G&L Kiloton Tribute FRETLESS - The Fullerton Fire Breather Goes Fretless! - LowEndLobster Review

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Hey everyone! Today we are checking out a very cool new bass from the G&L Tribute Series - the Kiloton Fretless! G&L took the bass community by storm when they released the Kiloton and Tribute models - delivering fat punchy tone and giving the classic 'Stingray' formula a bit of G&L flare. With the SB-2 body shape and fat MFD pickup right in the 'Ray "Sweet Spot", the Kiloton definitely earns its name. How does it do as a fretless? Let's find out!
This bass and all my other basses with rounds are strung with SIT Foundation Nickel Plated Stainless Steel 45-105(125) unless otherwise noted. Check them out at sitstrings.com/
Info on my signal chain, setup and more: • FAQ: My Signal Chain, ...
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[@oscardaniel8261]

Just got mine today. Thankful with the Lord for providing today after some months saving. This bass is a monster. Compete killer. The hanbucker is just a beast. Coming from the store, I played all afternoon and evening. Very happy and thankful, I think it was a wise choice.

[@pwokaren]

That Kiloton sounded just great at 50% tone. You also showed me how much fun you can have with a hypofretical Bass. 👏🏻

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Pwo!

[@degeest5571]

Being primarily a G&L player, I've been waiting for this bass to come out for awhile. Looks and sounds great...

[@GL_Guitars]

Thanks again and hello from our new channel 🙏

[@sextuspompeius1266]

If only you guys made a kiloton with a sunburst body and fretted neck

[@markfichman3303]

Maybe the best fretless in that price range right now. Glad to see G&L putting this out there.

[@peekaboo4390]

Tribute series basses are totally great and this one is no exception.

[@jdmarino]

The slap tone + mwah was crazy good.

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@nickbeneBass]

Great video. I would like to see a video comparison between the fretless basses that you have

[@57precision]

This is a fantastic bass. People throwing shade at the poplar back, but that swamp ash top looks stunning. Considering you can't just buy a new fretless Stingray, it has real rosewood, does a convincing jazz bass impression in single coil mode and costs what it costs...they knocked it out of the park with this one.

[@sunn_bass]

Nice review. I think G&L gets overlooked too often and they do make really specialbasses, but they really are fairly small. I love being about to slide harmonics on fretless. As for the headstock, I really like the G&L look. Thanks for continuing to spread the word for us bassist.

[@grantkoeller8911]

Nothing small about this bass

[@sunn_bass]

@@grantkoeller8911I meant G&L as a manufacturer, not the bass itself. G&L as a manufacturer is fairly small compared to MusicMan, much less Fender. But they make some fine instruments.

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@sunn_bass ok, I see what you mean, that G&L has a smaller level of production output per year as compared to Fender, or even Squier.

[@user-LewisB]

Great review! Looking forward to seeing your fretted review.

[@frankrodriguez8971]

LOVE your detailed and insightful reviews of all these basses. Usually, once I find a tone I like, I don't deviate. But watching your videos has made me go back and try to find the full spectrum of tones on all 20 of my babies! Thanks again, I look forward to whatever you put out next!

[@grizelda4526]

Fantastic! I was really looking forward to this review. I ordered an fretted American Kiloton a month ago so I’m in wait mode. This review has me really pumped now!

[@kevmac1230]

Lobster,that bass sounds so sweet.Your fretless playing is coming along quite nicely also.G&L has always killed it.

[@meyersguitars2196]

What a great sounding and looking bass.

[@Sumbibebe]

I love the way you made it sound. G&L is on my top list of guitars, along with Music Man they have Leo’s team and soul in them, unlike the modern Fender. You got me to buy the short scale Fall Out and I love it. I got my eye on the L seres but I still need to be worthy of it. Great video👍🏽

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Sumbi Sumbi!

[@PushSueAside]

FINALLY A KILOTON tribute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have the fretted version and LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! After about a year, still playing it daily. Cheers

[@tracychappell2029]

Now I want to buy one of those! I love the sound and looks. Sounds like I would like the C neck profile.

[@spurioustransients]

The Series mode could be useful in a gig situation if you needed a boost without having to walk over to the amp and turn it up or signal to the soundman.

[@bassimprovjams3772]

We’re on a G&L kick over here!! Me like!! Thanks for this Lobb!!! 🦞 love the G&L pickups!! What a great price for this!!

[@elm1161b]

I was not much of a you tuber , I’ve watched many of your videos, you have become a favorite, I’ve probably played longer than you been living, kudos I’ve learned a lot from you, keep up the good work!

[@erichouser7756]

Ordered one about 10 months ago. Just got it. Couldn't be happier with the wait. Truly a joy, as said in video. Like butter. This video was the choice maker from all the others I was looking at. Thanks bro

[@joshuapisani1853]

This is insane - I saw your video released just a couple days ago, and hadn't had the time to view it. THEN, after looking online to see what gear the bassist from Dead Poet Society is using, I find out he has a 5 string version of the USA Kiloton! LowEndLobster, you're reading my mind!

[@BYLRPhil]

Excellent! I love my Kiloton and I think you’ll love it too :-)

[@TheFootOfGold]

Great review Lobster. I love how this Kiloton sounds and the price seems pretty good. This Kiloton Tribute is a third of the price of the G&L Fullerton Deluxe Kiloton (fretted), likely due to its substantially different construction and configuration. Nonetheless this seems like an awesome fretless bass.

[@mark6302]

sounds quite crisp for a fretless, very nice

[@Bassdriver]

Ooooh, me likey! I'd love to check one out. I wonder of they have a fretless 5 Trubute. I'd also love a fretted 5. Great basses!

[@DeeshBassChannel]

Great review-I’ve been real curious about this one! Justa comment or 3 about a few things you mentioned…I have a US L1k and a US Kiloton. One of the “secret” things about using the MFD HB is rolling the volume off about 1/4, the sound is still very present, and more controllable. Not sure if the tribute series use import pots, but this works great on the US versions. The other thing I’ve found is, yes, the extra bass control on the L1k really helps, especially on the Series setting, but with the Kiloton’s bridge pickup position, you don’t really need to roll off the bass, so not having that control isn’t too bad.

[@theagk19781]

Great review, I have the fretted version in Olympic white, and I to have the same issue with the series mode, I play mine through a 1x15 combo with a 2x10 cab. and still have to play so lightly. I call the series mode the " someone else's amp" mode .

[@marciosouza8656]

I loved this Bass tone... Great...

[@keithpasculli7465]

Great sounding fretless

[@wilfredovazquez2942]

Oh God. That Kiloton sounds amazing.

[@grantkoeller8911]

This bass reminds me of Jaco Pastorious, the famous bass player from the fusion super group weather Report.

[@57precision]

never heard of him

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@57precision You have a lot of homework to do!!!

[@rastapastrychief]

@@grantkoeller8911 surely he's pulling your leg

[@Dima-ek4zj]

Love your shirt !

[@saxophite1333]

Great review as always Lobster! Would love if you could review a L-2000 or L-2500 from the Tribute series! Thinking about picking up an L-2000 and having it be my jack of all trades for 4 strings :)

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you! I'll do my best to snag one in the future

[@sebastiancabrol2014]

Looks great and sound really good! I wonder if being mfd pickups you could not only hide the pickup into the body a little more, but play with the height of the individual poles to reduce some of the output.

[@bentbelly6893]

Love to hear it with flats

[@richshields6692]

Great sounding fretless.

[@BlackRootsUNLIMITED]

Sounds very good 👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

[@LowEndLobster]

Thank you!

[@ramshaar2597]

Good job claw master "lobster"✌😉 real cool fretless keep the groove in high speed mode enjoy for me 2 please 😃👍

[@jamesmarkham7489]

Seems like a great bass. The import g&ls seem like a great option for those who want something other than p and j basses.

[@horrorshowbass]

I propose an A/B grudge match with the Fretless ray behind you Lobster. A blind one for the craic

[@rickrolli7091]

I agree with your recommendation of better electronics and the tone options. It seemed the tone control from 50 to zero percent didn't do much either. But it would make a great starter bass that could be modded later. Is that a short scale?

[@Brennyv219]

Hey Lobster! I just found your channel, and I love it. You’ve got a fun and informative tone. If you still have this bass, I’d love to buy it from you!

[@mostyles328]

I bet you could add a capacitor to the series selection switch to tame the output and maybe roll off the highs. Then it would just sound like a bass boost. Nice bass and great video!

[@martinheath5947]

Stunning looks and sound I'd love one of these! Would there be any way to solder a simple resistor onto the series switching to reduce output for that setting?

[@LowEndLobster]

Thanks Martin! Hrm.... I wonder. Perhaps putting the resistor on the 3rd 'tier' on the toggle (the one that normally has the two lugs connected) would provide the desired effect. A very interesting idea!

[@martinheath5947]

@@LowEndLobster Maybe even a trim pot. Would be really interesting to see if it works. You wouldn't even need to modify an instrument, in ttheory all you need is a couple of single coils hooked up to a jack via a series parallel switch and tap the pole pieces with a screwdriver!

[@peekaboo4390]

@@LowEndLobster Yes that was my original thought, You would need to choke the toggle output when in series or insert a mini pot and mount it inside the control cavity, I would do the later.

[@glenndjubilee]

Hypofretically speaking, it sounds very much like a fretless Stingray but I like it. And the price is right and you're smiling which means its' worth it. Thanks again for a great video Lobster. I think Tony Franklin would like this one too.

[@57precision]

That's what makes this bass so attractive considering it's difficult to get your hands on a fretless Stingray without spending an astronomical amount of money.

[@shipsahoy1793]

Go flatwound !! 👍

[@maxtazer2000]

It is a nice sounding bass.

[@jon8021]

Ha, I was just checking out the Kiloton Fretless on the G&L site thinking, “Hmmm”. I have a L2500, monster bass with a wide range of tones, but yeah, what an anchor - 12.5 pounds! 9 is doable at least and sounds good! 👌

[@KevinMajka]

Ed Friendland (Bass Whisperer) had a L-1000 EQ added to his sea foam fallout bass. I don't know anything about it - but it seems like a cool mod for the fallouts and kilotons.

[@mr_ozzio5095]

I reckon for a slap rating, you should use the SEINFIELD scale which goes from 1-11😉 Very nice sounding bass for not that much money, thought about a G&L last year but that head stock shape and weight🤨

[@eadgbenis]

Man I really want one of these but can't find any online, I love my tribute JB-2, just as good if not better than my Fender PJ thats double the price. G&L is highly underrated.

[@mikeburford3005]

Actually, while all the bass reviews are great, Lobster is one of the best bass players I've seen/hear on the net.

[@JGSandman38]

Did you ever get to try the fretted version of this? The matte black one is beautiful!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

You should start playing fretlesses with an octave pedal when you review them. It is good to know what fretless sounds like in Pino mode.😎

[@TorbenMougaard26]

Yes, I recognize this sound .. however, I have the fret version . Series mode is fine on a tubeamp .. On a digital amp i think the output is to hot . My favorit mode is singlecoile .

[@KapnKregg]

Curious if G&L will do this fretless in a 5 string version as well.....

[@ropermcalister8095]

Dang it! Just bought a bass a couple of days ago! Now you’ve got me GAS’ing for another. This one is begging for flatwound s, octave and chorus pedal just to go full Pino Palladino!

[@WyattLite-n-inn]

Pino played round wounds on that musician fretless .

[@ropermcalister8095]

@@WyattLite-n-inn Oh I know, he plays it with flats now though, like on the Blake Mills record. I much prefer his tone on that!

[@daleraszewski4477]

I have been trying to get one of these since I heard about it. No dealer I have talked with knows anything about them. Sweetwater even said the only way I can get one of these is special order and cost over $2000.

[@57precision]

That's ridiculous for 2 grand you might as well pimp out an option-order Made in Fullerton. Have you called Drum City - Guitar Land? They are my local store and a big G&L dealer.

[@jermainelong1843]

As soon as you started playing with the pick / slapping it sounded like you had a chorus effect on it.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

I have a saw. To convert the headstock. CLF style.

[@congerscott6064]

Low end lobster, what do you prefer, a 4 string bass or a 5 string bass ?

[@grantkoeller8911]

Would this bass work for a Nashville Country session player?

[@LowEndLobster]

I'd say so. It has a lot of kick and body to the tone, which would fit nicely in that kind of mix (or any mix really).

[@myworms]

You can’t find these anywhere now. They seem to have discontinued them.

[@1okanaganguy]

Glissando Mio!

[@ChefZak]

Slapping the fretless was the best you've ever sounded!

[@room34]

I've just begun to have some serious regret over having sold my fretless earlier this year. A bit of research led me to this instrument, and of course now I MUST HAVE IT, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere. Does anyone know if G&L actually plans to produce more of these?

[@CarsFoodWeed]

wish they used the P bass neck on these

[@grantkoeller8911]

Is this bass passive or active? Ok you said passive...

[@FullcircleFaith]

Please, please, please do a review of a U.S.A built kiloton 5 string.

[@jamesblight314]

Where can you buy one of these basses?

[@grantkoeller8911]

Do they make a fretted version of this bass?

[@pwokaren]

Yes. And the USA 🇺🇸 made version is better again.

[@LowEndLobster]

Yes! We'll hopefully check one out soon.

[@57precision]

@@pwokaren a bass that costs $1000 more is better, how do you figure?

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@57precision Better electronics, better wood, better craftsmanship, better hardware, better finish ,....

[@danplaysbass6294]

OK maybe dumb question. Would this bass be a good bass for a first time fretless bass?

[@57precision]

I think so. It has tone for days...can convincingly do either fretless Stingray or the classic "Jaco" sound in single coil mode with the tone pot rolled off. I think the lined fretboard is really helpful starting out as well.

[@danplaysbass6294]

@@57precision Thank you

[@LowEndLobster]

Yes, I agree with what Brett said. It's a great well rounded bass that's easy to navigate, which would be great for someone new to fretless.

[@danplaysbass6294]

@@LowEndLobster Thanks LowEnd!

[@alexsausl]

Still nowhere to be seen in Germany - bloody supply chain nightmares. :-( And that Swampash one looks killer.

[@robertjova5400]

Smoothie 👍

[@Below-Average_Joe]

I have had my eye on this one for a while because Tributes usually have great bang for the buck. This may be the best budget fretless around.

[@57precision]

You're right. I don't think there's a single fretless under $800 as good as this thing.

[@MarkoMarcello]

funk master.

[@mattgalbraith3050]

G&L are so under rated. They are as good or better than any Fender IMO...

[@TorbenMougaard26]

Series mode on a tube amp ,- like ampeq svt peakers SWR tower 8/10 ( Damn) ... Interesting and great sounding distortion - no bas sound link this . You can love or hate it .. But be aware the the soundGay will hate you and never forget you .

[@yisuskane]

I'm sorry that all the fretlees are made with a jazzbass profile. With how great a precision neck. Greetings, my friend.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

You were born to play fretless. I personally like thicker strings and a high setup. So you need to work more. Pickups like more meat.

[@stevem-h3562]

hmmmmm.... just happened across one of these but fretted at a reasonable price... even though I've been gassing for a Stingray.... hmmmm......

[@LowEndLobster]

They're very different instruments, but both are excellent.

[@stevem-h3562]

@@LowEndLobster thanks Lobster, I’m kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place, tricky to choose!

[@4stringp877]

​@@LowEndLobster question for you/dilema for me: G&L Kiloton fretless or Sire V5 fretless...?

[@nigellacey559]

please dont tell me the back is black

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

Ash has a lower resonance. Very usefull. Too bad it’s paired with cheap wood.

[@57precision]

Well, it's a cheap bass. Poplar sounds like alder anyway, it's just softer and uglier.

[@FransvandenBergeMuziekschuur]

@@57precision on the fender customshop channel there is a wood selection video. They tap alder and ash. There you hear the lower pitch of ash. Interesting. (to me).

[@paulsummerside]

Think we all hear different things, as to me the Bass only started to do something I liked when you had it in series mode… #shrug. And the straight grain of the back was beautiful imo. Maybe not matched as well as it could have been but for me if it were a solid Poplar that actually would be no bad thing. It didn’t need the Ash top, would have been a more honest instrument to be entirely Poplar.

[@TheDarkKnight73]

great bass but 9.5, no😅

[@Loran1972]

Même si c'est une très bonne basse, rien que pour la tête, jamais je n'achèterai G&L... leurs têtes sont horribles !!!

[@LowEndLobster]

Découvrez leurs modèles CLF. beaucoup plus beau ! (google translate)

[@trying2bhuman474]

This channel is ok; it would be better with a female host though.

[@LowEndLobster]

You're in luck lmao