Im getting one today, and i really have no clue what everything will do etc, all the knobs. So could anyone tell me what they each do, etc? Just so i get a feel of how to get certain tones:) Ill experiment myself ofcourse, once i get to open it, but itd be nice to get a basic rundown of all its capabilities:)

Also, do you think ill need to set it up before its playable?

Click this link....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3651139#post3651139

As far as setup goes that'll have to be your call. I've heard they come pretty well set up, but if not G&L's IMO are one of the easiest basses to do a set up on. The set up instructions are in the manual.:cool:

G&L's website has a schematic. http://www.glguitars.com
CLick on "support" in the left hand menu, then scroll down to "Technical Schematics and Wiring Diagrams." Then scroll down to "Basses" and click on the first selection, "ASAT_bass_L2000_L2500" and that will call up a PDF of the knob/switch functions.

You'll find that, once you are familiar with them, getting the sounds out of a G&L is very fast and intuitive.

Thanks guys. Any advice on how i can get a tone that cuts through very well? And if possible, with passive setup, cos id rather not drain battery.

IMO bridge pickup series will get you cutting mids while still thumping lows. All setting will cut through pretty good though because , that's what G&L's do.

The cutting tone will have alot to do with the rest of your band- I find that the neck pickup soloed cuts much better for me, but my guitar players both have pretty deep midrangey tones- the deep bass of the neck pickup really fills out the space better (and blends well with the kick drum as well).

Karl

Thanks guys. You were both right with the neck pickup! Cuts through great now:)

Click this link....
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3651139#post3651139

Just want to personally thank you for helping all us new G&L owners with the settings despite all the repetitive queries. Very classy on your part & appreciated. I like neck p/u, series, active myself. Merry Christmas.

Any idea on how fast itll take before battery needs replacing? (can it be charged)? And can anyone tell me when the battery does run and doesnt (like, if the active is on, but its unplugged, does it drain? or if active is off but its plugged?)

I never did testing on a Tribby but USA G&L's the battery is not drained if unplugged.

The drain rate, the battery would last about a year of non stop use. I tested 3 L2k's and an El Toro and all are about the same.

Tributes may vary.

Jim

So i shouldnt need to worry about running out of it soon and having to use it sparefully?

To see if the battery drains when the bass is not plugged in: open up the control cavity and look at the ouput jack- if there are three prongs on the jack with 3 wires attached seperately, then the battery is only in the circuit when there is a cord plugged in (so the battery will not drain unless plugged in). If there are only 2 prongs on the output jack, then the battery is in the circuit all the time- I'm almost positive that this is not the case, as it would be ridiculous!

Karl

If there are only 2 prongs on the output jack, then the battery is in the circuit all the time- I'm almost positive that this is not the case, as it would be ridiculous!

Karl

The Climax bass was that way. It would suck the battery down in about 3-4 months plugged in or not.

The preamp in that pulled about 4 times as much current as well.

Jim

Thanks again guys. Sadly, even after mixing around with settings, my tone is still a bit dull. Howd i go about giving it more "colour" if you know what i mean? It just feels kinda dead when i finger, especially A,E and B string. Amp settings would help too. Dont think its the strings. They have a new feel to them.
Edit: I did some more knob twisting and it now sounds a bit more colourful and punchy.

Somebody calculated the current drain and estimated a new battery would last 13 months. There's no downside to using active, since you can always switch to passive if the battery goes out.

Thanks again guys. Sadly, even after mixing around with settings, my tone is still a bit dull. Howd i go about giving it more "colour" if you know what i mean? It just feels kinda dead when i finger, especially A,E and B string. Amp settings would help too. Dont think its the strings. They have a new feel to them.
Edit: I did some more knob twisting and it now sounds a bit more colourful and punchy.

If it sounds "dull", change the strings no matter how they feel. Dull should be the opposite of this bass, I have a lot more trouble toning it down than anything else.

Hm, i did some more radical changes as turning the bass all way down and treble and mid highs up, and it soudns like a guitar:) Atleast iknow i should have the bass low on the amp to get a more expresive tone. Meh, it tires my mind just thinking about all the different sound combinations. I can get a sound like David Ellefson, as in Megadeth at the moment (if i use a pick). Now ive turned every knob way down till i figure out what to do.
Is there anyway to figure out how to get certain tones without spending hour after hour bent over turning knobs:/?
It really is frustrating after saving up so much for the amp and bass.

Set the amp flat, and then go through what the bass will give you with all the combinations.

The L2K is nothing compared to like a Lakland with twice as many controls IMHO.

For me I like a Geddy Lee Wal type sound so I use both pickups, series, and the bass knob rolled almost to nothing.

Jim

If i posted a youtube vid, do you think someone could tell me how to roughly get that tone? Even if its not the most audible bass (in a metal band ex)?

If i posted a youtube vid, do you think someone could tell me how to roughly get that tone? Even if its not the most audible bass (in a metal band ex)?

Sure post a couple of links and maybe some songs that are similar to the sound you are after.

Jim

Here are two clips, but i suspect the tone might be cos of palm muting (iknow a pick is used).
There are some parts where the bass is more audible, and if noone can help, i guess ican find some other clip that might make it easier.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5RhJ2hBNerc

and

http://youtube.com/watch?v=JjTN4Av7qgE

Then there is this other clip, that sounds somewhat similiar, but its fingerstyle, but youll know what im looking for. I dont want anything really "bright" but some punch, and colour, like you can hear here.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=q1UZInEqJa0
I wouldnt be surprised if itd be hard to help from the clips though-
Thanks

I'd try rolling the treble half to minimum, bass to half, and use both pickups in series to start with. Be sure to pluck back near the bridge as well.

Sounds kinda like Helloween from the Keeper of the Seven Keys CD.

I like how the bass fits in there. :bassist:

Jim

Thanks for all your help man:) Ill try it when i wake up tomorrow.

OK tried in reality and that was pretty close but leave the treble all the way up or reduce as needed. I was off on the treble setting but the rest is pretty close based on that clip.

A lot is gonna depend on your cabinet and strings but I think both pickups in use and playing with a pick close to the bridge will get you closest.

Jim

Wow thanks. Just wondering, should i leave the amp at the same settings as the bass? And is the switch on passive or active?

sounds to me like bridge pickup played with a pick. also sounds like he's using a chorus pedal.

Hm, spidey, i tried what you suggested, and played around with the rest of the settings, and just couldnt get a tone im happy with, nor one that resembles that tone. It kinda sucks, having saved up for quite some time, giving up on the nintendo wii to get a bass etc, and now i cant even get a tone i like:( I hate to say it, but, i feel really dissapointed. Im pretty sure its not the strings, They sound good acoustic. Hopefully its just about getting the right settings.
Maybe ill buy a distortion pedal and add a tad of dist.

Anyway, im sure it sounds a bit whiney, and hopefully after a few hours of tweaking i might get a likeable tone.

Like CB said there is a smidge of chorus in there.

The amp I would leave flat and I was trying it passive. I was playing along to the libnk with a Peavey microbass at low volume. Alone I think that sound is a bit harsh but it really cuts through. Cutting is all about the mids. The settings I gave IMHO maximize the mids from the bass itself and you fine tune on the amp.

What is wrong with the sound you have? Too bright, too thick, thin, etc?

Pickup heights and string choice make a big difference. Chef and I both like them really high and some guys like them low.

Mine...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/spideyjg/HSD/Group029.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/spideyjg/HSD/Group031.jpg

My string height is similiar to yours, cos i like to dig in a bit without clank. The tone lacks bottom and colour currently. I will try to put up some clips if possible today or tomorrow.

"lacks bottom" is something I would never expect to hear used to describe an L-2K. :eyebrow:

FWIW the stock strings on any bass I have tried are awful.

Hmmmm??????

Jim

Okay, iguess it woudlnt be hard to turn bass all way up, so its a bit stupid to say by me, but mostly, lacks colour. Anyway, i guess it might be the strings. What can you recomend:)? Has to be a 5 string set since its a l2500. Ive noticed you can have the strings through the bass OR bridge. Whats the difference? Will it affect my string choices? Also, is it common to leave all AMP settings flat as you did? I didnt know that worked. Would make things far easier.

Okay, iguess it woudlnt be hard to turn bass all way up, so its a bit stupid to say by me, but mostly, lacks colour. Anyway, i guess it might be the strings. What can you recomend:)? Ive noticed you can have the strings through the bass OR bridge. Whats the difference? Also, is it common to leave all AMP settings flat? I didnt know that worked. Would make things far easier.

Some of the other guys that run L2500's can suggest some strings.

When I played a P bass with just the single tone control, I used to tweak the amp a lot. With the G&L abilities at my fingertips it took a while but I reverted to leaving the amp flat and adjusting onboard.

If testing a bass, I want the amp flat. Once you learn what can be done on the bass itself if something else is needed tweak at the amp.

IMHO the G&L gives a broader response and if anything you boost a bit a 1K to get a lot of bite. ]

What amp are you running anyhow?

Jim

A Warwick sweet 15 combo. Maybe more reason to leave it flat? Anyway, as soon i start boostin bass etc and play the neighbours start hitting the wall-.- meh, thats what happens when you live in an apartment:/
EDIT: I Tried leaving amp flat, with a single pickup and i get a bit more characteristics. But still, its mostly the E and B string that doesnt sound as good. The others sound pretty nice.

OK tried in reality and that was pretty close but leave the treble all the way up or reduce as needed. I was off on the treble setting but the rest is pretty close based on that clip.

A lot is gonna depend on your cabinet and strings but I think both pickups in use and playing with a pick close to the bridge will get you closest.

Jim

Guys, i see there was some confusion between us. I mostly meant the tone in the rest of the song and not the intro:P

Guys, i see there was some confusion between us. I mostly meant the tone in the rest of the song and not the intro:P

Well through the computer monitors the setting I gave you sounds to me like they would work. I was basing it on the bulk of the song not the intro.

Then again when I really want to nail the bass settings getting close I use a headphone amp and an .mp3 to do it.

Did you try some new strings? Any better?

It sounds cliche but it is very true that a lot of your sound will be dictated by your right hand. Are you picking back towards the bridge?

Jim

Yeah, usually between the pickups or over the bridge pup, but its not like ive tried both. Isadly cant afford strings at the moment, but its something im getting to. And im indeed sure your right. Maybe id need to record myself and listen to it to see if the tone is right.

Anyway i learnt the intro to the song (great intro =D )

The stock strings on my L2500 were especially horrible for the E and B strings- I'd be willing to bet thats a big part of the problem. I thought the stock strings sounded very "hollow" in the low register, and very "clangy" in the high. They are probably fairly expensive where you live, but any variety of DR strings have worked wonders for me on my L2500- I've tried all their sets, and I would probably recommend Hi-Beams for your type of music- those are the strings that Geezer Butler uses, as well as Black Beauties on occasion (which are my favorite strings).

Karl

Yeah, that describes my problem!:) "Hollow" is probably the way to describe it. And, yes on the E and B string. THe others sound pretty good imo:) Once i get my money ill get a pack of strings.