G&L SB-2

I originally started searching for a high end bass after I had been playing for about 2 years. The local newspaper had a G&L SB-2 four string in the person to person section at a questionably low price. The owner of the bass had stripped the finish off with what seemed to be about 60 grit sand paper. It was less than 2 years old and already looked ready for the scrap yard. After a closer examination I realized that the hardware was in excellent working condition. I went ahead and bought the bass for $200.00 ($1100.00 list price) with the intention of refinishing it myself. I took it home, put some new strings on it, and have loved it since. She is still the ugliest "car on the road" but she has not lost a race yet!

The tuning is perfect. After initial string flex, there is no need to tune again. The maple body is solid and well balanced without excess weight on your shoulders. Both pickups are set a comfortable distance from the neck, giving a large "sweet spot" for the finger-hooking pop attack that "Flea" instilled in all of us.

It is quite hard to find anything I don't like about this instrument. If I had to dig something up it would have to be the custom case fasteners are a little hard to work with sometimes. That could have very well been due to the handling of the unit prior to my ownership.

I have had many bass guitars and this ranks right up there with my first '63 Jazz Bass. If you are looking to get quality in every since of the word, go G&L! This one has paid for itself time and again.

If you are a serious musician, or seriously going to pay the practice dues to learn, buy an instrument that will give back what is put in. Solid tone, dependability, and personal taste are the only things that matter. G&L caters to all of these needs with style.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Passive bass manufactured in the USA, early 90's for mine. Rosewood handle, 21 frets. This bass is often described as a clarification on steroids. She has a very high output level, higher than many active basses. It is equipped with two microphones (the G & L magnetic field, very very effective), a precision side handle, and a jazz standard side bridge. Level settings is very simple: a microphone volume is all. I put only 8 because it lacks tone.

UTILIZATION

This bass is very comfortable. The neck is thin (jazz standard), very easy to play. The bass is not too heavy and it supports it without problems for several hours. Once plugged in, nothing to say, this is a very low simple to use. I tried a lot of amps lately and this bass is awesome. One branch, it is very flat and mean right away that gives the amp.

SOUNDS

How to say ... Fabulous. The precision microphone has a sound very fat and round. The micro jazz will sound more modern. I play rock (rather soft), only the fingers, and the sound is still very present and very well defined. I put the mic and I thoroughly precision module with micro jazz, as the song. This bass is made for rock and blues. For the cons slap does not sound great, but I hardly play.

OVERALL OPINION

I play since 1996 and I can not get enough. I had other basses since but I always come back to it. I highly recommend, especially for fans of precision. A note: I tried a recent model that I found less punchy. Perhaps they were microphones set differently (specificity G & L, we can adjust the height sensor microphones to choose one or more strings that will be most present in the sound).