Fallout has a bigger booty, I like the size of my SBMM shorty
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Tribute G&L Fallout Bass
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
Thumbs up on the G&L Tribute Fallout, though I think my Sire U5 Marcus Miller has a nicer neck. The G&L's natural tonal range is a bit limited; I find the "OMG" switch position output a bit artificial. I prefer a bass with two pickups and analogue switching and mixing between the two via two volume controls.
So true! The M and F stand for well, y'know, and the D is for "Destroyer"!Never has a pickup had a better name!
Pandemic-willing, I have a little tour coming up later in the summer. I used a P w flats for the album, but I want to travel with a shorty, something I don't have to worry about too much(i.e. not expensive). I don't want to take my Jerry Jones because a) I'd hate for it to get wrecked as they're rare now and b) I want more "Fendery" anyway, and a vintage look for Americana....so, it's gonna be a Trib Fallout or a Squier Classic Vibe Mustang. Either will work, just gotta decide if I will like the MFD thing better than I did when I owned my L2500s - was kinda love/hate at times...
I know it’s really “magnetic field design,” but I think Leo Fender knew he was making a funny.
To my ears, the Fallout sounded like P-bass for sure. It could go aggressive or mellow.
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I owned an L1K back in the early '80's and when I recently started playing again I picked up a CLF L1K. I couldn't be more happy with that model. A couple of years ago I grabbed an L2K. Last year I decided I wanted to give short scale basses a try. I wound up with the Stingray in Daphne Blue just like the one the Dr. was playing. While I liked the Fallout, with the L1K I already had the MFD sound more than covered. Plus, I couldn't get over the fact that the short scale Fallout weighed more than my L1K. My Stingray weighs in a 7 lbs. 5 oz. and is an absolute pleasure to play. Strung with a set of TI JR's, it brings a very different sound into my small group of basses.
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1) As shown in the Doctor’s middle vid and in LowEndLobster’s vid, the Fallout Bass isn’t as small of a total package as the scale length would indicate. The USA version might have a less humongous headstock than the Tribute, but the Tribute is 44” from end to end. That’s probably darn close to any 34” bass with a 2+2 headstock. Its shortness is only apparent to me in moving the dead spot from a frequently used c#-d to a less frequently used f-f# and in a slightly softer string feel (especially after taking down the high nut slots).
2) I use the “single” position on it ~95% of the time. It is very Precision-ey sounding, I imagine that that plus the general heft and tightness of the build make it in total closer to playing a P than a Mustang would. It sounds pretty great with GHS Flats broken in and sustains longer than some full scalers. If you already sometimes hated the MFD, you really ought to A/B/C it against other true shorties. There are a couple of vids that make a really good tonal case for stretching the budget out for the Gibson LPDC (which I think would perfectly fit in Americana, aesthetically speaking).
Circling back to the giant headstock on the Tribute- there are a few folks talking about theirs being neckdivey. I’m one of them. Others say theirs hangs level. If you’ve got to be on stage with it, bring a slippery strap when try-before-buying unless you’re into flexing your left arm for the audience while performing.
Strangely, my local GC and Sam Ash had these very same basses in stock last weekend. The videos capture them well. Both have their merits. The Fallout single coil sound is great, is super stable with that bridge, and that red is beautiful in person. But I was shocked by how heavy the thing was, and that OMG mode is frighteningly loud, and would not play well with the other basses I use at gigs. I’m guessing the explosion of sound is what the name refers to...
The Stingray was a ball to play: great neck, and the overall design make it feel very small. I don’t love the color, but I would have walked out with it if I could have figured out a reason why I needed another bass with that pickup configuration. But I couldn’t—and I tried!
In the end, both are legit and fun basses, just not for me.
I don’t need a short scale Stingray either, but I am pretty sure I am going to buy one anyway!
I don’t need a short scale Stingray either, but I am pretty sure I am going to buy one anyway!
Mine was a 'blem' and cost less than the compressor pedal I bought right around the same time. How's that for justifying?
Actually—give me another week and I may be right there with you!I don’t need a short scale Stingray either, but I am pretty sure I am going to buy one anyway!
do it Doc, you can do it!
forgot I had made this run-thru with my Tribute Fallout.
another take on the single MFD P-bass on steroids vibe of this bass.
another take on the single MFD P-bass on steroids vibe of this bass.
Really helpful info here. Yeah, that is kinda "big" for a shorty! I may end up just taking my Jerry Jones out, y'know, "play what ya got"- it certainly fits the Americana vibe, sounds killer, and sure is a nice light package to travel with. I'll have to get my mitts on a Fallout and try it.
