New Arrival 8/3/2011 - G&L L-2500

[RocketMusic]

Here's a lovely new G&L L-2500 that we just received. I love the look!

G&L L-2500 (Tob Burst)

[bassWR]

Love it! Verry pretty grain.
I had it's 4-String twin back in the 90's. (minus the K wiring)

G&L, L-series are the ultimate multi-tasking basses. Stingray, P-bass and J-bass all in one.

Better quit looking before I do something crazy.

I'm betting this one doesn't last long.



Leo's last design was his best.

[RocketMusic]

Ooops - I neglected to include the specs when I first posted this bass yesterday. They're up now.

Still looking, Dennis? Don't do anything rash!

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by bassWR

Love it! Verry pretty grain.
I had it's 4-String twin back in the 90's. (minus the K wiring)

G&L, L-series are the ultimate multi-tasking basses. Stingray, P-bass and J-bass all in one.

Better quit looking before I do something crazy.

I'm betting this one doesn't last long.



Leo's last design was his best.

+1
The Swiss army knife of affordable basses
I guess that I'll always have a soft spot for G&L's.

Originally Posted by bassWR

Better quit looking before I do something crazy.

Actually did that last week!

[RocketMusic]

Two things made me want to record today:
1) I love showing off the tonal versatility of the L2K basses
2) I've been itching to use the "BonzoKit" drum sounds that come with Session Drummer 3!

The BonzoKit really only works with loud riff rock, 'cause it's got Zep at it's most bombastic written all over it. So I quickly programmed up "Black Dog" for the drums, and then I played the main riff quite a few times using different pickup settings on this L2500.

In order, you'll hear these switch settings on the bass:

1) Parallel, Both Pickups
2) Parallel, Neck Pickup
3) Parallel, Bridge Pickup
4) Series, Both Pickups
5) Series, Neck Pickup
6) Series, Bridge Pickup
7) Single Coil, Both Pickups
8) Single Coil, Neck Pickup
9) SingleCoil, Bridge Pickup

I think this is a pretty slick representation of the tonal capabilities of this bass. Please note, however, that I did normalize the volume differences out. Series is really hotter than parallel, etc. Other than that, enjoy!

"Black Dog" (Complete Mix)
"Black Dog" (Bass Only)

[JOME77]

Nice demo Greg. That's quite a few nice sounds at the flick of a switch!

I think that I'm most impressed with the tone of the G&L L2000 & L2500 in the passive mode. You still retain a great deal of EQ ability in the passive mode. Plus it seems to have more of that old school tone in passive.

[RocketMusic]

Thanks, Joe! Which reminds me, I did this all active with the bass and treble rolloffs wide open (i.e. no rolloff).

Maybe I need to go redo this in passive mode?!?

[RocketMusic]

What the hey? Here it is redone passively!

"Black Dog" (Complete Mix)
"Black Dog" (Bass Only)

To my ears: the active tone is just a bit "pingier" and more glassy, and the passive tone is a bit grungier. I must say I agree with you, Joe, my ears are digging the passive tone!

[RocketMusic]

Originally Posted by JOME77

Nice demo Greg. That's quite a few nice sounds at the flick of a switch!

I think that I'm most impressed with the tone of the G&L L2000 & L2500 in the passive mode. You still retain a great deal of EQ ability in the passive mode. Plus it seems to have more of that old school tone in passive.

Joe - did I miss you picking up one of these recently? Sorry if the story has been told elsewhere, but how'd you end up with that gorgeous G&L? Did you trade off your walnut whatever it was? Was that a Carvin?!?

So many basses, so little time. I can't keep up.

[JOME77]

Originally Posted by RocketMusic

Joe - did I miss you picking up one of these recently? Sorry if the story has been told elsewhere, but how'd you end up with that gorgeous G&L? Did you trade off your walnut whatever it was? Was that a Carvin?!?

So many basses, so little time. I can't keep up.

Yeah, I made an impulse trade under the radar last week.
I've always been a huge Leo fan and frequently surf TB looking for special G&L's. The one's with really nice tops rarely come up for sale and it seems that when they do I either don't have the cash or don't have a trade bass that the owner is interested in.
I guess that the stars were lined up last week because things just worked out. Here's the thread on the G&L FS/FT Mint G&L L-2500 Flame Maple Top

It's by far the best playing G&L that I've owned. I'm not sure if G&L is having all USA models Pleked now but this one was and it really takes a low setup without buzz.
I've always been on the fence on the pleking process but apparently someone knew what they were doing when they did this one.
I'm really digging this new Tobacco Sunburst model that you got in. I especially like the K-mod wiring. I've already got the 4P switch ordered to perform that mod to mine.

You did a great job capturing the variety of sounds available on this L2500! (really dig the new drum sounds too!)

[VroomVroom]

What a fun listening adventure. Thanks, Greg! (Sudden urge to quote all hell out of Black Dog on jazz gig tonight...noted.)

FWIW, and by no small amount, I prefer the second clip with the passive tone.

[RocketMusic]

You should try programming the drum parts, Jerry. Or at least work it out in your head. As simple a part as it sounds, the coolest & strongest accents are in strange places (i.e. non down-beats). It took me a while to crack it, but I'm not all that competent at translating what I hear into actual subdivisions on paper.

Needless to say, it was a little startling to realize how "complicated" (well, not really) a simple riff that I learned when I was 15 actually is. It's not complicated, but it's also not as straight as I always assumed it was. I really need to study Bonham more, he was much more of a genius than I give him credit for. I tend to think of him as a basher, but he really matured very quickly from the early Zep days. By the end, he was a real monster rhythmically.

[Ryan L.]

I spent some time with a Tribute L-2000 today at my local dealer (they just became a G&L dealer, so it's all they had in so far).

Even the cheaper Tribute REALLY sounded great. I was very impressed with all the sounds on tap.

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Ryan L.

I spent some time with a Tribute L-2000 today at my local dealer (they just became a G&L dealer, so it's all they had in so far).

Even the cheaper Tribute REALLY sounded great. I was very impressed with all the sounds on tap.

I may have to head down there when they get more stiff in the store. A G&L is on my radar for lower cost 5 than say a Roscoe.

This one is tempting for sure.

[Ryan L.]

Yeah, I told Paul to get in a US made L2500 next time he orders something. So we'll see.

[SteveC]

Went back and listened again...the G&L sounds REALLY nice. I might go as far as to say as nice as a Roscoe...

Maybe that's too far, but they sound amazing. Is the neck a little "chunkier" on the G&L? I seem to remember it was but I had mine so long ago.

[Ryan L.]

The ones I have played seem a lot chunkier, and more rounded, vs the thinner, flatter profile of a Roscoe.

[RocketMusic]

Yeah, I think P-bass instead of Roscoe on the neck profile...

[SteveC]

I sure like the sound and look of these basses. I really like the headstock. G&L's were my first "custom ordered" basses - I picked the combination of woods and finishes I wanted from what they offered - and really loved them. Still looking for a 34" scale 5 string to fill my needs. Maybe I should revisit G&L.

I sold my old ones (L2000, L2000 fretless with unlined ebony board, L2500) to fund a couple Ken Smiths - the beginning of GAS for me - way back in the day. Maybe I should give them a look again.

[nostatic]

I love this sunburst one and the price is right. I'm off on a very different gas journey at the moment though so this one is safe from my clutches