New Arrival - G&L L-2500 With Some Cool Mods

RocketMusic · #1 08-18-2011, 02:54 PM

This bass is a special order for Henrik in Norway (TB'er Mytola). It's a gorgeous L-2500 in Blackburst with a Quartersawn neck, scraped binding & the K-Wiring option. And then there are a couple extra mods that we're going to do here at Rocket to kick it up one more notch for Henrik (see below).

G&L L-2500 (Blackburst)

For those that might be unaware, the stock L2000/L2500 basses come with two humbucking pickups that are splittable. The stock G&L wiring gives you access to the humbuckers each wired in either series (louder, grungier) or parallel (quieter & more clear sounding).

The K-wiring option has really been growing in popularity, probably because it gets you even more tones out of the bass for no more money. It's a free upgrade from G&L. The K-Wiring option replace the 2-way series/parallel switch with a 3-way switch that gives you series, parallel, and single coil access. In single coil mode, it's the outer coils that are wired into the circuit (closest to the bridge & closest to the neck).

A bunch of cats here on TB have gone the extra mile and added ANOTHER switch that lets you change how the single coil mode works. With another 2-way switch, you can now have access to the inner coils or the outer coils. So we'll be doing that mod here for Henrik. Danny will drill a hole & install the new switch sometime in the next 2-3 days. We're just waiting on the part to arrive.

So think of these photos as the "before" shots. I'll take some "after" shots once all is said an done.

Oh, and we're also restringing the bass because Henrik plays tuned down quite often. We'll install a set of DR DDT5-55 strings (.055-.135 guages), and then we'll set it up for the appropriate tuning.

Pretty cool!

Mytola · #2 08-18-2011, 02:56 PM

Well, that's the best looking G&L I've ever seen. Period. I'm reasonably happy now...

RocketMusic · #3 08-18-2011, 03:14 PM

Glad you dig it!

The fretboard is really gorgeous, too, not that you can tell in those photos. Here's a higher res photo that lets you almost see the "ribbon" sort of grain pattern that you often get with quartersawn lumber. The photos are just a tad too washed out to really see it. But it's there, and it's fabulous!

**Mound of Sound** · #4 08-18-2011, 06:33 PM

Eagerly awaiting for mine to arrive!!!

RocketMusic · #5 08-18-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mound of Sound

Eagerly awaiting for mine to arrive!!!

Yeah, man, shouldn't be too long, now!

That said, I did learn something new this year. The entire G&L factory shuts down every year from Aug 1 - Aug 15. I guess they synchronize everybody's summer vacation to minimize production downtime.

Still, they are freakishly fast in general. I expect we'll see your's before too long!

gnuv · #6 08-19-2011, 02:12 PM

For someone who already has a G&L how much would adding the K-wiring mod and the other mod run?

RocketMusic · #7 08-19-2011, 02:20 PM

We'd charge $150 to do it. And Danny did order enough switches to do 4-5 of these mods, I think...

Darkstrike · #8 08-19-2011, 02:21 PM

That is incredible.

RocketMusic · #9 08-19-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

That is incredible.

Want one?

Temcat · #10 08-22-2011, 08:24 AM

Interesting. When I'm out of my financial troubles, I do want to buy an L-2500 to replace the one I once sold. Speaking of the mod: can you do it without drilling - say, by replacing one of the pots by a pot with a switch?

RocketMusic · #11 08-22-2011, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Temcat

Interesting. When I'm out of my financial troubles, I do want to buy an L-2500 to replace the one I once sold. Speaking of the mod: can you do it without drilling - say, by replacing one of the pots by a pot with a switch?

If you could find the right kind of push pull pot, it might be possible... it's a 4PDT (4 pole double throw) switch.

Addison · #12 08-22-2011, 01:54 PM

I just picked up a fretless lefty L2500 on a trade and I wired it up completely passive... I took the preamp out completely... the EQ in these basses is all passive, so all the preamp does is boost the volume, and... frankly, I think it's worthless.

Anyway, I ordered a 3-way on-on-on switch from Digi-Key and wired it up so the first switch is a pickup selector, and the other two switches control each pickup independently to run in either series, parallel, or single coil.

So I can run the neck pup single coil and the bridge parallel... or the bridge in series and the neck parallel... or the bridge single coil and the neck in series... or I can solo the bridge in single coil... the tonal variations are insane and they're all VERY musical... especially on the fretless.

If ya' ask me... I don't understand why they all don't come wired this way. My opinion of the stock electronics was mediocre at first, but now I am in love with it.

It sounds fantastic.

RocketMusic · #13 08-22-2011, 04:46 PM

Nice mods, Chris! That does sound like it would be quite an appealing setup on one of these basses!

bongomania · #14 08-22-2011, 04:50 PM

The bass in the first post is pretty much EXACTLY what I'd like to order when my financial situation improves. Very cool, Henrik!

RocketMusic · #15 08-23-2011, 04:21 PM

Alright! The switch arrived late today, so hopefully we'll make some progress on the mod tomorrow. This bass should definitely be bound for Norway by the end of the week!

Mytola · #16 08-23-2011, 06:36 PM

Sounds great, Greg!

RocketMusic · #17 08-26-2011, 02:20 PM

Danny spent quite some time making sure he had the wiring straight before he started cutting wires and wood... but as we speak, mods are being made!

Darkstrike · #18 08-26-2011, 02:25 PM

Nice!

Plus we get the bonus of seeing the new workstation in scale and use. Looks wicked.

RocketMusic · #19 08-26-2011, 02:41 PM

LOL - the bench actually looks shorter than it is thanks to my new 50mm lens... it's a trip to see it look so squashed...

Mytola · #20 08-26-2011, 02:50 PM

Nice stuff! How's the new lens working out, btw?