G&L introduces fretless version of its Kiloton bass guitar
The sleek four-string has the DNA of a regular Kiloton, though features a bare lined rosewood fingerboard and a Leo Fender-designed G&L MFD Magnetic Field Design humbucker
G&L’s Kiloton bass guitar model has been on the receiving end of some serious attention from the brand’s builders in recent weeks. After the flagship four-string was introduced to fresh Candy Apple Red and Black Frost finishes last month, the Kiloton has now been reimagined and re-introduced as a fretless model.
At first glance, it’s an orthodox Kiloton. The body is the usual poplar – though comes equipped with added gravitas thanks to a swamp ash top and Three-Tone Sunburst finish – and is paired with a bolt-on hard-rock maple neck.
As for frets, well, there aren’t any, making it the latest Kiloton model to feature a bare rosewood fretboard. There are lines, however, which will make navigating the fretless ‘board much easier for less-experienced players.
Other appointments on the 34”-scale instrument include a medium-C profile neck, traditional open back tuners and a Leo Fender-designed G&L Saddle-Lock bridge.
Leo Fender’s influence can also be found in the pickup department, which features a Leo-designed G&L MFD Magnetic Field Design humbucker. The pickups are at the mercy of a three-position series/split/parallel toggle, as well as master volume and tone knobs.
To hear it in action, check out the video above, which sees Steve Araujo take the Fretless Kiloton for a spin at Leo’s Lounge.
The G&L Fretless Kiloton is available now for $1,495.
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The Fretless Kiloton looks set to cap off a hectic year for G&L, which has spent the past 12 months adding Emerald Blue Metallic finishes to its Tribute range, updating its Fullerton Deluxe bass lineup with the sugar pine body JB-5 and bolstering its ASAT family with two freshly finished Tribute models.
G&L also recently introduced the wider-string-spaced L-2500 Series 750 five-string bass.
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Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.
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