SB-2 bass advice requested

[glvourot]

Hey guys,

I'm interested in this SB-2

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Leo-Fen ... 416ecca195

Anyone here know the approximate price range for these guitars? I have been considering new ones but wouldn't mind a Leo era guitar. As far as I can tell from the serial number I think its a 91 ( I could be wrong ). Not the end of the world if I don't get it. Should I be patient and wait for something else? I like bursts but I already have 3 sunburst guitars. Opinions greatly appreciated !

( please excuse if this ends up being a double post, I seem to have lost my first one )

[yowhatsshakin]

From the S/N is looks like it was built around '93. SB-2 from that era go for somewhere between $1,125 for a closet relic to $450 for a beater. A mint specimen goes for about $900.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

[glvourot]

Thank you very much for the reply, good to know the price ranges. Wouldn't want to overpay.

[KenC]

+1 to Jos's advice on prices.

If I'm not mistaken, the SB-2 has been in continuous production since '82. The current ones are not "reissues" as the eBay seller claimed. The model has changed over the years though. The current style has been around since the mid-80s, but the nuts used to be a bit wider and the pickguard material has changed a couple of times.

These "second style" SB-2s are one of the few models that I haven't owned or played yet, but I would get one in a heartbeat if the price and timing were right and the color appealed to me. I currently have a first-style SB-2 (with two Jazz Bass-ish pickups) and its follow-on, the Lynx Bass. They are both wonderful instruments. I imagine the split neck pickup in the second-style SB-2s would balance out very nicely with the old style bridge pickup.

If you do look for an older SB-2, be aware that the neck profile changed sometime in the 90s from a 1 5/8" nut to the current Jazz-like 1.5" width.

Ken

[glvourot]

I did bid on the SB-2 that I linked to. It ended up selling for 770 dollars. I held back because I have not really begun my search in earnest and I think I really want a black one ( not set in stone though ). There are only 3 G&L dealers in my area, if they have any US basses in stock it would be a miracle. I'm also thinking about an American P-bass but the extra pick up on the SB-2 seems like a no brainer. Then there is the L-2000 which seem to be kicking around a little more on craigslist. They are starting to grow on me but as yet I have not played or seen one in the flesh. My search continues ! Thanks for the great advice&info guys.

[KenC]

L-2000s are excellent basses. You can get a really wide range of tones out of them.

Ken

[fendertweed]

I had a super lucky score on a very good '96 SB-2 (U.S. made of course) several yrs. ago for ridiculous money -- Tribute price... and all i had to do was drop fill 2-3 chips along the lower edge of the body, you barely see them now.

I'm not a "real" bass player but the SB-2 is quite a different critter than the L2000. I love 'em both and also have a very nice L2k Tribute that plays great and sounds wonderful (I usually use it passive w/ out active electronics but that's there too).

The SB-2 has more of a Jazz Bass feel (though the 2 pickups give it a JB/Precision mix), where the L2000 seems more like a P-bass on steroids to my relatively untutored bass-ears.

Cheers,
Jon