Wal vs G&L

Bassmore · #1 01-16-2008, 06:53 AM

Anyone,

This might be a question for some of the younger G&L players. My son turned me on to Tool. Eventhough l myself am a bit old school as a still struggling after 30 something years bass player wannabe, I was blown away by Mr. Justin Chancellar's incredible bass prowess. I've read a number of threads here where G&L users mention that their basses are often almost a bit on the "bright" side. I'm looking hard at getting a G&L L2K in the near future regardless but was just curious if that beast (L2K) with the right round wounds can even come "tonally close" to Mr. Chancellar's Wal's? Has anyone tried this and had any success trying the "tag that tone" that he gets?

spideyjg · #2 01-16-2008, 09:35 AM

Not sure on Tool but I can get a real good Geddy Lee Wal era sound with a 2K. Check out the Rush CD's Power Windows, Hold your Fire and see if that floats your boat.

The key on the 2K for that is both pickups, in series, treble to taste, bass rolled way back 75% or more.

Jim

Bassmore · #3 01-16-2008, 09:50 AM

spideyjg,

I'll have to check that out when I get it (L2K), besides been looking for a good excuse to get back into some Rush stuff. Do you recommend active or passive setting with your tonal recipe and would it be worth my while to get the Sansamp (cheaper stomp box version) like Geddy mentions he uses all the time now?

quickervicar · #4 01-16-2008, 10:46 AM

G&L L2k, mapleboard, strung with Dean Markley Blue Steels & picked with a tortoise (Fender) heavy pick. Run signal into Eden rig (or another "hi-fi" amp like Demeter, etc) with tweeter on "10". Bass: Preamp + Treble Boost, series, both p'ups. Practice.

metron · #5 01-16-2008, 11:16 AM

When I want more egde or brightness with my L2K I go with both pickups in parallel. If I want extreme I will use active with treb boost but thats rare for my personal tone needs. I think that might get you in the ballpark.

The L2K is pretty tonally versatile. To my ears it doesnt really "nail" the sound of any other bass like a P, J, Ray or whatever... but it gets close to them all.

spideyjg · #6 01-16-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmore

spideyjg,

I'll have to check that out when I get it (L2K), besides been looking for a good excuse to get back into some Rush stuff. Do you recommend active or passive setting with your tonal recipe and would it be worth my while to get the Sansamp (cheaper stomp box version) like Geddy mentions he uses all the time now?

Well in his Wal era there was no Sansamp. However to get his modern sound ala Snakes and Arrows. JB-2, full on neck pickup, bridge about 75-80%, feeding a Sansamp gets you really close.

I run my 2K's really hot and overload the Sansamp very easily.

Wal owners lose their minds about how nothing sounds like a Wal. I trust their word but at the same time since a Wal is damn near unobtainable and may never be made again it is a moot issue.

Question is what is available that can get close to a certain sound, of a certain player, that was recorded with a Wal. Like I said the sound Geddy got from his Wal I can cop via my 2K. I cannot vouch for any other Wal tone though.

BTW I get that in passive mode.

Jim

CapnSev · #7 01-16-2008, 11:33 AM

I think that it's about as close as you are going to get.

There is absolutely nothing that sounds or plays like a Wal though IMO.

Bassmore · #8 01-16-2008, 11:34 AM

Much Thanks All!

I'll keep this thread as I understand I'm going to be in for a long wait when I plop my money down on one of these G&L's, made on Fender Ave!

Quickervicar,

Your absolutely right. "Practice" would be the most operative word, Chancellar is for sure a Positive Bass Monster and certainly well on his way to Bass Godliness IMHO.

Thanks again

Bassmore · #9 01-16-2008, 11:58 AM

Spideyjg,

Awesome "feedback" on Geddy, please excuse the pun. I'm switching gears here a bit but perhaps you or someone else may know how I may tone craft the L2K for the classic RIC 4001 sound (or close to it) that Mr. Squire (whom I believe heavily inspired Mr. Lee) achieved say on song's like Long Distance Runaround and of course Roundabout. Might those settings be close to what you have already prescibed?

FidgetStone · #10 01-16-2008, 05:28 PM

To my ear, neck pickup only, parallel, passive played with a pick sounds "Ricky-like" to me.

If, however, I could play like Chris Squire, I would have the world form a line to kiss my a$$.

Peace . . .

amos · #11 01-27-2008, 12:44 AM

This thread is interesting to me because a lefty WAL is my dream bass, but since it's a pipe dream at this point, I am more interested in the L-2000. How similar are they in terms of tone?

spideyjg · #12 01-27-2008, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amos

This thread is interesting to me because a lefty WAL is my dream bass, but since it's a pipe dream at this point, I am more interested in the L-2000. How similar are they in terms of tone?

Have somebody send me a Wal and I'll tell you.

as CapnServ said..

Quote:

There is absolutely nothing that sounds or plays like a Wal though IMO.

I brought my BABE LE up to NAMM and dialed up the Geddyish tone for a Wal expert to hear. He said it was very very close and gave a thumbs up.

Jim

amos · #13 01-27-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyjg

Have somebody send me a Wal and I'll tell you.

as CapnServ said..

I brought my BABE LE up to NAMM and dialed up the Geddyish tone for a Wal expert to hear. He said it was very very close and gave a thumbs up.

Jim

Sry dumb question, what is a BABE LE?

Amos

spideyjg · #14 01-27-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amos

Sry dumb question, what is a BABE LE?

Amos

A limited edition L-2000 laid out by members of badassbassplayers.com

The Geddyish setting can be achieved on any L2K. The LE has stock 2K plus single coil operation.

Jim

knarleybass · #15 01-27-2008, 01:59 AM

Yea,
there is nothing like a Wal, and having a Wal doesn't really mean that you are going to get the sound of Tool or Rush, they are all very different. Great basses.

amos · #16 01-27-2008, 02:06 AM

wow that bass is absolutely stunning. down for a couple questions?

what kind of fingerboard?

what is the body woods/finish?

how does the single coil operation differ from standard hum bucking operation?

how did you get your hands on that?

spideyjg · #17 01-27-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amos

wow that bass is absolutely stunning. down for a couple questions?

what kind of fingerboard?

what is the body woods/finish?

how does the single coil operation differ from standard hum bucking operation?

how did you get your hands on that?

The board is ebony and they don't do them anymore with fretted ebony.

Wood is ash and the finish is blackburst.

Single coil has more articulation. The bass can run either pickup or both in single coil. Love this thing both pups/single coil/active.
It makes my JB-2 nervous. It can't give the blended sound of the JB-2 but kills it at the full on both pickups department.

Over on badassbassplayers.com orders were taken after NAMM last year and 23 of these were made. Righ now orders are being taken for a L-2500 with the same specs except no ebony fretted boards. Lefty is available.

Jim

amos · #18 01-27-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spideyjg

The board is ebony and they don't do them anymore with fretted ebony.

Wood is ash and the finish is blackburst.

Single coil has more articulation. The bass can run either pickup or both in single coil. Love this thing both pups/single coil/active.
It makes my JB-2 nervous. It can't give the blended sound of the JB-2 but kills it at the full on both pickups department.

Over on badassbassplayers.com orders were taken after NAMM last year and 23 of these were made. Righ now orders are being taken for a L-2500 with the same specs except no ebony fretted boards. Lefty is available.

Jim

Jim, Thanks for the info. I did wander of to BADP.com and look at the L2500 LE specs. What intrigues me the most is the single -coil operation. If I were to order an L2000, could I get that option? Only available on fullerton-made L2000s or Tribs too?

**Freddels** · #19 01-27-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amos

Jim, Thanks for the info. I did wander of to BADP.com and look at the L2500 LE specs. What intrigues me the most is the single -coil operation. If I were to order an L2000, could I get that option? Only available on fullerton-made L2000s or Tribs too?

I have also inquired about the single coil option. This is what I was told. If the dealer knows about such an option they can request it and even with the request there's only a 50/50 chance that it'll actually get done. This is b/c it's not a regular option and if they sometimes overlook it.

palmann · #20 01-28-2008, 01:55 AM

Basically you can mod every L-2x00 to have that single coil option. It's called "Three Position Parallel – Single – Series Mod". Someone posted a Word document in an other forum which described how to do it. If you're interested I can send it to you, I still got it on my HD.

Here's a posting with a link:
The outer coils/parallel/inner coils mod is great!

Gruesse, Pablo