Anyone else notice this behavior?

[quickervicar]

I love my G&Ls, but one thing I've noticed with all of them: they are very dependent on string life. The tone is great for several weeks, then tapers off for awhile like strings normally do. But the strange thing about G&Ls is that one day they will sound decent with old strings, but the next day I can't get a sound out of them that I like. It's as if they drop off the tone plateau into a muddy abyss. No other bass that I've owned has been more sensitive to string condition. At least there's an easy solution.

[Temcat]

G&Ls are very honest basses

[quickervicar]

Agreed. I've just never had a bass that would go from good to unusable overnight. I don't think it's a shortcoming, just a quirk.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by quickervicar

I love my G&Ls, but one thing I've noticed with all of them: they are very dependent on string life. The tone is great for several weeks, then tapers off for awhile like strings normally do. But the strange thing about G&Ls is that one day they will sound decent with old strings, but the next day I can't get a sound out of them that I like. It's as if they drop off the tone plateau into a muddy abyss. No other bass that I've owned has been more sensitive to string condition. At least there's an easy solution.

I've actually noticed the opposite on mine. I set both my L2000 and L2500 up with rounds originally, my 2000 took literally over a _year_ with those strings to calm down to the point I liked the sound. My L2500 simply wouldn't quiet down at all no matter how much I played it, sweated on the strings, etc.

I switched to flats, partly because the rounds were ripping up my fingerboards, but also to try to deaden them up. Success.....

But yes in general the G&L has a very hot and bright sound so if your strings are still alive they'll really accentuate it.

I've found flats only give the "zing" for a day or two and then they're dead....

LS

[quickervicar]

My tone is all about hot & bright--usually.

[no4mk1]

Yeah... Depends on the tone you're looking for, but it also depends on your strings.

I've never changed out the TI powerbass on my fretless L2.5k... They just keep on going... Granted, with a fretless you aren't wearing them down on the fret points, but still, I rarely changed them out on my fretted L2K.

Cheers,
Chris

[Derek_L]

Deffinatly - and strings in Australia aren't cheap either =(.

[Madcity Fats]

Originally Posted by quickervicar

My tone is all about hot & bright--usually.

That's what I'd guess. For me, with new strings those MFDs are almost too wild. I find myself dialing back the treble on my amp (and bass, unless it's an SB-2) until some of the zing goes away.

Personally, I like my strings broken in a bit. Maybe not James Jamerson broken in, but a little bit of sweat, gunk and funk does the trick for me.

[ac11367]

I think the same sensitivity level G&L pickups have on accentuating your picking style also applies to accentuating string conditions. They are indeed very honest basses.