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Fender Jazz Bass Vs G&L L2000

B

bathbassist

May 16, 2010
5
0
#1
hey guys, im in the market for a new bass once again and just wondering which bass you prefer
Fender Jazz or G&L L2000

id probably be in the MIM/Tribute series price range but any input on high end squiers and such would also be appreciated

i dig the growl you can get on the fender but i can also get a pretty decent growl on the G&L so just lookin for imput
 
#2
Obviously it's an apples to oranges comparison. I think it's really hard to say which I prefer. L2000 does so much more however the jazz is more ubiquitous with a classic familiar tone. I say if you want to stick to what is familiar and safe, jazz bass. If you want to get adventurous, L2000.
 
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#4
L2K definitely. either pickup solo'd will give you a decent P-bass, or J-bass bridge pickup sound. both pickups will give you the thunder. I grew up on a MM Sabre, which precede's the L2K which I swear by now. Although I just picked up a lakland jazz bass that is slick, the L2K is my swiss army knife, it has a little something for every gig I have, and is probably the sound most people know me for.
 
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#6
I own an L-2500, and it's simply unreal. I can get soft, gentle Jazz type tone out of it, or I can turn it into a snarling beast with the flip of a switch.

I LOVE my G&L bass. There is a reason why Leo Fender worked at G&L till, literally, the day he died. He took his creation and improved on it right up till the end.

G&L basses and fantastic.
 
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#8
I was looking for the new American Deluxe Jazz... Found one in a store, tested it and I wasn't that impressed. I love when I see some videos on YouTube with a nice J sound, but I don't seem to be able to get these sounds...

When I tried the G&L L2500 on the other hand... It sounded awesome, really aggressive, perfect for me! And then I messed with the pots and switches and was even more impressed by its versatility!

But you should try to play both of them, I think my opinion is a little biased right now :)
 
#9
I'm a Jazz Bass guys to the bone but this weekend I played a US L-2000 and a Tribute L-2000 and L-2500 and I have to admit they were pretty freakin awesome!

When you lean into them at certain settings they have this (what I would call) midrange growl to them that is just amazing and I think would be super cool in a rock setting. They seem versatile that they would work for well for many styles but man, I just can't say enough about that growl. Kind of what I always wanted my Stingray's to sound like.

I hated the string spacing on the L-2500 because it was just to narrow for me but the tone was just amazing. If G&L ever gets around to making a 18-19mm spaced L-2500 then sign me up.
 
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#10
Why not compare a G&L JB or JB-2 to an L2000? The JB-2 is also available in the Tribute series (the JB isn't), but it has better wood, hardware, and pickups at that price than you get from Fender MIM or even MTD Kingston Saratoga.

Personally I even find the JB-2 body (same as L2000 body) more comfortable and balanced than the classic Jazz body.

Go to YouTube and listen to Ed Friedland giving a workout to a Fender American Jazz V, a Carvin SB5000, a G&L Tribute L2000 or L2500 (I forget which), and G&L JB. To get a foot planted in each camp, the G&L JB or JB-2 is attractive--Jazz-type Alnico passive pickups, but with that massive G&L cast bridge that brings a bigger sound with it.

My dream Jaco bass will be a fretless JB-2 in 3-color sunburst. Oh yes.
 
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#13
Another thing to consider is customer service. Just read a post over on BassesByLeo.com about a guy who bought a used L-2500 Tribute that had a stripped truss rod.

He contacted G&L and spoke with Steve Grom (check out his You Tube videos) who sent him a new USA PLEK'd neck complete with tuners for FREE.

See the post here:

http://www.bassesbyleo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=607

Try THAT with Fender.
 
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#14
My personal, albeit very limited experience with both is that the Jazz requires a fair amount of modding and/or outboard processing to get what I consider a marketable contemporary sound... whereas an L2K sound darn near perfect right out of the box. I've never owned either but if I buy another bass it will be a "Tookay".
 
#15
Zombie resurrection!

I just recently owned a G&L L2000 (honeyburst with maple fretboard) for 1.5 years. I truly loved this bass. Once I got the single coil mod done on the L-2000, it was all I ever used. Eventually I got to thinking: "If I love the single coil sound so much, why not get the bass that started it all?"

Yesterday I bout a brand new 2012 AmStandard Fender Jazz bass and I'm in love. I'll never argue that the G&L is not a more versatile bass. But I never needed all that versatility. I never used it in anything other than passive and single coil mode. Only thing I changed was pickup selector and the eq knobs to taste. I will forever be thankful to this bass for showing me the clear differences between the sounds of single-coil, parallel, and series mode pickups. This very versatility was hugely influential in helping to narrow down the sound I'm after.

Result: I had no doubt that I wanted that Fender Jazz bass sound 100% of the time.

That's just me though.
 
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#16
If you don't have a Jazz bass in your arsenal I would say get the Jazz as its a must have bass as far as I'm concerned if you don't have one. While the L2000 are great...I've played lots of them, I would not say they are a must have bass like a Jazz. But it also depends on the music you play....the L2000 are a great rock bass through an ampeg SVT. A great bass to consider over a musicman perhaps....
 
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#17
Heh, these are my main two.

Jazz is significantly lighter and more comfortable to play. But even with Audere preamp, it is still a one-trick pony. A great sounding one, and a natural match for fretless, but still limited.

G&Ls got the big humbucker sound that the Jazz can't even touch, and the switching/EQ is really astounding once you stop looking at it and start listening. But it's HEAVY, and it's a big huge chunky neck. Maybe not the best choice for long gigs.
 
#19
dh13051 said:
L-2000 - no contest.

I have 4 L2Ks & 1 Jazz.
Click to expand...

(Zombie waking thread resurrection)

Sorry, I don't agree. I have 3 G&L L2500s and a Fender Jazz.

The L2500 are awesome basses. Why do you suppose I own three?
(Fretted USA, Fretless USA, and Fretted Tribute Bar bass).

But the truth is that while G&Ls cover an amazing range of tones they really don't nail that old school Fender thing. That simply put takes a REAL Fender. (or possibly one of those G&L Jazz bass copy styles) For old school my Fender simply brings down the house! But if you want to sound a bit more modern, it's G&L all the way. A L2500 speaks with such authority that you can force ANY band to do your will with it. But the Fender drives an old school groove like a hammer.

Hence, as is the TB rule, Obviously you need BOTH!

TB Rule: You can never own too many basses!
 
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#20
famousbirds said:
Heh, these are my main two.

Jazz is significantly lighter and more comfortable to play. But even with Audere preamp, it is still a one-trick pony. A great sounding one, and a natural match for fretless, but still limited.

G&Ls got the big humbucker sound that the Jazz can't even touch, and the switching/EQ is really astounding once you stop looking at it and start listening. But it's HEAVY, and it's a big huge chunky neck. Maybe not the best choice for long gigs.
Click to expand...

I disagree with virtually every claim you make. Way to many generalizations!
 

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