New G&L Kiloton Bass Jet Black on American Basswood Left Handed ~ Authorized G&L Premier Dealer

This guitar was used for our Berklee School of Music Gear Club presentation on G&L guitars (see photo). Other than some handling by students the instrument has been inspected, tested and is in like new condition.

Brand new in 2016, the G&L Kiloton Bass is a simple machine with serious power. For our left handed friends we got this Kiloton with a few nice upgrades like scraped wood binding and a Basswood body. Featuring a single MFD humbucker with a series/split/parallel toggle switch, this bass has the fidelity and dynamic range that G&L players have come to expect.

This USA-made G&L Kiloton Bass features:

• Basswood body w/ Jet Black finish, 8 pounds
• Scraped wood binding
• G&L Medium C Neck 1.5" nut, 9.5" radius (with 6 bolts)
• Satin light tint finish maple neck
• Logo delete on headstock
• Rosewood fingerboard
• 3-Ply Parchment pickguard
• (1) G&L Magnetic Field Design (MFD) Humbucker pickup
• Volume and Tone controls
• Series/Split/Parallel pickup mode (mini toggle)
• Massive patented Saddle Lock Bridge (a locking saddle screw on right side of bridge clamps the saddles together for better sustain)
• Lightweight Aluminum tuning pegs for better instrument balance
• Plek ® laser-guided fret finishing
• G&L non-compression truss rod for consistent and even neck relief
• Deluxe hardshell tolex case
• List price $2430

Test gear: BBE Bmax preamp, Carvin DCML1000 power amp, GK 1x15 Neo Cab

The name Kiloton is a cheeky way of saying this power packs some power (A Kiloton equals 1,000 tons of TNT). Until now you could only experience the G&L MFD humbucker on the active L or M-series bass guitars, which have more complex controls, and in the case of the M-series are active only. For those who felt that was a bit much, the passive Kiloton gets right to point. One volume, one tone and a three way mini toggle switch for exploring the nuances of the MFD pickup. The switch puts the pickups in series, split or parallel mode.

Now before we describe what these tones bring to the table it is important to highlight the choice of tonewoods used on this particular bass. The body is Basswood, which is a newly available lightweight option at G&L. Basswood is often overlooked as a tonewood due to its lower density and small, tight grain patterns. However, if you throw a deep Jet Black finish overtop combined with scraped wood binding, it's all about the tone. The high end is clear and articulate, and there is an extended smoothness to it that is very pleasing. There is also plenty of low end response -- more than enough for a 4-string bass -- and the powerful MFD pickup draws out Basswood's percussive low end attack. The mid range is the real bread and butter of Basswood, which is throaty and harmonically complex. Overall there are many similarities to Alder, except that Basswood is consistently lighter in weight making it a winner for tone and comfort .

Now let's look at the mini-toggle settings:

Series Mode - Fat, meaty tones with an accentuated midrange growl that still have plenty of definition, especially when using a pick. Just the ticket for hard driving rock, punk and heavier styles

Split - Clean, crisp piano-like tones reminiscent of a JB bass with tons of clarity and note separation. Responsive and snappy, the combination of the split setting is just perfect for slap bass. Notes just bounce off the fingerboard with very little effort. Slap or not, this was our favorite setting.

Parallel - Very much like the blend of the two pickups on a JB, with a smooth silky tone, but enough high end definition to sit well in the mix and not sound muddy. Great for jazz, pop, or when you want to chill but still lay down a solid groove.

Plus you get all that you expect from a G&L bass: Full sized hand-wired pots for effective tone shaping, Plek'd frets, lightweight aluminum tuning pegs for better balance, and our personal favorite Medium-C style neck taper with the narrower 1.5" nut width and 9.5" radius.

The Kiloton has it all going on, and is capable of anything from bright steely treble tones, to fat growling low end. With good dynamic range and excellent overall sustain, it's really just a matter of a little experimentation to dial in the guitar for a particular sound or style of music. The G&L Kiloton is perfect for studio players and performers who value quality and simplicity without sacrificing flexibility.

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.