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L2500 potential buy...but has truss rod damage

E

eastcoasteddie

Guest
Mar 24, 2006
8,757
12,584
#1
I stopped by a local store and spotted a used USA L2500 in pretty good shape overall...BUT here's the hitch.

It has truss rod damage. It looks like the truss rod bullet that normally sticks out at the headstock is gone (well, my L2500 has a bullet, not sure about the newer ones...if it's recessed in the hole or not), and the previous owner (butcher) tried to use some other tool to adjust the rod. Looking down into the hole where the rod is, you can see the rod with damage and there's a small chunk of wood missing between the hole and the nut.
Here are bad cell phone pictures:

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One of the salesmen told me that there's a small piece that needs to be replaces (the bullet?) and it's quite easy to do, and the part is inexpensive. Hesaid he's seen this before on G&L's sine this piece usially breaks if you use the wrong size allen wrench.

So my question is...is this fixable? is it as easy as he says? Or is the only way to fix it is to buy a new neck?

Price? about as much as a used Tribute model in A+ condition. I'm pretty sure the price can be lowered if I talk to a manager about the damage and cost of repair.

I sent an e-mail to G&L with these photos, asking the same repair questions. We'll see what they say (if at all).

I'm guessing the body is Alder since it has a solid standard finish (Emerald or Electric Blue? it looks too dark for Lake Placid Blue). I'm also guessing that it is a Late '97 or '98 model judging by the CL06476 serial number. Not CLFXXX, which may I think started in '99. My '97 (actual build date is '96) has the BXXXXXX serial number.

I'm kind of in the market for another 5-string to use and abuse every day. I don't want an SX, and I don't want to spend $2000.

Is this worth it, or should I steer clear because it'll probably end up costing over a grand?
 
#2
eastcoasteddie said:
I stopped by a local store and spotted a used USA L2500 in pretty good shape overall...BUT here's the hitch.

It has truss rod damage.
Click to expand...

A couple things come to mind:

1. Go in with a proper allen wrench for that bass, which should be 1/8". Ask to loosen the strings. If you can get the wrench to engage the nut and you can loosen it (don't try to tighten it - even if you can loosen it), then negotiate a price. You can but a new nut from G&L later.

2. Negotiate a way to have a qualified tech or luthier inspect the bass. If that works, proceed based on the recommendation of the inspector.

Failing either of those, run away. It'll be way expensive to have G&L make a new neck. A used neck from a private party is always a possibility, but that bass is from the hand fitted era and a match will be tough to find.

Ken...
 
#3
from the looks of it, I don't think you can adjust the truss rod any more. The allen wrench hole is destroyed. The price tag even says "truss rod no longer adjusts".

I believe it would DEFINITELY need a good inspection by a tech.
 
#4
From others experience around here it tends to sound like replacement necks are about as easy to get as a condor egg omelette, and cost almost as much as a new tribute.

If it can't be fixed and there is no warranty......

Run Away!!
 
#5
eastcoasteddie said:
from the looks of it, I don't think you can adjust the truss rod any more. The allen wrench hole is destroyed. The price tag even says "truss rod no longer adjusts".

I believe it would DEFINITELY need a good inspection by a tech.
Click to expand...

No, really. You desperately need to just run away. This one will be a hole in your pocket like that last psycho girlfriend that we've all had.

For the money you'd soak into it, you could buy another USA bass in good shape. Look at that price tag as a red flag screaming at you to run away.

Hell, a psycho girlfriend might be a better value!

Ken...
 
#6
So, "One of the salesmen told me that there's a small piece that needs to be replaces (the bullet?) and it's quite easy to do, and the part is inexpensive." If this were really the case, they most likey would fix it themselves and sell the bass as a full working model. I suspect...Shenanigans! :eek:
 
#7
The salesman has clearly not dealt with G&L's- 'easy to fix, inexpensive'? Inexperienced asshat, I say.

Eddie, I've been down that road with a pooched G&L truss rod. IF you can find a tech who is both competent ( most are) and willing to take on the job (most won't), you can expect to pay for a new truss rod, a new fingerboard, a full fret job, and possibly re-finishing of the headstock. And the tech will HATE you- here's why

Pull the frets
Remove the old fingerboard- a 48"bench belt sander with a 30-grit belt will do this in about 10 minutes
Chisel out the truss rod- remember, because of the bi-cut neck construction, the rod is embedded into the wood, and has to be dug out
Clean up the newly dug trench, and cut to fit the new rod
Install new rod, and install/ clamp new fingerboard
Trim fingerboard ends, install frets, level, crown, new nut, set up
If the finish on the headstock is marred, clean up/ touch up
String 'er up and go.

It's just that easy! YEAH, RIGHT! :spit::spit::spit:

The job cost me $400, + a 24 pack of Okanagan Springs Pale Ale (great beer!), and any and all favors I had were officially used up.


Run.
 
#8
Q: What's the difference between a used bass salesman and a used car salesman.
A: You can expect the used car sales man, at least, knows how to drive.

I have had guitar salesmen try to sell adjust the tone on a G&L when they did not know what the knobs and switches do... I sure as heck would not trust them about the truss rod. I thought it was really ironic that they have the bass up on the wall surrounded by Monster Cables--that are notorious jack destroyers. Ha!

Here's the type of offer I would make. First, I'd go to the Warmoth site. I'd get a price for a low end body and neck. Add them. Then I'd subtract that cost from the cost of a Trib L2K. The remainder is what I'd offer him. There are lots of us that would love to have the hardware and electronics, but pretty much none of us wants that neck...and maybe no one wants that bod either.
 
#10
The only way to get one from G&L is to send it in, prepare for a long wait and a bill. Contact G&L customer service, and see what they say. Be persistent.

Another alternative is to get a Moses Graphite neck and have a tech do the install- or, send it to Steve at Moses. Or...



............nah.

Run.
 
#14
eastcoasteddie said:
I walked away yesterday....and won't be coming back....
Click to expand...

Smart move. Really, I know that it's sometimes hard to pass on a cool looking axe, but this is a situation where you're jusy buying somebody else's expensive problem. You are FAR better off for taking the advice of the very learned folks like Ken and Templar and El Tookay.


Ken Baker said:
Hell, a psycho girlfriend might be a better value!
Click to expand...

Heh...but a boogered L-2500 doesn't come to your door at 3am begging you to sleep with them just one more time, for old times sake. And then throws a brick though your window when she finds out you've got someone else there that night.....someone cuter than her.
 
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