Fender fans who turned G&L

[kmon]

I've owned many G&Ls and haven't experienced the quality issues mentioned above. Also haven't really noticed that they were significantly heavier than most other basses.

Like lots of manufacturers, G&L makes lots of nice Fender clones. If you want a really nice P or J, G&L is a great option. Bring it home, plug, and play.

Where G&L distinguishes IMO itself is in their MFD pickups, and the most well known bass model sporting them is the L2K. For me the L2K has become a standard part of the stable for years, and I have mine modded so that I can play with single coils, creating a tone very similar to a jazz bass(I also use other settings). Love it.

The standard knock on the MFDs is that they're too hot, but they're specifically designed to be high output. Volume and gain can be turned down, but I've seen rants that seem to originate from the expectation that an L2K is as plug-and-play as a P bass(and it can be)...but often times it's not. You can get far more tones out of an L2K...I'd even argue that the oft-dismissed pre-amp can be quite useful, but you need to be prepared to possibly dial it in a bit. Some folks, including me, will turn down their bass volume down a little bit with MFDs...but I've also found wide open MFDs to absolutely rock in a mix. Just depends on the situation...

I never turned to G&L in the sense of bailing on Fender, but I've certainly come to view US G&Ls as equal to the other high end basses that are of the Leo lineage. Their traditional Ps and Js are great. If you want to experience something unique and innnovative, I'd suggest an L2K or one of the other MFD models...and the Tributes have the exact same pickups as the USA models IIRC, so that can be done without breaking the bank.

 

[TomB]

I tried to replace my ‘63 Jazz in 1979. ...couldn’t find a new Fender I liked anywhere, after trying a dozen or so. I discovered an L1000, a brand new Leo product, in 1980 and I bought it immediately. I still have both basses. The G&L gets the action.

 

[Wolfhound32]

Fender was my go-to company for years, and I still enjoy most of what they build-- especially the amps

Got turned on to G&L back in the mid 90s and was floored by the feel & sound, though they looked kind of goofy I thought back then (always liked the L2K though). Some of the main advantages to G&L are the available options, and ability to have a more direct connection with the company as it's a fraction of Fender's size.

Still, my all-time favorite bass is an L2000 with the "K-wiring" mod which (from the factory in my case) adds a single-coil option to the pickup selector. This model provides the following choices:
- All passive
- All active
- Active with treble boost
- Neck humbucker
- Neck single-coil
- Neck & bridge humbucker together
- Neck & bridge in single-coil mode
- Bridge humbucker
- Bridge single-coil
- Series (bass boost)/parallel (bass cut) option
*Volume/treble/bass

Mine has a 1.5" flamed maple neck (no charge) with my favorite "blue-burst" finish that features a dark shade of purple instead of black in the burst.

In terms of sound, it does the best P-bass & J-bass tones I've heard in my 30+ years of playing. In humbucker mode, she has her own sound-- I guess you could say like a really fat Stingray. Some people complain about the MFD pickups being too hot; they must have forgotten there's a volume knob there next to the switches... LOL!

Naturally sound & tone are subjective, so you're best off getting your hands on one for a test drive. Your profile reads "So Cal," so I bet if you search the web, you'll find several dealers who carry the legendary L2K Heck, the factory (which has recently built a jam room) is just a few blocks from Angel stadium

 

[Wolfhound32]

Forgot to add this:

From years of buying/selling/trading, I've learned that if you want a Fender buy a Fender. Even though several companies build better playing/sounding/looking alternatives to each of Fender's models they are never going to be Fender. There will be that little voice in the back of your head still wondering about the Fender.

That holds true for any company/model. If you're jonesing for a... Gibson, buy the Gibson. After many years of going though this myself I've discovered what's important to me and no longer have that voice telling me, "you should have kept that Rickenbacker!... You need to replace it..." Nope. No longer. And boy did I spend a lot of money getting here LOL!

Enjoy the search~

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Fender was my go-to company for years, and I still enjoy most of what they build-- especially the amps

Got turned on to G&L back in the mid 90s and was floored by the feel & sound, though they looked kind of goofy I thought back then (always liked the L2K though). Some of the main advantages to G&L are the available options, and ability to have a more direct connection with the company as it's a fraction of Fender's size.

Still, my all-time favorite bass is an L2000 with the "K-wiring" mod which (from the factory in my case) adds a single-coil option to the pickup selector. This model provides the following choices:
- All passive
- All active
- Active with treble boost
- Neck humbucker
- Neck single-coil
- Neck & bridge humbucker together
- Neck & bridge in single-coil mode
- Bridge humbucker
- Bridge single-coil
- Series (bass boost)/parallel (bass cut) option
*Volume/treble/bass

Mine has a 1.5" flamed maple neck (no charge) with my favorite "blue-burst" finish that features a dark shade of purple instead of black in the burst.

In terms of sound, it does the best P-bass & J-bass tones I've heard in my 30+ years of playing. In humbucker mode, she has her own sound-- I guess you could say like a really fat Stingray. Some people complain about the MFD pickups being too hot; they must have forgotten there's a volume knob there next to the switches... LOL!

Naturally sound & tone are subjective, so you're best off getting your hands on one for a test drive. Your profile reads "So Cal," so I bet if you search the web, you'll find several dealers who carry the legendary L2K Heck, the factory (which has recently built a jam room) is just a few blocks from Angel stadium

View attachment 3975227

My ‘96 came wired as Series Coil Tap (with capacitor) and Parallel. I added a 4th switch to change inner/outer coils on the OMG coil tap, as well as a push/pull volume pot for straight Series.
Mine is in Blueburst as well, but the burst is black, but the backside is all black but has a purple tone to it in sunlight. Crazy paint job for sure. And mine has a 4-piece flamed maple neck.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

I'd say I'm a Leo Fender fan generally - Fender, Music Man, G&L all come under the same umbrella for me, in a way. I've had various Fenders, Stingrays/Sterlings, and an L2000 (Tribute), and liked them all. Every one of them had pluses and minuses, but none were bad instruments. A few were amazing.

Now, I've made the move to short scale, and a shortie Stingray & a Mustang PJ are doing a great job ticking those Leo boxes for me. Both wonderful basses in their price range. Now, I'd really like to add a Tribby Fallout to them to complete the trifecta of Leo companies.

My big concern, based on past experience, is weight. I've seen some listed at nearly 10lb - for a short scale 4 string that's just too much. I've also heard a lot about worse QC recently, while I'm sure it's rare, I'd like to try one in person before buying. I don't think that'll happen anytime soon, sadly.

I really like the MFD pickups. I prefer them passive, but even in aggressive music, they have all the punch I could ever need.

 

[Relsom]

I was a G&L ('81) guy long before owning my first Fender, and Music Man ('78) before that.

 

[Wolfhound32]

Exactly the opposite for me.

Started with a Music Man Stingray, and then G&L L-2000...then much later on (20 years), "found" the Fender Precision. For me, the P is where it's at in the end. It's cosmetically and tonally perfect, without having to mess with anything beyond basic setup...

Since you mention the Stingray, have you tried the "Old Smoothie" model? To my ears, it sounds more like a killer P-bass than a Stingray. What I love about mine is it's simplicity-- just plug & play

 

[2F/2F]

Since you mention the Stingray, have you tried the "Old Smoothie" model? To my ears, it sounds more like a killer P-bass than a Stingray. What I love about mine is it's simplicity-- just plug & play

The green one is on my list. I will own one some day. Just have to wait for the right one at the right price to come along.

I do wish it was a more dead-accurate repro. Not a fan of the looks of the modern neck plate and truss rod nut.

 

[Wolfhound32]

My ‘96 came wired as Series Coil Tap (with capacitor) and Parallel. I added a 4th switch to change inner/outer coils on the OMG coil tap, as well as a push/pull volume pot for straight Series.
Mine is in Blueburst as well, but the burst is black, but the backside is all black but has a purple tone to it in sunlight. Crazy paint job for sure. And mine has a 4-piece flamed maple neck.
View attachment 3975253
View attachment 3975265
View attachment 3975260

AND it has binding-- love it!

 

[Doug Parent]

Been playing Fender Jazz on and off since 1976. Had a G&L L1000 in the early 80's but still had the Fender sound locked in my head. Fast forward about 40 years and I more or less stumbled upon a used M2500 for a reasonable price. Tried it on a few gigs and got hooked on how the G&L just owned it, just cut through and had such punch and authority. Word of advice loosen up your expectations of what a bass guitar should sound like and just open your mind up and see what the G&L can do in the mix on the bandstand. That patented bridge with the tongue that fits inside the body really does some magic, the notes have real power. Cut the mids and boost the treble and bass and the M2500 is a funk machine deluxe.

 

[SJan3]

Yes, so sad for the family. They are moving on and doing the subsequent instruments very well by Mike.

Sorry for the thread derail, ya’ll. Certainly no disrespect intended.

Carry on....

Totally understood.

 

[Wolfhound32]

I really have been interested in g&l's too, but have never had one, just hate that dang'd headstock, want to sand that hook into a fender shape, lol

You might like what G&L is doing with its "CLF" models: CLF Research L-1000 These are a nod to the pre-hook versions.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I still love my Fenders, but I also really like the G&L line as well. My goto these days is my SB-2T and my primary backup is my Fender Precision Special. I also have an LB-100, but I don't like it as much as the P.

 

[Nedmundo]

I played Fenders almost exclusively for a few years, and my 2003 Jazz, 2004 Precision, and 2008 Jazz V were all main players at various times. I had a few other Fender basses and also bought a couple of Strats in this era, so I qualified as a Fender fanboy.

I bought my first G&L in 2006 (an L-1500), and for awhile I had just that one G&L and three or four Fenders. But now I have just one Fender bass and four USA G&Ls: SB-2 (2007); JB (2010); M-2500 (2013); and JB-5 (approx. 2017). The 2003 Jazz is my only remaining Fender bass. (On the guitar side, I've added a G&L Comanche, and one of my Strats is for sale.)

So I definitely qualify. I've switched to G&L largely because of the superior playability (for me) from flatter 12" radius fretboards (9.5" standard on most basses since 2015) and Plek-leveled frets, but also the monstrous MFD pickups in the SB-2 and M-2500, and the bridges that are so great for palm-muting with a pick. I also love G&L's spectacular finishes and the huge range of options for special orders.

The SB-2 took a wrecking ball to my arsenal in 2007, kicking no less than three excellent basses out of the herd. First to go was actually the L-1500, because the SB-2 gave me all the MFD aggression with the plug-and-play goodness of a P-bass. The excellent 2004 Precision and a fantastic 2003 DiPinto Belvedere were next. The G&L did the deep and heavy thing as well as the DiPinto but with superior ergonomics, and I soon realized I'd never play the Fender with the SB-2 around, mostly because of the G&L's wonderful J neck with 12" radius fretboard.

Next I bought the 2010 JB, which was a custom order. It's spectacular, and has become my favorite four-string stage bass. My 2003 Jazz is outstanding, but I have a slight preference for the G&L's neck, and I prefer the G&L's lightweight tuners on stage.

Then, in early 2014, I signed on for a musical theater project that required a five. I started with my 2008 Jazz V, but soon realized I wanted better playability like my SB-2 and JB. So I bought the M-2500, and almost immediately realized the Jazz V would soon be out the door. I preferred the G&L's flatter fretboard and narrower string spacing, and the tone is phenomenal. I never thought I'd like an active bass so much, but it's probably my number one bass overall.

I love five-string J-basses though, hence the JB-5 I bought used last year. I prefer it to the Jazz V, but my JB-5 has the standard 9.5" radius, and I've developed such a strong preference for flatter fretboards that I don't think I'll keep it much longer. It's a great bass though, and I might just get another JB-5 built to my specs.

I still love my 2003 Jazz, which is a keeper for the duration, but I haven't played it (or any other Fender) on stage since 2010.

 

[ghunter]

I started with a Fender Precision in the 80's, moved to a StingRay in the 90's, then I moved to an L-2000. My favorite basses right now are my CLF Research L-2000 and '80's SB-2, and I also have a modern L-2000 and M-2000 and a few of their six-string guitars. I've been tempted by some of the newer Fenders but they just seem limited compared to the L-2000, and Sterling Ball's egotistical antics on their forum put me off that brand years ago.

Right now I just don't think you can beat G&L for the quality at that price point, especially used. The quality of most G&L US models is comparable to (and sometimes better than) the high-end Fenders, and head and shoulders above their standard US models.

The L-2000 is a frequently misunderstood beast, there was a great thread here a few weeks ago about how to get different tones out of it that I'd advise you read. It's definitely not a simple bass and needs a little tweaking to get the right tone(s). However, when you do dial it in for you it's absolutely superb. There's the core Fender sound, but you can adjust that to be fuller, richer, sharper, whatever you want.

I really like the SB-2 (P/J config with MFD pickups) for its simplicity, when you really just want that classic tone.

So yeah, G&L won me over and then some.

 

[2cooltoolz]

I really love G&L's custom vibe. I've never ordered one from them, but I've owned several and among their upper line, they're each pretty unique.

My two main basses are a Fender 5 string PJ and a G&L L2500. I prefer the feel of the G&L. 1.75 nut width (5 string!) to 17mm spacing at the bridge
vs 1.875 nut to 18mm bridge. Doesn't seem like much but makes a difference to me. This has pushed the G&L to #1 in my lineup.

In spite of what many say, I don't believe you can make an L-model sound like a P. You can get into the territory, but not the same. With the K-mod, you can get very close to J. The G&L is widely versatile, though, but I've long given up trying to match other basses. I mostly use it passive, but sometimes I like to kick in the pre for that extra oomph. I generally range 40-60% on the volume and tone controls. They can become overbearing in active.

All of this said, I will never not own a Precision bass, but I will never sell this G&L.

 

[Low Down Brown]

I was a die hard Fender fan for years. Now, both of my main gig basses are G&L - an alder Tobacco Sunburst M-2500 and a swamp ash LB-100.

I never played a Precision that I liked. I just couldn't find one that played and sounded that great to me. The LB-100 was a game changer. I finally understood the beauty of the P-style bass. And the M-2500...it's just a BEAST! The MFD pickups paired with that preamp make it such a versatile bass. A little tweaking goes a long way.

 

[deirdresm]

I've decided on two things:

1. 30" is my jam. Not being a sports fan and one who dislikes stripes on my basses unless it's a hella lot of really bright stripes, that means the G&L offerings in that scale length are eww to me.

2. I want a Bass VI-ish bass. I keep going back and forth about what exactly I want (because, let's put it this way, I'm so *not into* black or brown that I literally do not have black or brown *shoes*, so the current Squier offerings also don't appeal for this reason either). So G&L has nothing for me in this segment of the market.

You can see my current Hofner in my profile, and I have a teal burst Fender Player HSS Strat that's super pretty but heavy AF. Dear lord, I'd need weightlifting to gig with that (not actually kidding after COVID). Considering going Eastwood TB64 once the Fiesta Red comes out even though I'd rather not get another red. Also considered building a Warmoth Bass VI even though I'm not all that crazy about the body shape.

 

[deirdresm]

I've decided on two things:

1. 30" is my jam. Not being a sports fan and one who dislikes stripes on my basses unless it's a hella lot of really bright stripes, that means the G&L offerings in that scale length are eww to me.

2. I want a Bass VI-ish bass. I keep going back and forth about what exactly I want (because, let's put it this way, I'm so *not into* black or brown that I literally do not have black or brown *shoes*, so the current Squier offerings also don't appeal for this reason either). So G&L has nothing for me in this segment of the market.

You can see my current Hofner in my profile, and I have a teal burst Fender Player HSS Strat that's super pretty but heavy AF. Dear lord, I'd need weightlifting to gig with that (not actually kidding after COVID). Considering going Eastwood TB64 once the Fiesta Red comes out even though I'd rather not get another red.