Friday Weekly '88-93 G&L L5000 Roundup

[ggvicviper]

Thank you. It was my 51mm bridge width assumption that was wrong, actually.

I have re-measured the distance at the bridge between the E string and the G string - axis to axis, or center to center - on my 1990 ASAT Bass Signature fretless, that is 56.5 mm (same width measured on my 1999 SB-2).
So, the spacing (axis to axis) between each string at the bridge (4 strings, so 3 inter-string spaces) is 56.5 mm / 3 = 18.83 mm, a hair less than 19 mm (this is also the width of one saddle).

I then assume the distance between the B string and the G string on a L-5000 (and L-5500?) bridge is the same as between the E string and the G string on the regular 4-string bridge, i.e. 56.5 mm width for both, axis to axis, or center to center.
Then with 5 strings, we have 4 spaces between the B and the G strings, and with the same bridge width, 56.5 mm / 4 = 14.13 mm spacing, at the bridge...
So 19 x 3 / 4 = 14 mm (rounded).

My 1997 L-2500 Custom has a 68.5 mm string width at the bridge, i.e. 17.13 mm string spacing (= one saddle width).

Ah, you're right. You're calculating spaces between, not strings.

 

[Glazenn]

Ah, you're right. You're calculating spaces between, not strings.

Forgetting my previous posts, instead of measuring the width between the external strings (G and E or G and B), if one considers the total internal width of the 4-string bridge (76 mm = 3.0" approx.) housing 5 narrowed saddles instead of 4 regular 4-string saddles, the spacing at the bridge on a L-5000 should be: 76 mm / 5 = 15.2 mm (3" / 5 = 19/32" approx.).
I do not own a L-5000, so it's only theory. Can anybody with one check it?
Sorry for this continuous off topic intervention, I am just back at progressing in maths (never too late! and it's for the sake of accuracy).

And at last, ggvicviper, I can see and hear you now: Barky Swing - iPhone Recording | TalkBass.com

 

[ggvicviper]

This week's roundup (7/24/2015) - Nothing left but Mexico! GC & CL are gone.

Invalid Link Removed - Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico - *Unknown Green Finish*, Sickle Headstock, Rosewood (HOLDOVER)

 

[Glazenn]

News from the Nashville L-5000 here: Bass find! 1988 G&L L5000 | TalkBass.com

 

[ggvicviper]

This week's roundup (7/31/2015) - Nothing new.

Invalid Link Removed - Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico - *Unknown Green Finish*, Sickle Headstock, Rosewood (HOLDOVER)

 

[ggvicviper]

This week's roundup (8/7/2015) - Nothing new at all. Funny enough, I'm seeing more L-5500s than I've ever seen in my life!

Invalid Link Removed - Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico - *Unknown Green Finish*, Sickle Headstock, Rosewood (HOLDOVER)

 

[Chef]

I've never played a 5500.

 

[ggvicviper]

It's a G&L with EMG pickups stock in the bass. Pretty short lived. I think it's a VVT control config with a wider neck. Definitely closer to the L2500 than it is to the L5000.

 

[Chef]

Never played EMG's either. I think it's vol/blend/treble over bass...maybe

 

[BlushResponse]

Reading this thread is like keeping up with people that are tracking Unicorns. I believe!

 

[ggvicviper]

Reading this thread is like keeping up with people that are tracking Unicorns. I believe!

At least two people on this thread own an L5000, myself being one. No unicorns here, just a rare better-than-P-can-be P!

 

[BlushResponse]

Don't get me wrong, all of your enthusiasm for finding the mythical L5000 is right up there with mine when I was looking for the L1000 that I wanted. Continue.

 

[Stinkoman20xx]

There is a white one on guitar centers website for $799.Its is rated in excellent shape.

 

[TBGFRED]

Yes, I've got an L5K that Marc parted with when thinning his herd ... yep, its definitely a pretty commanding P tone. Ill wait for my family to leave the house and crank up some primitive bassline that I've learned and watch the housecats scramble for cover. I'll pull an open B-string: I see this mental movie scene - a choppy B/W battlefield clip from WWI - some soldier pulls a cord and a heavy artillery piece leaps and dust drifts off from every surface....

I've noticed that TB'ers frequently refer to GnL pickups as among 'the hottest' within their various shape factors. I wonder if Leo was falling into "some was good/more is better" as he grew older and continued tinkering.... I think I could jumpstart my 5.0 Mustang with those GnL MFD pups.

I am a bass learner and I have a couple 'vintage' Peaveys with 'narrow' string spacing. the string-to-string spacing on the L5k does not even draw my attention anymore.

A fella on ebay has been trying to sell two metal pickguards for the L5k forever.... I think his writeup suggests the metal guards might have been templates straight off of Leo's bench. or not.

 

[ggvicviper]

There is a white one on guitar centers website for $799.Its is rated in excellent shape.

That one was purchased by someone on TB. GC didn't update the site.

 

[vroc38]

Not a mark on her and less than 9 pounds!

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[Glazenn]

A fella on ebay has been trying to sell two metal pickguards for the L5k forever.... I think his writeup suggests the metal guards might have been templates straight off of Leo's bench. or not.

I first thought those were metal templates, but why two for less than 400 units? More likely actual pickguards with the plastic coating stripped, so only the aluminum core is seen... Was it originally crinkle black like older neckplates, bridges and electronics cavity covers were?

 

[ggvicviper]

This week's roundup (8/14/2015) - Nothing new at all. Just Mexico still.

Invalid Link Removed - Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico - *Unknown Green Finish*, Sickle Headstock, Rosewood (HOLDOVER)

 

[jazz Bass 74]

Not a mark on her and less than 9 pounds!

View media item 5842

I never noticed the similarities between the later L-5000s and my 1995 L-5500. Other than the different string retainer, the necks look identical.

 

[Glazenn]

Found one, in Japan this time!!!

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