G&L Basses - Why no love?

[danosix]

They're not nice looking basses, are they?

Really? I think they look like a non-pickguard Fender with a few extra knobs, arranged in what I would say is pretty aesthertically pleasing - their headstocks aren't the best, Leo got tired of designing headstocks after the MM, but other than that they look like boutique Fenders to me (and other than Fender Gibson Martin and Takamine - who HAS a nice hearstock - they're all taken).

 

[danosix]

I can't say enough good things about G&L. I went to Manny's NYC in 1999 to buy a Rick and ended up leaving with my clear forest green L-2000. It is so versatile it can go to any gig regardless of music or looks. My L-1000 is identical sounding to any good P-bass when in single coil mode, and amazingly great in the bucker modes (OMG setting knocks down the walls!!!). The SB-1 cuts as good as any bass I own will killer vintage tone, and the SB-2 is as pure as snow with no tone control and a fast jazz neck. Then there is the Interceptor. She's a snarly beast with unique buckers. I love them!!View attachment 1112904

Nice. I've never seen that Interceptor before. Looks very much like what it is - an 80s metal version of a G&L.
Those buckers look like a cross between the SB1 (style 1) pickup and the L style pickup - guessing that's what it sounds like?

 

[prowla]

Really? I think they look like a non-pickguard Fender with a few extra knobs, arranged in what I would say is pretty aesthertically pleasing - their headstocks aren't the best, Leo got tired of designing headstocks after the MM, but other than that they look like boutique Fenders to me (and other than Fender Gibson Martin and Takamine - who HAS a nice hearstock - they're all taken).

I think their styling is all a bit clumsy.

The bridge looks lame, the pickguard looks like whoever cut it was drunk and the headstock looks like they brought their cousin along.

 

[RoyGBass]

Nice. I've never seen that Interceptor before. Looks very much like what it is - an 80s metal version of a G&L.
Those buckers look like a cross between the SB1 (style 1) pickup and the L style pickup - guessing that's what it sounds like?

The El Toro is the same bass in a more standard shape. The pickups actually sound just as they look. Powerful but more piercing high end than the L style. A little more sizzle. Pickup selector, active/passive(no treble boost) and series/parallel knobs. She used to be white but has faded into this nice creamy yellow.

 

[danosix]

my love for g&l was partially due to dillinger escape plan, devo, and larry graham (maybe they aren't the pop music icons fender gets)

83 L2k
85 Lynx
94 LB100
2011 Sb-2

originally i bought the L2k, because my friend had an 82 one that I loved with roto 77 flats on it
i'd be happy with any of my basses if they were the only one i had
the lynx was actually what was missing from my collection, i'd been through so many jazz basses
that had shifty neck, no real sizzle, and a lack of cajones unless they had boutique pickups put in them
the g&ls actually have made me a better player, because they have a clear piano like tone that makes
easy for me to hear myself and fun for me to play and to learn more bass stuff
***the guys at fullerton made me a replacement neck for my 94 LB100 and for that i will forever be grateful

I'm sad they don't make the Lynx anymore (I didn't know what it was called until I read your post and looked it up - but I know that that model existed). I don't understand why, when they make the pickup (at least the bridge pickup) and not one but TWO (3?) versions of a jazz bass, why they can't have one like that anymore.

 

[danosix]

I think their styling is all a bit clumsy.

The bridge looks lame, the pickguard looks like whoever cut it was drunk and the headstock looks like they brought their cousin along.

Okay - the SBs are a little "ish" but more because you know what it "should" look like than because it's "THAT bad". Also - cred for trying to move forward with the PBass - the bodies smaller, lighter, better balanced and the pickup is better and of course the bridge and neck have the G&L innovations in them. The only thing REALLY wrong is the slightly dorky pickguard.
EDIT - what's wrong with the bridge? Doesn't it look like every other heavy bridge in the world except, I dunno, not by accident? Whose bridge is "attractive"?
EDIT #2 What would YOU do if you were Leo Fender and had already been sued for the headstock looking too much like a certain other bass you designed? He did need to make it reminiscent so people would make the connection and this is what he came up with after his first design was given the "ixnay" by a certain Fender corporation which will remain nameless.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

No distributors near me (that I know of)

Sometimes they're not obvious.
I found one over a garage, and no I'm not kidding.

It wasn't difficult to find once I got the address & right away I regretted already buying my ASAT at over $1,000, because they had a special on for xMas-time, $850 for a L-2000 (not a Tribute)

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

of course this would be useless to you if you're not in the U.S., or not in a state where they have a dealer

 

[Dave Campbell]

The SB-2 basses seem to have a fairly fanatical following.

 

[mpdd]

I'm sad they don't make the Lynx anymore (I didn't know what it was called until I read your post and looked it up - but I know that that model existed). I don't understand why, when they make the pickup (at least the bridge pickup) and not one but TWO (3?) versions of a jazz bass, why they can't have one like that anymore.

it is very strange that those pickups aren't an option, but i guess they've moved in more of a hi tech direction with the mj4

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The bridge looks lame,

yeah, because how it looks is the most important part
the fact that it's a better bridge than Fender ever made has no bearing

What would YOU do if you were Leo Fender and had already been sued for the headstock looking too much like a certain other bass you designed?

make it a 2+2

 

[foolforthecity]

They're not nice looking basses, are they?

Well...
...me? Not nice-looking. My G&L Himalayan Blue JB? Nice. Period.

 

[taylor16]

It's the name "G&L" that I think puts players off. It took me a long time to get on board but picked up my first from Greg @ Rocket Music. The LB-100 pine body with Fender flats is hands down the best playing bass I've ever had. And that's saying a lot coming from previously owning (and some later sold) Mike Lull, Roscoe, Sadowsky, La Bella, Fender AVRI's, etc.

 

[taylor16]

my love for g&l was partially due to dillinger escape plan, devo, and larry graham (maybe they aren't the pop music icons fender gets)

83 L2k
85 Lynx
94 LB100
2011 Sb-2

originally i bought the L2k, because my friend had an 82 one that I loved with roto 77 flats on it
i'd be happy with any of my basses if they were the only one i had
the lynx was actually what was missing from my collection, i'd been through so many jazz basses
that had shifty neck, no real sizzle, and a lack of cajones unless they had boutique pickups put in them
the g&ls actually have made me a better player, because they have a clear piano like tone that makes
easy for me to hear myself and fun for me to play and to learn more bass stuff
***the guys at fullerton made me a replacement neck for my 94 LB100 and for that i will forever be grateful

DEP are incredible. What's their connection in the past to G&L?

 

[mpdd]

DEP are incredible. What's their connection in the past to G&L?

the bass player almost always used an L2000 live, not sure what he's using now though

 

[jklymak]

I bought this LB100 online here. #8 Jazz-style neck. <8lbs. Plays, sounds and (in my opinion) looks great!

SOLD - G&L LB100 LB-100 with Jazz #8 neck

 

[Geronimo Atwater]

LOVE me my USA G&Ls, I think the sleeper of Leo's brainchildren.

And as a company I think they have a boutique vibe similar to RIC. And Fender Custom Shop quality.

I even dig the batwing headstocks, reminds me a bit of vintage Epiphone.

I think used USA G&L's are one of the BEST values out there in the resale market for buyers.

I had 5 and recently thinned the herd to two. Plus 5 Ricks and a Fender Jazz.

Eight Is Enough.

 

[Stix2Strings]

No short scale models

 

[gbrooding]

G&L you say? Hmmm...

 

[Nickweissmusic]

I recently purchased a G & L ASAT Semi Hollowbody and have spent a lot of time finding out about them. What I have found is that of all of Leo's creations have been a massive success, but with the exception of the G & L brand. No matter what model you take they seem to lack appeal to both well known artists and pros alike. They look pretty cool (mine being no exception), the build quality is amazing, the sound though lacks a perceived signature and I think this is where the problem lies. Is it because no artist has taken a G&L and recorded with it that has caused the perceived lack of sound signature or is it that the sound is so characterless that it fails to attract - who knows?? They have been around a few decades now so the situation is unlikely to change. Personally speaking, I have had Fenders, Rics, Yamahas which I can identify a sound mainly because I can relate it to songs I know, but with G&L and am left confused as to whether is has a signature sound at all.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. They are wonderful instruments. In my mind, easily the best value in factory produced American instruments.

Shhh... don't tell anyone... They'll raise their prices and FMIC will try to buy them...

 

[Killed_by_Death]

come to think of it, I'd be ashamed of myself to admit that I am not interested in a bass because of how something on it looks
unless it "looks" like it would be difficult to intonate, like I've noticed with Hofners & Gibson/Epiphone stuff

also, no one should take you seriously if that's your primary objection to a good bass

Although, I still can't get past the Music Man pickguards, but that didn't stop me from at least trying them.
The last time was in a pawn shop, where I directly compared one to my current Ibanez BTB & the BTB blew away the MM.