Fender Jazz Bass Vs G&L L2000

[SJan3]

..and you say a Jazz Bass is a 1 trick pony?
A..AAA.....hahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!!!!!¡!
You ARE kidding, RIGHT?

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

..and you say a Jazz Bass is a 1 trick pony?
A..AAA.....hahahahahahaaaaaa!!!!!!!!¡!
You ARE kidding, RIGHT?

I agree! Firstly, L2000 can't come all that close to a jazz tone. I thought it could, then I bought a jazz bass. Very different.

Also, many things on TB are subjective, but calling the fender jazz bass a one trick pony is downright miseducated and wrong.

James Jamerson, John Paul Jones, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorious, Geddy Lee, and Dan Kurtz (bassist for my favorite electronica band, The New Deal) all play the coveted fender jazz bass (just to name a few)... All similar music? No way! Not even close! That's just a small example of it's versatility.

 

[stonewall]

Jazz...but if for some reason later you want G&L tones just add Musicman pickups to your Jazz like G&L did.

 

[Babaghanoush]

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.

My L2000 Tribute is a full pound lighter than my Geddy Lee Jazz.

 

[Warhawk]

I own both. A 2003 U.S. Fender AVRI '62 in 3 tone sunburst and a 2007 G&L L2000 in butterscotch blonde. They are both beautifully built and have a wonderful feel to them while playing. While both are versatile, the G&L does hold an edge as I can almost get too many different sounds out of it.

I can't see how you could go wrong with either but having one of each would be the perfect choice.

 

[SirRolfe]

I own a JB and an L2K. The L2K is indeed very versatile. Lots of pickup options, tone settings, can emulate a jazz pretty well.

That said, I grab the JB most of the time. Not sure why. I just like the sound and feel better. Less knobs to deal with.

To each his own.

 

[fourstringbliss]

Ok I am new here and have a question. I own a G&L2k tribute. What is the big deal about rewiring to get a single coil setting? Is there that big of a difference in tone? The bass stock I believe is very versatile. Our we talking Fender jazz tone with single coil mod?
I also own a Fender HWY1 jazz and P-bass. Is the mod just to make the bass even more versatile.

The single coil mod gives you clear, single-coil sounds which you can't really get from the humbuckers as is. If you go with the outside coils you're approaching J-bass tones, while the inner coils together are like a wide Stingray pup. When I did this mod I chose the inner coils because I think they sound better together and soloed than the outer coils.

I also ditched the preamp, wired in separate series/single/parallel switches for each pickup, and a push/pull volume that allowed me to choose between stock series and the famed "OMG" mode. If you want to do this I can help you with the wiring diagram stuff.

 

[seedvicious]

maybe a bit off topic. but i am also considering buying a gl l2k. was just wondering about the body size and neck playability. is the gl smaller in bodysize? and is the neck as fast as on the fender jazz basses?

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

I agree! Firstly, L2000 can't come all that close to a jazz tone. I thought it could, then I bought a jazz bass. Very different.

Also, many things on TB are subjective, but calling the fender jazz bass a one trick pony is downright miseducated and wrong.

James Jamerson, John Paul Jones, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorious, Geddy Lee, and Dan Kurtz (bassist for my favorite electronica band, The New Deal) all play the coveted fender jazz bass (just to name a few)... All similar music? No way! Not even close! That's just a small example of it's versatility.

Jamerson played a P bass

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

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.

Quite possibly the STRANGEST thing anyone has ever posted on Talkbass

Fender Jazz: A one trick pony ? NO

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

Not Jamerson!

Correct. Someone else already pointed that out just above and that was also 3 years ago.

 

[Oldschool94]

Correct. Someone else already pointed that out just above and that was also 3 years ago.

I saw, thank goodness for the delete function.

 

[organworthyplayer337]

Booomp!

 

[Ghastly]

Yea, good point about customer service. Fender has alot of room for improvement in this area, though I am a fan of their history and product..

 

[LateNightJones]

I agree! Firstly, L2000 can't come all that close to a jazz tone. I thought it could, then I bought a jazz bass. Very different.

Also, many things on TB are subjective, but calling the fender jazz bass a one trick pony is downright miseducated and wrong.

James Jamerson, John Paul Jones, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorious, Geddy Lee, and Dan Kurtz (bassist for my favorite electronica band, The New Deal) all play the coveted fender jazz bass (just to name a few)... All similar music? No way! Not even close! That's just a small example of it's versatility.

I might be wrong.... But doesn't Jamerson play a PBass?.... Just wondering

 

[DirkP]

Had a L2000 for 20+ years, sold it last year. Have 4 Jazzes. Esp. if you are not sure what to get, I would recommend the Jazz.
The L2000 is a beast, hard or not to tame. Definitely not a P and a J and a Musicman in one superbass.

An L2000 always sounds like a L2000, esp. in the mids, those milky-metallic mids with a stuffy nose

I prefer the Ps and Js and Stingrays. But my L2000 was a real beauty, an incredible butterscotch finished beauty. Maybe Louise thought with looks like this she was allowed to be a bit overweight and not to musical...

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

I might be wrong.... But doesn't Jamerson play a PBass?.... Just wondering

Yup... But hey, there's no satisfaction like quoting a 4 year old post (from before they had an "edit" and "delete" option) only to repeat a point made at least 2 other times on this very same page, right?

 

[LateNightJones]

Yup... But hey, there's no satisfaction like quoting a 4 year old post (from before they had an "edit" and "delete" option) only to repeat a point made at least 2 other times on this very same page, right?

Absolutely!

 

[BluesdawgBeck]

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.

G&L was all about George Fullerton and Leo Fender

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, the L2k is really a no brainer unless you can afford a number of single purpose basses. Its just the most versatile bass on the market IMO. With on board active tone controls and amp EQ it can sound like almost anything, including the most common P and J tones. Add in superb QC and basic solid construction, and its hard to beat. Had mine since 1983, have had ZERO problems with it in all those years. Still has its original frets after 33 years, a tank.