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Need help: G&L SB-2 v Fender P-bass?

L

LeopoldStotch

Jan 15, 2010
8
1
#1
I'm buying a new bass and I'm up in the air between the Fender American Deluxe P-bass and the G&L SB-2. One thing shying me away from the G&L is i havent had a chance to play one since no music stores around me carry this line. No tone control on the SB-2 also worries me. Has anyone played/heard anything about the G&L? Which one should I buy?
 
#6
You say 'new' bass, but are you buying new or used? There are quite a few used SB-2s out there, and you will get GREAT bang for the buck compared to the Fender. I have both, but my SB-2 goes to the gigs because the MFD is a monster. Don't worry about the lack of tone knobs, because adjusting the volume knobs will give you anything you want. JMO
 
#10
Here's another vote for the G&L, especially if you're buying used. It's not too difficult to add a tone controll if you feel you really need it but IMO/IME you can do plenty with just the 2 volume knobs. Keep in mind that on a passive instrument when you roll back a volume control you increase the resistance of the circuit thereby lowering the frequency of the resonant peak.
 
#14
savit260 said:
GREAT pickup, just so long as you aren't expecting "old school" tone. BIG bottom end and hot.

The MFD is my personal favorite of the "high output" split coils, and the SB 2 is a very nice bass.
Click to expand...

The MFD is also my favorite of the hot split-coils. It's just huge, and flattens any stock Fender for punch. I agree it isn't old school, but it's definitely in the P-bass family, and as others said you can get a more vintage tone by rolling down the volume. While you can get lots of variation with the volume controls, I've bought the parts to add a tone control to my SB-2.

You could also look into the recently re-introduced SB-1. It's not on G&L's site yet, but it's out there. Then you get the MFD split-coil and a tone control. I would actually prefer that to the SB-2, because I don't use the bridge pickup much, and like the minimalist classic P-bass approach.

For playability, keep in mind G&L uses a Plek levelling machine at the factory, so the action gets incredibly low on current models. (They started with Plek in mid-2006 I believe.) My Plek levelled G&L's with the #8 neck have near effortless playability. I still love my Fenders, but the G&L's are a notch better in this respect.
 
#15
Nedmundo said:
The MFD is also my favorite of the hot split-coils. It's just huge, and flattens any stock Fender for punch. I agree it isn't old school, but it's definitely in the P-bass family, and as others said you can get a more vintage tone by rolling down the volume. While you can get lots of variation with the volume controls, I've bought the parts to add a tone control to my SB-2.

You could also look into the recently re-introduced SB-1. It's not on G&L's site yet, but it's out there. Then you get the MFD split-coil and a tone control. I would actually prefer that to the SB-2, because I don't use the bridge pickup much, and like the minimalist classic P-bass approach.

For playability, keep in mind G&L uses a Plek levelling machine at the factory, so the action gets incredibly low on current models. (They started with Plek in mid-2006 I believe.) My Plek levelled G&L's with the #8 neck have near effortless playability. I still love my Fenders, but the G&L's are a notch better in this respect.
Click to expand...

:eek:
 
#17
Nedmundo said:
The MFD is also my favorite of the hot split-coils. It's just huge, and flattens any stock Fender for punch. I agree it isn't old school, but it's definitely in the P-bass family, and as others said you can get a more vintage tone by rolling down the volume. While you can get lots of variation with the volume controls, I've bought the parts to add a tone control to my SB-2.

You could also look into the recently re-introduced SB-1. It's not on G&L's site yet, but it's out there. Then you get the MFD split-coil and a tone control. I would actually prefer that to the SB-2, because I don't use the bridge pickup much, and like the minimalist classic P-bass approach.

For playability, keep in mind G&L uses a Plek levelling machine at the factory, so the action gets incredibly low on current models. (They started with Plek in mid-2006 I believe.) My Plek levelled G&L's with the #8 neck have near effortless playability. I still love my Fenders, but the G&L's are a notch better in this respect.
Click to expand...

Someone recently had a pic up in a TB thread of a new "Fullerton Red" SB-1.

Great looking bass.

I'm with you in regards to the bridge pickup. The day I think I need a bridge pickup , is the day I buy a bass that has one.

Nearly 30 years of playing and that day hasn't come yet. :D
 
#18
You've gotten great advice so far, but I really think you need both. My double gig bag usually has 1 of each, though sometimes the P is a J instead. ...but the SB-2's almost always there. It's a great R&B bass as well w/flats on it.
 
#19
Nedmundo said:
The MFD is also my favorite of the hot split-coils. It's just huge, and flattens any stock Fender for punch. I agree it isn't old school, but it's definitely in the P-bass family, and as others said you can get a more vintage tone by rolling down the volume. While you can get lots of variation with the volume controls, I've bought the parts to add a tone control to my SB-2.

You could also look into the recently re-introduced SB-1. It's not on G&L's site yet, but it's out there. Then you get the MFD split-coil and a tone control. I would actually prefer that to the SB-2, because I don't use the bridge pickup much, and like the minimalist classic P-bass approach.

For playability, keep in mind G&L uses a Plek levelling machine at the factory, so the action gets incredibly low on current models. (They started with Plek in mid-2006 I believe.) My Plek levelled G&L's with the #8 neck have near effortless playability. I still love my Fenders, but the G&L's are a notch better in this respect.
Click to expand...

Yowza! I want onea these! With the #8 neck, no less!
 
#20
StrangerDanger said:
I dont think you can go wrong either way.
Click to expand...

I agree. I have an SB2 and a Fender Aerodyne. Now I know the Fender is not a P bass but it has a p pup in it and after owning a Fender P bass I can honestly say that the Aerodyne has the same TONE as the P bass.

Now you have to consider the neck profile of each bass. The Fender P will be fatter front to back and wider top to bottom whereas the G&L will be more jazz like if not exact.


I'd say the quality will be with the G&L plus the bridge is a better bridge.

Hey why not get one of each:D
 

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