is $599 for a USA l-2000 a good deal?

CB3000 · #1 10-26-2007, 07:14 PM

i found a used l2000 usa model at a store. it was in good shape--the head stock was chipped at that little point and the rest of the wear was normal. the neck is jazz shaped. i think it is a 2002. the rear switch was silent in the middle though-is that right?

Jimtoonz · #2 10-26-2007, 07:19 PM

That is an OK price, but not in the "screamin' deal" category. You might try to talk them down a little.

Are you saying that the switch at the bridge end is silent in the middle position, but works in the other two?

CB3000 · #3 10-26-2007, 07:23 PM

i think that's the one- the front is the p-up selector. the middle is series parallel and the rear is preamp on/off/bright right? part of me actually preferred the feel of the tribute sb-2 i have over the usa l2000. i might actually just go for a new tribute l2000.

Jimtoonz · #4 10-26-2007, 07:29 PM

Yes, the rear switch is the Passive/Active/Active with Treble Boost switch. Are you sure that is silent in the middle and works with the switch toward the neck? A more common failure would be that the IC in the preamp fails, which would result in the bass working in passive mode only. Of course, the switch itself could be hosed.

CB3000 · #5 10-26-2007, 07:47 PM

yeah that's what i thought too--i bet the switch is goofy. i may just pass on it. it didn't really grab me--although it sounded awesome even with crapola strings that were dead!

Jimtoonz · #6 10-26-2007, 08:52 PM

Yeah, the L-2000 sounds great even when passive only. Replacing that switch would not be too big a deal, but if you aren't really feeling it for that bass, pass on it and go for something else that grabs you more.

ErnieD · #7 10-27-2007, 12:51 AM

Seems alot folks are happy with their Tributes over US models. I imagine price point is optimum in their choices, cause the quality is certainly there in both. I remember going with a friend to H&H Music store in downtown Houston in the late 70's, IIRC correctly, and he was buying a G&L bass. At that time I was just a young thumper and felt I could never afford one of those basses. I was using a cheap, pawn shop purchased Gibson EB-O Japanese copy bass at that time and I could still outplay him, hah. Just a couple months ago I saw an ad for a US L2500 in an online ad and thought now I can afford one and I have the maturity and means to acquire and appreciate one. So I got it for just under 8bills great price I felt cause it was damn near pristine. Im enjoying the hell out of it now, more than I probably could've back then. And just cause I saw a guy playing a Tribute L2500 in the French Quarter in NOLA last year, I asked him about it and it stayed with me. Then I found the G&L threads on TB and when I saw the used price of this US model, I had to bite. I seem to buy/sell/trade basses alot but this one... I think I'll keepher.