Help talk me out of returning my L2000 for a SR

[Johnny Morales]

Just received my new L2000 by Fedex yesterday. Love the bass, love the tone. Neck is a little chunky but seems pretty good. I'm on the fence about returning it for a SR5 (or a SR4 dual humbucker). Can anyone help persuade me one way or the other?

Pros for the L2000:
Nice sunburst finish
Versatility
Only cost $865 new (no its not a Tribute) - $5-600 less than the SR's
Like the ability to go passive and get an old school P-bass sound when necessary.


Pros for the SR4/5:
Love the SR tone
Neck is a bit slimmer than the L2000 and I have small hands
Like the look better than the G&L - especially the headstock
Holds its value much better than the G&L

[spideyjg]

Can't help you decide but things to consider,

Versatility: The HH Ray will be just as versatile as the 2K but the H Ray will not be. Do you return the G&L and fork out $4-$600 more for the dual Ray, or settle for the less versatile H model?

Tone: you say you love both as expected they are great basses both but which is closer to the sound YOU want?

Beware the fanboys of any bass who will tell you emphatically get bass "A" over bass "B" because they like it.

MFD basses are unique sounding as are EBMM basses. Get which suits you better.

Take the G&L to a store and A/B with a Ray and decide.

Jim

[sunbeast]

I disagree that an HH 'Ray is as versatile as a G&L- no matter how much sculpting you can do, none of it can be done passively. I personally never play my L2500 in active- I think it sounds very different that way. I've tried to love Stingrays for a long time- but no matter what you do, they still sound active (which is not ever a sound I've been fond of...). I definitely agree you should A/B them at a store that carries an HH Stingray before getting rid of the L2000...

Karl

[Nedmundo]

Seems like you might have a 1.75" nut width on your L-2000, so my suggestion is to try to exchange it for one with the #8 neck with the 1.5" nut and 12" fretboard radius. I have small hands too, and my L-1500's #8 is the quickest playing neck I have. (I still prefer the overall feel of my Fenders for some reason though.) You will then have a bass that plays as easily as any Music Man.

Otherwise, it's purely a matter of preference. I prefer the raw, passive G&L tone to MM generally, but those two pickup StingRays are amazing. I never really "got" the StingRay until I tried the HH model. And the StingRay 5 is among the best playing fives out there IMO. If I get a fiver, it probably will be an HS 'Ray.

Now that I think about it, maybe you can split the difference with an HS Sterling. You'll have some versatility, be in the MM "family of tones" as some say, but be closer to the aggressive G&L sound than you will with a 'Ray. And those necks are killer.

[Infernal Affair]

Well prior to knowing about G&Ls I was dead set on making a Stingray or Sterling my next bass. But when I saw the L-2000 and what it was capable of thanks to these boards I ended up getting an L2K. Honestly, I think the Stingray look and name play a lot into convincing people to get a ray over an L2K, and now that they make twin humbucker models that resemble L2Ks it seems like people would be even more in favor of the ray since the L2K might not have more to offer. However, I don't really think of HH and its ilk as "real" Stingrays. Whenever I think of Stingrays I think of a single humbucker in the sweet spot with active electronics. It's obvious that they just want to shell the name out with a similar look because it'll increase sales. I bet the SUB didn't perform as well as they expected. Stingray is a household name.

Anyway the moral to this story is A/B them and see which one you like, then go for it! Necks vary from bass to bass.

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

Honestly, I think the Stingray look and name play a lot into convincing people to get a ray over an L2K, and now that they make twin humbucker models that resemble L2Ks it seems like people would be even more in favor of the ray since the L2K might not have more to offer. However, I don't really think of HH and its ilk as "real" Stingrays. Whenever I think of Stingrays I think of a single humbucker in the sweet spot with active electronics. It's obvious that they just want to shell the name out with a similar look because it'll increase sales. I bet the SUB didn't perform as well as they expected. Stingray is a household name.

They didn't want to call the HH model after it's ancestor the Sabre.

They are the red headed stepchild of the MM line but mine is a killer bass.

I prefer my G&L's becuse the fundamental sound is more my bag but this thing is funky as hell. If I needed a bass to take to a gig I would have no qualms grabbing this one. Well OK it is 12 lbs so maybe not.
Someday I'll find a HH "SabRay" to replace this.

Jim

[OshKoshJoash]

may i ask where you bought it new for such a low price?!

[quickervicar]

StingRays always have that added zing to the treble which can be very attractive. However, as I age I find the zing to be desirable in fewer and fewer instances. The G & L growl and warm push is far more musically attractive to me these days.

Just my $.02

[goatrider]

Well.. here's my take. I have a friend who played a 'Ray for years. I loved his tone. I borrowed his axe and rig and played with my band. I hated it. I bought an L2K Tribby recently to try out. I can't find a bad sound on it. My theory is this... So much of the sound is technique and style. You need to find the bass that fits for you. In the end you'll probably end up owning both someday anyways. I mean really, don't we all?

[Phyrexian]

True!

[Infernal Affair]

Unfortunately, this is very true. I probably will end up owning one someday.

[eedre]

I posted this in another thread, but it applies here too.

I can add to this

Yesterday I played a G&L 2500 and an EBMM Stingray V back-to-back. Both had the large-pole dual-humbucking pups. Both played like a dream, had tight B-String response, and great construction. The price difference: $200. The G&L was the more expensive of the two, but it had fancier materials (ebony fingerboard, quilt maple body, custom top). Both basses were played through an Eden head and 6x10 cabinet.

The G&L electronics were more intuitive and responded drastically with small changes in knobs/switches (a good thing). I loved the tones I could get out of the instrument. Also, it can be played actively OR passively via a switch - a BIG plus if your battery happens to crap out in the middle of a show. There were two other switches -bass boost/cut and a pup selector.

However, with more knobs, and a switch (about 5 or 6? I lost count, lol) I just wasn't able to dial in the tone I wanted on the Stingray. I seemed like all I could get was bass and less bass. The only control that seemed to make a sizeable difference was the pup selector switch. In all fairness, It could have always been old strings.

For my money -- I'd definitely pick up the G&L 2500 over the EBMM Stingray V $$. This was the second time a Stingray has disappointed me .

Hope this helped anyone in their decisions!

[metron]

Just listen to it! Should be all the convincing you need.