Hello fellow G&L users! I just joined up to ask this so I hope somebody can help me! :help:

Here's my sob story. I bought this sweet Orange L-2500 off a guy on e-bay. He had it stringed with all 5 strings through the body, but I don't know what type. The strings were alright, but I figured I'd better go get the bass set up since it was shipped a few hundred miles. I took it to the only place in town that sells G&L figuring they would know how to tune one. I told them that I wanted D'addarios and all strings through the body. It wasn't until I got it home that I noticed the knucklehead put on DR Hi beams, and that the B was through the bridge, since the winding length wasn't long enough to put it through the body.

Anyways, I've used them for a while and they're ok, but I miss that B through the body (the most important one IMO!) I just bought a set of Ernie Ball Power Slinky, only to find that none of them work through the body!!

I use D'addarios on my guitars, so I think the EXL 160-5 (medium gauge, "long scale") might be right for me. But none of the stores near me stock it, so I'd have to order and don't want to waste my time if they're not going to work. I've seen the photos of some of your basses here (some beauties BTW), and a lot of you have the B through the body so please, what are you using?!?

Hope my post isn't too long and boring. Thanks in advance for your help!

BUMP

This is what I have heard folks like on the L2k's

DR's...Sunbeams,highbeams, and Lowriders

TA's

But..like you I want to hear what everyone likes on TB

Hello fellow G&L users! I just joined up to ask this so I hope somebody can help me! :help:

Here's my sob story. I bought this sweet Orange L-2500 off a guy on e-bay. He had it stringed with all 5 strings through the body, but I don't know what type. The strings were alright, but I figured I'd better go get the bass set up since it was shipped a few hundred miles. I took it to the only place in town that sells G&L figuring they would know how to tune one. I told them that I wanted D'addarios and all strings through the body. It wasn't until I got it home that I noticed the knucklehead put on DR Hi beams, and that the B was through the bridge, since the winding length wasn't long enough to put it through the body.

Anyways, I've used them for a while and they're ok, but I miss that B through the body (the most important one IMO!) I just bought a set of Ernie Ball Power Slinky, only to find that none of them work through the body!!

I use D'addarios on my guitars, so I think the EXL 160-5 (medium gauge, "long scale") might be right for me. But none of the stores near me stock it, so I'd have to order and don't want to waste my time if they're not going to work. I've seen the photos of some of your basses here (some beauties BTW), and a lot of you have the B through the body so please, what are you using?!?

Hope my post isn't too long and boring. Thanks in advance for your help!



I hear from others on another G&L forum that you would need "super long scale", as far as d'addario goes:

EXL160SL XL 50-105 Super Long Scale

I still haven't found my dream set for my L-2500 yet but currently I use Ken Smith Tapercore Bass Burners which are Nickel Plated Steel. My B string is strung through the body. I think the other strings would probably fit as well but I chose not to string them through the body to keep the tension lower. All Ken smith tapercores (possibly his other strings too) have a 38" winding so they fit through the body pretty well (and sound pretty great!) so you may want to try them.

I've just ordered a set of Extra Long Scale Elixirs, not sure if they'll make it through the body yet though... I've never tried them before but found a deal on them that was too good to pass up

Ernie Ball.....
Thats all I use on my basses. They are good n cheap.

dan

I like either DA exl170 nickel rounds, or SIT nickel rounds...

DR's should fit through the body on all strings - those are the only strings I've ever used on my L2500. FYI - D'addario does make 5 strings sets that will fit - they're "Super Long" scale and are about $1 more than a regular set. I sell them at my store specifically for L2500's but any D'addario dealer should be able to get them for you.

I have D'Addario Pro Steels on my T-40 (strung thru body). "Extremely" bright strings though.

DR's should fit through the body on all strings - those are the only strings I've ever used on my L2500. FYI - D'addario does make 5 strings sets that will fit - they're "Super Long" scale and are about $1 more than a regular set. I sell them at my store specifically for L2500's but any D'addario dealer should be able to get them for you.

Which Dr's do you like the best?

DR Low Riders Stainless Steel (.130 B) thru-body on mine. I went with the heavier gauge because it's in a drop-A tuning. They feel very consistent from string to string. They're a bit stiffer than their Hi Beams (hex core -vs- round core).

I use DR Hi Beams in a 45-130 set on my L2500.

I use Long Scale Rotos. The red felt goes slightly over the nut but it doesn't bother me one little bit. They are the only brand that is long enough to string through the body.

Or you can order SIT strings model # SIT_NR545125XL. They are specifically cut to fit L2500s. Do an internet search for a website called JustStrings and you can order a pair.

Thanks for your responses guys. I ended up going with Ken Smith Rock Masters and so far I'm pretty impressed. I might try the Bass Burners (nickel) next time. You would indeed need the super long scale for D'addario. Apparently The L2500s come from the factory strung with SITs, probably the same that sdguyman mentions above.

Peace

I prefer DA XL-170s over Ken Smith Bass Burners, SIT Nickels, EB Nickels, and DR SS Low Riders. The 170s pop goes well with the aggressive nature of the MFDs. And they age nicely. I tried 165s and thought the thicker E and A were boomier in a bad way.

If you want a vintage vibe TI flats are the sheeeet too.

Dave

I use DR High Beams strung through the body. I like Lo-Riders too, but for what I do, I prefer the sound of the High Beams.

G&L puts SIT Powerwounds on the Tribute Basses and IMO they sound great, so I also do.

Hey guys, I have an L-2500 fretless on order. I currently have powerbass strings on my L2K fretless and was wondering if any of you know if these strings will string through the body on an L2.5K.

If they don't, what would you recommend as a powerbass (nickle rounds) subsitute that will string through the body?

I really like the relatively high tension of the powerbass strings, and love the sound.

Cheers,
Chris

P.S. sorry for hijacking the thread, but I figured the question was relevant to the topic at hand.

Put the Elixirs I mentioned earlier on the other week, they're pretty sweet! Plenty of growl and they got through the body with ease.

For the fretless, you're gonna want SIT Powerflats.




Hey guys, I have an L-2500 fretless on order. I currently have powerbass strings on my L2K fretless and was wondering if any of you know if these strings will string through the body on an L2.5K.

If they don't, what would you recommend as a powerbass (nickle rounds) subsitute that will string through the body?

I really like the relatively high tension of the powerbass strings, and love the sound.

Cheers,
Chris

P.S. sorry for hijacking the thread, but I figured the question was relevant to the topic at hand.

Hmmm... I'm not a real fan of flats for the style I play. I have flats on one of my fretless', but it doesn't get much playing time. I really like the nickel rounds.

chris

Hope you plan to spend some time and money refinishing that fretboard. Better than steel rounds, but still... I'm leaning toward the coated DRs for my fretless basses. Brighter sound than flats, but shouldn't tear up the board as much as round wound strings will.

Well, I've been playing with nickel rounds daily for over 2 years now on my fretless L2K, and while there is some marking, there aren't any gouges. It plays great. I guess in a few years I might need to have the fretboard sanded a bit, but it's a hell of a lot easier than having frets leveled.

Cheers,
Chris

I use DR Lo-Riders. They're the best. DR High beams too.

Well, I've been playing with nickel rounds daily for over 2 years now on my fretless L2K, and while there is some marking, there aren't any gouges. It plays great. I guess in a few years I might need to have the fretboard sanded a bit, but it's a hell of a lot easier than having frets leveled.

I've got TI SuperAlloys (rounds) on my 2500 fretless and the ebony board is holding up pretty well. Just as Chris said above, there is some marking, but nothing serious.

FWIW, I have SIT Powerwounds on my fretted L2500 and they sound great as well. I've heard that the DRs are good strings; there's a bass shop here in town and the owner puts a fresh set on all the basses he sells. The basses in his shop sure play nicely with those DRs.

A string one person loves, another might hate. In my case, I like the sound and flexibility of the TIs, so I put them on several of my basses. However, some think they're too floppy. We all have to find what suits our unique playing style and the sound we want out of our basses.

If you're finding the silk winding is extending over the nut you can often use a straight razor and cut it back a bit. Not too far, but usually enough to clear the nut without any ill-effects.

Hope you plan to spend some time and money refinishing that fretboard. Better than steel rounds, but still... I'm leaning toward the coated DRs for my fretless basses. Brighter sound than flats, but shouldn't tear up the board as much as round wound strings will.

Have you done this?

I fitted my defretted Toby with DR Black Beauties... I don't think the coating makes a bit of difference to the fretboard mine is getting chewed up pretty well, in spite of three coats of rubbed on polyurethane. I'm not too concerned about it personally, but for those who are it's best to stick with flatwound, 1/2 flat, or tapewound. Any roundwound string will win the battle against rosewood over time.

I haven't yet. I'm having second thoughts now. DR makes a half-round, right? That might be better.

Have you done this?

I fitted my defretted Toby with DR Black Beauties...
Any roundwound string will win the battle against rosewood over time.

Fretless G&L necks are ebony not rosewood. Still a round is gonna be rougher in the long run on anything.

Ebony will hold up a lot better than rosewood. My fretless L1K has some marks but nothing obscene. It sports TI flats right now.

Jim

DR makes a half-round, right? That might be better.

DR? Not to my knowledge, but D'Addario (http://www.daddario.com/DADProducts.aspx?ID=3&CLASS=ACCA) has them.

Fretless G&L necks are ebony not rosewood. Still a round is gonna be rougher in the long run on anything.

Well, I wasn't thinking specifically of G&L, just the coated strings. So thanks for bringing me back on topic. ;)