A Player's Axe

Orpheus55 · #1 04-15-2007, 08:02 PM

I just have to say, last night in a chaotic-type wedding gig, my all-natural preimum 4-stringer Tribute (DR Black Beauties)held its own in a variety of stupid, crazy, sonic situations...that's the gigging life, and this baby deserves a toast! Lows, highs, mids, classic-P, etc; all were really delivered for me within an acoustic nightmare you can surely imagine if not recreate. Just a note from a grateful working stiff on a tough, player's axe.

scottic2 · #2 04-17-2007, 07:00 AM

Glad to hear that, Orpheus! I just ordered a L2000 Tribute in Blueburst with the Maple neck, and I can't wait to get it in and check it out. Hearing testimonies like yours just reinforces the fact that I have made a good decision in purchasing a G&L.
As soon as I get the bass, I will post pics and request entrance to the G&L club.
I will post more when I get some time with it. Luckily, I will be recording with it next weekend, and then a live show the weekend after that, so I will really be putting the bass through it's paces. I will certainly post a write-up of my impressions after the next few weeks.
Thanks,
Scott C

Orpheus55 · #3 04-17-2007, 03:27 PM

Thanks. It really is an amazing instrument, and you cannot judge it or its setting by its "bedroom" tone, as it needs room to breathe. I've played it at mellow venues in passive, and cranked it for Zep & others. At my age (56), I've played a few, but this is a real hammer. Reminds me of the old ATK, but the wood is better and the versatility unmatched. Let me know what you think. I personally found the DR Black Beauties to be "chunkier" sounding, after a decent run with the GHS Light Flats; flats hold this baby down, but don't think it's not capable of subtle tones as well, especially with the neck pup and passive engaged. Mine took a little while to break in, maybe two months or so. Let me know how your gigs go! Dave.

roger winkler · #4 04-17-2007, 07:12 PM

Yes, you made an excellent choice. Your gonna love the sound, the tone, the punch, the sparkle, the....uuuhhh, what was I babbling about? Yeh man, your gonna love it. Here's a pic of my tribby.

scottic2 · #5 04-17-2007, 08:14 PM

Thanks Roger. While I do have some confidence in the decision that I have made, and while I have played the Tribute in a music store, I cannot help but be skeptical that this bass that costs less than $500 will make me happy. But, I am very eager to prove my instincts wrong with this one.
I will certainly update when I get some playing hours in.
Unfortunately, our recording session just got pushed back one week, so it's going to be a little while until I get some quality playing time on it.
I also just found out that my Tribute will be arriving tomorrow... can't wait!

spideyjg · #6 04-17-2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottic2

I cannot help but be skeptical that this bass that costs less than $500 will make me happy. But, I am very eager to prove my instincts wrong with this one.
I will certainly update when I get some playing hours in.
Unfortunately, our recording session just got pushed back one week, so it's going to be a little while until I get some quality playing time on it.
I also just found out that my Tribute will be arriving tomorrow... can't wait!

Look at it this way, you have an extra week to get familiar with the capabilities and get comfortable on it before the session.

Jim

scottic2 · #7 04-19-2007, 07:17 AM

My L2K Tribute arrived yesterday! I opened the case, and it is absolutely gorgeous. Seriously. Amazing.
I had plans last night, so I only got to plug it in and check it out for about 10 minutes before I had to leave.
Wow. Just simply amazing.
I kind of knew what to expect when I ordered this bass because I played it in the store. But, I didn't know how it would sound on my rig, and at a much louder volume. I have read all of the reviews, and I believe that I have also read every thread in the G&L forum. I have been caught in the hype before, buying equipment that promised miracles, but came up short in the delivery department. Ok, live and learn. What's good for one may not be good for another. This bass absolutely lives up to the hype.
What I love about this bass (so far, playing alone in my basement)-I was able to dial in what is probably the BEST slap sound I have ever heard in any of the basses that I have owned (including a MM Stingray). Depending on where I play, anchor my thumb (Neck p/u, bridge p/u, neck), I was able to get SO MANY different tones. I am amazed, simply amazed that a bass that costs around $500 new can be so beautiful and playable and sound so freaking great. I am also amazed that these things haven't caught on yet.
I can't wait to experiment with trying different types of strings on this bass. I think I'm going to try the groundwounds first (I've never tried them yet on any bass that I've owned).
I know that I'm preaching to the masses, but if there is anyone out there that is contemplating the purchase of a L-2000, or the purchase of a Tribute model, do not hesitate (I was able to get this bass for less that $400 off eBay, and it had already been set up, recently restrung, and came with a hard case, in the color that I wanted, with a Maple neck which I wanted!!!). Seriously. I can't imagine that anyone that plays this bass cannot get a few usable tones out of it. I really want to pick up a Tribute SB-2 now, I see what you mean about one G&L purchase leading to another!
I will get pics up soon and request access to the illustrious G&L club as soon as I do.
Simply an AMAZING bass.
Thanks for leading me to the promised land,
Scott C

scottic2 · #8 04-25-2007, 12:29 PM

Ok, so I had my first practice with my Tribute l-2000 last night.
All I can say is... WOW!!! I (along with my bandmates) was stunned at the sound that I was able to achieve. I have a lot of work to do in getting familiar with all of the sounds that are possible to get with this bass, but I was blown away. It just sounded GREAT!!!
One thing that I noticed that it was a little weak in the mids, but that may have been the amp/cab. It was an old Ampeg SVT and an Ampeg 8x10. Really sounded monstrous. Blew me away.
Lucky for me, I will be recording with it next Saturday, so I will really get a great idea of what this bass is capable of. Now I understand why they are so addictive, I am going to pick up a SB-2 Tribute soon!!!
BTW, if anyone is seriously contemplating between a US and Tribute model, these Tributes are the real deal. And really inexpensive. I was very apprehensive about "settling" for a Tribute model (I have played Stingrays, Warwick Thumb basses, Spectors, etc.), but have placed faith in the G&L community here and followed their heed, and will never look back. I'm not even really interested in getting the US Version, that's how good this one is!
Later, and thanks,
Scott C
G&L has done a service to the Bass playing community with their gear.

spideyjg · #9 04-25-2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottic2

One thing that I noticed that it was a little weak in the mids, but that may have been the amp/cab.

They are heavy in the low end so if you leave the tone controls maxed out the lows can overpower the mids. Roll your bass knob back and your mids will be there in abundance.

I run both pickups, in series, and the bass nearly all the way off for a Geddy Lee era Wal sound which is real mid heavy.

Jim

roger winkler · #10 04-25-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottic2

Ok, so I had my first practice with my Tribute l-2000 last night.
All I can say is... WOW!!! I (along with my bandmates) was stunned at the sound that I was able to achieve. I have a lot of work to do in getting familiar with all of the sounds that are possible to get with this bass, but I was blown away. It just sounded GREAT!!!
One thing that I noticed that it was a little weak in the mids, but that may have been the amp/cab. It was an old Ampeg SVT and an Ampeg 8x10. Really sounded monstrous. Blew me away.
Lucky for me, I will be recording with it next Saturday, so I will really get a great idea of what this bass is capable of. Now I understand why they are so addictive, I am going to pick up a SB-2 Tribute soon!!!
BTW, if anyone is seriously contemplating between a US and Tribute model, these Tributes are the real deal. And really inexpensive. I was very apprehensive about "settling" for a Tribute model (I have played Stingrays, Warwick Thumb basses, Spectors, etc.), but have placed faith in the G&L community here and followed their heed, and will never look back. I'm not even really interested in getting the US Version, that's how good this one is!
Later, and thanks,
Scott C
G&L has done a service to the Bass playing community with their gear.

Well, uhm, now do you understand what I was "babbling" about in my last post to you?

scottic2 · #11 04-25-2007, 05:43 PM

YEs, I certainly do see what the babbling was about. I actually caught myself babbling to my lead singer last night (who couldn't care less about the bass) about how it sounded, how I loved the maple neck, etc.
And Spidey, I will certainly try backing off the low end some. I kow that the lack of mids is due my ineptitude at the controls of the bass at this point, and I know I have some fiddling to do before I gain total control of this tone monster. God, I am very happy! FINALLY!!!!!

Infernal Affair · #12 04-25-2007, 06:39 PM

Yeah. The knobs only cut; they don't boost. So it makes sense to roll back on the lows in order to make room for mids.

Glad you like the bass. Very versatile, yet one-of-a-kind.

Orpheus55 · #13 04-26-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyjg

They are heavy in the low end so if you leave the tone controls maxed out the lows can overpower the mids. Roll your bass knob back and your mids will be there in abundance.

I run both pickups, in series, and the bass nearly all the way off for a Geddy Lee era Wal sound which is real mid heavy.

Jim

This is exactly true; I played an outdoor concert thru the sound company's rig (Ampeg STV Classic, 8x10 cab) and made the exact same adjustment--it worked great!