rediscovering the tonal versatility of my L2500

[eastcoasteddie]

As the title suggests, my L25oo completely mew me away today.

I usually kept all my controls in one or 2 arrangements, that's it. Kept either both or only the bridge pup on, in parallel, maybe single coil if I felt saucy.

I never throught of using it in passive mode...never. I always figured, it's an active bass, keep the power on!

Today I was just futzin' around and hit the passive switch, single coils...holy crap! this thing sounds amazing!!! Both pups, bridge pup, neck pup...they all sound great. In active mode, the single coils drove me nuts with the humming. In passive, it's almost nonexistant. I think I found a new bass in my L2500!

I've been yearning for a Jazz bass so I bought a Squire Deluxe Active Jazz V. It sounds and feels fantastic.
The L2500 in singe coil/passive sounds like it has more of that classic Jazz tone than the Squire, though.

So now I'm thinking of defretting the Squire since also want a Jazz Fretless...and it seems that I've had a fretted Jazz bass hiding in the G&L all this time...

[sunbeast]

Does your L2500 use the outer coils or inner coils when in single coil mode?

[eastcoasteddie]

outer coils

[pbass2]

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

As the title suggests, my L25oo completely mew me away today.

man, that is one sexy bass . . .

[Chef]

Huh...yours looks like a "flat top," whereas mine is contoured on top...tho it doesn't show a lot in this pic...
Either way, ash bodied G&L's slam!

[eastcoasteddie]

yes, it is a flattie. But I've never seen another...why?
(also took a LOT of getting used to...it used to hurt my arm!)

[vroc38]

Chef, you're killin' me with that bass. I let one just like it get away a couple years ago and it still bums me out.

Originally Posted by Chef

Huh...yours looks like a "flat top," whereas mine is contoured on top...tho it doesn't show a lot in this pic...
Either way, ash bodied G&L's slam!

[Chef]

[palmann]

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

yes, it is a flattie. But I've never seen another...why?
(also took a LOT of getting used to...it used to hurt my arm!)

My cherry burst L-2000 is one, too:


Gruesse, Pablo

[bassbrock]

So which switch is it that gives you single coil? And is this feature exclusive to the American made L2500 vs the Tribute?

[millahh]

Originally Posted by bassbrock

So which switch is it that gives you single coil? And is this feature exclusive to the American made L2500 vs the Tribute?

Some instruments have a third (middle) position on the series/parallel switch for single coil operation. Some USAs come with it, I think. None of the Tributes do. That said, it's not a terribly difficult mod, and the switch is $17 from Digikey. I'm upgrading my Tribute to have that function right now (going for inner coils).

[FookFookFook]

What exactly might that component be?

[bassbrock]

Yes please, do share. Is it simply a triple switch? Any chance you could share a wiring diagram?

[deggial]

Yes, you install a three-position switch and solder some connections. There's a .doc in the sticky FAQ of this section describing the process.

[millahh]

Originally Posted by bassbrock

Yes please, do share. Is it simply a triple switch? Any chance you could share a wiring diagram?

https://home.comcast.net/~carol7david/GL_Wiring.doc

The link is also in the FAQ.

I finished it a couple of nights ago, and it works/sounds great.

Be sure to get the exact switch specified in the instructions...it's a unique configuration.

[bassbrock]

Thanks! I didn't even think to look in the FAQ... the question wouldn't be frequently asked for me, I didn't even know it was possible!

So it gets indexed on Talkbass, the switch part number is Digi Key CKN1139-ND for the three position 4PDT switch.