Why aren't G&L basses more popular?

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by willsellout

I'm sure glad this is a fashion contest.

While I understand where you're coming from, if a bass is visually unappealing to me, it had better really bring it regarding playability AND sound - and unfortunately, I've never been wowed by any G&Ls that way... To each their own, though...


-georgestrings

[Wallace320]

G&L Tributes and Lakland Skylines are both MII, both very good instruments as to craftsmanship and character

Now
How comes that Skylines cost twice as Tributes, soundin' half as them, and no one seems to question it?

This is a fact

As myself, and somebody else, already stated over here: with G&L
I just ain't need no "battlewise" pedalboard, which was welcome
instead with the Lakland I once (briefly) owned.

Cheers,
Wallace

[bassdude51]

I think all the reasons why G&L basses aren't more popular are pretty much stated.

I didn't read all of the posts, so I hope that I'm not saying something that's already been said.

I feel that another reason why G&L basses aren't more popular is because they are Leo Fender trying to out do Leo Fender.

I mean like after Leonardo Di Vinci painted the Mona Lisa..............how could he do better?

After having invented the P Bass, the Jazz Bass, the Stingray...............how could Mr. Fender out do perfection?

So for me, G&L was always Leo Fender competing against Leo Fender. G&Ls were copies of the best basses already made.

G&L basses are excellent, well made instruments on par with USA Fenders and Musicman. But, they are copies of those basses.

I own a 1981 G&L L-1000. It's a wonderful bass! But, it's not better than a P Bass and that's more or less what a Wunkay is, a P Bass with 3 pickup selections and the one selection that would be like a P Bass (series with hum cancelling doesn't exsist) instead it's series with bass boast and it hums like a single coil because of a capacitor wired into one of the coils.

Many pre-lawsuit G&L basses have neck issues. And that bullet truss rod adjuster just begs to be stripped!

Also, in the beginning, G&L basses were like the nasty 70s Fenders and Musicmans. Three bolt neck and the bullet truss rod adjuster. Two very undesirable features!

[theduke1]

Hey
Just play what you like&Like what you play.
No right no wrong ,I don't knock what you play and why you play it all I ask for is the same in return!
Even if you don't like my G&Ls or my Genz Benz, or that I don't use a pick or pedal board, those are my choices and I chose them for me. We must just agree to disagree!
Love, Pease, Merry Christmas and may we all live to play another day!

[phillybass101]

The question is why aren't they more popular. Not if they are any good or sound good or have good build qualities.

[PluckyThump]

I like the bullet. It's a lot easier to deal with than taking the neck off. Best adjuster of all though is the EBMM wheel.

You do have a point about Leo Fender out-doing himself, but that's the whole idea. These are the final products of the genius who started it all! The originator, the innovator, the master took the next step forward with his instruments.

I would argue that the L-2000/2500 is not a copy. It's essentially a P-J with splittable humbuckers and that's nothing like any of Leo's other designs. It isn't really a P, J or MM but it comes close enough that many players do not feel the need to have one. Combine that with engineer & sound man prejudice and the L-2x00 just hasn't caught a break. Like I said before all of that could change if one big name endorser starts using one.

Nevertheless G&L has sold enough of them to remain in business without selling out to some faceless corporation or hedge fund and thank goodness for that.

[Chef]

Rather than take the time to disagree with every point, line by line, I'll just say I disagree with all of this.

Originally Posted by bassdude51

I think all the reasons why G&L basses aren't more popular are pretty much stated.

I didn't read all of the posts, so I hope that I'm not saying something that's already been said.

I feel that another reason why G&L basses aren't more popular is because they are Leo Fender trying to out do Leo Fender.

I mean like after Leonardo Di Vinci painted the Mona Lisa..............how could he do better?

After having invented the P Bass, the Jazz Bass, the Stingray...............how could Mr. Fender out do perfection?

So for me, G&L was always Leo Fender competing against Leo Fender. G&Ls were copies of the best basses already made.

G&L basses are excellent, well made instruments on par with USA Fenders and Musicman. But, they are copies of those basses.

I own a 1981 G&L L-1000. It's a wonderful bass! But, it's not better than a P Bass and that's more or less what a Wunkay is, a P Bass with 3 pickup selections and the one selection that would be like a P Bass (series with hum cancelling doesn't exsist) instead it's series with bass boast and it hums like a single coil because of a capacitor wired into one of the coils.

Many pre-lawsuit G&L basses have neck issues. And that bullet truss rod adjuster just begs to be stripped!

Also, in the beginning, G&L basses were like the nasty 70s Fenders and Musicmans. Three bolt neck and the bullet truss rod adjuster. Two very undesirable features!

[zachoff]

I think we're all forgetting the biggest reason... You can't search for "G&L" on talkbass.

[MeLikeDaLowNote]

I really should give them another try before I chime in, but early in my bass playing I bought a MIA SB-2 because the shop didn't carry Fenders. (Pre-internet days when local availability was more of a issue). It was a nice looking instrument that was well-made, but I was never really able to dial in a feel or sound that I loved.

That early experience colored my outlook so I haven't really wanted one again. But my case was unique. I knew nothing about the crucial role of amplification and a proper set up with the right gauge strings...but it does explain why G&L wasn't popular with me.

I'd give them a second look now, though.

[willsellout]

Originally Posted by zachoff

I think we're all forgetting the biggest reason... You can't search for "G&L" on talkbass.

Lets make sure this thread is searchable: GandL

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Anybody who thinks this is 'ugly', or that it can't get an 'identifiable sound' is nuts...or smoking crack...or smoking nuts....or something crazy.

I would imagine it would sound like a Jazz Bass. My point is that one can tell hey, thats a jazz bass, one can tell hey that's a P-Bass, and one can tell that's a MM bass. All Leo fender sounding creations. So my question is what is the G&L signature sound. I wouldn't be able to tell. I am not implying that they don't sound good. I heard a guy do a Gospel cover with one of the new L2500's and it sounded killer. Sight unseen I would not be able to tell what kind of bass it was though. Maybe I just don't know the G&L sound. With the exception of a MM sound the sounds of the other basses are signature sounds outside of Brand. There are certain variations of course but the sounds I'm suggesting exceed, go beyond brand. It's the type of bass. Like I said maybe I'm just ignorant to a signature G&L sound.

[Chef]

Could you tell by hearing:
Mike Lull
Lakland
Valenti
Sadowsky
Alleva

are those "bad brands?

[willsellout]

I actually think you can tell with G&L's in a lot of cases. The L2XXX, L1K, L15XX, all have pretty distinct voices with a lot of output. The SB2 is the best P bass you've ever heard. The JB2 just sounds like a jazz though

[mystic38]

This makes no sense.. Your argument then is based on the implication that the best Ford was the Model T....?

Originally Posted by bassdude51

I feel that another reason why G&L basses aren't more popular is because they are Leo Fender trying to out do Leo Fender.

I mean like after Leonardo Di Vinci painted the Mona Lisa..............how could he do better?

!

[theduke1]

Originally Posted by phillybass101

The question is why aren't they more popular. Not if they are any good or sound good or have good build qualities.

Ok
I got on my soapbox a little sorry.
To the question at hand
First off I agree with Chef to diagree on those statements above. Around here if it does not say Fender or Gibson people don't know what it is. I hear that on the coasts they are more popular but the midwest not so much.
That being said, the players who want a G&L will search them out!

[phillybass101]

Originally Posted by Chef

Could you tell by hearing:
Mike Lull
Lakland
Valenti
Sadowsky
Alleva

are those "bad brands?

Hey Chef believe it or not I could only tell it was a jazz bass if they were jazz basses and P if they were P's. Oddly enough I can tell A sadowski jazz when I hear it. I played on a friends Valenti jazz and it was a nice take on a jazz but no Iwould not be able to tell that that was a Valenti :-) Maybe it's incorrect to talk about signature sounds such as Jazz, and P, and MM when it comes to identifying brand of bass. But considering G&L heritage I am totally ignorant to the G&L sound. Can any one understand what I am saying. Jazz bass is a signature sound regardless of brand. P-Bass is a signature sound outside of Brand. MM is well of course MM and we all know that signature sound. So taking into consdieration it;s lineage I don't see where others are copying the G&L sound. G&L is a brand not a signature sound. Ric is both a brand and a signature sound. The early fenders were too before everyone started copying them.

[smcd]

Originally Posted by bassdude51

Many pre-lawsuit G&L basses have neck issues. And that bullet truss rod adjuster just begs to be stripped!

Also, in the beginning, G&L basses were like the nasty 70s Fenders and Musicmans. Three bolt neck and the bullet truss rod adjuster. Two very undesirable features!

I have never ever heard that early G&L's had neck issues. Never even heard of one single problem. I suspect you're confusing G&L with pre-EB MusicMan.

The 3-bolt necks and bullet truss rods work perfectly on G&L's. And that bullet truss rod is a lot harder to strip than a conventional truss rod.

[willsellout]

I've heard of neck issues on some G&L's, but it was no more than any other manufacturer.

[jgroh]

My L2500 is just so "powerful" in the mix it made me sell my first Ric! Ive since got another Ric but it still doesnt match the muscle of the G&L.

The only downside is that its a Tribute and its HEAVY. I have gigged it alot but my back is killing me the next day. IMO it has its own voice, but it can cop other vibes as well and I happen to love that.

[SteveC]

I used to have a few of them years ago. Great basses. I moved on to more "upscale" basses but still like G&L. The necks feel a little "thick" to me now. The JB2 is a nice bass. So is the SB2.