G&L Club Part 7

[TDR1138]

Well, I got my new L2K yesterday. I absolutely love it!

NBD - G&L L2K

The strings and I are NOT going to get along. My PJ has Roto 77s my JB-2 Tribute has TI Flats. I don't want to lose all of the nastiness this bass has but I just can't stand the sound of these strings. I'm playing a bass, not a piano!! I was thinking about trying some round core Boomers or the Pressure Wounds. I've used the PWs on the JB-2 and I liked them but the Tis were better on that bass. Any opinions? (I know that's a stupid question!)

Joe

I've had good luck on my L2k with Chromes and half-wounds.

Chromes are a good choice on the L2k for punchy and kind of barky flats. Also Fender 9050s fit this bill too.

GHS Precision Flats and La Bellas for more of the thumpy flat tone.

For rounds, I personally like DR Fat Beams, or a little more subtle, the DR Sunbeams.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Fender 9050s

I've had these on my SB-1 forever and I'm surprised I don't hear them mentioned more often.

 

[Bassclef46]

The strings that are on it create a tone similar to a piano. Some people like that. I don't. I have a piano for that.

Joe

Dadaddario exl 170 are what they use and don't sound anything like a piano.

 

[Murch]

Chromes are a good choice on the L2k for punchy and kind of barky flats. Also Fender 9050s fit this bill too.

GHS Precision Flats and La Bellas for more of the thumpy flat tone.

For rounds, I personally like DR Fat Beams, or a little more subtle, the DR Sunbeams.

I generally prefer the sound and feel of flats, so I have DR Legends on my '81 Mahogany/maple and LaBella 760 FL Deep Talking Flats on my '05 ash/rosewood L-2000s. I'm considering putting rounds on the ash L-2K and would probably go with either DR Sunbeams or Pure Blues.

 

[spencejm]

Dadaddario exl 170 are what they use and don't sound anything like a piano.

Ok.

 

[jcburn]

Chromes are a good choice on the L2k for punchy and kind of barky flats. Also Fender 9050s fit this bill too.

GHS Precision Flats and La Bellas for more of the thumpy flat tone.

For rounds, I personally like DR Fat Beams, or a little more subtle, the DR Sunbeams.

I'm one of those guys that don't dig D'Addario strings on my L2000 basses. I want to, I just find I don't like feel or tone. EB Slinky rounds are a good, inexpensive option. Sound good, feel good, and they last OK.
I agree with TDR1138 - if it's a bright, roundwound tone that is needed/wanted I don't think you can go past Fatbeams or Sunbeams. Both have a very similar inherent DR tone, with Sunbeams having slightly less phat bottom, a little more mid and subtle highs, but they feel great, last forever and age well.

I have a "metal" gig coming up (a Metallica tribute show!!!), so I grabbed a few sets of DR Lorider steels and compared to the Fatbeams I really don't dig them. I realise Loriders are hex core, but it's more the tone I don't like....too much mid scoop and too much hi-mid clank. I realise this is a little off topic but I'm wondering if the nickel Loriders might be better suited to me for hex core rounds??

In terms of non-round strings I've only tried Chromes and EB Cobalt flats on my L2000, but both sounded great. In my opinion the EB Cobalts felt better, but initially sounded more like rounds and it took a while for that thumpy flat tone to come in. I really wanna try both the TI and Fender flats at some stage.

GHS Pressurewounds sounded awesome on the L2000 too in their own unique way.....tight bottom end (some will say "less" bottom end but it worked for me), definied mids and subdued highs while still sounding mostly like a round.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

A few questions about the Tribute LB-100:

1. Is the pickup is in the classic P position, like the current USA LB-100, or nudged towards the bridge as the LB-100 was originally? (Hoped for answer: classic P)

2. Does the Tribute's 1⅝" neck have a slightly chunkier profile than the USA models? (Hoped for answer: yes, almost like a Yamaha BB424)

3. Natural finish version is in Ash and can be comfortably past 10 lbs. The Olympic White version seems to be Basswood. Any chance that they tend to be down near 9 lbs? (Unrealistically hoped for answer: and then some)

4. On a scale from Fender to Dimarzio model P, where is the Tribute's alnico pickup? (I know it doesnt sound like a dimarzio, so I'm not letting myself hope that it does)

 

[IvanBassist]

A few questions about the Tribute LB-100:

1. Is the pickup is in the classic P position, like the current USA LB-100, or nudged towards the bridge as the LB-100 was originally? (Hoped for answer: classic P)

2. Does the Tribute's 1⅝" neck have a slightly chunkier profile than the USA models? (Hoped for answer: yes, almost like a Yamaha BB424)

3. Natural finish version is in Ash and can be comfortably past 10 lbs. The Olympic White version seems to be Basswood. Any chance that they tend to be down near 9 lbs? (Unrealistically hoped for answer: and then some)

4. On a scale from Fender to Dimarzio model P, where is the Tribute's alnico pickup? (I know it doesnt sound like a dimarzio, so I'm not letting myself hope that it does)

I can only comment on point 4, but I think the tribute LB-100s have the same pickups as the USA versions. I'd say it lies definitely on the fenderish side

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I can only comment on point 4, but I think the tribute LB-100s have the same pickups as the USA versions. I'd say it lies definitely on the fenderish side

I assumed that would be the case .... since that's the point of the instrument Thanks anyway

 

[Iridescentone]

I can only comment on point 4, but I think the tribute LB-100s have the same pickups as the USA versions. I'd say it lies definitely on the fenderish side

Good question. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm?

My $0,02...

It may be the same pickup as the USA model, as is the case with Tributes equipped with MFD pickups. But, as was the case with the Tribute JB-2, the pickups were clearly not the same as on the USA models. They were a different size, evidently off-shore-built pickups to save on production costs.

With the fact that LB-100's aren't equipped with an MFD, if anything is to be assumed, the indication would seem to be that the pickup on the Tribute LB-100 is not a USA pickup, based on how the Tribute JB-2 was handled. After all, keeping costs down is the reason the Tribute line exists, compromises must be made somewhere. I think it's pretty generous of G&L to include their MFD pickups and their renowned saddle lock bridges in the Tribute line. Cheers.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

The cheaper the alnico pickup, the less bad I would feel immediately replacing it with a Dimarzio

 

[Jackcrow]

Good question. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm?

My $0,02...

It may be the same pickup as the USA model, as is the case with Tributes equipped with MFD pickups. But, as was the case with the Tribute JB-2, the pickups were clearly not the same as on the USA models. They were a different size, evidently off-shore-built pickups to save on production costs.

With the fact that LB-100's aren't equipped with an MFD, if anything is to be assumed, the indication would seem to be that the pickup on the Tribute LB-100 is not a USA pickup, based on how the Tribute JB-2 was handled. After all, keeping costs down is the reason the Tribute line exists, compromises must be made somewhere. I think it's pretty generous of G&L to include their MFD pickups and their renowned saddle lock bridges in the Tribute line. Cheers.

Having owned US and tribute LB-100s, I can say that the pickups do not look similar. The US version has cloth covered wiring, the tribute did not. Pole pieces looked different. I thought they sounded quite a bit different also.

Based on this I'd say that the tribute LB-100 most likely does not have the US made pickup in it.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Having owned US and tribute LB-100s, I can say that the pickups do not look similar

Assuming that both necks had 1⅝" nuts, how did you find the profiles compared?

 

[Jackcrow]

Assuming that both necks had 1⅝" nuts, how did you find the profiles compared?

They were both 1 5/8". I found the tribute to be a bit thicker (fuller) in the hand. Also had a more rounded back than the US version. The tribute had one of the thicker necks that I've played on a P-style instrument. The US version was more comfortable to me, but the tribute wasn't bad.

 

[ShawnG]

A little info re: LB-100 pickup from the designer/creator, Paul Gagon, posted over on Basses by Leo Forum:

"Let me see if I can help here. The philosophy behind the LB-100 bass was really just a simple way to pay respect and honor Leo. His creation of the P-Bass was such a landmark in the world of bass guitar. The LB-100 was originally called the Legacy Bass and was to be a companion to the Legacy Guitar. Legacy Bass was already being used by someone else so It's name was shortened to LB. I don't remember why the number 100 was selected. Anyway, the body shape was basically what was being used on the SB-1 and the pickup position was placed a bit closer to the bridge. The thinking on the pickup placement was to get a bit more upper harmonic information from the strings. In order to compensate for the slightly brighter sound of the bass an additional 500 turns of magnet wire was put on the pickup bobbins (P-Basses use 10,000 turns of 42ga wire on each pickup bobbin. LB-100s use 10,500 turns of 42ga wire). The use of the .022uf cap for the tone control instead of .05uf was to retain more string definition when the tone control is turned all the way down. You see, when you turn the tone control all the way down on a passive tone network you are placing the tone cap in parallel with the pickup and dropping its resonant frequency down.....very low I might add. The .022uf cap was just selected as the preferred cap by the people who evaluated it. Any cap value from .01uf to .1uf will work just fine. The larger the cap value, the darker the tone. One isn't better than the other.....they're just different. Anyway, I hope this explanation was helpful."

Also a quick vid of him with an LB-100:


Since 2016, at least on the USA-made LBs, the pickup was moved slightly back towards the neck to put it in the traditional P-bass sweetspot.

 

[jglunt]

The "LB" of LB100 stands for Legacy Bass, and it indeed was created to honor Leo's P-bass legacy. I was told by a reliable source that the alnicos on my Tribute JB-2 were manufactured overseas to G&L specs, so I assume the same is true for the LB-100. Only MFDs are all made in the USA. Besides my JB-2, I also have a Tribute LB100. I find the pickup to be strong, with powerful gain and a typically punchy low-mid P-bass sound. This is not a wimpy bass, and I feel no need to change the pickup. The distance of the E-A portion of the pickup from the neck is about 3" (+/- 1/16"). The neck at the nut on mine measures 1 9/16". The neck is way chunkier than my JB-2 neck, with a very different feel. It's similar to but not exactly like I remember my old 1970 P-bass, which sadly I do not own anymore. My LB-100 is a sunburst swamp ash with Brazilian cherry fretboard, and it weighs in at an even 9 lbs. Hope this helps.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

They were both 1 5/8". I found the tribute to be a bit thicker (fuller) in the hand. Also had a more rounded back than the US version. The tribute had one of the thicker necks that I've played on a P-style instrument.

Thank you for this, which is actually a positive for me! When I got a bass with a thick neck back in January, I was expecting to find myself simply coping with it, but to my surprise, I've learnt that somehow my hand is finding it actively pleasurable. Since then I've been looking for an Asian-made P bass with a more old-fashioned profile. From what I've read the Squier CVs would be exactly wrong for me.

If the global postal service could remember where exactly they parked my USA SB-1 back in March then I could toss all these plans for chunky Dimarzio-laden Ps in the trash, but in the meantime making them is keeping me sane.

 

[Prana Ferox]

A few questions about the Tribute LB-100:

3. Natural finish version is in Ash and can be comfortably past 10 lbs. The Olympic White version seems to be Basswood. Any chance that they tend to be down near 9 lbs? (Unrealistically hoped for answer: and then some)

Wouldn't a 10 lb bass be down near 9 lbs and then some?

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Wouldn't a 10 lb bass be down near 9 lbs and then some?

Depends how you phrase it: you're saying "and then some", but I'm saying "and then some". Yeah?

 

[jfh2424]

Thank you for this, which is actually a positive for me! When I got a bass with a thick neck back in January, I was expecting to find myself simply coping with it, but to my surprise, I've learnt that somehow my hand is finding it actively pleasurable. Since then I've been looking for an Asian-made P bass with a more old-fashioned profile. From what I've read the Squier CVs would be exactly wrong for me.

My girlfriends have told me all my life that size doesn't matter and I've chosen to believe them.

Sometimes you just have to do with the equipment you have and believe…