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'82 G&L L2K Setup Problem

GaryLC

GaryLC

Apr 6, 2006
1,825
149
72
Scotia, NY
#1
Hey folks,
I'm having some issues setting up an '82 L2000 I just picked up. As you know, I've had a lot of G&L's, and am pretty good at getting them to where I want them. This arrived with neck off the body, so I slapped her together, put a new set of strings on, had to adjust the truss rod quite a bit. And now I just can't get it "right". The action in the lower half of the neck is good, but it's buzzing from the 12th fret on up. If I raise the action higher to eliminate that buzz, it's too high down below. When I look at the neck, I've got just the right amount of "curve" in it for me, almost straight, just a bit. I have no idea what's going on. Could the micro-tilt adjustment take care of this? That's something I've never messed with on any of my G&L's never had to. This is really frustrating me....
 
#7
Gary;
make sure the microtilt is all off before starting setup. slack the strings some.
loosen the top two neck screws a little. loosen the bottom on a bit more. get in the microtilt with the right allen wrench, and back it all off til it stops. tighten everything back down. this alone may fix your issue.
 
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#8
Gary,

Go to Guitarsbyleo.com and look in the gallery. There is a sheet with setup instructions for L1000 / L2000. follow that and try to get it to spec. Out of all the G&L basses I have set up only one needed a tad bit of microtilt and only a little. Search and you will find warnings about overdoing the microtilt and inducing skijump. This setup document describes adjusting micro tilt on the early basses only after setting everything else to spec.

Important: as Chef said make sure microtilt all the way off before starting. Also, don't overtighten neck screws, just snug.
 
#11
Something that I have experienced when doing setups on an L1k and an L2500, both had a similar buzz as you describe in the op and after much head scratching and sheer annoyance I realized both of them had minor fret sprout, which I later realized was fret movement, so I tapped the fret back back into place and the resultant buzz disappeared.
 
#12
I think this is associated with the microtilt, and I may be screwed. I can't find any allen wrench that "engages" the screw, when you look in the hole with a flashlight, everything is just rounded off. And the screw is protruding quite a bit out of the hole in the neck pocket, looks like it was tightened quite a bit, and maybe stripped out. I tried gently turning it back in from that side, but can't get it to budge.....sigh...
 
#13
GaryLC said:
I think this is associated with the microtilt, and I may be screwed. I can't find any allen wrench that "engages" the screw, when you look in the hole with a flashlight, everything is just rounded off. And the screw is protruding quite a bit out of the hole in the neck pocket, looks like it was tightened quite a bit, and maybe stripped out. I tried gently turning it back in from that side, but can't get it to budge.....sigh...
Click to expand...

Can you grab the protruding screw with vice grips or needle nose pliers and turn it back into the body? you may also have to use a dremel to take off the excess screw if you can't move it and then shim it as necessary.
 
#14
I tried grabbing it with a needlenose and turning it back in, but she won't budge. At this point I'll take it to my tech, I get uncomfortable messing around any further.
I'm just a little peeved, because it was sold to me as great, fast neck, great action. There's no way to set it up decent, I've tried everything.
 
#15
GaryLC said:
I tried grabbing it with a needlenose and turning it back in, but she won't budge. At this point I'll take it to my tech, I get uncomfortable messing around any further.
I'm just a little peeved, because it was sold to me as great, fast neck, great action. There's no way to set it up decent, I've tried everything.
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear it and I hope it all works out for you.

Have you contacted the seller?
 
#16
Oh yes....was just told that he adjusted it himself, that it sounds like I'm just having "buyers remorse" so close to Christmas. I just plugged it in for the first time, and the active mode isn't engaging in either active mode (tried a new battery), and the series/parallel switch is cutting in and out. I can have that taken care of, but again, advertised as everything working fine. And then just getting a smart-aleck remark from the seller....
Well, enough of this, I just feel bad because I've never, ever had a bad experience on TalkBass until now.
 
#18
GaryLC said:
Hey folks,
I'm having some issues setting up an '82 L2000 I just picked up. As you know, I've had a lot of G&L's, and am pretty good at getting them to where I want them. This arrived with neck off the body, so I slapped her together, put a new set of strings on, had to adjust the truss rod quite a bit. And now I just can't get it "right". The action in the lower half of the neck is good, but it's buzzing from the 12th fret on up. If I raise the action higher to eliminate that buzz, it's too high down below. When I look at the neck, I've got just the right amount of "curve" in it for me, almost straight, just a bit. I have no idea what's going on. Could the micro-tilt adjustment take care of this? That's something I've never messed with on any of my G&L's never had to. This is really frustrating me....
Click to expand...

Sounds like the fingerboard isn't completely flat. My L2000 had a slight "ski-jump" in the neck, an area of relief around the 12th fret position that I couldn't dial out with the truss rod. I had the same symptom as you - high action down around the middle of the neck, but I could get it nice and low at the ends (near the nut and at the heel).

Fortunately mine is fretless and I was able to treat it by sanding down the fingerboard at the heel, then grinding down the bridge saddles to get the strings down.

You may have to do something like this on yours, tho if it's fretted the fix may be more invasive. But you can probably diagnose where the humps or dips are by sighting down the neck or with a straight edge...
If it's just a couple low or high frets, you may only need to dress the frets...

LS
 
#19
Just wanted to give everyone an update. I took the bass to my local shop, and it's a new instrument now! They were able to remove the tilt screw, and put in a new one, backed it right off. Did a setup, plays very nice now! I'll have to eventually do a fret job on it, but there's life left. They replaced the output jack, had to repair a couple wiring problems, and electronics are fine now.
$75 later, and it's the way it should have been! I want to give a shout out to Parkway Music, in Clifton Park, NY. These guys are great, both as a store, and as competent amp & guitar techs.
Now I have a nice Hog! Wait a minute, that didn't sound right, did it...
 

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