A pair of L-1500 questions.

[lastminute]

1) I'm the kind of guy who mainly plays pop-punk/punk (save it guys ), but I also do alternative, grunge, and occasionally metal. Now, I want a bass that can fit in all those genres. Can an L-1500 cover those genres? Or will I have to turn to an L-2000?

2) Why is it that I see so many L2000's going around but barely any L1500's? Do they not make them any more or something? And if they still do, what's the production ratio between it and the other G&L basses?

[Chef]

1500's aren't that popular, most folks seem to prefer having two pickups...which is why they dropped the L1000 years ago.
But, the 1500 is a fine bass, it's pickup is more in the "Stingray" sweet spot.
If you think you'd like a Stingray, but tiwht the more aggressive G&L tone, you'll probably like the 1500.

You could always add the second pickup later, if you like.

[Nedmundo]

I have an L-1500, and think it will cover all those genres easily. It's inherently aggressive, with lots of cut and tight, punchy lows.

I have no idea about the production ratio, but the L-2000 sells more due to its versatility, and I suspect some players don't like the L-1500's aggression. Some find it harsh, and its pronounced upper mids can sound harsh through some rigs until it's dialed in right. But when it is dialed in right, it's a fantastic rock bass. It has a great presence in the mix, without getting too boomy.

[Kompressaur]

I was ready for moving my own L1500 on till I spent some time with it and now love it(see my post opinions on L1500?)
I'm in total agreeament with the above posts. its got bags of upper mids and really sits great when the sonic traffic is full. where other basses may lose some definition and be felt more than heard,the L1500 is bold as brass occupying its own space in the mix. It out punches my MM Sterlings and I thought they were edgy basses!
My only complaint is the back toggle goes from passive to active with treble boost. I believe theres a mod for replicating the active without treble boost of the L2000/Asat and thats something I'd like for mine. Its just too much with the trebl boost unless you pull back on the treble control.
In summary,I think its a bit of a niche bass in the G&L line up
Given the choice between it and an L2000/Asat and only having the one bass,I'd take one of the two p/up jobs any day of the week. so much more versatility. they dont do an L1500 sound,but the 1500 hasn't a hope in hell in getting close to anything approximating a P,J or hollow 2 pup slap tone even with all the toneshaping you can squeeze out your amp.
If you can have it,its a flavour worth aquiring as long as you know what its capable of and what it wont do - which i didnt do before buying it (since when did rationale play a part in any G&L purchase) but since then I have come to appreciate its virtues
just my opinion ymmv
cheers
Komp

[Nedmundo]

I agree with Kompressaur that the L-1500 isn't an "all around" type bass, but provides an excellent option alongside different, more versatile basses. It does things my Fenders can't, and is useful largely for that reason, but you need to know its limitations and how to account for them.

He's also right that it can be more heard than felt at times. Sometimes I like that, but sometimes I want more sledgehammer and less samurai sword. For that, and to even out the tone in general, I've found the Aphex Bass Xciter is a wonderful match for the L-1500.

[DavePlaysBass]

I had a Climax that I liked a bit which is the same thing but with a skinny neck. I agree that it can cut like a knife and not boom. The active mode mod is a must have IMO if you want the active sound. There is a link to my online storage page up top on how to do the mod. My favorite setting on that bass was the single coil with bass boost which I had to mod to get (not a stock setting).

My biggest issue with that bass was no where to rest the thumb and the neck was a bit too skinny (but the L-1500 has a P style neck).

Another mod I like quite a bit is the single coil mod on a L2K. This is pretty simple mod. If you do it with the inside coils (both on), you get into L-1500 parallel territory. Not quite the same but close and a little deeper given the location the inner neck coil. In fact this is my goto setting on a L2K. Punchy, articulate, and just a bit more bottom than a sweep spot pickup. I just heard some board mixes from a few weeks ago playing this bass with Superalloys and it really sat in the mix nicely and the notes were very articulate but not overly sparkly like you get in parallel (because the farthest back coil is out of the circuit).