What's with these incredible G&L pickups?

stretch80 · #1 10-16-2007, 09:06 AM

OK...so I've got a Tribute l2500 on loan, and I'm amazed by the pickups. I know that the tone controls are cut-only, and I thought I'd never have a reason to cut bass, but I do! With the tone controls flat (all the way up) this bass has stronger bass output than my P-bass, MM SR5 or Cirrus.

Do you G&L vets also dial back the bass a bit?

...and I'll do a search to see what tech info I can find on the pickups. Great bass!

earlgray · #2 10-16-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretch80

OK...so I've got a Tribute l2500 on loan, and I'm amazed by the pickups. I know that the tone controls are cut-only, and I thought I'd never have a reason to cut bass, but I do! With the tone controls flat (all the way up) this bass has stronger bass output than my P-bass, MM SR5 or Cirrus.

Do you G&L vets also dial back the bass a bit?

...and I'll do a search to see what tech info I can find on the pickups. Great bass!

Welcome to the club! You've discovered one of the reasons true fans weep when they see a G&L that has had the original pickups hacked out and replaced by some off-the shelf stuff.

I think they're just too hot for some players to handle.

I almost always run the bass & treble dialed back a bit. depending on conditions, I usually keep the bass about 60-80% and the treble about 40-75%. I tend to like the sound of both pickups, active, although I occasionally go passive.

honeyboy · #3 10-16-2007, 10:57 AM

I tend to back off the bass a bit and the treble as well depending if I'm series or parallel,mainly to prevent amp distortion! Series requires less bass than parallell. I also use the volume knob since all the way up is often too much,backing off a little helps clean up the sound.It's kind of a balancing act, depending how I'm blending with the band , room conditions, etc.at the time.I did set my knobs to a spot where generally the bass sounds like I like, removed the knobs, replaced them so the screw hole is in the same spot for all knobs(10:00) so visually I can set them in the general ball park and adjust them or the amp from there.For example, my volume knob has a sweet spot where just below a certain level the bass quality thins out, so I have that spot marked with the screw hole so I can work from there.This spot is where the screw hole just come into sight as I'm holding the bass.I always have my volume knob at this point and adjust volume from the amp.
The MFD's are the best pick-ups, no doubt, but I sometimes have to back off the bass on some of my others as well, such as my Carvin.Too much bass is either too muddy or causes too much distortion. I like a clean punchy sound.

TomB · #4 10-16-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretch80

Do you G&L vets also dial back the bass a bit?

Yes. ...and that's even without the "fat" switch engaged!

gweimer · #5 10-16-2007, 09:42 PM

I've got the L-2000 Tribute and an old L-1000. I haven't worked much with the L-2000 yet, but I always read that the pots weren't flat when all the way up. At least not the volume. That puts the MFD in overdrive mode. The G&L is the only bass that I back off the volume on. It takes a little change in your technique to get used to them. I took the rat bastard out to a jam this week. Someone else asked to borrow it, so I sat out front to listen. Yeah, it's got a nice fat low end.

Here's a shot of my son with it.

spideyjg · #6 10-16-2007, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stretch80

OK...so I've got a Tribute l2500 on loan, and I'm amazed by the pickups. I know that the tone controls are cut-only, and I thought I'd never have a reason to cut bass, but I do! With the tone controls flat (all the way up) this bass has stronger bass output than my P-bass, MM SR5 or Cirrus.

Do you G&L vets also dial back the bass a bit?

...and I'll do a search to see what tech info I can find on the pickups. Great bass!

You may want to start saving up some money for a crack at a special L-2500 run that may happen.

Kinda like this.....

Nedmundo · #7 10-17-2007, 07:05 AM

I have an L-1500, so I don't dial back the bass at all, but on a 2000/2500 I could easily envision this, especially in series mode. Heck, I could imagine doing this sometimes on my SB-2 if it had a passive bass cut -- holy phatness! And like others I've found that tone can be usefully altered with the volume controls on MFD-loaded basses. I haven't experienced that on any other bass.

Youngspanion · #8 10-17-2007, 07:21 AM

Hey Jim,

(not to hyjack the post but) Your so lucky to get to see Wanda do her thing all the time. How does the L2k sound doing all Maiden stuff? Can You tell the difference between the L2k and the SB2?

Sorry bro, but she is so hot.

Nikoubis · #9 10-17-2007, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Hey Jim,

(not to hyjack the post but) Your so lucky to get to see Wanda do her thing all the time. How does the L2k sound doing all Maiden stuff? Can You tell the difference between the L2k and the SB2?

Sorry bro, but she is so hot.

Who's Wanda? I just see a bass that's one string short of being perfect.

Youngspanion · #10 10-17-2007, 07:32 AM

Then you must be on the list for the 5 stringer of that bass.

Jimtoonz · #11 10-17-2007, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikoubis

Who's Wanda? I just see a bass that's one string short of being perfect.

I love basses as much as the next guy, but you may need to adjust your priorities.

earlgray · #12 10-17-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Hey Jim,

(not to hyjack the post but) Your so lucky to get to see Wanda do her thing all the time. How does the L2k sound doing all Maiden stuff? Can You tell the difference between the L2k and the SB2?

Sorry bro, but she is so hot.

Agreed. Too bad only Spidey's bass seems to have the Wanda option

Mine could sure use that.

stretch80 · #13 10-17-2007, 10:47 AM

Thanks everybody -- i'm glad to know i'm not crazy. Played some more last night, and the bridge pickup sound is outrageous -- Jaco tone, but with extra guts. I always thought these were cool basses, but never got to really play one. Now I know!

Sounds like there are special editions coming out? Not that I have the cash, but what's the scoop?

spideyjg · #14 10-17-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Youngspanion

Hey Jim,

(not to hyjack the post but) Your so lucky to get to see Wanda do her thing all the time. How does the L2k sound doing all Maiden stuff? Can You tell the difference between the L2k and the SB2?

Sorry bro, but she is so hot.

Yep I am quite fortunate that the ladies play nearby so often. Next Saturday and then in early November the symphony season starts again so she will be in her principle upright role.

The 2K can get similar but you have to tweak the knobs a fair bit. I Gave Wanda the LE set to series/both pickups,/passive and the bass rolled back probably 75%. This sounded very similar to my SB-2 with both pickups in use minus the hum.

The sound guy did the check and set it neck/series/active w/ treble boost.

It was a tad boomy but I didn't want to flip anything during the show. I tried at home and playing along to Maiden it worked pretty good set that way, but alone sounds a bit over the top.

Jim