G&L L2000 (US) vs. Lakland 44-02

TBra · #1 02-06-2012, 12:41 AM

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been posted before (did a search and didn't find much).

I'm looking for a new, versatile bass that can replicate the sounds of a P-bass, J-bass and Stingray well. Research tells me that the G&L L2000 and the Lakland 44-02 can are both very versatile and can produce all three of these sounds.

Which bass does a better job at producing the P, J and Stingray sounds out of the G&L L2000 (US made) and the Lakland 44-02? Which bass is considered "better"? Are there any other options out there that I haven't considered?

I realise a lot of posts will say something like "try for yourself and see which one you like better", but I don't live anywhere near a music store that stocks either of these basses, so I need to buy online.

Thanks!

bdgotoh · #2 02-06-2012, 01:06 AM

I've never gotten a convincing P, J, or Stingray tone from either one.

GregC · #3 02-06-2012, 01:29 AM

The problem with these types of poll threads is, just about everyone's going to vote for their favorite brand, and you may not learn much in the process (beyond the existence of other options, maybe). Don't get me wrong, I'm sympathetic to your issue (I used to live in a place with no music stores, too). A lot of it just boils down to preference. Both basses are well-regarded in terms of quality, looks and feel.

Seek out sound clips of these basses for the tonal question. I can help you on the Lakland front, maybe someone else can for the G&L.
Welcome to Lakland
This vidoe has a direct comparison to a P, a J and a Ray: Lakland LH3 Pickup Demo - YouTube

Good luck!

TBra · #4 02-06-2012, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

The problem with these types of poll threads is, just about everyone's going to vote for their favorite brand, and you may not learn much in the process (beyond the existence of other options, maybe). Don't get me wrong, I'm sympathetic to your issue (I used to live in a place with no music stores, too). A lot of it just boils down to preference. Both basses are well-regarded in terms of quality, looks and feel.

Seek out sound clips of these basses for the tonal question. I can help you on the Lakland front, maybe someone else can for the G&L.
Welcome to Lakland
This vidoe has a direct comparison to a P, a J and a Ray: Lakland LH3 Pickup Demo - YouTube

Good luck!

Thanks for that!

I'm hoping to get enough insightful replies that I don't need to refer to the poll, but the poll is just there anyway.

mmbongo · #5 02-06-2012, 04:46 AM

I would think G&L would do a better P since it has a humbucker at the neck. But, I'd get the one that sounds better by itself instead of trying to emulate a bunch of basses designed decades ago

Johnny Alien · #6 02-06-2012, 05:50 AM

Neither of them can nail any of those sounds but they get close. Nothing does Stingray quite like a Stingray or a Precision quite like a Precision. That aside if you are just getting "close" I would rate them like this.

The 44-02 will get you closer to the Jazz sound and the stingray sounds. The L-2000 can do the Precision better.. This is largely due to pickup placement. The killer is that the L-2000 cannot do a Jazz sound at all. Maybe someone here clever with EQ settings will tell me that I am wrong but that is how I see it. The 44-02 will never get you really close to a Precision though. So I would base the decision on which of the two is more important to get closer to. If it's the P and Stingray then go L-2000 if it's the J and Stingray than go 44-02 and in either case just try to fake the third as best you can.

kellyrojo · #7 02-06-2012, 06:41 AM

The L2000 can do a pretty descent jazz type tone if you get the single coil k switching mod done to it....it is more of a jazz with a bit more edge to it. They are both good basses. Good luck and ejoy

jgroh · #8 02-06-2012, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kellyrojo

The L2000 can do a pretty descent jazz type tone if you get the single coil k switching mod done to it....it is more of a jazz with a bit more edge to it. They are both good basses. Good luck and ejoy

Yes I have that mod on my L2500 and I can get a pretty good P or J, but...I rarely use them! I use a pretty middle of the road stock G&L tone and it works great. YMMV.

No one other than me would be able to tell the difference when I play with my band anyway (yes, I know, if I get MY tone it makes me play better yadda yadda yadda, but once you are in a live band mix, those small tone differences get covered up)

**countbassiedad** · #9 02-06-2012, 07:06 AM

Of the choices offered I chose the Lakland because it has multiband active EQ. I think the G&L only does treble cut even in active mode.

In my opinion the Stingray HH is closer to being able to nail all those. The bridge pickup on the HH IS the Stingray sound. The neck on the HH is closer to the neck compared to the others which probably enables a deeper more P-like tone than either of the others can muster, plus you can further tune it with EQ.

The HH also has two J type positions on the 5 way switch (using one coil from each of the two humbucker).

Johnny Alien · #10 02-06-2012, 07:10 AM

The bridge pickup on a HH Stingray in not close to the sweet spot that a Precision pickup is located. Same thing with the 44-02. The L-2000 has a humbucker closest to that spot which is why it can cop that sound pretty well. Getting close to those tones is more than just versatile pickups it's pickup location.

eyeballkid · #11 02-06-2012, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

If it's the P and Stingray then go 4HH, if it's the J and Stingray than go 4HH.

Fixed

tsunami1052 · #12 02-06-2012, 08:13 AM

Adding to what has already been said, some physical differences:

Lakland - Flatter or slightly thinner neck.
G&L - Fatter more round "c" shape neck.
Lakland - Uses smaller fretwire than the G&L.
G&L - Smaller body Shape.
G&L - Lots of switches to dink with.

Both weigh about 9-10 Ibs.
Both play very well and balance good on the strap. Fit and finish are very very good on both US G&L and Lakland Skyline.

44-02 - Better J bass sound.
L2000 - Better P bass sound.
Musicman Sound - About Equal.

That's all I can think of for now.

armybass · #13 02-06-2012, 10:14 AM

Laklands are great basses...I have had several and loved them all but I am a G&L L2000 lover. Not even close for me, especially if the L2000 is pre year 2000.... I love the 90's L2000's!

domestique · #14 02-06-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsunami1052

Adding to what has already been said, some physical differences:

Lakland - Flatter or slightly thinner neck.
G&L - Fatter more round "c" shape neck.
Lakland - Uses smaller fretwire than the G&L.
G&L - Smaller body Shape.
G&L - Lots of switches to dink with.

Both weigh about 9-10 Ibs.
Both play very well and balance good on the strap. Fit and finish are very very good on both US G&L and Lakland Skyline.

44-02 - Better J bass sound.
L2000 - Better P bass sound.
Musicman Sound - About Equal.

That's all I can think of for now.

A giant +1, I don't thnk any more can be added other than that certain year G&Ls have different neck profiles that some people perfer over the others.

I personally love my G&L but I have always found Laklands to have a more flashier finish... but I am not a fan of their bridges, I think G&L wins everyday. The Lakland may have a better higher resell value.

Nedmundo · #15 02-06-2012, 12:01 PM

I'm a G&L guy, and there's no question I'd pick an L-2000 for the incomparable MFD slam, but that's just preference. You should know that G&L offers several optional necks, so you aren't locked into the standard chunky P-bass neck, and now you can specify vintage fretwire too. (That's a relatively recent option.)

As for imitating P, J, and Ray, I think your best bet would be an HS version of the StingRay. These have dual single coil settings that sound somewhat J-like, and IMO the neck single coil sounds more like a P-bass than the full neck humbucker on the HH. The neck single on the HS Sterling is amazingly close to a P-bass -- I was shocked when I compared back-to-back -- so if you like the Sterling flavor of MM, you could go that route too.

Because the L-2000 has a passive mode, its neck humbucker is a little more like a P-bass than a MusicMan neck humbucker, but it still doesn't nail the split-coil sound.

StuartV · #16 02-06-2012, 12:21 PM

I didn't vote because I don't have the direct answer to your question. But, I have owned an L-2000 and currently own an L-2500 (both US). I have played a 55-02 and a 55-94 Deluxe (US version of 55-02, which is 5-string version of 44-02). And I own a '66 P, a Sadowsky Metro Jazz, and a StingRay 5.

Without being able to answer your question directly, all I can say is that, in choosing between a 44-02 and a US L-2000, I would definitely, absolutely, choose the L-2000. And if it didn't already have the single coil option (aka the K option), I would get that done to it. US G&Ls have different neck options (4 different ones, I think). I would, of course, make sure to get the G&L with my preferred neck.

danroche · #17 02-06-2012, 12:24 PM

My understanding is that the 44-02 was designed with emulation in mind, whereas the L-2000 was designed as its own beast. I've owned both.

My personal suggestion would be to go Lakland if your goal is to emulate the J, P, and MM, and go L-2000 otherwise. The L-2000 can get a LOT of distinct tones, but won't come 95% close to nailing the big three, which IMO the 44-02 will.

StuartV · #18 02-06-2012, 12:39 PM

I've read (elsewhere here on TB) that the 44-94 (and thus, the 44-02) were designed to compete with the US Peavey Millennium (which is also mostly found in the J/MM pickup configuration). I have owned a US Millennium and currently have a US Millennium 5.

I took my Mill 5 down to my local boutique guitar shop and played it back to back with a 55-94 Deluxe and a 55-02. Personally, I like the Peavey better. I think the neck is at least as nice as the US Lakland and better than the Asian Lakland. And I like the Peavey EQ better. The sweepable mids make it more flexible, to me. If I decided to purchase the 44-02 over the L-2000, then I would definitely look for a US Peavey Millennium instead.

And, the bonus feature is, you should pretty easily find a Mill for less money than either of the other 2.

kellyrojo · #19 02-06-2012, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

No one other than me would be able to tell the difference when I play with my band anyway (yes, I know, if I get MY tone it makes me play better yadda yadda yadda, but once you are in a live band mix, those small tone differences get covered up)

This is absolutly true. Either of these basses will do very well in a live setting and the difference will be pretty minimal. The only time bandmates notice a difference on my l2000 is when I put it in series and it really thumps

oneillj · #20 02-06-2012, 12:43 PM

IMHO - I've gotten both P-Bass and J-Bass sounds (close enough) from a G&L L2000. I think they are one of most versatile basses out there. I used a L2000 for 21 years before it was stolen. Recently, I've had issues with the new one I ordered but that's a different post.