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SKU GL-JB-PHG-EB

G&L USA JB 4-String Bass, Pharaoh Gold, Ebony Fretboard, Empress Body (7.8 lbs)

$1,699.99
Free 2-Day Shipping
  • G&L USA JB
  • Pharaoh Gold
  • Lightweight Empress Body (sonically similar to alder)
  • Hard-rock Maple Neck - Satin Clear Neck Finish
  • Ebony Fretboard - Mother of Pearl Block Inlays
  • 1 1/2" Medium C Neck Shape - 1 1/2” nut width, generous edge roll, and medium taper from 0.820” at 1st fret to 0.920” at 12th fret. These specs were part of the #6 and #8 necks.
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Bone Nut 
  • 22 Medium Jumbo PLEK Dressed Frets
  • 34" Scale Length
  • G&L JB Alnico V Single-Coil Pickups
  • Knobs: Volume, Volume, Tone
  • Saddle Lock Bridge
  • Custom G&L Ultra-Lite Tuners
  • Chrome Hardware
  • 3-Ply Black Pickguard
  • G&L Deluxe Hardshell Case 
  • G&L Certificate of Authenticity and Specs Sheet
  • Instrument Weight: 7.8 lbs.
  • Serial #: CLF1903031

Player's Perspective

The G&L JB is all about subtle refinements to a timeless design. But in this Pharaoh gold color, we think it's sure to grab people's attention before you even plug in and start playing it. It looks beautiful and sounds like an absolute powerhouse.

Paul Gagon, the tone and pickup guru over at G&L, analyzed hundreds of coveted old-school basses from the '60's. He found that part of their revered status had a lot to do with inconsistency. Back in the day, each bass rolled off the line a little differently, so some were "accidentally" built perfectly. These near perfect "Holy Grail" basses inspired and informed the G&L JB. The looks, feel, sound and vibe are familiar and reliable, but there are tweaks hiding in the design that'll please your ears and hands for years to come. The tone is a rich, all-purpose sound that will enliven your ideas without getting in the way. The neck feels like an old friend and the overall craftsmanship is absolutely impressive. This is one of those basses that you wouldn't be surprised to see a $3k price tag on. It feels like a high-end, boutique instrument... and it is... just without the high-end price tag. It's right in line with Fender's mass-production USA-made offerings while providing a vast array of additional options.

This is the perfect go-to bass for every kind of player. The lightweight empress body still provides plenty of sustain and punch for your notes without being back-breakingly heavy. If you've been looking for a jazz bass that you can play for hours on end without worrying about back problems or shoulder fatigue... Well, how does 7.8 lbs sound to you? It's perfectly balanced and weighs so little you'll forget you even have a bass strapped around your shoulder (not literally... but you get the point). Other upgrades on this one include an ebony fingerboard and beautiful mother of pearl block inlays.

This is the perfect companion in the studio, on the big stage, or for just jamming out with your buddies in the garage for hours and hours on end.

Manufacturer's Description

Players fond of the old adage “if it ain’t broke…” haven’t played a JB. You see, the G&L JB™ is all about refinement, blending “holy grail” Alnico single-coil tone with modern improvements and superb craftsmanship.

The JB’s classic Alnico V pickups have tone reminiscent of the best examples from the early ‘60s, thanks to the work of Paul Gagon, G&L VP Engineering. Gagon found his inspiration reviewing original prints stored in Leo Fender’s private laboratory at G&L, but that was just the start. About 30 years ago, Gagon was an R&D engineer at another company when he was tasked with finding out what was so special about the early bolt-on basses many players raved about. Gagon tirelessly analyzed many examples of what were considered “holy grail” basses, spending time out on the shop floor talking to builders still working in the pickup department since the ‘50s, all on a quest to discover where the real mojo was – and wasn’t. What he learned from the builders matched his own engineering analysis. You see, back in the day, the actual spec of pickups coming that down that old production line varied considerably. That meant coming up with the right specs was more challenging than simply following the prints, and Gagon’s persistence paid off as the JB serves up delicious, classic tone.

This JB projects a time-honored yet subtly progressive vibe, embracing the past yet unafraid of moving forward. The slim, hard-rock maple neck features an easy-playing satin finish, while its comfortable 9 1/2″ radius and Jescar 57110 medium-jumbo nickel-silver frets deliver silky playability. What’s more, the JB features an innovative Leo Fender-designed Saddle-Lock™ bridge to transfer string energy right into the body end-grain for an incredibly resonant instrument. The moment you open the deluxe Tolex hardshell case, you’ll be greeted with an instrument of timeless elegance and a delicious aroma that’ll have your pulse racing.

Founded by Leo Fender in 1980, G&L USA instruments continue to be made in the historic G&L facility on Fender Avenue in Fullerton, California, the Birthplace of Bolt-on™.

The G&L name, stylized G&L logo, distinctive “hook” headstock design, ASAT, Magnetic Field Design and MFD are registered trademarks or trademarks of G&L Musical Instruments / BBE Sound, Inc.

Music Store Live is proud to be one of the top authorized G&L dealers on the planet. We do our best to stock inventory of what our team of experts feels is the best combination of specs, specifically, so you don't have to wait for a custom order from G&L. With that said, if you haven't found what you're looking for, we would be happy to custom order a G&L for you. G&L’s factory works like a big custom shop, so it’s easy (and inexpensive) to get exactly what you want. Finish, body wood, fingerboard, pickguard, bridge, neck profile, neck finish, nut type, frets, tuners, binding – there are nearly 1 million possible combinations of specs on a G&L. We love helping our customers make their dream guitar, so don't hesitate to reach out to us if you want to make your custom G&L a reality!

Overall Condition

Music Store Live is proud to be an authorized dealer for G&L Guitars. This JB is 100% brand new and is being sold with a full manufacturer's warranty. Photos are of the exact bass you'll receive.

Our in-house guitar tech will inspect, test, set up, and clean all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.