Why aren't G&L basses more popular?

[Chef]

Man, I've never understood the whole "the L2000's controls are too complicated."
Yes, more complex than a P bass.

But, not really too much more complicated than any other active two pickup bass, with the exception of the coil tap.
Volume, Treble, Bass. Straightforward.
Pickup selector. Ok, easy enough, though I personally prefer blend.
Coil tap, for both pups at once. Pretty simple; I've had basses that taps for each pickup.
Preamp off/on/on with treble boost. Ok.

Where's the hard part?

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by Chef

Man, I've never understood the whole "the L2000's controls are too complicated."
Yes, more complex than a P bass.

But, not really too much more complicated than any other active two pickup bass, with the exception of the coil tap.
Volume, Treble, Bass. Straightforward.
Pickup selector. Ok, easy enough, though I personally prefer blend.
Coil tap, for both pups at once. Pretty simple; I've had basses that taps for each pickup.
Preamp off/on/on with treble boost. Ok.

Where's the hard part?

I agree Chef. I think it's that some people just don't want to bother trying to figure it out.

[zachoff]

I love my G&Ls. Used to have two L-2000 Tributes as my main basses for a while. Sold one of them to buy a G&L SB-2 and love that bass too. Still also love my L-2000 but it's more of a metal machine and I'm in a punk band now & the SB-2 fits a little better.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by Chef

Man, I've never understood the whole "the L2000's controls are too complicated."
Yes, more complex than a P bass.

But, not really too much more complicated than any other active two pickup bass, with the exception of the coil tap.
Volume, Treble, Bass. Straightforward.
Pickup selector. Ok, easy enough, though I personally prefer blend.
Coil tap, for both pups at once. Pretty simple; I've had basses that taps for each pickup.
Preamp off/on/on with treble boost. Ok.

Where's the hard part?

+1

I wonder what those who are easily confused do with some/most amplifiers? Those things must look like a commercial airline cockpit to them.

[hsech]

Designed by George Fullerton and Leo Fender. What's not to like??

[Mikio]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Does anyone else LOVE the post-lawsuit headstock? I do!

I love it!!!

I wish the brand had more recognition. I have never played one, but I've heard them and they sound great, besides they have options I really like.

For me the worst headstock is the tele style one.

[AfroCubanFunkMa]

Love my L2000.. So much that I might sell a bass or two to get an L2500 now..

[mellowgerman]

Good question... I just decided to eat my money problems (if that makes any sense) just so I can keep my L2500. Hands down one of the best instruments I've ever played.
Especially after rewiring it passive.

[two fingers]

Originally Posted by lousybassplayer

Mega +1. This may be another aspect of it. They say when you want to attract a lot of fish, cast a wide net or a really really good one. G&L offers a fairly limited range of models compared to the uber-volume companies, but don't specialize in a certain thing like the uber-boutique companies. I personally think it's a great middle ground, but it is a middle ground.

Very well put. And being a "Middle ground" kind of keeps you off the radar in many cases.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by Chef

Man, I've never understood the whole "the L2000's controls are too complicated."
Yes, more complex than a P bass.

But, not really too much more complicated than any other active two pickup bass, with the exception of the coil tap.
Volume, Treble, Bass. Straightforward.
Pickup selector. Ok, easy enough, though I personally prefer blend.
Coil tap, for both pups at once. Pretty simple; I've had basses that taps for each pickup.
Preamp off/on/on with treble boost. Ok.

Where's the hard part?

Whelp, the only time I've been able to try an L-2000 (cause G&Ls are extremely difficult to find in stores) I had no idea what the switches did and of course they weren't labeled. And how many other basses have a switch that's "preamp on/off with a treble boost"? So yeah, I was fumbling around for a bit, then I had to go.

[GregC]

Originally Posted by smcd

+1

I wonder what those who are easily confused do with some/most amplifiers? Those things must look like a commercial airline cockpit to them.

Amp knobs have labels.

[SonicBlueJoe]

Chef speaks the truth. The 2K set up isn't 2-knob p-bass simple, but it ain't rocket science. Still, I've owned and sold 3 2Ks along the way, and while all were lovely basses, the 2-pickup, active/passive, etc, etc just wasn't for me.

I've been corrupted by many G&Leeks along the way, and have tried several G&Ls in the last 10 years. Never had a single beef with any of them. All were solid fit and finish, top to bottom. Never an issue.

Recently acquired a limited run reinterpretation of the L1000 offered on the Bad Ass Bass Player forum back in 2009. All maple gun oil tint jazz width neck is TOO DIE FOR. The simpler electronics setup. This is the P-Bass I've been searching longing for...

Why aren't they more popular? I think the assessments of their marketing are probably as good a guess as any...

[PJRL]

I have had 3 of them and I'm looking for another. I think they are pretty popular, look at the length of this thread. And......G&L club part 5.

[Wallace320]

I mean

I spent 20+ years lookin' for my sound

You're a consumed bassplayer the moment you come to the conclusion that your sound, in a proper undeniable way, doesn't necessarily exist. There rather are many factors you can call your own, that kinda help buildin' your sound.

You spent your whole life changin' gear (basses, amps, cabs, stomps) to improve, enhance, unleash the beast in you, and in your hands.

You're almost certain being able to get listened to in a crowded rehearsal band mix or a mess up gig stage mix, then you come across G&L and experience how a bass can be in need to be tamed a bit, 'cause it's too loud (I experienced that with my Yamaha Attitude, that Billy Sheehan doesn't fx at all, being already unmistakeable like that)

So G&L "suffer" (allow me this) from a too loud output, when talkin' about L2000/L2500 (JB2/SB2 are IMO no way that loud)
and they're reknowned for that, 'cause L2000/L2500 are way more around than JB2/SB2

So I agree with the ones that tell that, of course they're not that difficult to discerne, but can get hard to define, if you're lucky enough not being in need of any available extra output (not playin' hard rock/heavy metal, or not battlein' vs ultra compressed/distorted downtuned active seven string guitars)

Cheers,
Wallace

[vgbob]

I have an American SB-2, it feels great to play. I think part of the issue is that people expect, or want, it to sound like a Fender, which it doesn't.

[Chef]

"Too hard to tame."

I respectfully disagree with this.
There are two easy steps to tame the L1000/2000/2500/SB2:
-close the volume knob at bit
-lower the pickups.

Very easy.

[monti2889]

short answer...price and availability. The only G and L's I've found, locally, are used and usually overpriced (IMO, for used instrument), compared to similar models from other companies. As far as new, the only place I've been able to find them is online, and selection there is somewhat limited, as far as styles, features and such, (again IMO). However, in my market, when you start to get 1000.00+ price range...then you're starting to get into the vintage and custom realm, which is more desirable than new mass production.

[Wallace320]

Originally Posted by Chef

"Too hard to tame."

I respectfully disagree with this.
There are two easy steps to tame the L1000/2000/2500/SB2:
-close the volume knob at bit
-lower the pickups.

Very easy.

But I challenge my screamin' guitar band mates everytime...

If you play thru a funk or jazz bandmix, with lotta more instruments but with a more varied palette of frequencies too, well I think some can find G&L L2000/L2500 to be just... "too much"

Playin' downtuned thrash metal, I love super output to the point that I don't need to bring my full pedalboard with me like with all other basses, to stay earsplittin' at just 9 o'clock of head volume/gain/enhancer.

When you're huge at that volume/gain point, there's no "pot room" for you to get down much (and you don't want to)... it's just that you start up "already loud" and you're proud of it...

It's not like you need to play at 3 o'clock, or up there, to get you listened. At 9 o'clock I'm a like the Hammer of Thor, yet we're talkin' about 2 points of head volume/gain... do I have to play at 1 point? Come on!

For somebody else, I guess this can be not that pleasant/necessary

Cheers,
Wallace

[Clef_de_fa]

Originally Posted by hsech

Designed by George Fullerton and Leo Fender. What's not to like??

The fack it is designed by George Fullerton and Leo Fender ...

To me it looks not that great like any Fender or EBMM ... ergonomics aren't their forte

[mystic38]

Popular or not, it matters not, am psyched that this is on its way..... should be here 26th