G&L.... Cheap???

[TimWilson]

I've owned many, many G&L bases and if there's one definitive thing I can tell you, it's this: ALL G&L basses after the late '90s compare very poorly with the earlier ones. I don't know what they did to the electronics in the basses featuring the great G&L "tri-Tone" circuit, but the ruined it. The ASATs, L2000s, and L2500s do NOT have the killer top-end snap and high-mid growl that they used to have. Today's G&L's just sound like Fender basses, and that was a sad, sad mistake. Every G&L I've bought AFTER 1995, I've promptly resold and I treasure my pre-'95s. Plus, G&L stopped slicing the necks and regluing them after the rod was inserted. I don't know if this contributed to the lame sound of the newer G&Ls, but it clearly didn't help. LAstly, around '95, G&L decided that their L2K and L2.5K bass bodies needed to be downsized to shave weight. Another ghastly mistake. The newer bodies are inelegant and puny.

If you can find a PRE '95 G&L, GET IT!!! anything later, be it Tribute or American, is a regrettable waste of money.

 

[OldSchoolBass]

I loved the look of mine, a blueburst tribute - as well as the sound. It just weighed a TON.

In an act of desperation/stupidity/irrational thought - I got rid of it.

Would get another, but not as a primary bass.

But don't listen to me. According to my wife my opinion ain't worth shat.

 

[Atomik Rooster]

I was just looking up G&L basses on eBay... i always thought they were more expensive. I mean 500-1000$ seems cheap to me. Are they good value for the money???

Can someone explain it to me??? I'm really confused

I have a pristine USA L-2500 that I picked up on eBay for $800. Good construction and very playable, although the neck is a little thicker than I like. If you can find one in excellent shape for under $1000, I'd say that's a good value. That said, the tone, at least on mine, is unique, not what I would call a "warm" sound, and not necessarily suited to all kinds of music. Great for metal and alt-crunch, not so much for music requiring a smoother sound. If aggressive is your thing, it's good stuff.

 

[bassrique]

I've owned many, many G&L bases and if there's one definitive thing I can tell you, it's this: ALL G&L basses after the late '90s compare very poorly with the earlier ones. I don't know what they did to the electronics in the basses featuring the great G&L "tri-Tone" circuit, but the ruined it. The ASATs, L2000s, and L2500s do NOT have the killer top-end snap and high-mid growl that they used to have. Today's G&L's just sound like Fender basses, and that was a sad, sad mistake. Every G&L I've bought AFTER 1995, I've promptly resold and I treasure my pre-'95s. Plus, G&L stopped slicing the necks and regluing them after the rod was inserted. I don't know if this contributed to the lame sound of the newer G&Ls, but it clearly didn't help. LAstly, around '95, G&L decided that their L2K and L2.5K bass bodies needed to be downsized to shave weight. Another ghastly mistake. The newer bodies are inelegant and puny.

If you can find a PRE '95 G&L, GET IT!!! anything later, be it Tribute or American, is a regrettable waste of money.

Dayum! Ouch!

Edit:

Plus, G&L stopped slicing the necks and regluing them after the rod was inserted. I don't know if this contributed to the lame sound of the newer G&Ls, but it clearly didn't help.

How does G&L "do" their necks now?

 

[kirkm24]

As great of a bass as they are, they have horrible re-sale value and I'm not sure why. I paid $1000 for my USA L2500 and could barely unload it for $750 just a few months later. I liked the tone of mine but the neck was horribly large and chunky and generally uncomfortable to play.

 

[bkbirge]

I had an '83 G&L L2000e that was fantastic but very beat up. Great neck, great sound, overall the best fretted I've ever played. I traded it for a newer L2500 in the late 90's and was very dissapointed. It felt so different that I wouldn't have known it was G&L if it hadn't said so on the headstock. That's how I learned how much the neck radius and spacing matters to me. The electronics didn't sound quite the same either, less aggressive IMO. If the 2500 had more neck choices I'd be more interested.

 

[bassrique]

If the 2500 had more neck choices I'd be more interested.

I thought G&L offered a few 2500 options on their site? I could be wrong though.

 

[origami]

i think this a great example of G&L tone, at least they way mine sounded. sort of like a fat stingray.



btw this guy is great check his other stuff out

 

[bkbirge]

The L2500's only get one neck option, #10, the 4 stringers get all the neck options, at least according to: http://www.glguitars.com/

I thought G&L offered a few 2500 options on their site? I could be wrong though.

 

[metron]

My main gigging bass is a 1998 L-2000 that I had custom ordered for me for $840.

Dude I remember g.a.s.ing pretty hard over your burst L2000 when I first joined this board. That was before I ever owned one and now they are all I play! I have an L1000, L2000, and an SB-2 all early models. I love my G&Ls...

 

[metron]

I've owned many, many G&L bases and if there's one definitive thing I can tell you, it's this: ALL G&L basses after the late '90s compare very poorly with the earlier ones. I don't know what they did to the electronics in the basses featuring the great G&L "tri-Tone" circuit, but the ruined it. The ASATs, L2000s, and L2500s do NOT have the killer top-end snap and high-mid growl that they used to have. Today's G&L's just sound like Fender basses, and that was a sad, sad mistake. Every G&L I've bought AFTER 1995, I've promptly resold and I treasure my pre-'95s. Plus, G&L stopped slicing the necks and regluing them after the rod was inserted. I don't know if this contributed to the lame sound of the newer G&Ls, but it clearly didn't help. LAstly, around '95, G&L decided that their L2K and L2.5K bass bodies needed to be downsized to shave weight. Another ghastly mistake. The newer bodies are inelegant and puny.

If you can find a PRE '95 G&L, GET IT!!! anything later, be it Tribute or American, is a regrettable waste of money.

Ouch you really think they are that bad? I have played a small handful of new ones and I thought they stacked very well against my old G&Ls. I didn't think the classic G&L tone was different between them and they definitely don't sound like Fender basses (though the pseudo-Fender thing is all there). I am referring to MFD equipped models of course. I am a big fan of the old ones but wouldn't hesitate to get a new one. To each their own I s'pose

 

[theophilus762]

i love love love my G&L tribute l2k. i don't see myself ever selling it. Not sure how an American made G&L can be possibly be finished or constructed any better.