G&L Tribute L-2500

kph24 · #1 09-06-2008, 12:52 PM

Hey my fellow TBers

I am a G&L owner, but I have had some bad luck with them. I resolved all issues with them but I was wondering I should give the L-2500 a chance I mainly play R&B and Pop but I also seem to get a lot of Rock gigs lately.

any feedback or suggestions would be much appreciated thanks

4Mal · #2 09-07-2008, 06:36 PM

I have a Trib L2500. Mechanically it's great. Super low setup. It's an easy player. At the moment it's strung E through C.

Electronically I'm not high on the L series preamp so I jerked that out and put an Audere in it's place. Fabulous. A joy to play.

kph24 · #3 09-08-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

I have a Trib L2500. Mechanically it's great. Super low setup. It's an easy player. At the moment it's strung E through C.

Electronically I'm not high on the L series preamp so I jerked that out and put an Audere in it's place. Fabulous. A joy to play.

So is the bass now less "edgy"? I guess you could say

vroc38 · #4 09-08-2008, 10:20 PM

Definitely experiment with the volume and tone controls turned down. Many of us agree that's where the tone is.

CElton · #5 09-09-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vroc38

Definitely experiment with the volume and tone controls turned down. Many of us agree that's where the tone is.

Big +1...many combinations in there. I'm still searching for a set of strings that knock me out. Haven't really found a set with a really good B yet. Considering a set of DR Lo-Riders or Sunbeams next.

lovenotfear · #6 09-09-2008, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CElton

Big +1...many combinations in there. I'm still searching for a set of strings that knock me out. Haven't really found a set with a really good B yet. Considering a set of DR Lo-Riders or Sunbeams next.

i would try the sunbeams if i were you, i have tried the dr low riders twice on my usa G&L L2500 and the low b keeps getting thuddy on me, even after i adjust the saddles.

mainsail · #7 09-09-2008, 02:00 PM

+1 on the Sunbeams. On my MIA L2500, I'm using a .45 to .105 for the bottom four and a .120 B.
I use a Genz Benz ML200-210T at church and have lots of bottom and enough highs to share with plenty of clarity.
The B is strung through the bridge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CElton

Big +1...many combinations in there. I'm still searching for a set of strings that knock me out. Haven't really found a set with a really good B yet. Considering a set of DR Lo-Riders or Sunbeams next.

4Mal · #8 09-09-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kph24

So is the bass now less "edgy"? I guess you could say

It's more 'everything'. If I want more edge - I can get it. If I want a dub monsta - got that too ... and seemingly all points in between.

The way I set it up was the typical 3 band EQ plus blend using 2 stacked pots - no new holes (except for 1 - a 1/8th on the side, down by the jack for the battery strength indicator LED).

The switches are z-mode, and then Series-Single-Paralelle for each humbucker. So I can have the neck pickup in series and just a Single from the bridge pickup - then use the blend to drift from edge to dubby & back ... lot's of options on that bass... The MFD's & Audere are a great pairing - not a suprise as one of Dave's demo basses is an old L2000 - no EQ on the bass. z-mode and coil switching - I spent a day trying to buy it from him the first time I played it ...

It's not like you really need to dump the pre in an L2K or L2500 - I like the passive modes just fine - there is a lot of good tone to be had in there. The bass is in-expensive enough and it's good enough to be totally 'mod-worthy'. Not so valuable that you won't want to devalue it, and mechanically sound enough to justify modding - perfect for me as I have a hard time leaving well enough alone. ;~)

CElton · #9 09-09-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainsail

+1 on the Sunbeams. On my MIA L2500, I'm using a .45 to .105 for the bottom four and a .120 B.
I use a Genz Benz ML200-210T at church and have lots of bottom and enough highs to share with plenty of clarity.
The B is strung through the bridge.

Well I just ordered a set of 45-130's. I thought I would keep the same gauge on there. I'll let you know how it works out.

kph24 · #10 09-09-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

It's more 'everything'. If I want more edge - I can get it. If I want a dub monsta - got that too ... and seemingly all points in between.

The way I set it up was the typical 3 band EQ plus blend using 2 stacked pots - no new holes (except for 1 - a 1/8th on the side, down by the jack for the battery strength indicator LED).

The switches are z-mode, and then Series-Single-Paralelle for each humbucker. So I can have the neck pickup in series and just a Single from the bridge pickup - then use the blend to drift from edge to dubby & back ... lot's of options on that bass... The MFD's & Audere are a great pairing - not a suprise as one of Dave's demo basses is an old L2000 - no EQ on the bass. z-mode and coil switching - I spent a day trying to buy it from him the first time I played it ...

It's not like you really need to dump the pre in an L2K or L2500 - I like the passive modes just fine - there is a lot of good tone to be had
in there. The bass is in-expensive enough and it's good enough to be totally 'mod-worthy'. Not so valuable that you won't want to devalue it, and mechanically sound enough to justify modding - perfect for me as I have a hard time leaving well enough alone. ;~)

Cool thanks for the info as far as strings I am partial to Medium Elixir's

lovenotfear · #11 09-09-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainsail

+1 on the Sunbeams. On my MIA L2500, I'm using a .45 to .105 for the bottom four and a .120 B.
I use a Genz Benz ML200-210T at church and have lots of bottom and enough highs to share with plenty of clarity.
The B is strung through the bridge.

you just gave me an idea mainsail, i think i will try my b string strung through the bridge to see if it gets rid of this thuddyness, and the next time i buy strings i will get some dr sun beams or something nickel, and i will string those through the body, but for now maybe this will be a fix.

mainsail · #12 09-09-2008, 11:55 PM

Correction:
Sorry. The B is through the body and the E is through the bridge along with the A, D and G.
Some like the E and B both through the body but the E sounds just fine through bridge.
The sustain may be better with the B through body. Some say they can't tell any difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovenotfear

you just gave me an idea mainsail, i think i will try my b string strung through the bridge to see if it gets rid of this thuddyness, and the next time i buy strings i will get some dr sun beams or something nickel, and i will string those through the body, but for now maybe this will be a fix.

CElton · #13 09-13-2008, 06:43 AM

Follow up...the Sunbeams are great. I was a little skeptical as I had purchased two sets of Hi-Beams from GC and was not impressed. The HiBeams weren't as bright sounding as I was anticipating and they were dark in color like they were old. Maybe I got a bad batch. Anyway, the Sunbeams are amazing. Wonderful feel, playability and tone. If they last, I think I'll throw a set on my SR5 too.

mainsail · #14 09-13-2008, 01:05 PM

Interesting. It's indeed possible you happened upon a bad batch. That can happen to any string manufacture who cranks out a lot of product.
I actually switched from the Highbeams to the Sunbeams to tame the brightness. I use them on both my L2K and L2500 and I've been extremely pleased that I didn't lose any brightness and the nickels feel great and seem to last rather well.
Hope your experience is just as good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CElton

Follow up...the Sunbeams are great. I was a little skeptical as I had purchased two sets of Hi-Beams from GC and was not impressed. The HiBeams weren't as bright sounding as I was anticipating and they were dark in color like they were old. Maybe I got a bad batch. Anyway, the Sunbeams are amazing. Wonderful feel, playability and tone. If they last, I think I'll throw a set on my SR5 too.

pbass2 · #15 09-14-2008, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Mal

It's not like you really need to dump the pre in an L2K or L2500 - I like the passive modes just fine - there is a lot of good tone to be had in there.

Absolutely. I almost never use the pre in my US L2500. I run it passive, and then sometimes I use my 'ol Sadowsky outboard pre or my Xotic Tri-Logic pre on it depending on required flavor and how much I want to tweak the mids. I remember the first time I used it with the Sadowsky pre was at a session with a "big time" producer and he said "wow, what a great sound" after I'd played about 4 notes.

kph24 · #16 09-26-2008, 07:33 PM

I just ordered the L-2500 in Blueburst with Maple neck

woody357 · #17 09-27-2008, 06:10 AM

I was wondering "Is this thread about the Tribute L-2500, or about strings". I was looking to get some good info on this bass, but all I got was strings.

kph24 · #18 09-27-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woody357

I was wondering "Is this thread about the Tribute L-2500, or about strings". I was looking to get some good info on this bass, but all I got was strings.

It was suppose to be but things kind of turned towards what strings to use

4Mal · #19 09-30-2008, 08:09 AM

long as we're on the string topic - they cost a few buck but G&L's seemingly love, just love Thomastic Super Alloy's you get as much 'clang' as you can possibly use - but without a harsh top - kinda of like Roto' Swing bass but not annoyingly bright and with a much beefier low end. Sweet!

Ken Baker · #20 09-30-2008, 02:34 PM

The TI Powerbass are also excellent. I'd had them on my now-gone L-2000 and now on my L-2500. Excellent stuff. Also the L-2000 carried Super Alloys as well and those too are excellent strings.

Ken...