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G&L SB-1 Vintage White Rosewood quarter sawn neck

It's easier to improve on a classic when you invented it: The G&L SB-1 is Leo Fender's evolutionary successor to his groundbreaking P-style bass. Characterized by G&L's dynamic MFD pickup and saddle-lock bridge, the SB-1 features thoughtful improvements to a timeless design. Finish in a creamy vintage with quarter-sawn maple neck, this re-imagined classic will stand out on the stage or in the studio. 

This USA SB-1 has the following standard features and upgrades:

  • Vintage White finish on Alder, 8.8 pounds
  • Clear satin Quartersawn neck
  • Indian rosewood fingerboard upgrade
  • G&L Medium C neck, 9.5" radius, 1-1/2" nut width
  • G&L tuners with lightweight aluminum split posts
  • 3-ply tortoiseshell pickguard
  • G&L MFD P-style split middle pickup (noise cancelling)
  • Volume and tone controls
  • Deluxe tolex hardshell case
  • Made in Fullerton, CA

When it comes to the world of electric instruments, not many can live up to the legacy Leo Fender left behind. He was a pioneer who never let success halt his focus toward improvement. Representing a design that premiered in 1951, the G&L SB-1 is a shining example of his engineering integrity.

For this particular SB-1, we selected G&L's 1-1/2" nut width Medium C neck option. We love the feel of the narrower "JB" style neck, and with the 9.5" fret radius this neck is an easy player, and makes a great transition for guitar players who also play bass. In addition, the quarter-sawn maple neck has the grain oriented perpendicular to the fretboard. This makes the neck stiffer and more stable, improving attack and eliminating the chance of dead spots.

Clearly the greatest departure from the original P-style (or G&L LB-100) bass is their MFD pickup. With its low coil resistance and broad magnetic field, MFD pickups are known for strong output, "Hi-Fi" frequency response, and a rich piano-like tone. They pack a lot of punch, and depending on your amp you can get clean smooth tones, or push the volume control all the way up for a little growl and graininess. Compared to a standard Alnico pickup, it has greater touch sensitivity and more dynamic range. This is a pickup that really responds to playing nuances. We like it best with the tone rolled off just a tiny bit, which adds the right amount of fullness without losing clarity and edge.

In regards to updated construction, G&L's patented Saddle Lock bridge assures great resonance and sustain. The heel of the bridge sits in the body not just on top of it, and the "lock" to the saddle lock is a small set screw on the side of the bridge. Tighten up the screw to lock the saddles together for better sustain and fewer sympathetic vibrations. Topping it off are G&L's lightweight tuning keys with aluminum posts, and a solidy anchored 6-bolt neck.

The G&L SB-1 is simple in concept, but bursting with character and versatility. The Alder body is comfortable, resonates well, and the Vintage White finish reminds us of French Vanilla ice cream. With top notch hardware and the dynamic MFD pickup, the SB-1 is pro-level gear that will allow you to cover a a lot of sonic territory with ease and minimum fuss.

We are an authorized G&L Premier dealer located in Bellingham, Massachusetts, and this is a new guitar with all tags, tools, paperwork and certificates. We have over 25 G&L's in stock at all times, and please feel free to browse our other listings, or contact us for information on a custom order.