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Anyone else notice this behavior?

Discussion in 'G&L Bass Forum' started by quickervicar, Jan 12, 2009.

  1. Jan 12, 2009 #1
    quickervicar

    quickervicar Supporting Member

    Jul 21, 2006
    Lancaster, PA
    I love my G&Ls, but one thing I've noticed with all of them: they are very dependent on string life. The tone is great for several weeks, then tapers off for awhile like strings normally do. But the strange thing about G&Ls is that one day they will sound decent with old strings, but the next day I can't get a sound out of them that I like. It's as if they drop off the tone plateau into a muddy abyss. No other bass that I've owned has been more sensitive to string condition. At least there's an easy solution.
     
  2. Jan 12, 2009 #2
    Temcat

    Temcat

    Feb 16, 2007
    Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
    G&Ls are very honest basses :)
     
  3. Jan 12, 2009 #3
    quickervicar

    quickervicar Supporting Member

    Jul 21, 2006
    Lancaster, PA
    Agreed. I've just never had a bass that would go from good to unusable overnight. I don't think it's a shortcoming, just a quirk.
     
  4. Jan 12, 2009 #4
    unclejane

    unclejane Guest

    Jul 23, 2008
    I've actually noticed the opposite on mine. I set both my L2000 and L2500 up with rounds originally, my 2000 took literally over a _year_ with those strings to calm down to the point I liked the sound. My L2500 simply wouldn't quiet down at all no matter how much I played it, sweated on the strings, etc.

    I switched to flats, partly because the rounds were ripping up my fingerboards, but also to try to deaden them up. Success.....

    But yes in general the G&L has a very hot and bright sound so if your strings are still alive they'll really accentuate it.

    I've found flats only give the "zing" for a day or two and then they're dead....

    LS
     
  5. Jan 12, 2009 #5
    quickervicar

    quickervicar Supporting Member

    Jul 21, 2006
    Lancaster, PA
    My tone is all about hot & bright--usually.
     
  6. Jan 23, 2009 #6
    no4mk1

    no4mk1

    Feb 21, 2003
    Seattle, WA
    Yeah... Depends on the tone you're looking for, but it also depends on your strings.

    I've never changed out the TI powerbass on my fretless L2.5k... They just keep on going... Granted, with a fretless you aren't wearing them down on the fret points, but still, I rarely changed them out on my fretted L2K.

    Cheers,
    Chris
     
  7. Jan 23, 2009 #7
    Derek_L

    Derek_L Guest

    Jun 28, 2008
    Gold Coast, Queensland, Au
    Deffinatly - and strings in Australia aren't cheap either =(.
     
  8. Jan 23, 2009 #8
    Madcity Fats

    Madcity Fats Supporting Member

    May 28, 2008
    Madison, Wisconsin
    That's what I'd guess. For me, with new strings those MFDs are almost too wild. I find myself dialing back the treble on my amp (and bass, unless it's an SB-2) until some of the zing goes away.

    Personally, I like my strings broken in a bit. Maybe not James Jamerson broken in, but a little bit of sweat, gunk and funk does the trick for me.
     
  9. Jan 23, 2009 #9
    ac11367

    ac11367

    Apr 26, 2007
    Flushing, NY
    I think the same sensitivity level G&L pickups have on accentuating your picking style also applies to accentuating string conditions. They are indeed very honest basses.