A dillemma with a L2500...

jgroh · #1 07-30-2009, 10:28 AM

I bought a mint condition L2500 Tribute here from another TBer. I have wanted a G&L for a while now and was really in the market for a L2000, but it was a good deal and in my current band, i could use a fiver. It was really more for a backup bass than being #1 in the rotation.

Here is my dilemma...its got me thinking about selling my main bass, a Rickenbacker 4003! I love my Ric but the tones I get from the L2500 just kill, especially in a live band setting. I thought that I could sell the Ric and buy a brand new L2000 tribute in walnut satin over swamp ash (my favorite) and still have some cash left over.

Am I nuts?

1954bassman · #2 07-30-2009, 10:40 AM

Take it easy cowboy! I love my G&L's but you should think twice before selling off you Ric.

jgroh · #3 07-30-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1954bassman

Take it easy cowboy! I love my G&L's but you should think twice before selling off you Ric.

I am a notoriously slow decision maker in situations like this, so it wouldnt happen anytime soon, but I hear you. Maybe in the end I just put the Ric in a case and save it for my son (who is 5) to play when he gets older.

cbass1 · #4 07-30-2009, 11:09 AM

I sold my Ric in favor of my G&L's.

TDR1138 · #5 07-30-2009, 11:18 AM

Hey, if you're selling the Ric, you can get a US L2000 and still have plenty of cash left over if you buy used...

Hugh Jass · #6 07-30-2009, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Am I nuts?

Yes.

Ric's are pretty stinkin' cool

A ric is just one of those timeless instruments with a sound all it's own. Fads come and go but Ric's are always cool.

jgroh · #7 07-30-2009, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jass

Yes.

Ric's are pretty stinkin' cool

A ric is just one of those timeless instruments with a sound all it's own. Fads come and go but Ric's are always cool.

Heres the thing with my Ric though (and maybe a reason why I am even considering this), I have a hard time getting that classic "Ric tone". The Geddy/Squire tone one normally associates with Rics. Dont get me wrong, its a great sounding bass, but not exactly what I was expecting. People drool over it when I whip it out though.

jgroh · #8 07-30-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbass1

I sold my Ric in favor of my G&L's.

Really? Im not alone in my thinking then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDR1138

Hey, if you're selling the Ric, you can get a US L2000 and still have plenty of cash left over if you buy used...

Thats what I was thinking.

Hugh Jass · #9 07-30-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Heres the thing with my Ric though (and maybe a reason why I am even considering this), I have a hard time getting that classic "Ric tone". The Geddy/Squire tone one normally associates with Rics. Dont get me wrong, its a great sounding bass, but not exactly what I was expecting. People drool over it when I whip it out though.

O.K. I can appreciate that. If it's a fuddy sounding one then you may as well get a bass you will want to play.

Here is some gratuitous drooling material for you:

jgroh · #10 07-30-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jass

O.K. I can appreciate that. If it's a fuddy sounding one then you may as well get a bass you will want to play.

Here is some gratuitous drooling material for you:

Nice!

Does anyone know if they offer the US L2000's with the walnut stain like they do with the Tributes? That is just awesome.

Hugh Jass · #11 07-30-2009, 02:52 PM

Not to shure about the walnut finish but those carved tops look pretty cool.

it looks like they offer blackburst now! Too bad you can't get ebony fingerboards anymore. I could build the exact opposite of my bass

.

Ken Baker · #12 07-30-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Nice!

Does anyone know if they offer the US L2000's with the walnut stain like they do with the Tributes? That is just awesome.

Nope. Here are the currently available (7/09) USA finishes.

Ken...

Hugh Jass · #13 07-30-2009, 02:56 PM

Saw a redburst the other day.

SCARY!

It looks like a vampire bass!

spideyjg · #14 07-30-2009, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jass

Saw a redburst the other day.

SCARY!

It looks like a vampire bass!

Something like this.....

Hugh Jass · #15 07-30-2009, 03:07 PM

Not quite, those are nicer. This one had a really deep glossy crimson (blood) red which faded quite agressively into glossy absolute black.

Really dark rosewood fretboard also.

jgroh · #16 07-30-2009, 03:27 PM

Those are nice. I cant help it, I just love the looks of this one:

When/if the time comes, I guess Ill be getting a Tribute then.

Hugh Jass · #17 07-30-2009, 03:58 PM

Or get Spidey to sell you one of his old mahogany L2K's

oldrookie · #18 07-30-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Those are nice. I cant help it, I just love the looks of this one:

When/if the time comes, I guess Ill be getting a Tribute then.

I'm with you. Great looking bass. I might even have purchased that instead of the natural...which I also happen to love.

unclejane · #19 07-30-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Heres the thing with my Ric though (and maybe a reason why I am even considering this), I have a hard time getting that classic "Ric tone". The Geddy/Squire tone one normally associates with Rics. Dont get me wrong, its a great sounding bass, but not exactly what I was expecting. People drool over it when I whip it out though.

Join the club, the legion of other mortal folks with broken arms that've tried to get the Geddy grind out of a rick...

My 4003 sits in its case for pretty much the same reason - I can play my G&L's by basically just touching them and these magnificent notes just blast out of them. My rick on the other hand..... well I just don't have the bionic arms you need to really get some sound of it.....

They may become good investments tho, which is partly why I'm hanging onto mine for the moment. Tho my carvin bunny 6 is due to get here end of Aug., so if it works out as my main 6 the rick will probably have to go to pay for it.

But as others have said, you could get an MIA G&L for what you could sell the rick for. If you play fretless you're in even better shape - I got my L2500 factory new for dirt cheap (1100) because it was a FL and the dealer couldn't get rid of it.
But even new fretted MIA's are around for less than full retail...

LS

oldrookie · #20 07-31-2009, 04:17 PM

Not exactly selling yourself short by buying a Trib. Mine is a beautiful bass and it sounds geat (and that's with ME playing it...imagine what'll it do with somebody who knows what they are doing!)

Yeah, probably some difference with the finishing, but that doesn't affect the sound and that's what it is about. Thought I wouldn't like the thick neck--my two basses are about as far from each other in terms of the neck as they could possibly get--but I have grown to love the thick, substantial feel of the Trib L2500.

Put the rest of the money in the bank and play on!