L2000 Tone[s]

[Solarmist]

Hey guys - I had a "82" L2000 years ago, and am kinda missing it, but I forgot how it sounded. I'm kind of interested in another one being I can get an 1 1/2" neck now as an option.

Can somebody describe its tone A/B against an Ibby SR? Does it have the thunderous lows, and crisp sparkling highs without a lot of upper mids? Thanks People

[Ken Baker]

My L-2500 A/B'd to my son's SR505:

Fuller, fatter tone in general. The SR sounds anemic in comparison. The L-2500 has a hit-you-in-the-chest power and immediacy, along with cutting mids, that the Ibanez can't touch.

Example:
When covering the tuba part for his university's pep band, comprised of about 25 horns playing flat out, the SR couldn't punch through using an Ampeg B2R and a 4 ohm 1X15. The bass was loud and the limiter was working, but it just wasn't cutting through and EQ didn't help. He borrowed my L-2500 and played it in passive mode, and the difference was like night & day. All of a sudden there was no question that this band had a bass section.

Ken...

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Hey guys - I had a "82" L2000 years ago, and am kinda missing it, but I forgot how it sounded. I'm kind of interested in another one being I can get an 1 1/2" neck now as an option.

Can somebody describe its tone A/B against an Ibby SR? Does it have the thunderous lows, and crisp sparkling highs without a lot of upper mids? Thanks People

Here's a quick .mp3 of mine, screwing around with it on my boss loop station. Keep in mind mine is the fretless model so it sounds a little different from the fretted version. Vitals:

- bridge PU only in series mode
- finger style, playing over bridge PU
- active on (middle position, no treble boost)
- treble and bass up full
- D'addario EXL220 strings, a million years old
- boss RC2 loop station -> GK1001RB tone controls set flat -> my mac -> Logic express -> a little reverb added for a little stereo effect.

Also, my bass is a 90's model, the older one with 3 bolt "bi-cut" neck.

As you can hear, hopefully, it gives a very hefty midbassey kind of Jaco-ish tone. My L2500 which is brand new doesn't give a tone like this (it's more of a modern smooth tone) so I don't know if the new L2000's still sound like this or not....

LS

[FidgetStone]

Nice playing there unclejane!

[Solarmist]

Thanks guys [niceclip!] - So you're saying it's strong on low, and high mids? What about very deep lows, and sparkling highs like the Ibanez SR? I like a very scooped sound - not worried about "cutting through"

[mcm]

IMO, it is even across the board. I would not say it is scooped.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Thanks guys [niceclip!] - So you're saying it's strong on low, and high mids? What about very deep lows, and sparkling highs like the Ibanez SR? I like a very scooped sound - not worried about "cutting through"

My clip was with everything on my amp flat and with just the bridge pickup, which isn't that scooped.

Running both pickups with the right settings on the amp and you can get a pretty wicked scoop sound. Parallel mode on the PU's and using treble boost on the onboard preamp along with gives a totally gnarly, deafening Louis Johson slap tone.

At least on a fretted one, mine can't quite get the same bite as a fretted version....

LS

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Thanks guys [niceclip!] - So you're saying it's strong on low, and high mids? What about very deep lows, and sparkling highs like the Ibanez SR? I like a very scooped sound - not worried about "cutting through"

It'll do darn near anything you want it to do, as it's an extraordinarily flexible instrument. Just understand that (1) It does not have a natively scooped tone unless you dial back BOTH the treble and bass. and that would be better done at the amp, (2) the onboard EQ is passive - cut only, and (3) G&L basses are VERY sensitive to different strings.

And now for Ken's Broken Record.
If you like and want the tone of your SR, then play the SR. If you like and want the tone of a G&L, then play a G&L. Just don't expect the G&L to cop the sound of your Ibanez, or any other bass for that matter, as it just ain't gonna happen. If you like and want the feel of a G&L, the G&L tone goes with it.

Ken...

[JohnnyPustular]

My L2000 has thunderous lows, and crisp sparkling highs without a lot of upper mids. Unless I want a lot of upper mids, in which case I can dial them in. I use a crappy 100w solid state amp from the early 80s and I haven't played a gig w/o the sound guy raving about my sound. YMMV.

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

If you like and want the tone of your SR, then play the SR. If you like and want the tone of a G&L, then play a G&L. Just don't expect the G&L to cop the sound of your Ibanez, or any other bass for that matter, as it just ain't gonna happen. If you like and want the feel of a G&L, the G&L tone goes with it.
Ken...

Of course they're different, but like I said - I'm kind of missing my L2000, and it was a long time ago, and forgot how it sounded. I'm thinking about another one, but I don't want any more "midrangy only" basses. That's why I was asking about the tone, and using an Ibanez SR as a reference point being it does have very deep lows & crisp highs. Similarities is what I was after.

EDIT: I could have both you know

Originally Posted by JohnnyPustular

My L2000 has thunderous lows, and crisp sparkling highs without a lot of upper mids. Unless I want a lot of upper mids, in which case I can dial them in. I use a crappy 100w solid state amp from the early 80s and I haven't played a gig w/o the sound guy raving about my sound. YMMV.

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Of course they're different, but like I said - I'm kind of missing my L2000, and it was a long time ago, and forgot how it sounded. I'm thinking about another one, but I don't want any more "midrangy only" basses. That's why I was asking about the tone, and using an Ibanez SR as a reference point being it does have very deep lows & crisp highs. Similarities is what I was after.

EDIT: I could have both you know

Here's a clip of my L2500 set to give a more scooped tone. This with both pickups on in series mode. I don't have the treble boost on tho.

This bass is also a fretless so again you can probably get more bite out of a fretted model.

But as you can hear, it's easy to get a more scoopy sound with proper selecting of pickups and active mode. I suppose I should have turned on the treble boost, but it's really extreme then....

LS

[quickervicar]

If you like the SR, play the SR. I had a fretless SR and replaced it with an L2k. You could not pay me to go back. The SR is lifeless and sterile by comparison, IME. The G&L will not do the Fieldy thing like the SR can. This is a very good thing, IMO.

[lug]

Nice clip!

1999 L2000 with a 1 1/2" neck...
Front pup, series (I think) straight to PC through a pandora
http://www.box.net/shared/static/hvg1qc8czv.mp3
Back Pup, parallel straight to PC through a pandora
http://www.box.net/shared/static/u7tl6veova.mp3

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by unclejane

Here's a clip of my L2500 set to give a more scooped tone. This with both pickups on in series mode. I don't have the treble boost on tho.

This bass is also a fretless so again you can probably get more bite out of a fretted model.

But as you can hear, it's easy to get a more scoopy sound with proper selecting of pickups and active mode. I suppose I should have turned on the treble boost, but it's really extreme then....

LS

Hey Thanks - I like that! Nice Playing!

Originally Posted by quickervicar

If you like the SR, play the SR. I had a fretless SR and replaced it with an L2k. You could not pay me to go back. The SR is lifeless and sterile by comparison, IME. The G&L will not do the Fieldy thing like the SR can. This is a very good thing, IMO.

Didn't I make it Clear that I'm interested in another L2000?
And I never mentioned Fieldy!

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Didn't I make it Clear that I'm interested in another L2000?

You did make it clear that you want another L-2000. What is less than clear are your expectations from the bass; specifically, that you're looking for the scooped tone you get from your Ibanez SR. Expectations can be pretty powerful, and I've seen people get openly angry because their L-2000 couldn't meet their expectations.

Having said that, please don't feel picked on. Here's why I say what I'm saying.

On any number of occasions, and it happens a lot, people will get an L series G&L and expect it to be able to exactly cop the sound of a Precision/Jazz/StingRay (pick one - or all). The usual thinking is that it ought to with all that flexibility; and besides, it's a Leo Fender creation. The reality is that the L series can come close to sounding like other manufacturer's basses, but not exactly. You probably know that, but it's been a while since you've owned one and your desire for that scooped "SR" tone led me to think that you'd forgotten.

Nobody is twisting your tail here. If you feel that is happening, please be assured it's not. We just want to be sure you know what can't be done.

Thanks!

Ken...

[Solarmist]

Thanks Ken ... I don't feel picked on, but I know there are a lot of people that don't want to hear Ibanez, and G&L in the same sentence

I haven't played my L2000since "89" [got sold]

I'm sure I can use my amp for cutting the upper mids a bit, but I'm not trying to replicate the Ibby SR - just know I'm not going to get a "midrange" instead of a "bass"
I'm asking because I've had several basses with no bottom end (or highs)

I love Ibby SR's, but it's time to try something else (when I get the $$ that is)

How thick is the neck at the 1st - front to back on the 1 1/2" nut width? SR-ish at all [19.5/21mm]? Again - Thanks Ken

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

Thanks Ken ... I don't feel picked on, but I know there are a lot of people that don't want to hear Ibanez, and G&L in the same sentence

I think you'll find that, for the most part, G&L'ers realize and accept that there are other basses out there. That is because we're generally on the receiving end of the vitriol. It's a helluva thing to have to constantly explain what the "L" is for, and then still get pounded because it just ain't "xx" bass.

You want blaring fanboys and animosity, there are places I could send you.

Ken...

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by Ken Baker

It's a helluva thing to have to constantly explain what the "L" is for, and then still get pounded because it just ain't "xx" bass.
Ken...

Now that's funny! ..... ..... What's the "G" for?

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by Solarmist

What's the "G" for?

There is actually some variance of opinion on that. The older version of the story is that it stands for George, as in George Fullerton, Leo's long-time partner from back in the Fender days. The latest is that that it started out standing for George, as in George Fullerton, Leo's long-time partner from back in the Fender days, and has now kinda-sorta migrated to "Guitars by..."

I gave up trying to understand that last one until G&L ceased production on the Fullerton model Legacy guitar and George lent his name to an FMIC Strat bearing his name. The word is there's no bad blood and that BBE/G&L gave George their blessing. Then there's that "G" thing. All of which leads me back to my usual confused state.

Ken...

[Solarmist]

I always knew it to be "George & Leo"