Recently bought a L25K trib

BottomFeed · #1 01-22-2009, 11:43 AM

Hi guys...
I've always liked the look & feel of G&L L-2000/2500's... & wanting a 2nd 5 string, to give a bit of tonal variety from my
MM Stingray5, I started looking about for a 2nd hand one...

Was delighted when I found this trib in natural finish with a maple fingerboard, in mint condition... (exactly the finish I was after) ...& at a bargain price!

So.... result!...

1st question: Why do some tribs have 'TRIBUTE' really big on the headstock & tailpiece? when some have G&L bigger with the tribute as more of an after thought?

Anyway....After getting a full set up from my guitar tech guy, I took it to a rehearsal to try it at volume with a band...

I was struggling to get a sound that worked for me!... I found it hard to get warmth in the bottom end & general clarity somewhere in the lo-mids, (...there was a kind of weird gnarly, barking honk at times too!?!...)
I used a Genz Benz neo-pak (pretty much EQed all flat) through 2 Aguilar GS112's... this normally sounds great with the 'Ray...
The trib pickups are defo very hot (maybe too hot!)... I think I will have to screw them down a fair bit to better suit my playing style...
2nd question: are they always genuine US G&L MFD's in all the Indo-tributes?
I want this bass to work for me.. as I like how it looks/feels... any ideas/feedback?

T'CharleS · #2 01-22-2009, 11:52 AM

1st question: I know that the writing is different for the indonesian vs korean, maybe there are/were variations from time to time

2nd question: yes

(correct me if ever I'm wrong)

BottomFeed · #3 01-22-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T'CharleS

1st question: I know that the writing is different for the indonesian vs korean, maybe there are/were variations from time to time

2nd question: yes

(correct me if ever I'm wrong)

Hmmm... Could it be that mine is Korean & not Indonesian?
(I have the BIG tribute on top & bottom)

spideyjg · #4 01-22-2009, 12:37 PM

Korean.

G&Ls are picky about strings. What kinda music you play?

The EQ needed for your Ray may not suit the Tribby.

Jim

BottomFeed · #5 01-22-2009, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyjg

Korean.

G&Ls are picky about strings. What kinda music you play?

The EQ needed for your Ray may not suit the Tribby.

Jim

So is there any difference between Korean & Indonesian other than where they are built? (...& the size of the logo!)

I play a wide range of music.... but mostly Funk, Soul, Rock...

The strings I have on it are Rotosound Swing bass 665LD standard gauge (45, 65, 80, 105, 130)

Fiddled with the EQ on the amp a fair bit... Still wasn't happy...

Kyon` · #6 01-22-2009, 02:39 PM

Honking possibly your preamp needs some new batteries. as far as strings I personally use TI flats right now and love them. But I've found for the bright yet deep even aggressive is with Marcus Miller Fatbeams, and DR Loriders. Remember the pups are amazing high output and lowering them quite some ways never hurts. Sunbeams also are a good route if you want an even smoother tone.

Infernal Affair · #7 01-22-2009, 04:28 PM

If you're diming the volume pot then pull back on it to about 80%. Same with the treble and bass knobs (I usually go back farther than that about 70%). Then work from there.

The bass and treble pots are cut only, so cutting back on them will allow the mids to poke through. At least in my experience.

I also put TI Superalloys or Powerbass strings on my L-2000.

El_JimBob · #8 01-23-2009, 02:10 AM

Hey, i've got a Korean one exactly like yours that i've had a couple of years now. (The Korean and Indonesian Tributes are exactly the same build-wise, it's just that the manufacturer (Cort) moved production over sometime last year - mine's an interim model, with 'Tribute' on the bridge and a white 'G&L' logo on the headstock). It's a fantastic beast and a great all-rounder when it comes to copping different sounds.
+1 to the comment above re: the sound - rolling the volume knob off a little makes the L2500 a whole lot more expressive.... then have a good play with all the available controls - i'd be very surprised if you don't find a sound you like

*edit* oh, and bear in mind you'll never be able to get it to sound like your Stingray. But you will be able to do a lot more with it....

BottomFeed · #9 01-24-2009, 06:04 AM

Ok... I'm gunna screw them pups down, change the battery & experiment with rolling the pots back ...& try some DR strings
See what that brings.... thanks for the advice all

Scottie Johnson · #10 01-24-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

If you're diming the volume pot then pull back on it to about 80%. Same with the treble and bass knobs (I usually go back farther than that about 70%). Then work from there.

The bass and treble pots are cut only, so cutting back on them will allow the mids to poke through. At least in my experience.

I also put TI Superalloys or Powerbass strings on my L-2000.

I agree with rolling back the volume and tone controls. I have gotten much farther adjusting the controls on my G&L than my amp settings.

It might take a while to find your preferred "sweet spot" but it is very much worth it.

sunbeast · #11 01-24-2009, 02:22 PM

I second the idea of lowering the pickups some- the series setting especially will tend to get really honky when the pickups are right up on the strings. You can also mess around with the polepieces in interesting ways that I was personally kind of surprised to find actually change the tone noticeably. The "hot passive" G&L will never sound like the "cold active" Stingray (by "cold", I mean that the MMs use really low output pickups that require a preamp to get decent output). I think the G&Ls tend to have alot more inherent mids, which sometimes makes them less "plug and play" than Stingrays, but also makes them capable of a wider array of different sounds once you find all the different workable adjustments. The pickups may look similar, but they act very differently!

Karl