I got this bass on trade recently from another TBer. It's a great bass and I'm glad to have finally gotten my hands on a 2KE, but after logging some hours on it, I think I have to admit to myself that it's just not for me. The variety of tones you can get this thing is almost overwhelming to me (I'm an L1000 guy at heart, I guess). It would probably be my go-to for studio work, but I just don't do enough of that these days. An honestly, I've never been a big fan of active electronics so about two-thirds of the available tones this thing can put out are lost on a simpleton like me.
Soooo ... I'm entertaining trade offers. Might be open to an outright sale if nothing strikes my fancy, but I'd like to see what’s out there first. Some general trade guidelines and wish list items follow the pics below.
Here's the goods:
- Beautiful one-piece mahogany body (if there’s a seam, I can’t find it), with all original hardware.
- Fitted with an L1000 maple neck w/ ebony board and gorgeous figuring (note light streaks in pics below).
- Neck is the classic and very desirable 1 11/16" width at the nut.
- Neck date is 9/11/81 and body date is 10/25/81 (as near as I can tell -- hard to read against the 'hog).
- Some nice "transitional" features: slot pole pieces, flat black bridge with chrome control panel.
- Electronics appear to be bone stock and work as they should (see note below).
- Truss rod works like a charm.
- Weight is right at 10 lbs according to my analog luggage scale.
- Will ship in a non-original hard case with one broken latch that could be easily repaired.
Full disclosure:
- The neck has been refretted by the prior owner. Professional job, though there are a few frets whose slots cut into the maple neck just a hair. Can only be seen when you're right on top of the thing and does not affect playability in any way. Frets have a ton of life as a result of the refret and are nicely level.
- There is one spot on the back of the neck where a ding was clearly drop-filled. This appears as a light spot in the pic below. Clearly a pro job, and barely noticeable as a result.
- The finish is in generally great shape for a practically 30-year-old bass that begs to be played. The worst dings are shown in the pics. A few smaller nicks and bumps in addition to those and just a few scuffs and swirls besides.
- Bass is pictured without strap buttons. Had strap locks when the previous owner got it, but has now been fitted with genuine G&L strap buttons from another bass.
- A touch of oxidation on the pickup poles, but this is easily remedied.
- Lastly, the stock electronics are factory-wired in such a way that if you solo the bridge pup, it removes the treble pot from the tone circuit (has the effect of the treble being "full on" at all times in "solo" mode. This was common among the early L2KE models apparently. You can read more about this here:
http://www.bassesbyleo.com/forum/vie...p?p=2911#p2911
Now the pics (courtesy of prior owner and TBer, ojo):
Here you can see the drop-filled spot on the neck:
Some trade guidelines and suggestions:
- 4 strings only. Not really a fretless player, but won't rule them out categorically.
- Big fan of 80s era G&L stuff. 1st gen SB-1 out there? Maybe a Lynx? Might be interested in Gibsons or possibly a Lakland Skyline. Oddballs and parts basses are always worth a look.
- Something with a Darkstar is always nice.
- Not generally interested in active basses, unless there's an active/passive switch (would definitely consider a G&L El Toro -- a passive Toro would clinch it, I think).
- Open to trade + cash (from you) deals, but not really in a position to add cash in trade myself (though for just the right bass I might be able to put up a little).
Throw me some ideas!
!
