Thanks so much. I didn't find the J pickup bad at all, it's a very powerful pickup, I wouldn't use it on everything but I liked it blended with the P pickup quite a bit.
When Leo Fender initially designed the SB-2 he didn't really envision the bridge pickup being used on it's own, which is why it's noticeably less hot than the neck pickup. The idea is that the neck pickup does most of work, with the bridge pickup being blended in, as required, to add some bite. I've never really felt the need to do much at all on my amp with an SB-2. The pickups are SO good that you can get a surprisingly wide range of tones with just blending the two. Much better, in my opinion, than some of the crappy tone controls you get on many basses, which may as well be a switch, since nothing seems to change except in the last couple of degrees of a turn at either end of the spectrum. These are very aggressive basses: they feel and sound very solid, and you can really get stuck into them when playing live. It might sound strange, but they have so much character that it almost feels like you're playing WITH the bass, rather than ON it: it's like something you and the bass do together. Gigging with an SB-2 is like going drinking with a slightly psycho friend: you love it, but you're constantly restraining it from kicking that bloke in the front row in the 'nads and stealing his girlfriend. I have mine strung with the extremely heavy La Bella 760M flatwounds: it sounds like a marshmallow-coated cannonball.
Steve I sure hope you get compensated well for these demos because you have sold me a lot of gear my friend. When I am looking for a piece of gear and I see that you have demoed it..... I generally end up buying it. Great video and great playing.....
Sweet Bass! looking for an SB-2 with that finish. Can't find one. Do you know the year manufactured? I am usually not that particular about colors on my basses. Two are natural finish, the other 2 are black. But, for some reason that blue sparkle is hitting the right button. Any help on that? I have decided to get an SB-2, and came on here to see some reviews, and you just had it in your hands. Nice playing btw.
Amazing bass. But not having a tone knob is a dealbreaker for me, especially when there's a P pickup in the mix. I think it was a bad decision not to include one in such a good bass. The thing is: a tone knob is almost never the same as messing with the preamp EQ in the head. Because usually tone knobs have a very low Q, meaning it won't just cut off narrow-ish trebles, but a much wider region. So, to have the same effect, you would have to either have a graphic EQ and play with that, or have a head with treble and mid-treble available, to try to simulate that.
Diogo Baeder Thanks Diogo and also, I’m working with G&L in updating the SB-2. I believe Leo Fenders original idea was to have the J/bridge pickup act like a tone knob, that’s why it also had an anemic tone when soloed. But the updated SB-2 will definitely be a legitimate PJ bass with volume for each pickup and passive tone added and a hotter more useable J/bridge pickup. Thanks again.
MSRP $2,000.00 Retails for little over a $1100.00.... for a meat and potato bass??? Seams like a lot better options out there for that kind of Coin.? it is a good looking Bass but ??? $$$$
It's a GREAT meat and potatoes bass though!! Haha!! I'd spend my $$ on a USA G&L over many other USA mass produced basses. I think this bass is right in the ballpark for a bass of this quality, not quite in the boutique bass price range and just a little more than "deluxe" overseas basses.
I like the bass don't get me wrong. They do a nice job. I'm just having a hard time getting my head around the price. keep on Keepin On The Bass Hang Rock's
Thanks so much my friend!! I totally get it, spending that kind of money better get me a home run bass for sure!! I definitely appreciate your opinion very much!!!
the bridge pickup is under wound, and its placed on the bass as a substitute for the tone knob.
That P sound is killer!!!
I've heard people say that the j pickup on the SB-2 produces unusable tones when soloed, but you proved that wrong big time. Great demo!!
Thanks so much. I didn't find the J pickup bad at all, it's a very powerful pickup, I wouldn't use it on everything but I liked it blended with the P pickup quite a bit.
When Leo Fender initially designed the SB-2 he didn't really envision the bridge pickup being used on it's own, which is why it's noticeably less hot than the neck pickup.
The idea is that the neck pickup does most of work, with the bridge pickup being blended in, as required, to add some bite.
I've never really felt the need to do much at all on my amp with an SB-2.
The pickups are SO good that you can get a surprisingly wide range of tones with just blending the two.
Much better, in my opinion, than some of the crappy tone controls you get on many basses, which may as well be a switch, since nothing seems to change except in the last couple of degrees of a turn at either end of the spectrum.
These are very aggressive basses: they feel and sound very solid, and you can really get stuck into them when playing live.
It might sound strange, but they have so much character that it almost feels like you're playing WITH the bass, rather than ON it: it's like something you and the bass do together.
Gigging with an SB-2 is like going drinking with a slightly psycho friend: you love it, but you're constantly restraining it from kicking that bloke in the front row in the 'nads and stealing his girlfriend.
I have mine strung with the extremely heavy La Bella 760M flatwounds: it sounds like a marshmallow-coated cannonball.
LOVE the color. Gotta get one.
Love the sound of this bass! Please G&L, work up a 5 string model!
Steve I sure hope you get compensated well for these demos because you have sold me a lot of gear my friend. When I am looking for a piece of gear and I see that you have demoed it..... I generally end up buying it. Great video and great playing.....
Thanks so much my friend!!!
Please tell me how to get a cap like you wear in this video - with the bass clef embroidered on it.
Go to LathonBassWear.com
Is there a huge difference in quality between the USA-made G&L basses and the "Tribute" line of G&L's, which are made in Indonesia?
Yes, a huge difference in quality.
There is a difference, but that's not to say the Legacy models are bad; they punch well above their weight.
The tribute line is great buck for money basses. I hav one and i love it.
Sweet Bass! looking for an SB-2 with that finish. Can't find one. Do you know the year manufactured? I am usually not that particular about colors on my basses. Two are natural finish, the other 2 are black. But, for some reason that blue sparkle is hitting the right button. Any help on that? I have decided to get an SB-2, and came on here to see some reviews, and you just had it in your hands. Nice playing btw.
Hey there. So sorry I'm just seeing this message. This is a brand new bass. I'm sure that you could get the bass ordered from any G&L dealers.
PGeorge61 You ever get this bass?
If you happened to have a Tribute SB-2 - could you do a comparison video?
Great demo/review and Fantastic bass!
Amazing bass. But not having a tone knob is a dealbreaker for me, especially when there's a P pickup in the mix. I think it was a bad decision not to include one in such a good bass.
The thing is: a tone knob is almost never the same as messing with the preamp EQ in the head. Because usually tone knobs have a very low Q, meaning it won't just cut off narrow-ish trebles, but a much wider region. So, to have the same effect, you would have to either have a graphic EQ and play with that, or have a head with treble and mid-treble available, to try to simulate that.
Diogo Baeder Thanks Diogo and also, I’m working with G&L in updating the SB-2. I believe Leo Fenders original idea was to have the J/bridge pickup act like a tone knob, that’s why it also had an anemic tone when soloed. But the updated SB-2 will definitely be a legitimate PJ bass with volume for each pickup and passive tone added and a hotter more useable J/bridge pickup. Thanks again.
@@Thebasshang Sounds awesome, dude! Meanwhile I'm enjoying my M2500 a lot :-)
The tone knob is optional.
@@pwokaren thanks, I didn't know that
This bass is sick I wish I had a nice bass haha
from another video i came across, i think the secret of this bass is to use flatwounds
This is Great! :)
"Meat and potatoes", probably not the sexiest, most descriptive way to sum up the SB-2. It's a better bass than that.
MSRP $2,000.00 Retails for little over a $1100.00.... for a meat and potato bass???
Seams like a lot better options out there for that kind of Coin.? it is a good looking Bass but ??? $$$$
It's a GREAT meat and potatoes bass though!! Haha!! I'd spend my $$ on a USA G&L over many other USA mass produced basses. I think this bass is right in the ballpark for a bass of this quality, not quite in the boutique bass price range and just a little more than "deluxe" overseas basses.
I like the bass don't get me wrong. They do a nice job. I'm just having a hard time getting my head around the price.
keep on Keepin On The Bass Hang Rock's
Thanks so much my friend!! I totally get it, spending that kind of money better get me a home run bass for sure!! I definitely appreciate your opinion very much!!!