G&L Club Part 5

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by ClassicJazz

Update

My tech cracked her open a almost fainted when he saw the horrible wiring job inside the control cavity. I also was shocked how sloppy wiring was done. There seemed to be more wires then the space shuttle! And mind you this bass is stock, never modified.

Now compared to my Sadowsky, the wiring on that bass is a work of art. The wiring is nicely bundled together and harnessed. But in the G&L it looks like a free for all.

Well my tech is not too confident working on this puppy, he admitted it is over his head trying to figure it out.

So we might enlist the help of Kevin Kaufman (yep, Jaco's old tech) to take a look see. He is good with electronics, installed a Sadowsky preamp into a Fender Jazz I had. So.......stay tuned!

A mess is no surprise on a G&L. One of my L2500s was like that. The answer in my case was to simply rip all the wiring out down to the switches and pots and rewire it with teflon wire. Only the pickup wires are still melty plastic.

In your case that would be even more important because you intend to change the controls and operation. So first work up the wiring diagram you want to try and then after stripping down to pots a switches wire from there.

I would point out, however that vol/vol setups in essence short the pickups for volume control and that changes the loading impedance and could change the tone. While I've heard a lot of people talk about doing this, I've never seen one that actually did it, so I can't say what the result is for sure. So if you do it, be sure to report back to us on how it works out!

[lowfreqgeek]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

I would point out, however that vol/vol setups in essence short the pickups for volume control and that changes the loading impedance and could change the tone. While I've heard a lot of people talk about doing this, I've never seen one that actually did it, so I can't say what the result is for sure. So if you do it, be sure to report back to us on how it works out!

I did a vol/vol setup on an L2500 and it worked very well. I didn't have any problems with it, and actually liked to roll off the neck pickup just a hair. I prefer a vol/vol arrangement to a blend pot.

[supakneegrow]

Originally Posted by SturmUndDrang

I have an SB1. When I want to clean up the tone and shave some of the hair off the assertive overdrivey split coil mfd, the simplest thing is to adjust the ratio of gain to master volume on my amp. Favor more master than gain and things should clear up. Hopefully you have an amp with master and gain controls.

I was working that way tonight and it wasn't bad, even through the crappy peavy mark 3 head i was going through at the hourly studio I was in.

I was thinking about getting a portable preamp to bring around, someone mentioned that in one of the other threads. Any suggestions there?

[kellyrojo]

bddi--kind of the standard in a way

[BadJazz]

Internals of my new JB-2 Tribby. Not bad. Mighty Mite pots.

[sunbeast]

Originally Posted by lowfreqgeek

I did a vol/vol setup on an L2500 and it worked very well. I didn't have any problems with it, and actually liked to roll off the neck pickup just a hair. I prefer a vol/vol arrangement to a blend pot.

My L2000 is Volume/Volume, as was my old L2500. I countered the added impedance by using a higher value for the tone pot, and it has been a great setup for me going on at least 6 years now!

[ClassicJazz]

Originally Posted by bassbenj

A mess is no surprise on a G&L. One of my L2500s was like that. The answer in my case was to simply rip all the wiring out down to the switches and pots and rewire it with teflon wire. Only the pickup wires are still melty plastic.

In your case that would be even more important because you intend to change the controls and operation. So first work up the wiring diagram you want to try and then after stripping down to pots a switches wire from there.

I would point out, however that vol/vol setups in essence short the pickups for volume control and that changes the loading impedance and could change the tone. While I've heard a lot of people talk about doing this, I've never seen one that actually did it, so I can't say what the result is for sure. So if you do it, be sure to report back to us on how it works out!

Well dropped it off with Kevin Kaufman today. Boy did he laugh when he saw that wiring mess! But he has a few good ideas as to what to do. So hopefully in a few weeks it will be ready to roll!

[BadJazz]

Originally Posted by ClassicJazz

Well dropped it off with Kevin Kaufman today. Boy did he laugh when he saw that wiring mess! But he has a few good ideas as to what to do. So hopefully in a few weeks it will be ready to roll!

Got any pics? I've been pretty impressed with the wiring on my latest three Tributes. Seems odd they'd be so messy in their high end line.

[ClassicJazz]

Originally Posted by BadJazz

Got any pics? I've been pretty impressed with the wiring on my latest three Tributes. Seems odd they'd be so messy in their high end line.

Nope....as I mentioned the bass is with Kevin now.

[Rodger Bryan]

I finally heard an M series bass in a well-mixed concert recording. If you have itunes, check out the preview for Gavin DeGraw's latest concert DVD. His bassist had a solid tone- everything there and it sat nicely in the mix. The M's are (again) on my short list of basses to try out.

[scubaduba]

Sounds great. Love the tone.

[NWB]

I've had an SB-2 trib for some years now and really dig it. It was one of those basses that you pick up immediately feels like home.

Last weekend I went out shopping for my first fiver. I tried a used MTD at GC which had a neck the width of Texas. I have fairly large hands, but I could barely get to the B-string. And it lacked any punch or character in the tone.

I then went to BassNW and tried a Lakland, a Yamaha (very nice), and then an M2500. The M2500 (trib) was the one I couldn't put down. Nice crunchy tones and a comfy neck. G&L quality all around. It came home with me!

G&L for the win once again!

After 25 years of exclusive 4-strings, I have some learning to do now.

[Glazenn]

Originally Posted by NWB

... After 25 years of exclusive 4-strings, I have some learning to do now.

Within a week with your M2500, 4-strings will sadly be jobless ...

[scubaduba]

Originally Posted by Glazenn

After a week with your M2500, 4-strings will be jobless ...

+1 That's true!

[Glazenn]

Originally Posted by scubaduba

+1 That's true!

And, about 4-strings, I know what I mean...



Fender AVRI 62 JB w/Warmoth ash body - Fender AVRI 62 JB w/Allparts maple neck - Fender AVRI 62 PB - Fender Japan RI 62

The Japanese has already gone through eBay.

[kellyrojo]

Not me. Went from 4 to five and back to four. Sold the fiver

[mystic38]

Well, it arrived.

A new metallic burgundy Tribute SB-2.. other than intonation, setup was fine.

++ Absolutely gorgeous
++ completely floored by the tone of the neck pickup
++ 1.5" neck plays really really well (came from Ibanez SRA500 so was concerned over the neck.. SB-2 has same width and just a tad thicker)

- some hum comes from the bridge pickup when dialed in.. is this normal?
- low profile of neck pickup is not a great thumb rest..though as i get better and more used to it i am sure i shall adapt.

Anyway, took it to a jam session and the guitarist couldnt keep his eyes of it!!.. a 30yr veteran player, he said about 5 times "thats the best bass i have ever heard" and insisted we switched spots for a few songs.. ok by me.. I ended up with his Fender custom shop strat to play...

So finally I am in.. ## please

[LoriB]

So I picked up a beautiful clear forest green/RW SB-2 over the holidays from the 'bay. Serial #B0339XX. Took the neck off the body, the body stamp dates it to Jan 25 2001, and there is no legible marking on the neck heel. The neck has a 5/8" nut. The feel of the neck is amazing, flatter and more comfortable than my newer JB. I'm looking for any insight into when this neck may have been made, and whether it was the original neck for the bass. Thanks!

[shackled]

[quote=BadJazz;13632700]The JB-2's arrived today. $279 a pop![quote]

Hell of a deal!

[BadJazz]

The current crop.



The L2K's remain my favorites, with the JB-2 in close second.