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USA G&L L2000 Too Good To Be True?

GroovinOnFunk

GroovinOnFunk

Supporting Member
Apr 30, 2008
2,150
2,327
40
Nashville, TN
#1
Ok... So I'll try to give you guys the concise version of the story.

I found this USA G&L L2000 that I fell in love with on ebay. The seller worked out a great price for me ($635 with shipping and hard shell case included). About 10 minutes after I paid him for the bass, he called me saying that there were some electronic issues with it and that he was refunding my money while he tried to fix it. (he could have just kept the money and sent the bass, but he decided to do the right thing... so he's not a bad guy)

Two days ago he emails me saying that he thinks he's fixed it and has it fully working but didn't have much time to fully check it out.

Yesterday, he tells me his brother gave it an inspection and found out that the neck pickup is dead.

Because of all of this, he's willing to send me the bass (without requiring payment), have me play it and see if I like it or get it fixed to how I want it set up, and THEN we can work out how much the final payment will be.

So my question is this: Is this too good to be true? Should I just give up on this bass which clearly does not want to be in my possession? Something new seems to go wrong with it every day. I have found a brand new L-2000 Tribute that I could get for $600 with shipping and case included. The idea of getting a new bass right now is really appealing. I'll be able to rest easy knowing that I'm getting something right out of the box that is going to be fully functional and operational.

It's even in the 3-tone sunburst and maple fretboard which is what I've been looking for. My budget is $600-$700.

OR should I try to fix the USA G&L and get it for even cheaper?
 
#2
Hell man if he's going to give it to you without payment and figure out a price later, get the bass,take it to a local shop,have them look at it,quote it and then subtract that from what you were going to pay. If the wood is in good shape,everything else can be fixed.
 
#3
$119.95 for the pickup, IF thats the problem. Anyway, Its probably not that bad of a fix.
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If he's willing to send it to you to check it out with none of your money put forward, then I would say yes. If it doesn't work out for you, have him pay for the shipping back to him. Definetly DO NOT give him any $$$ up front.

To me, a USA G&L fixer upper > new tribute.
 
#4
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...TmJ3yd0%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

There's the link to it. The wood seems to be in fine shape, but there's no way of telling. There is a small, hairline crack in the body but it appears to be just in the finish (not the core wood)

I'm just so hesitant now... and my spirits are rather broken. I sold my bass last Saturday to be able to fund this purchase. I have a gig tomorrow (for which I'll be borrowing a bass) and I just want a working bass... sigh... I feel like a part of me is missing.

A bass player without a bass... yikes.

That being said, my roommate has an L-2000 Tribute and he's going on vacation for about 8 days. So I can use his bass in the mean time.
 
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#6
I had a bad pickup (one dead coil) on my L-2000. I got a really good deal on a brand new pickup. But, Lindy Fralin quoted me around $65, I think, to fix the bad one.

If you can swap the pickup yourself, or have someone you trust to work on it, then I say get it. With no cash out of pocket, how can you go wrong? If you don't have anybody that you trust to work on it, well, then pass...

No way I would pay $600 for an L-2000 Tribute. You can find them pretty easily for well under $500. A friend of mine got one in good condition on eBay for $300.
 
#7
StuartV said:
I had a bad pickup (one dead coil) on my L-2000. I got a really good deal on a brand new pickup. But, Lindy Fralin quoted me around $65, I think, to fix the bad one.

If you can swap the pickup yourself, or have someone you trust to work on it, then I say get it. With no cash out of pocket, how can you go wrong? If you don't have anybody that you trust to work on it, well, then pass...

No way I would pay $600 for an L-2000 Tribute. You can find them pretty easily for well under $500. A friend of mine got one in good condition on eBay for $300.
Click to expand...

how do you know if just one coil is bad or if the entire pickup is bad?
 
#8
GroovinOnFunk said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...TmJ3yd0%3D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT

There's the link to it. The wood seems to be in fine shape, but there's no way of telling. There is a small, hairline crack in the body but it appears to be just in the finish (not the core wood)

I'm just so hesitant now... and my spirits are rather broken. I sold my bass last Saturday to be able to fund this purchase. I have a gig tomorrow (for which I'll be borrowing a bass) and I just want a working bass... sigh... I feel like a part of me is missing.

A bass player without a bass... yikes.

That being said, my roommate has an L-2000 Tribute and he's going on vacation for about 8 days. So I can use his bass in the mean time.
Click to expand...

I'd be more worried about the crack - the electronics are infinitely fixable but the crack, if it does involve the wood, would be a harder fix.

My L2000 was brand new at Guitar Rez in Austin, TX back in the late 90's. When I decided to buy it, we went over it to make sure everything worked. The neck PU was dead. So I left it there while they replaced the pickup. Went back the next day, hit the switch and the neck PU was still dead. They cursed a few times and I left it with them again. Came back the next day and they'd fixed it; I havn't had a problem with it since.

Nothing like buying from a good shop like Guitar Rez. when a bass is giving you a bunch of lip. They also filed down the nut for me (mine's a fretless) and got it perfect the first time...

But the electronics are a bit of a rat's nest in the G&L, for reasons unknown. So it's probably not strange to have some kind of squirrely electrical problem like mine did. It took GR a couple of tries to figure out and fix whatever it was, so I wouldn't be really super surprised about an electrical problem that's a pain in the rear.

If it were me I'd also closely investigate that crack instead.

But if all is well, you'll probably love it. I still have my L2000 and even play it once in a while.

LS
 
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#9
I'd ask myself, "What have I got to lose?". Then decide if you can live with the loss.

On one hand life is short and you have to take chances to live a fulfilled life.

ON the other hand. It may not be worth it if your heart will break over losing money or not getting a bass that works out.

Think it through.
 
#10
the guy has 538 deals with positive feedback - 100%

i would go with raybones advice...settle on a price. then deduct what a pickup would cost. keep the receipt, let him see what it cost you w/labor

also if the crack is too bad the deal is off.

it might cost you return shipping...but as far as trusting the guy, i would.

i myself would be more worried about losing my 100% rating than trying to screw someone.
 
#11
Well, all I can really go by is what the guy says regarding the crack. He's clearly been really honest and up front with me about the entire thing. He says that the crack is only in the finish... He could have just kept the money and sent me a defective bass originally... Now he literally just said "I wouldn't want you to pay for it before getting a chance to check it out." He also said that when he was checking it, both pups worked just fine. He had to leave town and left the bass in the care of his brother, who he believes probably jostled a wire loose.

Truth is I have a gig tomorrow (Saturday) but then nothing again for about a month because my band's taking a quick little break for a couple of people to take care of some personal business. So if there's ever a time when I can afford to wait, it's now.

Whether or not I possess the self-discipline and patience to wait as long as it takes... THAT is the more complex story.


But yeah, his ebay feedback is pretty legit. I've talked to him on the phone a few times as well. He's a musician himself and is helping me out because he likes to cut other musicians trying to make it a deal.

The thought of a new bass though... that nobody's messed with... it's not a bad one. But I guess $600 for a Tribby is more than I should pay.
 
#12
GroovinOnFunk said:
how do you know if just one coil is bad or if the entire pickup is bad?
Click to expand...

That pickup worked, but the output was really low. If I switched from soloing one to the other, the good pickup was much louder.

My tech put on ohm meter on the leads from the different coils and could tell that one was dead that way. I don't know the actual specs, though.
 
#13
GroovinOnFunk said:
Well, all I can really go by is what the guy says regarding the crack. He's clearly been really honest and up front with me about the entire thing. He says that the crack is only in the finish... He could have just kept the money and sent me a defective bass originally... Now he literally just said "I wouldn't want you to pay for it before getting a chance to check it out." He also said that when he was checking it, both pups worked just fine. He had to leave town and left the bass in the care of his brother, who he believes probably jostled a wire loose.

Truth is I have a gig tomorrow (Saturday) but then nothing again for about a month because my band's taking a quick little break for a couple of people to take care of some personal business. So if there's ever a time when I can afford to wait, it's now.

Whether or not I possess the self-discipline and patience to wait as long as it takes... THAT is the more complex story.


But yeah, his ebay feedback is pretty legit. I've talked to him on the phone a few times as well. He's a musician himself and is helping me out because he likes to cut other musicians trying to make it a deal.

The thought of a new bass though... that nobody's messed with... it's not a bad one. But I guess $600 for a Tribby is more than I should pay.
Click to expand...

Come on. Quit acting like a musician and get your head straight! A $600 USA G&L is a DEAL! An EBAY seller willing to ship to you for approval and evaluation is like unheard of! G&Ls with electronic problems are like NORMAL! What in hell are you waiting for? Only real question is the small "crack" which you can't tell what it is until you look. What have you got to lose? shipping? Did you by any chance happen to notice what NEW USA L-2000s sell for? Nuff said.

My story: Rooting around GC. Find Fretless L-2500 USA. Natch, electronics all messed up. Switches and pots rotating. Some settings dead. etc. $600! I try to get a lower price from clerk. No dice. Basically he implied if you are too dumb to buy this at this price then there will be someone else here in an hour or two who won't be. Yes, he was right. I paid. Electronics as usual all fixable. Oddly enough local guitar store (not GC) actually had a L-2500 used pickup from someplace I bought for a song! Note that I also own an ash body Tribute fretted L-2500. And that is one KILLER bass for the cash. I bought it new for about the same amount as the used USA. But here's the important point. The Trib is killer but the USA blows it right out of the water in all the details! From wood to shielding to fit and finish the USA is very much like a bass that costs what they cost new.

Do you have the picture yet?
 
#15
Just have to be patient as the seller will not be back home until middle of next week. Then he's going to check the wiring and then send me the bass (again, without requiring any payment from me)

At worst, I'll lose the cost of shipping (and even then I can probably get him to cover that). It's probably worth a shot. Can always find a used Tribby.
 
#16
GroovinOnFunk said:
Just have to be patient.
Click to expand...

I think you just nailed it. It sounds to me like you're dealing with a great seller, and as long as you are willing to be patient(which is VERY difficult to do when dealing with basses:smug:), I think everything's going to work out for you. Worst case scenario, is you end up with a Tribby. But it sounds like this work out just fine as long as that crack is nothing.
 
#17
rayzak said:
I think you just nailed it. It sounds to me like you're dealing with a great seller, and as long as you are willing to be patient(which is VERY difficult to do when dealing with basses:smug:), I think everything's going to work out for you. Worst case scenario, is you end up with a Tribby. But it sounds like this work out just fine as long as that crack is nothing.
Click to expand...

I can't help but feel like that crack isn't too deep. The picture makes it look pretty minor.

Patience... patience... patience... AAAAAHHHHH so hard! At least if I had a backup bass... but I have no bass at all right now.

I think that no matter what, I should know what's going on with this bass in about a week. The seller will be returning from traveling in the middle of next week.
 

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