Very odd G&L L2000 problem...I think

[OOTB68]

I have what I think is a very odd problem with my newly acquired 1981 L2000. I didn't notice this until just last night but when the bridge pickup is soloed, the treble knob does absolutely nothing. This happens no matter if it is in either of the active modes or the passive mode. The treble knob does affect the tone when the pickup selector is either set to the solo neck pickup or both pickups but when just the bridge pickup is selected it does nothing. The bass knob works perfectly in all 3 pickup combinations. Has anyone out there experienced anything like this before? Does anyone have any advice? There are still so many tonal combinations that this doesn't amount to a major problem but I like to have things work as they should and this is an annoyance (at least until someone hopefully tells me that there's nothing wrong and this is how it's supposed to be). The bass is all original and is otherwise amazing. Thanks for any input or advice.

[Lo-E]

Neither of mine does that. Something's not right.

There are numerous sources of the schematic online. You should check the wiring against it and see if somebody made an "improvement" somewhere along the line.

Peace-
E

[guitar ed]

There is a very good, and active, G&L forum: HERE

We can help with lots of information.

edg

[OOTB68]

Thanks Lo-E. I think that's what I'm going to have to do. It just seems so strange for it to only have that issue in that one particular setting. I'm hoping it will be a relatively easy fix.

[Bobster]

Here's a link to the "old" L2000 wiring diagram.

http://www.glguitars.com/schematics/...0_version1.pdf

Looks like it might be related to the switch, or "tone" control.

Bob

[OOTB68]

Thanks guys for the very helpful info. I really hope its a simple fix.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by OOTB68

Thanks guys for the very helpful info. I really hope its a simple fix.

If you look at that diagram, you'll notice that the treble tone control is wired just past the pickup selector switch. Hence should work on any selection. But I suspect that treble control is miswired so that it goes not to the "toggle" part that goes between the two pickups but rather is wired to the neck pickup input to the switch. Wired like this when in bridge solo position the tone treble circuit will be connected to nothing. Just make sure the treble wire going to the selector switch goes to the center terminals and not to one of the end ones.

[Ken Baker]

That drawing does not correctly depict the very early L-2000 circuit. However, and again this is for VERY early L-2000s, what you're observing is as it should be. This didn't last long and the circuit was changed so that the treble control worked on all pickup selections. Look at it this way: You have a pretty unusual G&L bass.

We discussed this last October.

Originally Posted by Paul Gagon

You see, early on, only the neck pickup was connected to the tone (Treble) control.

There is more as it relates to the early-80s L-2000 circuit.

Ken...

[OOTB68]

Wow. I am thrilled to hear that nothing is wrong with my bass. If that's how it was made then I have no intention of trying to "correct" it. If it ain't broke I'm not going to try to fix it. I will just enjoy its unique quirkiness. I absolutely love this bass. I thank you all for your input and help. If anyone has any links to other threads or chats where this has been discussed in more detail I would really appreciate it. I've searched around a bit but I've come up empty.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by OOTB68

Wow. I am thrilled to hear that nothing is wrong with my bass. If that's how it was made then I have no intention of trying to "correct" it. If it ain't broke I'm not going to try to fix it. I will just enjoy its unique quirkiness. I absolutely love this bass. I thank you all for your input and help. If anyone has any links to other threads or chats where this has been discussed in more detail I would really appreciate it. I've searched around a bit but I've come up empty.

I've never heard of this wiring before but I can see the sense of it. For the deeper-toned neck and neck+Bridge selections on can use treble to roll off some highs to make it even more mellow. But then if you switch to bridge (like for say a solo or lick) the bass automatically takes off the tone roll-off and brightens up the tone without having to touch the tone control and then when you return to a neck setting the tone comes back on at the same setting you had it before. Very interesting idea! I'm surprised nobody seemed to like it.

I've been experimenting with the same idea by putting a switch on my tone (or treble) controls. That way the roll-off can be turned off to brighten up the tone and then flipped back on to exactly the same setting. In my case I've used a 3-way switch so two caps can be used as well as the "off" position.