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G&L Custom Shop SB-1 Roasted Ash Metallic Seafoam Grain Fill w/ Matching AAA Flame Neck

We are excited to present our latest arrival from the G&L Custom Shop. The concept for this build came from an example presented at the 2020 NAMM show. Needless to say, we were dumbfounded by the grain-filled, Roasted Ash Body and just had to have one with all the bells and whistles. 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. This one sounds as good as it looks and clocks in at a mere 7.4 pounds!

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

  • Roasted Ash body, Metallic Seafoam Grain Fill, 7.4 pounds
  • Satin finish AAA Flame Maple Neck w/ Indian Rosewood Fretboard
  • G&L Medium C neck, 9.5" radius, 1-5/8" nut width
  • Light Aged hardware
  • 3-ply tortoiseshell pickguard 
  • G&L MFD P-style split middle pickup (hum cancelling)
  • Volume and tone controls
  • G&L Saddle Lock Bridge 
  • Plek laser guided fret finishing
  • Deluxe Custom Shop hardshell case
  • Made in Fullerton, CA
The G&L Custom Shop affords the G&L enthusiast an opportunity to get a master-built instrument with personal attention to detail priced well below other manufacturer's custom shop offerings. And while the Custom Shop is not an "anything goes" proposition, it does allow the buyer to color outside the lines, and specify a wider range of personal preferences. In this case we took advantage of the Custom Shop process to collaborate with G&L on this unique bass. It features a Roasted Ash body with a Metallic Seafoam grain fill, AAA Roasted Flame Maple neck and light aged hardware for a timeless look. It's more than just eye-candy though, the Roasted Ash rings like a bell and the whole package weighs less than 7 and half pounds!

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.

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 laser-guided Plek fret finishing on a 6-bolt neck.

The G&L SB-1 is simple in concept, but bursting with character and versatility. The Roasted Ash body is comfortable, resonates better than most and we are crazy about the grain fill finish. With top-notch hardware and the dynamic MFD pickup, the SB-1 is pro-level gear that will allow you to cover 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 40 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.