G&L 1505

[bassplayer1494]

I've been playing a used one at GC for the past week and I'm in love!! Nails the stingray tone, can get close to a pbass thumb, and the electronics are phenomenal! Love the passive tone in it! Neck is really nice and stable. And switching from my 4 string to this 5 string is fairly easy!

Not too much about this bass on here. I really think its great. Hopefully I can get approved for a GC credit card and add this bad boy to my arsenal!!

Do any of you guys own this bass or have owned it in the past? I'd like to your experiences with it so I can see what I'm getting myself into! xD

 

[ggvicviper]

I owned one. The tone was huge, and I agree it was very 'Ray-ish. It was a very hot bass to boot.

I got rid of it because of some electronics issues that I had when I bought the bass a year prior. The bass played really well and sounded good otherwise. I say go for it if you like it!

 

[chunkstyle]

Killer bass. There's also some very simple modifications that can be done to tame that active "sizzle". To me, it can cop a Ray-type tone, but it will never be confused for a Ray. Its tone will also never be confused for a P-bass. However, the way it sits in a live mix, it's very comparable to both of those basses.

I've been playing my L-1500 a lot lately. Love it.

 

[GeorgeBerlin]

I find the L1500 is currently the best sounding bass from G&L and if I was looking for fretted 5er a L1505 would be a serious candidate.

Like many G&L users, I ditched the preamp of my L1500 (plus I re-used the switch for more pickup/sound configurations).

 

[bassplayer1494]

Now are the mods really necessary? I like how it sounds now I think it sounds great and the highs really aren't too sizzly in active mode. Really good answers guys I appreciate the feedback.

 

[AGH]

No mods necessary to make your L1500 sound great. Can I make a suggestion? Are there any L2500 G&L's around for you to try? The neck pickup adds to your tonal choices.

 

[ggvicviper]

Now are the mods really necessary? I like how it sounds now I think it sounds great and the highs really aren't too sizzly in active mode. Really good answers guys I appreciate the feedback.

No mods necessary. Even can push into series mode to get a little P-ish sound to tame the upper mids if they're not to your liking. It's actually quite a versatile instrument for the one pickup!

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I had a fretless 1505. I do not think it sounded very Stingray like. I do think it sounded great passive.

 

[Gries Amps]

It's a great bass. For some reason they don't get much attention. Mine stays in passive mode with the pickup in parallel. Flatwounds.

 

[bassplayer1494]

I had a fretless 1505. I do not think it sounded very Stingray like. I do think it sounded great passive.

IMO I think it comes close to the stingray tone but its not exact..
Btw the fretless version sounds wicked!! How did it sound in a mix?

 

[bassplayer1494]

No mods necessary to make your L1500 sound great. Can I make a suggestion? Are there any L2500 G&L's around for you to try? The neck pickup adds to your tonal choices.

I haven't seen one but I'll keep an eye open.

I heard that the bridge pup on an L2500 is a little closer to the bridge than on the 1500 series which makes it sound more jazz bass-ish. Not that It's a bad thing but I'd rather add a neck pup to a 1505 so I can have that stingray type growl.

 

[bassplayer1494]

It's a great bass. For some reason they don't get much attention. Mine stays in passive mode with the pickup in parallel. Flatwounds.

That sounds like a killer combo! I played it again today and was very happy with the passive/parallel combo. Really full sounding and great growl with a little treble added

 

[Gries Amps]

I heard that the bridge pup on an L2500 is a little closer to the bridge than on the 1500 series which makes it sound more jazz bass-ish. Not that It's a bad thing but I'd rather add a neck pup to a 1505 so I can have that stingray type growl.

I also have an L2500. You're correct about the placement & sound of its bridge PU. There's another thread around here where a couple of guys talked about adding a neck PU to an L1505. I personally don't feel any need to mod either of my basses.

 

[Wallace320]

I wouldn't say the same with the trademark Precision sound, even if serial and passive

But, with an alder (optional) body and bird's eye maple fingerboard, is #1 on my personal dream list

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[bassplayer1494]

Yeah I wouldn't add a neck pup to it either but its nice to know that the option is available if I change my mind..

And a Birdseye maple fingerboard would look sick on a 1505!!

 

[TDR1138]

I've got a Tribute L2500 and I've owned a L1500. Honestly, when I can afford it, I'd love to trade up from the 2500 for a 1505. That focused tone of the 150X is just killer, especially on the low notes.

That said, I messed with the electronics on my 1500 fairly extensively, from preamp mods to new preamps, and the best thing IMO is the stock pre with the huge treble gain, but switching the tone cap from .022 to .1uF. Then, play it active with the tone rolled off to only about 25%... Sounds amazing, and just sits in the mix effortlessly.

And dammit, now I have GAS.

 

[bassplayer1494]

So i keep going back to GC and i keep playing the damn thing!

I think i was wrong to say that it sounds like a P because I finally realized...It doesnt. It does have more of a stingray "vibe" to it. It can get a nice warm tone for slower songs but it can be so aggressive and growly for harder stuff! Ugghh im torn guys! for $1000, its a bit high, but the build, sound, and feel are all great! But my p bass is great too and even though Im thinking about selling it. I just dont know if I can.

There is a 4 string version on the 'Bay for $689 plus shipping. Any difference between the two in terms of sound, feel, electronics? Kind of a silly thing to ask but im a curious fellow.

BTW they are both mid to late 90s models.