G&L Basses - Why no love?

[Drucifer]

I wish I could own and play a pair like these. Awesome. I have an L-2500, a SB-2 and an ASAT Bass fretless, but as a G&L convinced user, your matches pair makes me dreamin' now...

I bought the fretless from a California music store at the Dallas or Arlington guitar show, the guy said that old G&Ls are very common in SoCal. I ran across the fretted several years later here on TB, it was marked as sold within a couple of hours of posting, but I messaged the seller and the first deal fell through. It was fate!

 

[Jay2U]

The L2000 is the most versatile bass I ever had. I did change the tone capacitor to a much larger value of 220 nF, otherwise the mid-range is always present. To my opinion the larger cap should be standard.

 

[Worldeeeter]

I wish I understood why people think the head stocks are no good. I just don't get it. Oh well.

Didn't Leo Fender design them? One would think he knew how to lay out a bass design, right?

 

[lug]

You know there's a volume/gain knob on your amp right?

The G&L is the first bass I've ever used in passive mode that could bury the input chain! Took me a while to figure out you start at 50% on all the knobs and work it from there. You will be much happier once you do.

 

[dave64o]

I must disagree. Here's my collection (plus one Fender and minus one G&L Vintage White JB) View attachment 1112965

Fantastic collection!

 

[prowla]

Wow so many haters in this thread! Look at how ugly my LB-100 is! (Not as ugly as the wall decor at my dads house lol)

View attachment 1112979

Indifference is not the same as hate.

 

[dave64o]

Attention G&L fans!

Here is a fun G&L guitar generator: Link Removed

Here's my current obsession (it will actually be Old School Tobacco Sunburst, but that doesn't seem to be an option):

Oh, if that were a 5-string ..... drool

 

[prowla]

WHAAAAAAAATTTTTTT ????????????? Leo was clumsy and drunk ?????????

Well, maybe he sneezed whilst he was routing the headstock...

 

[twinjet]

See my profile pic...custom order L2K...love it.
Some complain about the mid-range forward tone, I love it, especially when soloing the bridge pup...the bass lies in the mids IMO.
Some complain about the electronics and the combo with the huge magnets are too much...well G&Ls with the 2 HBs and L2K electronics are designed to play at about 70% onboard volume with the reaming 30% in reserve for a solo or when you need a boost. Knowledge is power ;-)

Exactly -- I've learned it is easy to distort the signal with the magnificent power of those MFDs. I'll keep it around 70% volume myself, even less when the preamp is on.

Well , Leo got it right the first time. Musicman never appeal to me because because of the toilet seat pickguard and G&L because of badly designed headstock. Just my opinion, Fender Jazz Bass rocks my boat.

I played an Elite Jazz a few days ago that caused similar motions to my seafaring vessel. Quite the elegant instrument.

 

[Stranger Danger]

Aaron Beam of Red Fang always rocks a G&L SB-1..

Who?

 

[sheltjo6]

here a pic of a "pre-lawsuit" head stock.

The story I've heard was Fender attempted to sue G&L over their head stock design because it was too similar to a Fender head stock.
The point was added to represent G&L giving the middle finger to Fender.

Either head stock looks fine to me.

 

[twinjet]

here a pic of a "pre-lawsuit" head stock.

The story I've heard was Fender attempted to sue G&L over their head stock design because it was too similar to a Fender head stock.
The point was added to represent G&L giving the middle finger to Fender.

Either head stock looks fine to me.
View attachment 1113013

That middle finger would hurt going up a certain port of exit...

 

[Eikari]

Did Leo design the redesigned G&L headstock? Not sure when that happened in the history of G&L.

I thought G&L always used the same headstock design. Prove me wrong then?

 

[sheltjo6]

I currently own two G&L basses: LB-100 and a JB-2.
I used to own a L-1000.

They all sound great and play well, although the JB-2 tone is a little too mid-scooped for my preferences.

They do custom build instruments to the specs you provide and at a reasonable price. (or you can buy an instrument already built)
Why people don't buy this brand is a mystery.

 

[TinIndian]

I thought G&L always used the same headstock design. Prove me wrong then?

Look 2 Posts up. Thats the early one that was changed on most guitars/basses around 1983.

 

[foolforthecity]

Maybe this headstock is what the naysayers might prefer

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

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.

Actually, no lawsuit was ever filed. The new headstock shape was introduced in 83 or 84 when they changed the neck design to avoid the possibility of a lawsuit.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I thought G&L always used the same headstock design. Prove me wrong then?

Nope, it originally looked exactly like the Fender headstock. The neck was redesigned and Leo designed the new headstock at the same time. that was about 83/84.

 

[Eikari]

Well , he designed both types of headstocks. My point is still valid then.

 

[rujulian]

Who?

Just because you haven't heard of a band, doesn't make them irrelevant. Try using those savage keyboard warrior skills on doing a search next time you don't know something.