Leo Fender’s J Bass, Evolved to Perfection
The G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB Electric Bass delivers the full brilliance of Leo Fender’s original design, along with a host of enhancements that make it a top contender in the ultimate J Bass sweepstakes. In 1960, Leo’s eponymous company rocked the world with its second electric bass, and it was a doozy. With its ergonomic offset-waist body and wicked-fast, ultra-slim neck, it took the world by storm, becoming the instrument of choice for countless rock, funk, and fusion bassists who appreciate its smooth playability and characteristic punchy growl. Today’s G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB Electric Bass captures all the magic of this historic Leo Fender invention while incorporating modern refinements such as G&L’s excellent alnico Jazz single-coil pickups and Saddle-Lock bridge. In fact, every component of the Fullerton Deluxe JB represents more than a half-century of innovation, all in the name of performance. From its flawless playability to its impeccable tone, the G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB is ready to rock.
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A tone machine for all seasons
After many years of studying vintage pickup designs, G&L Vice President of Engineering Paul Gagon dove into the treasure trove of original schematics at Leo Fender’s private factory skunkworks and arrived at the design for G&L’s alnico Jazz single-coil pickup. Back in the early ’60s, the specs for pickups coming down the assembly line actually varied quite a bit, so Gagon had to discover where the magic was in his search for the elusive holy-grail tonal qualities coveted by bassists worldwide. We’re here to say that the result — G&L’s outstanding alnico Jazz single-coil — does not disappoint. On its own, the middle pickup is round, fat, deep, and punchy; the bridge pickup serves up definitive Jaco growl; and together, they deliver a funky, slightly scooped sound that’s ideal for slap-style playing. Tonally, it’s the best of all worlds.
Saddle-Lock bridge increases resonance and sustain
Another G&L innovation has found its way into the Fullerton Deluxe JB: the G&L Saddle-Lock bridge, which blows away the comparatively primitive bridge designs found on vintage basses by efficiently transferring string vibration to the instrument’s sleekly sculpted, offset-waist body. The Saddle-Lock bridge reduces the lateral movement of the saddle pieces by tightening an Allen screw on the side of the bridge. Additionally, the Saddle-Lock bridge has a solid protrusion on its backside that is sunk firmly into the instrument’s body wood. Together, these two features make it easier for string energy to travel into the body and translate into a rich, resonant, and sustaining sound.
A legacy of innovation and quality
Today, G&L USA instruments are built at the same Fender Avenue factory in Fullerton that originally housed Fender production and manufactured early Music Man instruments. Leo’s private workshop remains the heart and soul of the factory and is regularly visited by music lovers from across the planet. Although not widely distributed, G&L instruments are held in high esteem among savvy musicians and collectors. The company’s relatively small-scale American production operation, employing a blend of computer-assisted CNC machine processes and handcrafting by expert luthiers, allows for a range of customization that is not possible with large production lines. Sweetwater is proud to offer such a fine line of distinguished musical instruments.
G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB Electric Bass Features:
- Sleekly sculpted, offset-waist solid pine body
- Bolt-on hard-rock maple neck, medium “C” profile, G&L polished Vintage Tint Satin finish
- Caribbean rosewood fingerboard, Jescar medium-jumbo 18% nickel silver frets
- G&L Ultra-Lite custom tuners with aluminum tapered string posts
- 2 G&L alnico Jazz single-coil pickups
- Per-pickup Volume controls; Master Tone control
- Leo Fender-designed G&L Saddle-Lock bridge
- Quality crafted in G&L’s Fullerton, CA factory
