L2500--back in the house

[pbass2]

Some of you may have noticed I had a trade feeler ad here recently--I was looking to trade my US black/maple L2500 for something else--didn't know what I wanted, just something different. Got some great offers on Rays, Spectors, Jazzes, etc. I ended up doing a "trial" trade with a friend for his Jazz V that had some nice mods. I liked the Jazz--it was cool--sounded good.
One afternoon, after all my raving about my REDDI to my pal, he came over to the studio to try it, and of course, brings my old L2500.
It dawned on me I'd never tried the L2500 thru the REDDI--they just never crossed paths. Well, long story short, I have my L2500 back now. My pal was kind enough to reverse the swap--once I heard it through the REDDI I had to have it back. It's like I heard it in a whole new light. And now interestingly, I like it better than ever, REDDI or not.
Back in the G&L club I guess

[luzceloffan]

Welcome back, we all won't curse you for trying , we are happy You've returned from the evil's ground.

P.S. What's a REDDI??? sorry for my ignorance!

[francisl2500]

This is a tube preamp for bass from a-desings audio , juste search these words on search engine and you'll find info about that.
Francis

[jmattis]

Ha! Awesome. I guess you're glad you didn't send it to the East Coast.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by jmattis

Ha! Awesome. I guess you're glad you didn't send it to the East Coast.

Ha! yes, I guess that's true! I STILL want to try a 'Ray fiver one of these days. I've never even picked one up before.

The REDDI does have the ability to reveal basses in their best light I'd say--granted, it's not a truly transparent sound, but it is "amp-like" in the best possible way. The L2.5 sounds killer through it indeed. I'm using it now on a house/funk kinda session and getting a great sound (no slapping, just fingerstyle disco funk--my slapping kinda sucks)

Did you get your L2500 you had on order yet?

[ErnieD]

I just posted my 2001 US L2500 sunburst w/rosewood board on TB classifieds as trade feeler not 2 mins ago. I hope I dont get offered a bunch of Rays, had 2 of those and sent em packing. I just cant get past the chunky C-neck on my L25K. I play my 55-02, 55-01 even a 2007 MIM Jazz 5 standard, (electron blue) and these necks feel nice and flat to me. I bought this G&L used w/only pics of it. Its very clean and Ive always wanted one since they first came out. I could afford this one so I got it. I have not been able to get 'my tone' from it. I tried Da'd XL170's and I put Chromes on it and now its just too thumpy for the funk/disco/soul band I use my other basses in. I use it once in a great while with my TX blues band but even then Im not happy with the tone.

So maybe I'll get offered something I will like better and be happy with, or not, thats the rub. But dang this L25K is so minty, pretty Ive been keeping it just cause its so cool looking and Hell its a G&L, I finally bought myself one. So I'll look at offers but Im gonna be darn picky cause this thing can always just stay in my spare room til I come to my senses again. pray for me

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by ErnieD

I just posted my 2001 US L2500 sunburst w/rosewood board on TB classifieds as trade feeler not 2 mins ago. I hope I dont get offered a bunch of Rays, had 2 of those and sent em packing. I just cant get past the chunky C-neck on my L25K. I play my 55-02, 55-01 even a 2007 MIM Jazz 5 standard, (electron blue) and these necks feel nice and flat to me. I bought this G&L used w/only pics of it. Its very clean and Ive always wanted one since they first came out. I could afford this one so I got it. I have not been able to get 'my tone' from it. I tried Da'd XL170's and I put Chromes on it and now its just too thumpy for the funk/disco/soul band I use my other basses in. I use it once in a great while with my TX blues band but even then Im not happy with the tone.

So maybe I'll get offered something I will like better and be happy with, or not, thats the rub. But dang this L25K is so minty, pretty Ive been keeping it just cause its so cool looking and Hell its a G&L, I finally bought myself one. So I'll look at offers but Im gonna be darn picky cause this thing can always just stay in my spare room til I come to my senses again. pray for me

Funny, but I can safely say, after having a Trib L2500, and then this US one, that the whole time, I've had a love/hate relationship with the sound. For whatever reason, I've stuck with it (or in the most recent case, sent it packing and got it back!). Part of the problem is I'm SUCH a P-bass guy, that's what I grab 90% of the time of my 6-7 basses. My other basses are also more "plug-and-play" tonally than the G&L. But I think I FINALLY "get" the sound of this bass, after all this time. I actually just did some tracking with it on a disco/house/funk thing, and for me, it bridges the modern/vintage sound just right for it!
If you wanna experiment with one more string type, give Nickel Lo-Riders a try. I went through several other sets as well before settling on these--great on this bass.

[jmattis]

Originally Posted by pbass2

Did you get your L2500 you had on order yet?

Not yet. It should be here real soon though.

[ErnieD]

Maybe the right strings would make the L25K stay en casa with me. I did like the Xl170's fine, but put the Chrome flats on it for the blues band. Then this little Mexican Jazz shows up w/flats at my door "Hola Chica", thanks to Ibanezcollector for the trade of such an awesome MIM bass ( he pulled the tone knob and installed a switch for parallel/series) and it blew me away tone-feel-everything- wise. I was about to go buy the new Am Jazz Standard 5er, this MIM has made me get over that need altogether. The electron blue w/ blue mirror picgard just looks great and I get alota comments on its looks and tone.

But I digress, so maybe the right strings will make the tone from my G&L for me. Now what length would I need of the Low Riders to string thru body on my G&L? Both the XL 170's and the Chrome flats I put on it had a B string too short or too wide to string thru body. I prefer Nickels, are the loriders made in nickel and able to string thru body?
Y'all help me keep my G&L, thanks.

[francisl2500]

For myself i strung mine with slinky (cause there is no TI or DR strings sellers near my home and for shure next sets will be buy on ebay or something else), there is a lot of punch, tight low-end with my Hartke amp and bottom, and since i read this forum that gave me the interest to try a lot of pups and switchs and tone roll on/off set-up. The many sound theses experiences gave me made my L2500 , my first to go bass for any style i play. And the many guys i play with agree the sound i give to the mix.

Francis

[mainsail]

The DR Lo-Riders come in nickel and the B string does go through the body. I'm using them on my MIA L2500.

The Sunbeams are another good choice. The Lo-Riders have a hex core and the Sunbeams have a round core.

The hex core is a bit stiffer while the round core is a bit more flexible.

Since I like to bend a little, when I change strings next time, I'm going back to the Sunbeams.

HTH.

Larry

Originally Posted by ErnieD

Maybe the right strings would make the L25K stay en casa with me. I did like the Xl170's fine, but put the Chrome flats on it for the blues band. Then this little Mexican Jazz shows up w/flats at my door "Hola Chica", thanks to Ibanezcollector for the trade of such an awesome MIM bass ( he pulled the tone knob and installed a switch for parallel/series) and it blew me away tone-feel-everything- wise. I was about to go buy the new Am Jazz Standard 5er, this MIM has made me get over that need altogether. The electron blue w/ blue mirror picgard just looks great and I get alota comments on its looks and tone.

But I digress, so maybe the right strings will make the tone from my G&L for me. Now what length would I need of the Low Riders to string thru body on my G&L? Both the XL 170's and the Chrome flats I put on it had a B string too short or too wide to string thru body. I prefer Nickels, are the loriders made in nickel and able to string thru body?
Y'all help me keep my G&L, thanks.

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by ErnieD

But I digress, so maybe the right strings will make the tone from my G&L for me. Now what length would I need of the Low Riders to string thru body on my G&L? Both the XL 170's and the Chrome flats I put on it had a B string too short or too wide to string thru body. I prefer Nickels, are the loriders made in nickel and able to string thru body?
Y'all help me keep my G&L, thanks.

Yeah, I had Chromes on for a while--had to string through the bridge too with those. I liked Chromes on it--the B was a but blurry though, but was cool for dubby stuff.

I use the Nickel Lo-Riders and they are long enough to string-through the bridge no problem, 45-130

http://www.juststrings.com/drs-nmh5-45-130.html

I use these on my Sadowsky too. I consider them a really "warm" roundwound. They last a long time, and sound nice and funky when they're old.

[ErnieD]

Pbass2 I need to order more strings from juststrings so I'll look into ordering some more DR's. I put Sunbeam nickels on my 55-02 and I like them pretty well. But even the nickels I bought from Lakland to put on my 55-01 feel and sound pretty good and at $22 bucks they were a good deal.

Now mainsail, does the round core - hex core do anything tonewise or is mostly for the feel of the string folks get one or the other? May just keep my L25K, besides of gotten crap trade offers so far. But Im really dying to try a Skyline DJ5 or JO5, so may put my bass up for sale to see what kinda bites I get then. Otherwise new strings may be the last ditch effort to keep it or move it.

[mainsail]

According to the DR site, the hex core are good for slapping. since my slap technique is OTL, the Sunbeams are sufficient.

I've used both and can't tell any difference in tone. The Lo-Riders feel fine and last fairly well but are definitely stiffer.

Larry

Originally Posted by ErnieD

Pbass2 I need to order more strings from juststrings so I'll look into ordering some more DR's. I put Sunbeam nickels on my 55-02 and I like them pretty well. But even the nickels I bought from Lakland to put on my 55-01 feel and sound pretty good and at $22 bucks they were a good deal.

Now mainsail, does the round core - hex core do anything tonewise or is mostly for the feel of the string folks get one or the other? May just keep my L25K, besides of gotten crap trade offers so far. But Im really dying to try a Skyline DJ5 or JO5, so may put my bass up for sale to see what kinda bites I get then. Otherwise new strings may be the last ditch effort to keep it or move it.

[pbass2]

I think I'm ready for a new set of L-riders on mine now actually. These have been on for about a year or so--I like dead strings--I'm normally a big flatwound guy, so with rounds I like 'em old. BUT, contrary to a lot of folks, I find the L2500 to be a dark-sounding bass. Maybe 'cause I've lowered the pickups all the way down, and have these very broken-in strings on. Since I'm grabbing this bass now for this disco/funk album I'm playing on, I think I might need some more spank.
I'm glad I kept mine, ultimately--I think I've finally realized the inherent sound of the bass--it's kind of it's own animal really, despite the fact that most folks talk about how well it does impersonations. I will say, that my current fave approach with it, is in passive mode, through my Xotic Tri-Logic pre, and then that pre enables me to cut mids (with a "high" and "low" mid setting--I forget the specific voicing). I also found it sounded killer through my old Sadowsky outboard pre. I think for me, it needs a little "scoop".

[Joebone]

Hear, hear for this question of recognizing the L-2000 or L-2500 as its own animal. I've been treading through a few of these and find myself not feeling I've yet found the one that delivers the full promise of this design, but as I better appreciate the unique qualities of a good P or J - bass I don't look to the G&L to emulate, but instead am looking for it to build on those traditional Fender strengths.

At this point I'm thinking that a good G&L w/ the MFD pickups will have that Fender-like ability to slip into the mix, but also the ability to manifest either more grunt or a more modern sheen, depending on the settings, and that a really good one will also be sensitive to left-hand nuance and offer a fair amount of bloom. My problem is that I have not yet found one that fully realizes my sense of the potential...but then, I also might be an utter loon!

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by pbass2

I'm glad I kept mine, ultimately--I think I've finally realized the inherent sound of the bass--it's kind of it's own animal really, despite the fact that most folks talk about how well it does impersonations.

Originally Posted by Joebone

Hear, hear for this question of recognizing the L-2000 or L-2500 as its own animal.

At this point I'm thinking that a good G&L w/ the MFD pickups will have that Fender-like ability to slip into the mix, but also the ability to manifest either more grunt or a more modern sheen, depending on the settings, and that a really good one will also be sensitive to left-hand nuance and offer a fair amount of bloom.

Many of us do recognize the unique voice of the L series. A few years ago I stopped even thinking of what bass was used to make the sounds on the song I was trying to play. I'd flip and dial until the G&L fit the song.

My standard G&L sound is, if you can imagine, an amalgam of John Wetton's first Asia CD, Kansas, Geddy Wal era, John Entwistle's Alembic era, and Live at Leeds.

Not exactly P or J now is it?

*rant mode on* If you spend the time to really study the effect the controls of your bass has, with your ears and hands not a schematic, you will be well on your way to mastering your bass. I watched Alex Al milk all kinda sounds from his Jazz and realized it wasn't the Jazz, it was Alex's knowledge of the Jazz that made all that sound.

Think about it.

*rant off*

Jim

[spideyjg]

Originally Posted by pbass2

BUT, contrary to a lot of folks, I find the L2500 to be a dark-sounding bass. Maybe 'cause I've lowered the pickups all the way down, and have these very broken-in strings on. Since I'm grabbing this bass now for this disco/funk album I'm playing on, I think I might need some more spank.

New strings, roll the bass control back, and raise the pickups. You will spank away.

Chef and I both run ours as high as possible. My 2500 is bright and mean with high pickups and new rounds.

Jim

[ErnieD]

Ive used my G&L in different groups and like y'all, I have made it work for the situation, it is def doable. I think my real problem if you'll look back at my first reply is the chunky just wears my wrist out. I guess that's my biggest issue when I narrow it down, Ive made the tone work for me in varied settings dont know if I can make the neck work for me.

Ive read here of different # necks being more comfortable than others. Dont know what neck # I have and dont really want to pull the neck off to find out, if that would tell me. I can play it at one gig one nite and I wont gig it again for a few weeks cause the neck feels so much better on my other basses that I gig with. So there you have it. Maybe I just got to sell her and hunt down that DJ5 or a Lull 5, or Cirrus, jusd stuff Ive asked for in trade in the classifieds.

[mainsail]

It looks like you've "pinned the tail on the donkey" so to speak.

One certainly has to be physically comfortable with his instrument as well as all the other factors that go into playing. The L2500 comes with a number 10 neck.

I'm sure there's something out there that will fit your hand and be pleasing to your ears, and I'll bet you can find it.

Good luck in your quest.

Larry

Originally Posted by ErnieD

Ive used my G&L in different groups and like y'all, I have made it work for the situation, it is def doable. I think my real problem if you'll look back at my first reply is the chunky just wears my wrist out. I guess that's my biggest issue when I narrow it down, Ive made the tone work for me in varied settings dont know if I can make the neck work for me.

Ive read here of different # necks being more comfortable than others. Dont know what neck # I have and dont really want to pull the neck off to find out, if that would tell me. I can play it at one gig one nite and I wont gig it again for a few weeks cause the neck feels so much better on my other basses that I gig with. So there you have it. Maybe I just got to sell her and hunt down that DJ5 or a Lull 5, or Cirrus, jusd stuff Ive asked for in trade in the classifieds.