Back to navigation


Leo Fender’s J Bass, Evolved to Perfection





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





The G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB-5 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-5 Electric Bass captures all the magic of this historic Leo Fender invention while incorporating modern refinements such as G&L’s excellent Vintage Alnico Jazz single-coil pickups and Saddle-Lock bridge. In fact, every component of the Fullerton Deluxe JB-5 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-5 is ready to rock.





Related Videos: Fullerton Deluxe JB-5 Bass Guitar - Purpleburst


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 Vintage 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, its the best of all worlds.





Serial CLF2311067


Serial CLF2311067


Saddle-Lock bridge increases resonance and sustain





Another G&L innovation has found its way into the Fullerton Deluxe JB-5 ? 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.





Serial CLF2311067


G&L Fullerton Deluxe JB-5 Electric Bass Features:


Sleekly sculpted, offset-waist solid alder body


Bolt-on hard-rock maple neck with Classic"C" profile


Maple fingerboard, 20 medium-jumbo frets


G&L Ultra-Lite custom tuners with aluminum tapered string posts


2 G&L Vintage Alnico Jazz single-coil pickups


Per-pickup volume controls and master tone control


Leo Fender-designed G&L Saddle-Lock bridge


Quality crafted in G&L’s Fullerton, CA-based factory