I don't know what paper you're looking at... Ethel Mertz had low cheek bones.
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G&L Basses - Why no love?
- Thread starter BassVibes
- Start date
I agree the micro tilt is not rocket science, but if the neck/pocket/bridge are all made correctly, the bass should not need shimming.
If the neck is made with internal reinforcements and stays stable throughout it's life, a micro tilt system will not be a necessity.
Given a choice, I would rather have a five or six bolt than a three or four bolt attachment.
If the neck is made with internal reinforcements and stays stable throughout it's life, a micro tilt system will not be a necessity.
Given a choice, I would rather have a five or six bolt than a three or four bolt attachment.
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My two cents.
The 3-bolt idea was a fail, that's why it's all but extinct now. It's not that it can't work adequately, it's that many buyers were skeptical of it and would rather see a more secure attachment method, like most other builders were using. Perception is often reality, so why risk discouraging sales?
The micro-tilt concept is another fail because it's not necessary. Misuse of it is widely believed to be the primary cause of the infamous G&L "ski jump" problem.
Six bolts may be overkill because four bolts have always worked perfectly fine. OTOH, no one is going to have doubts about a secure neck attachment with six bolts. Seems like common sense marketing to me.
The 3-bolt idea was a fail, that's why it's all but extinct now. It's not that it can't work adequately, it's that many buyers were skeptical of it and would rather see a more secure attachment method, like most other builders were using. Perception is often reality, so why risk discouraging sales?
The micro-tilt concept is another fail because it's not necessary. Misuse of it is widely believed to be the primary cause of the infamous G&L "ski jump" problem.
Six bolts may be overkill because four bolts have always worked perfectly fine. OTOH, no one is going to have doubts about a secure neck attachment with six bolts. Seems like common sense marketing to me.
This is incorrect. Microtilt and shimming a neck is a method of adjustment for a players preference, nothing less nothing more. It is used in the set up process when the neck is perfectly stable, reinforced and straight, and not due to any defect. Of course, you can use a shim in "non-prescribed" ways to sorta-kinda-halfway make a faulty neck playable...but thats a different story all together.
the Microtilt on G&Ls is alright unless you misuse it, but nothing like a mis-used micro tilt in 70's Fenders. Of course, you misuse the truss rod adjustment and you get some horrible results there, much harder to remedy than a measly ham-fisted micro tilt over-adjustment. Admittedly I'd much prefer to use a shim than the micro tilt.
I like G&L enough that I just bought a third one off the bay. I currently have an '82 L-1000 and a '96 L-1500. I previously had a '97 L-2000 that, with the three bolt neck, was the most stable neck I've ever owned. My new one on the way is a 2014 L-2000 which will be my first 6 bolt G&L.
As I understand it, the idea of a shim is to bring the neck angle to a point where the bridge saddles have their intended full range of height adjustment due to inconsistencies in neck pocket routs, not necessarily to accommodate faulty necks.
To me, the only rationale for having a micro-tilt feature was to save time on the production line at the factory. The tilt feature replaces the time honored factory practice of installing shims on new guitars, commonly found on Fenders for decades. But not all necks need shimming, it takes time to determine which ones will need shims....neck on, neck off, etc. With the tilt, if shimming is needed just loosen a neck bolt, then quickly turn the micro-tilt allen screw to the desired position. Bam...done.
With modern technology neck pockets are cut with extreme accuracy and consistency. Hence, no need for shims or neck tilts.
OTOH, maybe the micro-tilt was simply a marketing ploy intended to appeal to buyers under the guise of...."new and improved".
To me, the only rationale for having a micro-tilt feature was to save time on the production line at the factory. The tilt feature replaces the time honored factory practice of installing shims on new guitars, commonly found on Fenders for decades. But not all necks need shimming, it takes time to determine which ones will need shims....neck on, neck off, etc. With the tilt, if shimming is needed just loosen a neck bolt, then quickly turn the micro-tilt allen screw to the desired position. Bam...done.
With modern technology neck pockets are cut with extreme accuracy and consistency. Hence, no need for shims or neck tilts.
OTOH, maybe the micro-tilt was simply a marketing ploy intended to appeal to buyers under the guise of...."new and improved".
Agree they're popular with those in the know, but I'm not sure they "fly off the walls" everywhere, and I suspect that's one reason more dealers don't carry them. Some dealers have told me it's easier to sell Fenders and other more popular brands.
For example, last week I visited a shop in New England that I'd been to in March 2016, and they still had some of the same basses and at least one guitar I'd seen over a year ago. The guitar, a beautiful Legacy in Emerald Green, was marked down to a very low price. One of my closest dealers, from whom I bought an L-1500 (since sold) and Comanche, has some that have been on the wall for a couple of years.
I absolutely love G&L's myself, and have four USA models: SB-2, JB, M-2500, and the Comanche. They're all fantastic. I still love the Fenders I've kept, a Jazz bass and two Strats, but overall prefer G&L's, which have kicked at least two Fenders and one DiPinto out of my herd.
that's probably just about exactly it. I bought a G&L back in 2000 because I walked into a shop and started playing it and loved it (and could afford it!). but even then I felt a little weird about it for a couple of years after as no one ever knew what the hell it was and that peer pressure even made me wonder about!
And because I seem to be the master of drifting off topic...
I am confused by the fanatical praise of the import Lakland product.
Aren't other companies getting their basses made in the same plant that import Laklands are made?
Why are used Lakland imports fetching as much or more than a used USA G&L?
Aren't the Tribute G&L's made as well as the import Lakelands?
...the Tributes have USA pickups and bridges, yes?
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I like my G&L Tribute JB-2. Its a little heavy, and neck dives a bit, but it sounds nice and plays great. I have flats on it for my "jazz combo/musical pit" bass. My Roscoe 5 is lighter and more versatile, but that should be expected from a $3,000 bass over $300 bass. I used to have a few early G&L USA made L2000 and 2500. They were nice. If the internet hadn't happened, I'd probably still be playing them as I knew of nothing else as I am geographically isolated from bass gear. USA G&L was the best bass in town at the time.
And that's where many run into trouble - myself included. Finding a bass should be just as you describe. Walk in, pick it up, play it an love it. Done. Noting else should matter. But we're human, and weak. Once I started buying and selling via the internet, no one had ever heard of basses I was playing. I have a couple beautiful hand made Roscoe basses that I love. Play and sound amazing. No one knows Roscoe. Not like Fender. They do love the way they look tough.
I sometimes find myself wondering what I'm doing wrong not playing a Fender, or a 4 string. I have tried a couple times, but they just aren't me - with the exception of the Geddy Lee jazz bass. I liked that bass. I play active 5 and 6 string basses. I like my G&L JB-2 for something different, but for my needs right now, it's my Roscoes.
This thread inspired a family photo session of the SB-2 (2007), JB (2010), M-2500 (2014), and Comanche (2015). The JB and Comanche were custom orders through local dealers. I bought the SB-2 at a guitar show, and the M-2500 on line. The M looks almost black in the photo, but is Ruby Red Metallic, which might be my favorite G&L finish. It's tough to choose though. The JB has Lace Man O' War pickups, hence the lack of polepieces.
I normally prefer maple fretboards, but G&L does beautiful rosewood, and I think it takes some of the edge off the MFD pickups, which is especially awesome on the M-2500. I'd prefer maple on the SB-2 though.
I normally prefer maple fretboards, but G&L does beautiful rosewood, and I think it takes some of the edge off the MFD pickups, which is especially awesome on the M-2500. I'd prefer maple on the SB-2 though.
The body is smaller. The neck is not exactly a J neck. Same nut width, true, but my SB2 has a #8 neck which is a 12" radius. The J is a 9 1/2" radius. I like the flatter neck. It seems to be faster than a J.
That was a sweet gesture including the dorky cousin* in the family photo so he didn't feel left out.This thread inspired a family photo session of the SB-2 (2007), JB (2010), M-2500 (2014), and Comanche (2015). The JB and Comanche were custom orders through local dealers. I bought the SB-2 at a guitar show, and the M-2500 on line. The M looks almost black in the photo, but is Ruby Red Metallic, which might be my favorite G&L finish. It's tough to choose though. The JB has Lace Man O' War pickups, hence the lack of polepieces.
I normally prefer maple fretboards, but G&L does beautiful rosewood, and I think it takes some of the edge off the MFD pickups, which is especially awesome on the M-2500. I'd prefer maple on the SB-2 though.
(*) The skinny stringed one!**
(**) - I kid! Actually, I think the Commanche's are pretty cool looking. And so is the depth of the finish on that blue JB!
That's interesting. In the US most stores charge the manufacturer wall or floor space for their gear. Thus, the stores like to only carry the products that move fast. In most cases the massed marketed consumer gear that's real common. G&L is US made as well as their import Tribute series. And I've only seen a few in stores over the past decade. All were used G&Ls.
I agree, there is love out there for G&L. But not mass marketed consumer love. For the US anyway.
If not many people know what a G&L is, there are probably a lot fewer who've ever heard of DiPintos!
