G&L Club Part 7

[metron]

Does anyone know when G&L started using matte or satin body finishes?

Im looking at an early 2000s L2000 ash/ maple. The finish is amber and its matte or satin, whatever you want to call it. These days they call it frost. It looks original as the same matte spray extends into the control cavity right up to the edge of the shielding spray with no evidence of a refinish there. I didnt pop the neck though.

Could this be original or is it likely a refin?

 

[donahue]

Does anyone know when G&L started using matte or satin body finishes?

Im looking at an early 2000s L2000 ash/ maple. The finish is amber and its matte or satin, whatever you want to call it. These days they call it frost. It looks original as the same matte spray extends into the control cavity right up to the edge of the shielding spray with no evidence of a refinish there. I didnt pop the neck though.

Could this be original or is it likely a refin?

View attachment 4496993 View attachment 4496994 View attachment 4496995

Idk but damn that is nice. I love natural finish basses so much.

 

[TDR1138]

Fretless Kilo Tribute…!!

 

[TDR1138]

Does anyone know when G&L started using matte or satin body finishes?

Im looking at an early 2000s L2000 ash/ maple. The finish is amber and its matte or satin, whatever you want to call it. These days they call it frost. It looks original as the same matte spray extends into the control cavity right up to the edge of the shielding spray with no evidence of a refinish there. I didnt pop the neck though.

Could this be original or is it likely a refin?

View attachment 4496993 View attachment 4496994 View attachment 4496995

I vaguely recall some finish option called "nearly naked" or something like that. They do offer satin finishes now.

 

[woodyng2]

Does anyone know when G&L started using matte or satin body finishes?

Im looking at an early 2000s L2000 ash/ maple. The finish is amber and its matte or satin, whatever you want to call it. These days they call it frost. It looks original as the same matte spray extends into the control cavity right up to the edge of the shielding spray with no evidence of a refinish there. I didnt pop the neck though.

Could this be original or is it likely a refin?

View attachment 4496993 View attachment 4496994 View attachment 4496995

Whatever it is, is gorgeous! I love a satin or oil finished bass!

 

[metron]

I vaguely recall some finish option called "nearly naked" or something like that. They do offer satin finishes now.

I recall that was introduced for the "ice" like they did about 10 years ago. Very cool looking basses!

I wasn't aware they did satin years before that but the more I look at it, it seems original. Particularly looking at the control cavity where the shield paint looks applied over the amber.

 

[woodyng2]

Fretless Kilo Tribute…!!

Love it! Looks like he was using it with the minitoggle in the middle position. (Single coil, right?)

 

[donahue]

I recall that was introduced for the "ice" like they did about 10 years ago. Very cool looking basses!

I wasn't aware they did satin years before that but the more I look at it, it seems original. Particularly looking at the control cavity where the shield paint looks applied over the amber.

Is it possible it came with a gloss clear finish and maybe someone just took the shine off?

 

[richwag]

Does anyone know when G&L started using matte or satin body finishes?

Im looking at an early 2000s L2000 ash/ maple. The finish is amber and its matte or satin, whatever you want to call it. These days they call it frost. It looks original as the same matte spray extends into the control cavity right up to the edge of the shielding spray with no evidence of a refinish there. I didnt pop the neck though.

Could this be original or is it likely a refin?

View attachment 4496993 View attachment 4496994 View attachment 4496995

I thought flat finishes were a newer thing. Could still be a refinish though right? If they chemically stripped the whole body before hand I'm not sure how you'd tell. Looks well done.

Regardless, looks really nice. My favorite L2000 finish and it's not just because I have one ;-)

 

[metron]

Is it possible it came with a gloss clear finish and maybe someone just took the shine off?

That certainly could be. But… I think its unlikely that someone would go through the work to remove gloss in the control cavity as well and all the way down into the battery cutout. It's satiny in there too.

 

[metron]

I thought flat finishes were a newer thing. Could still be a refinish though right? If they chemically stripped the whole body before hand I'm not sure how you'd tell. Looks well done.

Regardless, looks really nice. My favorite L2000 finish and it's not just because I have one ;-)

Thanks! I agree it could be but its nicely applied. Its extremely durable for a flat finish.

Overall the bass is an absolute beast. QS neck, fat 1 3/4" profile, just under 9 lbs even with the extra thick bodies they were doing in that era. Frets are in great shape with no sprout. Back then they weren't rolling fingerboards so its a hard edge which I really like. The pickups growl so much.

So I guess that was a combo NBD/do I keep it post

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

Fretless Kilo Tribute…!!

That's Steve's punishment for too much fret noise in his demo vids.

 

[TDR1138]

That's Steve's punishment for too much fret noise in his demo vids.

I've been critical of Steve's demos, but he's done a few jam videos at Leo's Lounge and has sounded pretty good. One in particular with a red SB-2 with a CLF neck that I really thought sounded great. (Though I do note that G&L has a GK bass amp back there, which I've always found to sound good with G&Ls…)

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I've been critical of Steve's demos, but he's done a few jam videos at Leo's Lounge and has sounded pretty good. One in particular with a red SB-2 with a CLF neck that I really thought sounded great. (Though I do note that G&L has a GK bass amp back there, which I've always found to sound good with G&Ls…)

He gets judged pretty harshly here and in the YT comments. My joke was more a reference to that, and less to any personal complaint. I like his demos and his playing. Still, it wouldn't kill him to play some longer notes so we can hear how the tone develops.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Fretless Kilo Tribute…!!

Steve enters his Slowhand phase. My favourite bit of his playing by a country mile, what lovely tone.

 

[jfh2424]

In general, I find that most people who do videos of basses think that showing a bass being well played by an above average player will sell that bass. Often that includes stuff like Live at Leo's.

Maybe that works, I don't know.

I find that demos by Ed Friedland and Ivanbassist don't highlight the player at all. But they really showcase the bass. Often playing the same riff in all the bass' settings along with a drum machine. Pretty boring stuff from an entertainment point of view. But damn does it show what the bass can do.

I'd rather see and hear Ed or Ivan. Plus they've figured out how to record a shot so that the frame does shake and come in and out of focus. I kinda like that, too.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Speaking of unexpected tonal pleasures, I was listening to this demo from the ever wonderful Marcin Pendowski of an original SB-2 when I noticed how much care he puts into slapping the low notes – instead of just smacking into the string he still articulates the note very clearly, producing a much more satisfying sound. I particularly liked it on the neck pickup soloed (0'44")



He makes all those early 80s maple-fb G&Ls sound wonderful.

 

[richwag]

Thanks! I agree it could be but its nicely applied. Its extremely durable for a flat finish.

Overall the bass is an absolute beast. QS neck, fat 1 3/4" profile, just under 9 lbs even with the extra thick bodies they were doing in that era. Frets are in great shape with no sprout. Back then they weren't rolling fingerboards so its a hard edge which I really like. The pickups growl so much.

So I guess that was a combo NBD/do I keep it post

Nice! I have pretty much the same bass. Meaty describes that neck well. Enjoy!

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Does anyone have an opinion on metallic colours done in frost finish?

In photos they tend to look very nice, but I wonder if that's because gloss metallic is a pig to photograph properly – with less shinyness, the frost finish allows the metallic colour to look lovely and dusky.....

....but does that translate well to reality?

 

[richwag]

In general, I find that most people who do videos of basses think that showing a bass being well played by an above average player will sell that bass. Often that includes stuff like Live at Leo's.

Maybe that works, I don't know.

I find that demos by Ed Friedland and Ivanbassist don't highlight the player at all. But they really showcase the bass. Often playing the same riff in all the bass' settings along with a drum machine. Pretty boring stuff from an entertainment point of view. But damn does it show what the bass can do.

I'd rather see and hear Ed or Ivan. Plus they've figured out how to record a shot so that the frame does shake and come in and out of focus. I kinda like that, too.

I think those are perfect demos. I love this guy's instrument demos on YouTube. No talking, just some drum tracks, great riffs and demos of all the sounds available.