I just got a JB2 through trade and as usual with G & L I'm doing so in the dark. I have confidence in G & L, I'm just curious of what I should expect from this bad boy? any comparisons or good ole testimonials? I really like a deep jazz bass growl, I have a MIA Fender Jazz delx that's alright I'm just hoping for an improved version of that sound. -pete
You can expect a superior passive Jazz with the variations of a hand-made bass. I have a 2002 American Jazz Deluxe and a newish JB-2 and rate them both as exceptional basses. How do you explain feel? The G&L just feels a touch more 'solid', the neck is slightly more comfortable and the pickups have all the depth I could want. The body size is about the same as the American Deluxe so they make a good pair. The Jazz is not far behind in finish and feel, but with more control from the active electronics. To be honest I love them both but the G&L is just that bit more exclusive - plus I picked it up for a steal of price given it has a flame maple top.
that was informitive thank you very much . I'm the only active preformer in Utah scene that I know that uses G & L's. As a Jazz bass addict this was have too . I'm sure I'll love both basses, G & L can do no wrong, I just wish they had distro out here in Utah
I have a JB2, but I like the vesatility and the neck better on the Fender MIA Jazz Dlx. Also, i get some Pup noice on the G&L along with a sometimes rattely neck Pup
Shielding does not seem to be G&L's strong point. As for the ratly pickup, the pickups are mounted on springs (better in the long run than Fender's cheap foam mounting) that can resonate. The cure is to stuff a piece of soft foam in the middle of spring to damp the resonance. It is beyond me why G&L don't do this during assembly - it would only take them a few seconds to do it. Still, I forgive my JB-2 these little quirks as it is such a great bass in every other respect.
I don't know if I am the best person to answer this because I use a fairly bass heavy tone and just play straight finger style. All I can say is I am really happy with both basses. Both have plenty of lows and growl quite nicely when you want them to. I try not to spend time comparing basses but to just get on and play them. I didn't rate the Fender noisless pickups when I compared a Deluxe Strat to a Strat with Texas Specials. I can't really put it into words except to say that the Texas Specials had more character and gave a more 'complex' signal than the noisless = more feeling (soul?) as far as I am concerned. I guess it is the same comparing the JB-2 to the Noiseless Jazz pickups, except that for me the difference is not so significant at bass frequencies (that is just me - other players may have very different opinions because of style, amp settings, etc.). So, the JB-2 has just a bit more character but I would be just as happy to gig using the Deluxe Jazz. I just feel I am lucky to have found - and finally can afford (thanks eBay) - two such fine basses.
I used to own a JB-2 w/ blue sparkle body and blue sparkle headstock! It also had white binding around the fretboard. It was amazing and I unfortunately sold it to buy a Kubicki Ex-Factor. I wish I had that JB-2 back because it sounded better to me than any Fender Jazz I had played. Bar none. Even 70's models! I like the thicker neck option with the J Bass for some reason so mine had a #8 G&L neck. It had a great recorded sound! Look forward to your G&L because I would buy a G&L any day over a fender. Just My Opinion.
Finally got some acceptable pictures of my JB-2 - and its cousin. http://homepages.manx.net/jones/index.html And of course I wish you luck. At the end of the day it is not what they look like that really matters but how they play - and G&L never seem to fall short in that respect.
