FS: '81 G&L L1000 Hog

[GaryLC]

Here we go again....I promised myself I'd never sell this, but it's absolutely gorgeous, and I'm just not playing it.

It's an '81 L1000, Mahogany, natural "reddish" color? I'm not sure how to describe the color, but it's beautiful! However, the body may have been refinished at some time. Rosewood board, skunk stripe neck, Schallers, control plate & hardware are in beautiful condition. Neck & frets are in great shape. Sounds incredible! Serial number is B007073, includes original period case.
1 11/16" nut, close to 11 pounds.....she is heavy! But oh so gorgeous.

Asking $950 shipped. Oustanding example of an early L1000!!

[edsel00]

Ok on the weight, but how's the balance/neckdive?
That is an awesome looking bass.
-ed

[seventhsunbass]

I own an '80 HOG (S# B0000833) and they balance nicely. Bump for a smooth, fat bass sound!!!

[1Kay]

After some 13 G&L's in my hands for playable periods of time I have yet to experience neck dive.


This one is peerty!

[GaryLC]

Agree with above comments, she hangs nice on the shoulders, no appreciable neck dive...

[krustwell]

[ErikP.Bass]

That bass looks familiar....

[GaryLC]

I was wondering when you'd pipe in...

[edsel00]

So I can go out to the neighborhood Guitar Center and play a few USA precisions anytime, but I can't just ron out and play a vintage L-1000.

So I guess my question is: What would you this bass offer in comparison to a contemporary USA-Precision? Speaking about tone and fee etc, of course, not aesthetic considerations.

I am asking about THIS bass (or, I guess, a similar early 80s L-1000) not just brand-loyalty G&L-praise/Fender-bashing.

thanks in advance for the input,
ed

[GaryLC]

I'm going to let some of the more articulate guys jump in here, I'm not super great at describing tone....I just know what I like, and what I don't.
Personally, I don't think they're all that similar, but you'll hear the L1000 described as "a P-Bass on steroids". The pickup is much more powerful, hard to believe it's a passive bass. You've got to tame it a bit, roll off the bass control some (I never have bass fully engaged). It's three settings, dual parallel (I think), series, and series with bass boost). I love the center position, series.
It's a very warm, punchy sound....I love P basses too, but this is more organic to me.

Someone who's better with words?

[Madcity Fats]

Originally Posted by edsel00

What would you this bass offer in comparison to a contemporary USA-Precision? Speaking about tone and fee etc, of course, not aesthetic considerations.

I am asking about THIS bass (or, I guess, a similar early 80s L-1000) not just brand-loyalty G&L-praise/Fender-bashing.

thanks in advance for the input,
ed

Can't speak for this bass but I own an '80 'hog and '81 ash model (both w/ ebony fretboards).

These early skunk stripe necks feel very pre-CBS P-Bass to me (not that I've played a lot of those, but a couple). "Like an old friend" as the saying goes.

Tonally, the electronics offer a lot more flexibility than the typical P. First of all, the output of the MFD humbucker is massive. Probably the hottest you'll find in a passive bass (as with many G&L basses, I've found the key to copping a more vintage tone is to dial back the volume a touch). Next, you've got separate treble and bass controls. And then the pickup switching. In single coil mode it cops a nice '51 P sound. In the humbucking (or parallel) position you get closer to the split coil sound. The last position is often referred to as bass boost mode, series w/ bass boost, or OMG mode. The first two are sort of a misnomer. It's actually series wiring with a cap that sucks some of the treble out of one of the coils (increased output + decreased treble = "bass boost"). This setting is useful if you have drywall you need removed.

I personally believe that Leo was attempting the ultimate P-Bass when he designed the L-1000, and I think he hit it on the head. It is, to me, the crowning achievement in passive bass design, but one that never really got its due because it just happened to show up at a time when the active electronics craze was really heating up (one reason the L-2000 was so much more successful despite otherwise being very similar to its passive older brother).

Hope that helps. How's that for a plug?

[lmfreeman9]

+1 on a very articulate description. L-1000 is Leo's ultimate evolution of the P-Bass. It has all of the advantages of a passive instrument and some aspects of an active sound. I love using the bass boost when playing blues in D or E flat with female singers. Still have a big sound and no thoughts of needing a fifth string.

[edsel00]

articulate responses to my inarticulate question. when I asked: "What would you this bass offer in comparison to a contemporary USA-Precision? Speaking about tone and fee etc"

I meant "What would you say this bass offers in comparison to a contemporary USA-Precision? Speaking about tone and feel etc"

Wow. talk about inarticulate. or least unable to proofread.

So I got answers on the tone, how about the feel, particularly of the neck?

thanks again,
ed-the-inarticulate

[fretwear]

If I remember....this bass will also double as a paint and wallpaper remover
Great bass in great condition....good luck with the sale!
Also I believe the case is orriginal to the bass.

[Madcity Fats]

Originally Posted by edsel00

So I got answers on the tone, how about the feel, particularly of the neck?

Again, I think in my experience it's closest to an early 60s P I was fortunate enough to play once (man, I should have made an offer on that bass). Front to back they're fairly flat and very comfortable (IMO). At the nut they're a hair narrower than the modern P, I believe. I don't think you'll find anything like them in the current Fender lineup and even the later bi-cut G&L necks have a different feel to them. A lot of G&L fanatics point to these early L1K and L2K necks as their favorites. Sorry, but that's about the best I can do.

They're solidly built basses (though my ash model is surprisingly light). They have a feel to them that I can only describe as vintage beyond their years. Ergonomically speaking, their pretty much P all the way, though I think the body shape is downsized just a touch from the Fender body, I believe (mostly on the horn side of things, I think).

[poor_gear_whore]

you sir have a PM.

[mpdd]

very nice bass, my friend traded his car for one

[GaryLC]

Originally Posted by Madcity Fats

Can't speak for this bass but I own an '80 'hog and '81 ash model (both w/ ebony fretboards).

These early skunk stripe necks feel very pre-CBS P-Bass to me (not that I've played a lot of those, but a couple). "Like an old friend" as the saying goes.

Tonally, the electronics offer a lot more flexibility than the typical P. First of all, the output of the MFD humbucker is massive. Probably the hottest you'll find in a passive bass (as with many G&L basses, I've found the key to copping a more vintage tone is to dial back the volume a touch). Next, you've got separate treble and bass controls. And then the pickup switching. In single coil mode it cops a nice '51 P sound. In the humbucking (or parallel) position you get closer to the split coil sound. The last position is often referred to as bass boost mode, series w/ bass boost, or OMG mode. The first two are sort of a misnomer. It's actually series wiring with a cap that sucks some of the treble out of one of the coils (increased output + decreased treble = "bass boost"). This setting is useful if you have drywall you need removed.

I personally believe that Leo was attempting the ultimate P-Bass when he designed the L-1000, and I think he hit it on the head. It is, to me, the crowning achievement in passive bass design, but one that never really got its due because it just happened to show up at a time when the active electronics craze was really heating up (one reason the L-2000 was so much more successful despite otherwise being very similar to its passive older brother).

Hope that helps. How's that for a plug?

Man, I couldn't have asked for a better plug than that! Thanks, Fats!!

[chief ten beers]

are you open to trade offers?

[redstrand]

Me likey.