New arrival (Shapely and Blonde)!

Hugh Jass · #1 03-15-2009, 01:52 AM

So I know I have been cluttering up the forum with questions about custom ordering an SB-2, and I realize that is a funny looking SB-2.....

So I go down to the store today with the intention of ordering one, while waiting for the guy to finish with another customer I see this L2000, blonde over swamp ash, the #7 neck with gun oil tint I wanted and all in a couple hundred cheaper than the SB-2 would have been. Even got the price down a bit more than tagged!

Brought it home, put on some Daddario XLs and man is this thing sweet! love the wide neck, feels perfect to my hands. The blonde is beautiful, especially in bright light you can see the the grain underneath. The neck was a bit too flat and the E was buzzin' so I gave it a quarter turn of relief and lowered the saddles. Intonation was perfect. Sound is great, not quite as much growl as I was expecting but I haven't spent too much time eq'ing.

Nice eh!

Guess the SB-2 will have to wait.....

oldrookie · #2 03-15-2009, 05:36 AM

Nice! Could tease the cat for more growl, but don't think you'll need to.

idoru · #3 03-15-2009, 06:15 AM

Sweet - new L2K pics with bonus kitteh! Nice aquisition

spideyjg · #4 03-15-2009, 12:34 PM

For maximum growl you must study at the temple of the tilted pickup.

See this and the linked one in there.

For further study......

Tone vs. Pickupsettings on L-2000

Messin' with MFD 'buckers: mock single coil mode

Switched to series last night at practice!

idoru · #5 03-15-2009, 05:35 PM

I REALLY like the one coil up/one coil down approach. The bridge/parallel/passive combo sounds awesome with the tone rolled off now

One day I'll mod it for true single coil...

c-

Hugh Jass · #6 03-15-2009, 07:15 PM

So I am a bit confused by series parallel.

It says that with the toggle back it's parallel with a bass cut. When I flick it back it sounds bassy and a bit muffled, compressed and boomy with not much high end (and about half as loud). Forward though it sounds open, full, growlier and has more of a vintagey burpy jazz bass kind of sound. I would NOT say that the bass is boosted, I would say that the treble and clarity is boosted.

Oh and thanks for the tilting tip Spidey, seemed to help with the tone a bit.

Also I am finding the E a bit boomy and dull?

Dont get me wrong though, I love this bass!

Still confused by series parallel though.

Hugh Jass · #7 03-16-2009, 06:04 PM

So, Finally had some time today to play this thing a bit. Trying to figure out how to get some growl and umph out of it. Series (switch forward) seems to have a pretty scooped smooth sound. Then I start playing with parallel (switch back) this seems to be where the growl is but it kinda sounds like there is a pillow between my strings and pickups. Really muffled and thuddy (especially the E)

.

Then I realize that when I'm in parallel the treble control doesn't do anything

The treble still works when is series but there is not much aggression or growl when in this setting. Not much of a difference with it in active, just a tiny hint more sizzle.

So yeah, what the heck

no treble control in parallel, just boomy thuddy bass with no definition and no aggression. Is parallel where the growl is hiding? Right now it just sounds like my amp has a big blanket over it. how do the bass/treble controls work? I am assuming that in passive they cut frequency's but what about in active?

I took the cover off the back and all wires are firmly attached so maybe a bad pot? Will be bringing this thing back to the store for surgery later this week (bit of a drive).

Shoulda spent a bit more time with it before buying it I guess. The construction is fantastic and the neck is my favorite of anything I have ever played with perfect fretwork and a comfy shape but none of it matters when the sound sucks. Hopefully I can get this thing sorted.

spideyjg · #8 03-16-2009, 08:19 PM

The treble and bass controls are cut only regardless of active or passive.

The wiring can be remedied if it is jacked. Just for the hell of it take out the battery and see if passive changes.

Jim

Hugh Jass · #9 03-17-2009, 08:08 PM

Nope still no treble control without the battery, although the tone seemed just a bit crisper without the battery hooked up (or i'm nuts). Digging the series sound a bit with knobs rolled off 50-60%. It has a descent gurgle when played over the bridge pickup but it gets clanky easily with too much treb.

I am still wondering what parallel is hiding though. Is that where the aggressive tone is? So weird how the treble knob only doesn't work in parallel. Boy I hope this thing is worth it when it's fixed.

Nicest bass I have ever played neckwise though.

rokkitt · #10 03-17-2009, 08:12 PM

love the white with the maple

nice grab

spideyjg · #11 03-17-2009, 09:45 PM

Sound sample of a proper 2 K

Someone did some mods and posted samples...

Jim

Hugh Jass · #12 03-17-2009, 10:36 PM

Spidey, I am once again in awe of your knowledge and wealth of links concerning all things G&L

Definitely liking those samples! Will be going back to get that pot sorted on saturday. I am also starting to think I may have gotten a bum E string in this pack as it lacks the definition and clarity of the others.

Have you A/B'd any of yours with or without the battery? I was trying it and to me it sounded like it de-scooped the passive tone a bit if that makes sense

Having no battery had a pretty big effect on the active tone though

Again I am trying to withhold any judgement about this bass until it is fixed.

Fingers crossed it comes out sounding like a proper L2000 cuz it sure is pretty!

spideyjg · #13 03-18-2009, 12:30 AM

I own and play L-2000's because I like in your face mean gnarly growly bass.

A few examples of songs I get these sounds via the 2K. Bear in mind youtube muffs the sound up a fair bit but you get the idea.

Tried all these songs tonight with my 2K

Bad Religion Lost Pilgrim

1000 more Fools

With the help of a Sansamp I get damn close to this hairy sound of Nightwish Marco

The Siren

Ghost love Score

The gateway drug was this by Asia. I couldn't get this sound from my P bass and went in search of something that could get there.

Asia Only Time Will Tell

Can get pretty close to the studio sound of this also.

Behind Blue Eyes

Jim

810wmb · #14 03-18-2009, 11:33 AM

mine is just like that - i love it1

funny, i have been thinking about a sb-2 also.........

plankspanker13 · #15 03-24-2009, 01:13 AM

Kitty's cute as hell, and the bass ain't bad either. Hope you found the sound that you were looking for.

Hugh Jass · #16 03-24-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plankspanker13

Kitty's cute as hell, and the bass ain't bad either. Hope you found the sound that you were looking for.

Thanks on both counts!

Update: So I am still waiting on a fix for the series/parallel switch. The shop I have been dealing with has been helpful and we are just waiting to hear back from G&L on wether they will pay for a fix or send all new electronics. Nice thing is that series works fine so I leave it there.

The sound: This is the good part. I have never tried D'addario XL's before and for some reason these things sounded horrible new. Dull and clanky at the same time

now that they are broke in this thing sounds unreal! Really Really aggressive sound with tons of growl and filling rattling low end at the same time. As some of you have mentioned it is easy to dial in too much low end! I have been leaving it in passive as that sounds best to me. I can't slap my way out of a wet paper bag so I have no use for the active/treble boost (will have to work on that). Soloing the pickups gets some good cool tones as well, the bridge pup is a bit nasal but crank up the bass and it can almost cop a burpy jazz-ish bridge pup sound. The neck pup I am really digging, it has a gritty, grindy, growly kind of boxy sound that would really cut through. I know it has been said but a blend knob or music man esque selector switch would be nice.

One thing that I have been getting used to is how sensitive to technique this thing is. I have really had to step up my right hand muting as this thing hears everything! Also, the tone changes a HUGE amount depending where you play between the neck and bridge. I can really see how changing strings would change the tone, these pickups are really transparent.

So I tested many basses for many weeks and still bought this one on a whim despite only playing it for a few minutes when I was set on an SB-2. This bass has exceeded expectations and I am really loving it for the playability, tone, and of course the looks. It was a shaky start, and its not perfect yet but wow what a bass!

spideyjg · #17 03-24-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jass

now that they are broke in this thing sounds unreal! Really Really aggressive sound with tons of growl and filling rattling low end at the same time.

The neck pup I am really digging, it has a gritty, grindy, growly kind of boxy sound that would really cut through. I know it has been said but a blend knob or music man esque selector switch would be nice.

One thing that I have been getting used to is how sensitive to technique this thing is. I have really had to step up my right hand muting as this thing hears everything! Also, the tone changes a HUGE amount depending where you play between the neck and bridge. I can really see how changing strings would change the tone, these pickups are really transparent.

This bass has exceeded expectations and I am really loving it for the playability, tone, and of course the looks. It was a shaky start, and its not perfect yet but wow what a bass!

Now you are beginning to grok G&L.

Took a bit to get used to.

Told ya so.

Jim

Hugh Jass · #18 03-24-2009, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyjg

Now you are beginning to grok G&L.

grok? not sure I would go that far

Thanks for all the info Spidey!

Looking forward to my wife finishing university so I can expand my G&L family. I would love an SB-2 and then maybe an SB-1 and then maybe a JB-2 and then maybe......

And by the way Nightwish is frickin awesome! I had never heard of them before you gave me those links.

I think my next buy is gonna be a Sansamp. Which one would you recommend? (cheaper the better)

spideyjg · #19 03-24-2009, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jass

And by the way Nightwish is frickin awesome! I had never heard of them before you gave me those links.

I think my next buy is gonna be a Sansamp. Which one would you recommend? (cheaper the better)

The standard is the Sansamp Bass driver DI commonly reffered to as a Sansamp BDDI.

I'm torn on tossing that one and getting the Sansamp para driver which has a mid control.

Nightwish is a great band and the real fun part

is I can get Marco's sound out of my G&Ls but his weapon of choice is that $5000+ Warwick Infinity or a $4500 Vampyre. I sure as hell never paid anything close to that for 3 of mine.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ing?sku=519134

Jim

Hugh Jass · #20 03-24-2009, 09:42 PM

So the sansamp can get you that vicious overdriven sound eh? Thats pretty tempting for what it costs!

That Infinity is beautiful but wow it's worth more than than my gettin to work beater car

. I could just about get all three G&L's that I want plus an amp and cab for what that thing costs! Sure is purdy though.

If you are thinking of tossing your BDDI, how about sending it north?

Edit: just noticed you are in San Diego, Shipping would probably cost more than the sansamp would!