had my SB-2 for 17 years and I strongly suggest you resist the urge to modify it to have a tone control. The SB-2 is its own kinda monster. It is not a Fender in a different wrapping. Let it do its thing. MusicStoreLive person is correct. You DO have tone control. Spend time listening to what is coming out of the amp as you blend the two volume knobs. Leo designed it that way for a reason. Let the monster live!
Most of the time I have P at 75% and J at 25% for a clear but fat P dominate tone and it lets my B100R shine. For super aggressive P tone the P is 100% and J off, you will punch through the mix with all the subtly of a Mac Truck. P alone in the 50% to 75% is the sweet vintage P tone of yore. If you leave the P @ 75% and start rolling the J up you can find the Dark Zone and you will get a nice deep dark tone.
One thing to keep in mind with the MFD pickups is that they are pretty hot. The P pickup on full does not play well with my pedals. I have to dial the P back to something like 50% and add more J past the dark zone to brighten the tone. Doing this makes my Tech21 VT pedal really shine at a mild overdrive setting. J at 100% and P off through an aggressively set distortion or fuzz pedal is very cool!
Rock-On!
Click to expand...

Considering that I rarely use the tone knob in general (guitar or bass), it's not an issue for me. I actually like the blend feature. My favorite is 75-80% P and 20-25% J. Anything in between these settings is also enjoyable for me. I'm not a big fan of 100% J, but it's probably because I'm not looking for that tone at this time, not that it sounds bad.
 

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