Tribute L-2500 - good first fiver?

[knumbskull]

After years of being a 4-string man, I’m thinking of a Tribute L-2500 as my first fiver. I haven’t been able to try one out yet, though I did have a go on an ASAT a while back and was suitably impressed.

(background - currently play a MIM Fender 50s P for my funk/soul band and an active OLP HH 4-er for my rockin’ rock band. I was thinking the L2.5k might step up the plate for the rock/metal outfit.)

Can I pick your big bass brains over a few points? Ayethangew!

The neck – I remember the ASAT had a very deep neck profile front to back (or so it seemed). How’s the neck on the L2.5k for someone new to 5 strings? I don’t have huge hands but am more than comfy with the 1.75” nut of my P...

QC – how is it for G&Ls? I have heard good things but is it safe to buy sight unseen? There are a few dealers around but I’d probably have to order in.

The Low B – how is it with the 34” scale?

Tone – similar to the ASAT? I was very impressed with the sounds I got with the latter but I know the price on this one is a bit lower. Same electronics?

Any help/opinions much appreciated, until such time as one appears that I can try out. In the meantime, thanks!

[Skarekrough]

QC on the Tributes is decent. If you're buying new the thing I would suggest is expecting to need to have it set up and get the frets cleaned up a bit. The major issue with the L2K Tribute I had was that the frets really needed a solid trim on the ends. Some of this may of had to do with the environment, but I've heard of it more than a few times.

I really like the 34" scale for the low B. It's solid going both thru-body or thru-bridge. I do find it's something I need to be conscious of with lighter strings, but less so when I get them a bit heavier. Having also played a 35" scale for awhile I can live with a 34" as long as it's done right; I've played other brands where it just doesn't cut it as well as the G&L's do.

The electronics are the same as the ASAT.

The big difference between the USA and Tribute models I found was the quality of the wood and how it's put together. My US models just feel a little more solid and the wood seems a little higher quality.

It's tough to disparage the Tribute models; they're solid axes and excellent instruments. I wouldn't hesitate to buy sight un-played but would want to see the instrument in pics, etc. Unless it was somewhere that had a good return policy then I would consider sight-unseen.

[oldrookie]

There are better qualified folks to answer some of your questions, so I'll leave some for them to address.

I've had a Tribbie L2k since June and absolutely loved it. Sold it on Saturday after seeing the L2.5k on sale at zZounds.com for $499.95- free shipping. I placed my order on Saturday afternoon. That is about $150 less than I could buy it locally and $300 less than a lot of online places are selling it for. (I have absolutely no affiliation with zZounds, in fact this is the first time I've ever purchased from them.)

I paid $50 more for the L2k in June and did not feel I got cheated. These are just great values for the money

Rock solid bass--built like a piece of furniture. Neck is definitely chunky, but if you play a P-bass you get comfortable pretty quickly. I've not read about many, if any, issues with QC.

Uses the same pickups and bridge as the U.S. version as well as pre-amp design, but I believe the pre-amp is built outside the U.S. Neck is constructed differently, but rock maple is a pretty solid piece of wood.

There is a local dealer and I have handled several Tribute models. All of them appeared to have been built to the same high standard and I felt comfortable ordering one online.

I found the B to be very solid, certainly on par with, or better than, nearly every other fiver I've messed with (but I have only recently been playing fives--so grain of salt might be in order.)

Never touched an ASAT.

Good luck.

[knumbskull]

great replies, thanks both. good to know about the B-string especially! it seems to be a bit of a make-or-break issue when moving up to 5.

[jimmy rocket]

The L2.5k was my first foray into fivers and will probably be my last because it meets all of my needs superbly and has exceeded my expectations. I can't say anything bad about my Tribby L2.5K. It has been a wonderful instrument for the year that I've owned it. To answer your questions, however:


The neck – It is a formidable neck, but in no way unnavigable. I've played an MIA Jazz for the past ten years and it still felt like a pretty manageable switch. I go back and forth between them during a set w/o problem. If you're used to a P neck you'll dig right in.

QC – The QC was great on mine. The frets were nicely finished and the rest of the finish work met my expectations. The probably don't get as much attention as the MIAs so one or two might slip through needing a fret job, but I did a little basic set-up and intonation when it arrived and it plays like a champ.

The Low B – how is it with the 34” scale? MONSTEROUS!! Especially with the right strings. I've got it strung with DR Lowriders currently.

Tone – The tone is versatile. Read any number of the tribby L series posts on here and you'll see that you can get anything from a P, to J and a little MM in between. None of them will be exact, but trying to cop those tones is not what the L2.5K is best at. It has it's own palate that takes a little experimentation to get used to, but is inspiring in it's own right.

Hope this helps

[knumbskull]

thanks, that's very helpful!

i was kind of hoping to be talked into it and ok, now i REALLY want one...[insert 'drooling Homer Simpson' smiley here]

EDIT /\/\/\ actually mods, can we get one of those smilies? i can see it having a lot of applications on this board...

[OtterOnBass]

I took a couple years off, after selling my first bass, and when I came back I wanted to buy a five-string. The tribute was my first 5-string (I hadn't even played one before.) It's great. Slapping was a little tricky, but with the right action (i.e. string height) and technique I've got no problems.

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by knumbskull

The neck – I remember the ASAT had a very deep neck profile front to back (or so it seemed). How’s the neck on the L2.5k for someone new to 5 strings? I don’t have huge hands but am more than comfy with the 1.75” nut of my P...

This all depends on you, but they're pretty normal as production 5 string necks go. Not real thick, not real thin, pretty standard width. Be prepared to have a good setup done if you live in a region with very low or very high humidity, though this is true for any bass.

QC – how is it for G&Ls? I have heard good things but is it safe to buy sight unseen? There are a few dealers around but I’d probably have to order in.

The new Indonesian Tributes have been of consistently high quality.

The Low B – how is it with the 34” scale?

As others have said - huge. Very string dependent. My USA is very good on TI Powerbass strings.

Tone – similar to the ASAT? I was very impressed with the sounds I got with the latter but I know the price on this one is a bit lower. Same electronics?

Same (basic) pickups, though newer. Preamp is different. Tone should be almost the same.

Ken...

[knumbskull]

once again, thanks for yr input! i think the phrase i'm looking for is 'i'm sold'...

i've found one of these in a local dealer, didn't have a chance to try it this eve as they were just closing up. they seem if not actually rare in the UK, then at least uncommon. seems strange.

[Martthebass]

My US L2.5K is my second crack at a 5er. My first was a Lakky DJ5 Skyline - loved the Low B but hated the 35", string spacing and uber-flat board.
The B on the L2.5K ain't quite as tight as the Lakky but it's pretty close and the extra tonal options pretty much close the gap.

I switch between a MIA P, Ray 4 and the L2.5K and don't have any problems but if I'm honest the G&L neck has some thickness to it that a Ray5 doesn't have that makes it slightly less comfortable for smaller hands. Having said that I find it's better built than the Ray and I have got used to the neck after a couple of months (which I couldn't manage even after 6 months on the Lakky).

[pbass2]

I bought a Trib l2500 and liked it enough to go out and buy a US in the exact same finish and neck. They were REALLY close in every way. Different neck profile, but both good (some of my bassist friends liked the Trib neck better than the US). Great basses. I'm G&L-less right now due to GAS and trading fever, but I suspect that will change one day . . .

[jimmyfamous]

I purchased a Tribute L2500 in 2003 and still own and love it. Since then I've tried and traded a Fender American Deluxe 4 string and a Warwick Corvette 5 string. I liked the Tribute so much that I purchased a G&l L1505 fretless almost 2 years ago. I am very happy with both.

[oldrookie]

Got my Trib L2.5 yesterday. Very happy with it. Down to two fivers now and I could be done and be happy.

[knumbskull]

cheers all

well i should have gone to town today to try one out but i slept, ah, a little late... just had breakfast

got monday off though so might try and beat the crowds and have a nice long play...

just out of interest, has anyone seen or got one of these in black 'n' maple? the one in the shop is amber burst/maple (which would be fine - but if i'm going to sink a lot of cash into a new bass i want it to be just right!).

EDIT: nice looking bass, oldrookie!

[oldrookie]

Thanks, Knumbskull!

Nice player too! Really beginning to enjoy the thick neck on this...and that is a surprise!

[earlgray]

I've got both: a Korean Tribute and a US L-2500 (fretless). The quality of the Tribute is pretty close to the US model -- the details make the US model a bit nicer finished and the neck feels better, but for the money, the Tributes are definitely good basses. Bought them both on the 'bay.

I don't play 5-er's much anymore, so they're out of normal gig/practice rotation, but I must say that I really liked the sound of TI SuperAlloys on my US L-2500. My Tribute still has the factory SIT strings and they sound great.

hth.

[knumbskull]

well i thought i'd bump quickly seeing as you guys kindly donated your opinions on this bass...

i played the one in the shop for a good long while, i'm disappointed to say that it didn't blow me away - BUT i think this was mainly due to it being in general bad repair.

- crackly pots (i hear this was an occasional issue with some models but that G&L will replacethem free... not sure about UK customers tho...)
- dead strings
- poor setup
- generally dirty and scratched - it was obviously old stock and had been sitting around for a while.

...other than this i could see it was a great bass. good tone, nice neck, well made, very light. i'm not sure i found 'my' tone on it but it sounded good nonetheless.

none of the above issues would put me off IF the price hadn't been so high, and they weren't having any negotiation. basically it was in used condition and they were selling at the upper end of new prices (£580 GBP)

and then - i got burgled! so had to spend most of my bass money on a locksmith

so this is on hold for a while. in the meantime i think i am going to keep an eye out for a used model and wait for my insurance money. anyway thanks again all for your thoughts, and happy playing!

[oldrookie]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Hope you get everything worked out.