stewblack Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 Been wondering about these for a little while. There's a beauty on sale here in a natural finish, but I've always hankered after a green one tricked out with ashtrays. One came up suspiciously cheap on the 'bay so I nabbed it. It's actually very nice. I swapped the plate because a white plate just looks like a place holder while they wait for the tort to come back into stock! An old Harley Benton one I had lying around fitted after a little judicious shaving with a Stanley knife. Not too heavy, plays well, lovely neck...but...an annoying audible vibration noise which took me a while to diagnose. In the end it was a machine head very slightly loose. Sorted that and reassembled it. Beautiful now, sounds like a dream. It's easily as good as folks say. Even the headstock which I know puts some of you off (it did me) looks so much nicer in the flesh - although you'll have to take my word for that! 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted June 8, 2022 Share Posted June 8, 2022 I like that headstock, it's definitely one of the better Fenderish efforts out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted June 9, 2022 Share Posted June 9, 2022 Headstock chat detected End of thread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted June 9, 2022 Author Share Posted June 9, 2022 6 hours ago, neepheid said: Headstock chat detected End of thread 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted June 9, 2022 Author Share Posted June 9, 2022 I used to assume the G&L headstock was a mistake, like they accidentally used some experimental melty wood. But then I saw one in the flesh and it's actually a beautiful instrument. A similar thing happened here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 On 08/06/2022 at 21:09, stewblack said: That is a lovely piece of wood. I love how grain figuring can look holographic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted June 11, 2022 Author Share Posted June 11, 2022 Nice innit? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 (edited) Need a screen wipe please and I don’t even like green. Does look awesome with the tort Edited June 11, 2022 by Geek99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted June 11, 2022 Author Share Posted June 11, 2022 1 hour ago, Geek99 said: Need a screen wipe please and I don’t even like green. Does look awesome with the tort I prefer it than the original white for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meterman Posted June 11, 2022 Share Posted June 11, 2022 On 08/06/2022 at 22:09, stewblack said: Been wondering about these for a little while. There's a beauty on sale here in a natural finish, but I've always hankered after a green one tricked out with ashtrays. One came up suspiciously cheap on the 'bay so I nabbed it. It's actually very nice. I swapped the plate because a white plate just looks like a place holder while they wait for the tort to come back into stock! An old Harley Benton one I had lying around fitted after a little judicious shaving with a Stanley knife. Not too heavy, plays well, lovely neck...but...an annoying audible vibration noise which took me a while to diagnose. In the end it was a machine head very slightly loose. Sorted that and reassembled it. Beautiful now, sounds like a dream. It's easily as good as folks say. Even the headstock which I know puts some of you off (it did me) looks so much nicer in the flesh - although you'll have to take my word for that! That is handsome! Wouldn’t say no to one myself, that colour is ace 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
such Posted June 12, 2022 Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) Nice! I bought one exactly like it (with the original sterile white pg that it currently doesn't wear) brand new a few years ago while on a massive Khruangbin kick. One thing I especially love about it is the neck - made of super dense, even, straight quartersawn maple. One would pay a multiple of this bass' price to request this as a premium from a custom shop. Topped with an equally dense, even-grained, dark rosewood fretboard. Also, it sounds absolutely fantastic. I never looked inside, and may replace pots, socket etc one day, but the pickups are going nowhere. Thing I hate is this had the worst fretwork I've ever seen, by far. I consider myself good with these things, and managed to get it playable, with only one note in one fret of one string still creating a buzz sometimes. Will need a full refret at some point. Someone (sloppily) put three distinctly different sizes of fret wire into too shallow slots. That also means I can't get the fret ends super smooth either, as they're sitting somewhat proud. I know this is an exception and SX guitars generally have a reputation of being put together rather nicely. Still, it is a great sounding, good looking jazz bass and is here to stay. Edited June 12, 2022 by such 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewblack Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share Posted June 12, 2022 Gigged mine for the first time on Sunday and it plays really well. Funnily enough I had to tap a couple of frets home too, and noticed a couple of buzzy moments at the gig. I have to agree with you about the neck @such - it is sublime. Looks and feels real quality. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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