G&L Custom Shop Pricing

RocketMusic

RocketMusic

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Oct 31, 2007
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www.rocketmusic.net
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Owner, Rocket Music
#1
G&L-Custom-Shop-Logo.jpg


I just received the price list for the new G&L Custom Shop! This looks really interesting, and the prices strike me as very reasonable.

Here's a list of things that all Custom Shop instruments will have in common. The highlights for me are the think skin urethane finish, the custom shop pickups, and the careful wood selection if the customer has some specific wants in terms of weight, color and grain pattern.

CUSTOM SHOP COMMON SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

Unless noted in the model listing, the following standard specifications are shared among models in this price list.


Neck wood: hard rock maple with Caribbean Rosewood or maple fingerboard
Frets: medium-jumbo Senko 18% Nickel Silver
Nut: 100% natural bone
Pickguard (where applicable): 3-ply white
Case: Custom Shop Deluxe Tolex

Standard bridges for various models. Exceptions or additional features are noted in model listings.
ASAT Classic variants: G&L traditional boxed steel bridge with six brass saddles
All other ASAT models, Fallout: G&L Saddle Lock bridge with brass saddles
All Legacy, S-500, Doheny, Comanche: G&L Dual-Fulcrum Vibrato with brass saddles and brass block

All 4-string basses: G&L Saddle Lock bridge with brass saddles
All 5-string basses: G&L Saddle Lock bridge with brass saddles

Body Wood. Hand-selected for weight or grain pattern where applicable. Hand sanding.
Hand-inspected thru every process step to ensure accuracy of craftsmanship and detail. Custom Shop staff responsible for all sanding processes up to and including post finish polish.


Thin Skin Urethane finish for both body and neck
Urethane offers the durability of a Poly finish with the sonic benefit of a thin lacquer finish offering the player a balanced tone foundation.


World-class fretwork finishing including Plek process ensuring the ultimate in player comfort and feel.
In addition to offering the most popular neck shapes and radii, our necks offer a feel and comfort of a truly classic instrument that is painstakingly crafted by our Custom Shop staff.


Custom Shop Pickups
Backed by our decades-long innovation expertise, G&L Custom Shop pickups offer individually machine-wound bobbins to exacting specifications. Hand wound options available (see options section)


Tuners / Machine Heads. Exceptions or additional features are noted in model listings.
All guitars: G&L sealed back with tapered post
All basses: G&L Ultra-Lite with aluminum tapered post

There are a bunch of guitar models available, but since this is TalkBass I'll just list the bass options. PM me if you'd like any info on the guitar stuff, and I'll happily share it.

And here are the starting prices on the available Custom Shop models:
ASAT Bass: $3510
ASAT Bass Semi-Hollow: $3610
Fallout Bass: $3450
JB: $3500
JB-5: $3600
KILOTON: $3460
KILOTON 5: $3560
L-1000: $3460 (based on CLF Research model)
L-1000 S750: $3560
L-2000: $3510 (based on CLF Research model)
L-2500: $3510 (based on CLF Research model)
L-2500 S750: $3610
LB-100: $3450
M-2000: $3510
M-2500: $3610
Matador: $3500
Matador V: $3600
SB-1: $3550
SB-2: $3600
 
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#2
And here are more of the options that are available. Mostly the same as the US Production models.

Finishes:
2-Tone Sunburst
3-Tone Sunburst
Alpine White
Andromeda
Aquaburst
Blonde
Butterscotch Blonde
Blackburst
Blueburst
Candy Apple Red Metallic
Cherryburst
Clear Blue
Clear Forest Green
Clear Orange
Clear Red
Electric Blue
Emerald Blue Metallic
Emerald Green Metallic
Fullerton Red
Graphite Metallic
Greenburst
Himalayan Blue
Honey
Honey Burst
Jet Black
Lake Placid Blue Metallic
Macha Green
Margarita Metallic
Midnight Blue Metallic
Natural
Old School Tobacco Sunburst
Pearl Grey
Pearl White
Pharaoh Gold
Plum Metallic
Purple Burst
Redburst
Ruby Red Metallic
Shell Pink
Shoreline Gold
Sonic Blue
Sublime Green
Sunset Coral
Surf Green
Tangerine Metallic
Tobacco Sunburst
Turquoise
Vintage Natural
Vintage White
Frost Top Coat (not available on Pearl White)

Metal Flake Finishes: $150
Blue Metal Flake
Gold Metal Flake
Green Metal Flake
Orange Metal Flake
Red Metal Flake
Silver Flake
Turquoise Flake

Nitrocellulose Finishes: $300
3-Tone Sunburst
Butterscotch Blonde
Candy Apple Red Metallic
Cherryburst
Clear Orange
Fiesta Red
Jet Black
Lake Placid Blue Metallic
Natural
Shell Pink
Shoreline Gold
Silver Metallic
Sonic Blue
Surf Green
Tobacco Sunburst
Vintage White

Body Woods:
Alder: $0
Roasted Alder: $125
Swamp Ash: $75
Roasted Swamp Ash: $200
American Basswood: $0
Western Sugar Pine: $75
Okoume: $0

Premium Wood Tops:
Premium Flame Maple Top: $350
Premium Quilt Maple Top: $500

Instrument Aging:
Light Aging: $175 (finish and hardware resemble an instrument that has some age but has been well cared for)
Medium Aging: $300 (finish and hardware show age and moderate use)
Heavy Aging: $475 (finish and hardware show age and heavy use)

Body Options:
Top Arm Contour (solid-body ASAT guitars/basses): $0
Rear Contour (solid-body ASAT guitars/basses): $0
Natural Wood Binding: $100
Top Binding - Black: $200
Top Binding - White: $200
Double Binding - Black: $300
Double Binding - White: $300

Pickguards: $0
1-ply Black
3-ply Black
3-ply Cream
3-ply Mint
3-ply Parchment
4-ply White Pearloid
4-ply Tortoiseshell
1-ply White
3-ply White
No Guard (ASAT Classic model with 2 pickups, ASAT Special / Semi-Hollow)

Knobs: $0
Plastic Bell - Black
Plastic Bell - Mint
Plastic Bell - Parchment
Plastic Bell - White
Knurled Metal - Black
Knurled Metal - Chrome

L-2000 / L-2500 Electronics Option:
Single Coil Mode: $50

Neck Woods:
Quartersawn Maple: $100
3A Flame Maple: $150
3A Roasted Flame Maple: $220

Neck Profiles:
1 5/8" Medium C: $0 (Default)
1 1/2" Medium C: $50
1 3/4" Medium C: $50

Neck Finishes:
Satin - Clear: $0
Satin - Light Tint: $0
Satin - Vintage Tint: $0
Satin - Light Toffee: $0
Satin - Dark Toffee: $0
Gloss - Clear: $150
Gloss - Vintage Tint: $150
Gloss - Light Toffee: $150
Gloss - Dark Toffee: $150
Body Color Match Entire Neck & Headstock: $150 (this is an "off the menu" option)

Neck Options:
Graph-Tech Nut: $35
Graph-Tech String Retainer: $35 (guitars only)
Reverse Headstock: $59 (no model logo will appear)
Neck Binding - Black: $250
Neck Binding - White: $250

Fingerboard Woods:
Maple: $0
Caribbean Rosewood: $0
Indian Rosewood: $50
Ebony: $70
Macassar (Caramel) Ebony: $170
Wenge: $170

Fingerboard Radius:
7.5": $0
9.5": $0
12" $0

Frets:
Medium Jumbo - Nickel Silver: $0 (default)
Medium Jumbo - Stainless Steel: $100
Medium Jumbo - Gold Evo: $75
Tall & Skinny Vintage - Nickel Silver: $50

Fingerboard Inlays:
Dots - Pearl: $0
Dots - Abalone: $0
Dots - None: $0
Block Inlays - Black: $200
Block Inlays - White: $200

Fingerboard Woods / Inlays - Fretless Bass:
Ebony - no ghost lines: $75
Ebony - white inlaid ghost lines: $175
Caribbean Rosewood - no ghost lines: $0
Caribbean Rosewood - white inlaid ghost lines: $100
India Rosewood - no ghost lines: $50
Indian Rosewood - white inlaid ghost lines: $150

Headstock Finish:
Gloss Headstock: $50
Paint Matched Headstock: $150
Black Headstock: $150

Logo:
G&L Logo - Silver On Black: $0 (Silver treble clef & border, includes No Model Logo)
G&L Logo - Black On Silver: $0 (Black treble clef & border, includes No Model Logo)
No Model Logo: $0
 
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#4
TomB said:
Probably not the most important question, but what is a deluxe tolex case - a G&G-style case, or something new? Thx.
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The US Production instruments all ship in what they call a deluxe tolex case, so I don't think this custom shop one will be radically different from the normal G&L cases. It'll probably just have some decorative thing (like a logo or something) that lets you know it's a custom shop bass inside.
 
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#6
Yeah. And I meant to do a comparison, just for fun's sake.

Say we take an L-2000 with no options.
US Production L-2000 = $2285 MSRP / $1599 INTERNET
Custom Shop L-2000 = $3575 MSRP / $2500 INTERNET

So you're looking at a roughly $900 difference. That gets you the thin urethane finish, a Custom Shop pickup (not the hand-wound one, that's a mild upcharge), a hand sanded body, the custom shop case, and a skilled baby sitter to make sure everything goes perfectly with your build. Plus whatever pride you derive from swimming in the Custom Shop waters.

All in all, that strikes me as reasonable. I'm sure there will be those who disagree, which is fine. Nothing at all wrong with the US Production ones, they'll still be available, as well. Same as it ever was.
 
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#7
I dig it.
Seems to fall in line with Fender's "Master Built" Custom Shop basses as far as
having someone babysit an instrument the whole way through the production process.
Overall I'd say the prices are pretty fair for what you're getting.
I am curious how the L series CS pickups would differ from the standard production pickups, other than being hand wound.
 
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#8
RocketMusic said:
The US Production instruments all ship in what they call a deluxe tolex case, so I don't think this custom shop one will be radically different from the normal G&L cases. It'll probably just have some decorative thing (like a logo or something) that lets you know it's a custom shop bass inside.
Click to expand...
So is a deluxe tolex case the “old-fashioned” Fender-style (G&G) as opposed to the molded plastic cases G&L went to for many years? That must be it - nice!
 
#10
dedpool1052 said:
I dig it.
I am curious how the L series CS pickups would differ from the standard production pickups, other than being hand wound.
Click to expand...

I'm not seeing any mention of the L-2000 pickups being different, other than being wound very closely to spec. Maybe those haven't varied much over the years?

For most of the guitar pickups, they're offering specs that Leo designed back in the 50's and 60's. The LB-100 and JB pickups seem to offer a choice of old (1957 P or 1962 J) and newer designs (1996 P, 2006 JB). Leo died in 1991, so I guess the newer ones do not come directly from him (unless maybe G&L was mining his old designs at those times). The L-2000 might never have evolved much, especially since it was essentially an evolution of the Music Man stuff.
 
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#12
Bullitt5135 said:
Do you know if it's possible to get an SB-2 (or SB-1 for that matter) back-routed with no pickguard (like an L-2000, for instance)?
Click to expand...

That is often an option, even with the US Production models. PD is the code for "Pickguard Delete", and they offer that on some but not all models.

I'll check with G&L and get back to you regarding whether PD applies on these two specific models.

Cheers,
Greg
 
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#13
RocketMusic said:
I'm not seeing any mention of the L-2000 pickups being different, other than being wound very closely to spec. Maybe those haven't varied much over the years?

For most of the guitar pickups, they're offering specs that Leo designed back in the 50's and 60's. The LB-100 and JB pickups seem to offer a choice of old (1957 P or 1962 J) and newer designs (1996 P, 2006 JB). Leo died in 1991, so I guess the newer ones do not come directly from him (unless maybe G&L was mining his old designs at those times). The L-2000 might never have evolved much, especially since it was essentially an evolution of the Music Man stuff.
Click to expand...

While I have no substantial evidence to support my assertion, to my ears, there seems to be a difference between the tone of my '81 Wunkay and my '14 Wunkay. Almost as if the newer pickup is hotter as it is an overall "woolier" tone. Evem with the same height, the '81 has less output. The '81 is a bit clearer and less congest in the mids. G&L/CLF might have some documentation of pickup specs from the early days and materials used compared to later versions.
 
#14
dedpool1052 said:
While I have no substantial evidence to support my assertion, to my ears, there seems to be a difference between the tone of my '81 Wunkay and my '14 Wunkay. Almost as if the newer pickup is hotter as it is an overall "woolier" tone. Evem with the same height, the '81 has less output. The '81 is a bit clearer and less congest in the mids. G&L/CLF might have some documentation of pickup specs from the early days and materials used compared to later versions.
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Interesting. I'd certainly put more stock in your comments than mine. Mine are pure speculation.

I'll check with G&L, see what they have to say about the L2K pickups...
 
#17
RocketMusic said:
Ron says they ran out of time (prepping for NAMM) to do anything with the L2K pickups, so those are today's pickups at the moment. But he says he does intend to get back to that for the Custom Shop options.
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Understandable with NAMM and evreything. Interested in seeing if they make any changes to the L pickups from that of the standard production.

Side note, with them still not having the L-1000 in the standard line-up, the custom shop seems like a good way to bring it back.
 
#18
dedpool1052 said:
Understandable with NAMM and evreything. Interested in seeing if they make any changes to the L pickups from that of the standard production.

Side note, with them still not having the L-1000 in the standard line-up, the custom shop seems like a good way to bring it back.
Click to expand...

Yep, and Ron has mentioned to me several times that he wants to do just that. I think getting the chrome control plate thing happening again for the CLF L2K was a step in that direction. He mentioned he wanted to bring that plate back if/when he brings back the L-1000.
 
#19
Is it still possible to get options on a production model without having to go the “Custom Shop” route? For example, a 12” radius fretboard when 9-1/2” is standard? A 1-1/2” nut, when 1-5/8 is standard?
Thanks for your help Greg. Still loving the special spec SB-2 that you ordered for me 2 years ago!
 
#20
osv said:
Is it still possible to get options on a production model without having to go the “Custom Shop” route? For example, a 12” radius fretboard when 9-1/2” is standard? A 1-1/2” nut, when 1-5/8 is standard?
Thanks for your help Greg. Still loving the special spec SB-2 that you ordered for me 2 years ago!
Click to expand...

Absolutely! Nothing is changing with the way they do the typical USA production or the options that they provide. They're just adding a Custom Shop layer for those who might like that.
 
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