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Fender vs. G&L

#21
I have a 2014 American Standard Fender P. I love the weight, tone and simplicity of it. I don't suffer neck dive, though I really don't think that would be an issue for me maybe since I'm of a larger size. I have no GAS for any bass, my GAS is amps, a tone chaser I am. That being said if I was going to get another bass my first choice would be a G&L. I am intrigued by then for their historical significance in our bass world. I see a lot of pro's playing them. I have not played one but definitely want to, I have no doubt they play very well. jmho.
 
#22
There is a G&L distributor in driving distance of me. Offers special ordering as well. I really wanted to like G&L. I tried the L-2000, L-2500, SB-1, 4 and 5 string. JB-2, tribute and American (really that many?). The American Standard Jazz I found at GC took the prize and we are very happy together.
 
#23
Ive owned 3 G&L Tribute L-2500's and every one of them easily equaled and or surpassed any US Fender bass Ive played / seen. They are totally awesome instruments. Not sure what G&L's doing regarding QC but they got it right. I think the pickups are US made, not sure though. Seems like you never hear of any bad ones / lemons either.
 
#27
I like the 3 tuners then flip to the two on the other side of the headstock... totally sick. Their styling is cool... no pickguard. not to mention the tonal possibilities and the super bitey pickups / if that's a word.
 
#28
Not sure how many know of this: There is a custom G&L bass/guitar configurator where one can go through near endless options and finishes before you order your G&L. You can find it here. Thought I'd share this just in case it wasn't common knowledge.
 
#29
I just play once with a G&L bass, in Atlanta. I was looking by one Fender and the guy in the store shows to me that G&L. I really don't liked, it was some like a Ibanez - sounded artificial to me, I not felt confident with that, I don't know exactly why, but maybe today my understanding could be different, not problem with that... In that times I was using a Cort Curbow and was looking for some more "traditional" and at the end I bought a Jazz Bass, Marcus Miller model crafted in Japan. No big problems, but after some time playing with that bass I had some ergonomics issues with my backs and made a negotiation here by one Peavey Cirrus, Rudy Sarzo model - the other side of the road, but much more ergonomic for me and more aligned to the sound I use to play. So, not problems and not ready receipts, go out and try what you want, what matches with you and be focused in your playing... Humm, I was forgetting to say that I use a Fender Precision too, where I replaced the original electronics by EMG pickups and a pre amp used by Trevor Bolder and made in Brazil - amazing sound, but not so ergonomic as my Sarzo is. But the sound is better, this Precision is my choice for recording sessions in the future.
 
#30
I love my Fenders but G&L’s are very well made basses. I have two American Fender P basses and I just ordered a G&L MJ-4. I didn’t care for the Fender American Deluxe models. The G&L I have owned in the past are an SB-1 and a Tribute L2000. Both amazing basses wish I still had the SB-1.
 
#31
az_bassist said:
I'm seriously considering the LB-100. Does anybody have any experience with these?
Click to expand...

I LOVE my LB-100. I tried a Carvin PB & it 2 of em sucked. I tried a duck dunn & it was a bit too warm. I wanted the right color, the right new, some bling for the pickguard & bam. its been money. I needed the jazz neck otherwise I'd have NO problem with a MIA Standard Fender. Have a jazz & its awesome
 
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#32
To the OP: I have owned a number of vintage and contemporary "P Bass" iterations. The G&L LB-100 is the finest in terms of fit, finish and playability. It has a tad more "bite" than any Fender I have owned, but there is a good amount of "thump" to be heard and felt as well. The various G&L SB-1s I have owned are quite a bit more assertive and render a different tone than the alnico equipped LB-100.
Get either of the G&Ls and it should provide you a satisfying alternative to the Fender. Perhaps better, perhaps not - but the fun will be in the trying.

James
 
#33
VerryBerry said:
Not sure how many know of this: There is a custom G&L bass/guitar configurator where one can go through near endless options and finishes before you order your G&L. You can find it here. Thought I'd share this just in case it wasn't common knowledge.
Click to expand...
That G&L bass builder is the coolest tool. Its crazy all the makers lack that tool on their sites. I say "all" but I guess I don't know that for sure but I have yet to see anything like that.
 
#35
G & L Wish.jpg
Yeah really. Just built this.
 
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#38
Fender and Music Man loyalist here. Bought a G&L SB-1, L2000 and ASAT after reading all of the great reviews. Did not like either one. Quality was below my expectations and I didn't care for them. Needless to say, it ended up being a very expensive trial.
 
#39
I've played Fender basses since I got my first '68 P-bass back in 1972. (Still got it.) P's and J's, I've played a lot of 'em, and still do in public on occasion. That said, though, I'm in love with G&L's instruments—in particular a Tribute GTB M2000 that's getting a lot of miles out of me of late. It's a knockout tonally and visually and great under the hands. Front men in blues settings keep turning around and commenting on the tone of the GTB (more than any other bass I've played it seems to me), and I've recently played a musical theatre run with it. I've been so impressed with this particular Tribute bass that my US L2000 isn't getting much time—and I'm about to order a new US M2500. There's a refinement to G&L's L and M series designs and craftsmanship that, once combined with that MFD pickup bite, I find them irresistable—especially at their price points.
 
#40
I think overall you get an overall better instrument with G&L simply because you don't pay the mojo/label tax. I'm a Fender fan, but I once owned an L2K (one of 2 basses I regret selling) and can only comment on it. The L2K is a masterpiece, and probably Leo's best (well, maybe second best) creation in terms of technical achievement (I still say the split P pickup, at the time it was created, was simply a stroke of pure genius).

The L2K has it's own voice, but is also a Swiss Army knife of bass tone. Does it sound "exactly" like a P, jazz, or Ray? No, but close enough that the audience really won't know the difference. The construction quality is as good as Fender, if not better.

G&L also has more finishes and neck options. I have played an SB-2 once, and it was excellent. The JB and LB models get a lot of love here on TB, but I've never seen one. And that's probably what this boils down to- just about every guitar store carries Fender, not so many carry G&L.

All that said, the Fender Precision and Jazz basses are still the industry standard, and with good reason. They are reliable, versatile (not L2K versatile, but versatile enough), and just get the job done right. In a world where history and certain aesthetics don't matter and both companies had equal production facilities and marketing, G&L would probably drive Fender out of business. But that's not our reality.
 

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