Trading in my Trib. L2000. Opinions please !

[fearceol]

I'm considering trading in my Trib L2000 for a USA one. My question is if someone were to blind fold me and place one or the other in my hands, could I tell the difference. I know some of the hardware is superior, and the body wood is better, but overall is there any real difference ?

Thanks in advance.

[Ken Baker]

As good as the Tributes are, USA build quality is better. Finishwork is better. Frets are larger. Hardware is better

Could you pick them out in a blind touch test? Probably. I know I could.

Ken...

[sunbeast]

I had never actually played a Tribute L2000 before a couple weeks ago. I was testing out Mesa amps at a local dealer that had several G&Ls, and since I play an L2000 I grabbed one to test out a Mesa Carbine. I didn't look all that closely at the bass before taking it off the wall, and realized afterward that it was a Tribute model. My first 2 thoughts were "this is noticeably heavier than my L2000!" , and after playing it for a few minutes : "damn, this neck is chunky!". I quickly went back to the wall of G&Ls and switched it out for a US L2000- slightly different neck profile from mine, and a bit lighter maybe, but it felt much more familiar in my hands. I'd guess the biggest difference you might notice is the neck profile. The neck on my old L2500 was somewhat chunky, but compared to that Tribute it was nothing! The more recent US L2000s I've played have all had much more comfortable necks (in my opinion)- much less chunky and with a more natural feeling contour. If you like that old Fender P bass-esque chunk, then that particular Tribute would feel like home! Honestly, apart from the neck and the noticeably heavier weight of the Tribute, they sounded and behaved pretty similar when plugged in. The finishes and appearance were impressive on both as well. I didn't really pay a whole lot of attention since I was there to try out amps, but all-in-all I was pretty impressed by my first Tribute experience. I don't see chosing one over a US model in my near future, but I would feel proud to own one if it came to that!

Karl

[fearceol]

Thanks for the input guys ! Some food for thought there. There's a new music shop opening near me soon, which hopefully will stock USA L 2000's. I should be able to try one out for myself then.

[Skarekrough]

My comparison was the result of picking up an L-1505 on the cheap and then grabbing a NOS L-2K Tribute.

The fit and finish on the Tribute was nowhere near the quality of the L-1505. The frets needed MUCH more work on then. The different in wood quality and finish were noticeable as well. Overall it just felt like a better put together bass than the Tribute.

A little while later I got ahold of an early L2K and sold the Tribute with maybe 10 hours of playing on it.

The Tributes are well made instruments and perhaps you can find that "diamond in the rough" out of them if you keep going through them.

But for me, I got spoiled with the L-1505. Years later I still marvel at how well constructed it is and how nice the wood is on it. The old L2K isn't as pretty, but it's a warhorse of a bass and has the nicks and dings and wear to prove it; it's beautiful but in a different way.