NDB - G&L Kiloton

[Scott Loveless]

NBD!!! No big deal, right?

I've been jonesing for one of these for a while, and yesterday I pulled the trigger. It just so happened that the seller's regular FedEx pickup was running a few minutes late, so they managed to actually ship it within an hour of me placing the order. And it arrived today!

Initial impressions (and these are very initial, since I haven't even plugged it in yet):
Pros: The finish is beautiful. The neck feels silky smooth. It came out of the box with the action set just the way I like it. I think I could maybe even lower it a hair or two without causing any problems. While I haven't weighed it yet, it feels relatively light. Everything on it just screams quality.

Cons: The case. It's pretty, and the lining feels nice and soft, but the foam around the sides is fairly stiff and doesn't rebound. As such, the bass kinda slides around in there. I'm glad it came with a case, and it'll be fine for storage purposes, but I'll need to either find a way to supplement the padding or just get a better one before I start hauling it around.

 

[Slaphound]

Thats the Tobacco burts? Very nice. It looks great. When you plug it in, let us know how it sounds. What size neck did you get?

 

[P. Aaron]

Nice looking bass.

FWIW: While ‘nice’ cases are great for around the house, if you’re gonna gig a lot and the case has a tolex exterior, you may wanna get a plastic moulded exterior case because pretty cases get knocked around and those latches can fly open sloshin’ around the gear trailer.

 

[Scott Loveless]

Yes, tobacco. So far, I've just plugged it into a small practice amp, and it sounds barky. But this amp makes everything sound kinda barky. I'll have an opportunity to run it through the 400RB a little later today. The spec sheet says the neck profile is: Medium C - 1 1/2" Nut Width, 9.5" Radius.

I'd also like to take back my "relatively light" statement from earlier. My kitchen scale says 9 pounds 14 ounces.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Scott

Cons: The case

When you have a bad case you should get a lawyer.

I pulled the trigger

Looks like you are guilty!


Happy NBD!!!


may the bass be with you

Wise(b)ass

 

[Scott Loveless]

When you plug it in, let us know how it sounds.

So, verbal explanation, if that's worth anything. To my ears it sounds like a jazz bass with the bridge pickup soloed, only on steroids. It's very punchy and meaty, but still has that nasally snarl. The single coil mode is more mellow. I think I might prefer the voicing of the parallel mode over single or series.

I'm not overly fond of the tone control. To me it sounds pinched when I start to roll the tone off. But it's pretty useful between about 75% and 100%. Maybe this has more to do with the pickup as opposed to the tone control.

Now that I've actually played it a bit, I think this video is a pretty good representation of what one should expect from the Kiloton.

My next step is to figure out what I need to record using my computer and the direct out on my 400RB.

 

[woodyng2]

I’m thinking i’d like to try one of these. I love the quality and feel of my lb100,and my jb2.
I think i might prefer the kilo to the lb,though.

 

[roller]

Nice bass! Those Kilotons have been a really nice add to G&L's product line.

The L2000 I owned also came with a less-than-ideal case. You nailed it with your description -- the foam feels stiff and it overall has a cheap feel.

G&L makes killer stuff though, no question. Enjoy your new baby!

Cons: The case. It's pretty, and the lining feels nice and soft, but the foam around the sides is fairly stiff and doesn't rebound. As such, the bass kinda slides around in there. I'm glad it came with a case, and it'll be fine for storage purposes, but I'll need to either find a way to supplement the padding or just get a better one before I start hauling it around.
View attachment 3446894 View attachment 3446896 View attachment 3446897

 

[Scott Loveless]

The L2000 I owned also came with a less-than-ideal case. You nailed it with your description -- the foam feels stiff and it overall has a cheap feel.

I think I'm going to track down a 2.5 inch thick sheet of pick apart foam padding and "customize" the interior to fit a bit better. I'll get something more rugged when/if I actually start playing out.

G&L makes killer stuff though, no question. Enjoy your new baby!

I am really impressed with the overall quality so far. And it plays so nice...

 

[JRA]

beautiful ax! i'm sure you'll figure out a case/bag solution --- good luck! and congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[LBS-bass]

Congratulations on your new bass! It sure is pretty and I'm glad you like the way it sounds, too. I have never owned a G&L but they certainly have my curiosity piqued. I'd like to play one some day. Enjoy your new bass!

 

[Keger Jupit]

I have never owned a G&L but they certainly have my curiosity piqued. I'd like to play one some day.

Do it @LBS-bass, you won't regret it! Maybe the GAS it will give you, but G&L have their own thing going.

Congrats @Scott Loveless & enjoy!

 

[sludgetail]

badass bass, congratulations! just got my first G&L -- a newer series SB-1 -- and couldn't be happier with it. MFD pickups Leo designed are amazing and just a killer, resonant instrument... demos were good but didn't do it or the build/feel justice, I should've got one sooner. play her in great health man, love the Kiloton and great color.

 

[Edgetone]

Congrats. The Kiloton's are fantastic. I've just ordered a fretted one to go with my fretless 5.

As for tones, I recently picked up a 97 L2500 and got to compare the sounds. Obviously the L series is more versatile and I'm comparing to a fretless tone, but in passive mode, the L sounds pretty similar. However my Kiloton has an even hotter output.
Also, you might want to try a few different amps. I've settled on Trickfish and Bergantino, but I found that they give a more accurate representation of the bass than my old 800RB through Hartke cabs.

 

[Swingin]

Yeah the case looks nice, but is lacking in the interior. I have a 5 and absolutely love it. I like the sound with the cobalt flats. I also liked it with a band using some dean markleys, but didn’t care for it soloed.

 

[Scott Loveless]

Yeah the case looks nice, but is lacking in the interior. I have a 5 and absolutely love it. I like the sound with the cobalt flats. I also liked it with a band using some dean markleys, but didn’t care for it soloed.

I dig the T-20, man! There's a set of cobalt flats around here that I had intended to put on a p-franken-bass project I'm working on, but I might try them out on the Kiloton. Thanks for the tip!

 

[SJan3]

NBD!!! No big deal, right?

I've been jonesing for one of these for a while, and yesterday I pulled the trigger. It just so happened that the seller's regular FedEx pickup was running a few minutes late, so they managed to actually ship it within an hour of me placing the order. And it arrived today!

Initial impressions (and these are very initial, since I haven't even plugged it in yet):
Pros: The finish is beautiful. The neck feels silky smooth. It came out of the box with the action set just the way I like it. I think I could maybe even lower it a hair or two without causing any problems. While I haven't weighed it yet, it feels relatively light. Everything on it just screams quality.

Cons: The case. It's pretty, and the lining feels nice and soft, but the foam around the sides is fairly stiff and doesn't rebound. As such, the bass kinda slides around in there. I'm glad it came with a case, and it'll be fine for storage purposes, but I'll need to either find a way to supplement the padding or just get a better one before I start hauling it around.
View attachment 3446894 View attachment 3446896 View attachment 3446897

Beautiful finish! Best of luck.

 

[SJan3]

So, verbal explanation, if that's worth anything. To my ears it sounds like a jazz bass with the bridge pickup soloed, only on steroids. It's very punchy and meaty, but still has that nasally snarl. The single coil mode is more mellow. I think I might prefer the voicing of the parallel mode over single or series.

I'm not overly fond of the tone control. To me it sounds pinched when I start to roll the tone off. But it's pretty useful between about 75% and 100%. Maybe this has more to do with the pickup as opposed to the tone control.

Now that I've actually played it a bit, I think this video is a pretty good representation of what one should expect from the Kiloton.

My next step is to figure out what I need to record using my computer and the direct out on my 400RB.

He never varies his right hand position, thus limiting his tone pallet. I had a Stingray for many years and right hand placement had a profound effect on tone. I suspect the Kiloton would react similarly.