I usually have flown this route
BNG 6500' (or more)
AJO 4500' (under 6000' class B near fullerton)
FUL 2000' (duck under a 2500' section of class B)
HHR
I'm always using flight following if VFR, but I found that about 50% of the time palm springs will drop me in the banning pass. In that case I'll call up the March AFB class C when their in range.
I can't remember ever being dropped after that. Its been a while, but my recollection is that hand offs to the Hawthorn tower are the norm.
I remember once at night when things were slow atc offered me a class B, which I took. However, before I got to the airport they ended up vectoring me out of it anyway.