G&L

pbass2 · #1 03-22-2008, 11:15 PM

Hey JMJ, your 'Ray thread got me thinking and I was just curious, as you've owned quite a variety of axes---have you ever got on well with a G&L of any kind? L1000, 2000, etc.?

jmjbassplayer · #2 03-24-2008, 03:09 PM

Never tried one. Don't love the way they look, especially the newer ones. Do they sound cool?

pbass2 · #3 03-24-2008, 03:34 PM

Heya,
Yeah, I was just curious as you've played so many different axes, and I'm sure see lotsa what other cats bring to the studio too. You don't see 'em around too too much, but passive mode can indeed be very cool--those MFDs are crazy intense pickups though--They can get "too big" sounding pretty easily, so it's all about cutting (and forget active mode altogether). I mainly use mine to cop my "Bruce Thomas" sound as both my P's have flats

But, I have been told that they're very close to a Wal in sound (though I've never gotten my mitts on a Wal, so I can't speak that!).

spideyjg · #4 03-24-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Never tried one. Don't love the way they look, especially the newer ones. Do they sound cool?

Watch this Ed guy

demonstrate one.

Ed who????

Jim

jmjbassplayer · #5 03-24-2008, 07:37 PM

That really helps to see that clip.

It's hard to say; that G&L tone might be too plain AND modern for me.

Stingrays are funny. But when I hear Deacon or Levin or Joe Lally, I get so stoked on that tone and want to own one again. The bass goes against my nature because of the scooped tone and active, sometimes sizzly, EQ, but there's something so inviting and useful about the sound - that strange, phasey tone with the pokey upper mids and strong 100-200 Hz punch.

The G&L tone, based on that video, seems more neutral, modern, and common. I might be wrong, but it just seems a bit regular sounding.

Best,
JMJ

irvinz · #6 03-24-2008, 07:55 PM

that is just a tribute series tho =p the american ones sound way superior

BobaMosfett · #7 03-24-2008, 08:22 PM

My G&L (L-2000) gets a lot of playing time, lately more than my other 3 basses combined. I think that's because it plays really, really nice, and second because you can go in an instant from real old school thump to sizzly modern sounds, once you get to know the controls. Most of the time I use it for the thump, though.

I know it's personal, but it's not neutral sounding to me; I'm really bonding with mine. I agree it doesn't look special - it just says 'workhorse', but I like that!

jmjbassplayer · #8 03-24-2008, 08:46 PM

Taken under advisement! What this means is that I need to get my hands on a proper L-2000 and really see for myself. And it's silly to be comparing Stingray to L-2000, but I'm just trying to narrow down my next instrument purchase. Suffice to say, I won't discount them until I've heard them myself. I ain't gonna be slapping on the thing, so for sure I'll need to hear what my own touch does with it.

JMJ

jmjbassplayer · #9 03-24-2008, 08:54 PM

Taken under advisement! What this means is that I need to get my hands on a proper L-2000 and really see for myself. And it's silly to be comparing Stingray to L-2000, but I'm just trying to narrow down my next instrument purchase, but I know it needs to be something with a unique voice and some "slice" to it. Suffice to say, I won't discount them until I've heard them myself. I ain't gonna be slapping on the thing, so for sure I'll need to hear what my own touch does with it.

JMJ

pbass2 · #10 03-24-2008, 09:00 PM

I'll tell ya one sound I haven't been able to get, and I guess I'm gonna need a 'Ray too to get it, is the sound Ben Orr has on stuff like "Moving in Stereo". I assume that's a 'Ray at least. (I guess I should move this to the 'Ray thread

To me that sound and Paul Denman sum up what a Ray can do, and they're TOTALLY different sounding (in other words, that's kinda what I had in my head before getting a G&L--dunno why exactly---yet haven't, though I have found some other very cool tones).

spideyjg · #11 03-24-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Taken under advisement! What this means is that I need to get my hands on a proper L-2000 and really see for myself. And it's silly to be comparing Stingray to L-2000, but I'm just trying to narrow down my next instrument purchase. Suffice to say, I won't discount them until I've heard them myself. I ain't gonna be slapping on the thing, so for sure I'll need to hear what my own touch does with it.

JMJ

Ed gives a great demo of the sounds available via the switch options but the EQ was full on in all of them. Many of us run the EQ somewhat backed off.

Given a tweak here and there I can get a Geddy Lee Wal era sound, John Wetton on the first Asia CD, and a Live At Leeds Entwistle .

If your ever down the San Diego way I got a few of 'em you could try out.

Jim

stingray56funk · #12 03-25-2008, 01:31 AM

Certainly give the SB-1 and SB-2 a go Justin...might be more up your "vintage feel and tone" alley.

Just my thoughts.

BobaMosfett · #13 03-25-2008, 05:05 AM

Or maybe find an old L-1000; the bassplayer in Matisyahu has one, and he sounds DEEP!
But you're right, comparing an L-2000 to a Stingray doesn't make sense. Some people say you can make an L-2000 sound like a 'Ray, but I find that's not true at all. They both sound great in their own right, though...

To be honest (and I say that as a total G&L lover), if I had your stable and had to choose, I'd go for the Stingray due to it's more distinct sound. I imagine you could just grab a different axe when you need a different tone. On the other hand, if I made gold records, I'd have both!