USED G&L SB-2 Black 3-Bolt 1989 Electric Bass w/OHSC

As a longtime G&L dealer right up to the very end, we're always happy when a clean used G&L guitar or bass comes through our doors. Built on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California, while Leo Fender himself was still coming to work every day, this 1989 G&L SB-2 is an exceptional example of a Leo-era, pre-BBE bass: all original and in excellent condition.

This SB-2 is a second-generation model, produced from 1988 until 1992, a run that spans Leo Fender's passing and ends when BBE took ownership of the company. The second-generation SB-2 introduced the P/J Magnetic Field Design (MFD) pickup layout, and this one pairs an 8.4-pound maple body with the much-loved powder-coated bridge and pickguard, dual volume controls topped with large chrome knobs, and a 1-1/2" nut width.

We've gone through the bass and given it a full setup. Neck relief is even on both sides, there is no fret wear, and the only change we made was shimming the bone nut. The single-action truss rod works as it should, and the 3-bolt neck sits flat in the pocket without any help from the Micro-Tilt adjustment. It plays great, and the electronics are quiet and fully functional. The body is clean with no marks, dings, or dents. The hardshell case appears original, though it does not carry G&L branding, and we aren't certain that cases from this era did.

G&L made some very nice guitars, but truth be told, their MFD-equipped basses were even better. This 1989 SB-2 is a great player and a very clean piece of G&L history, perfect for collectors and even better when it's being played.