G&L Club Part 7

[Baker69]

If the bass meets all your criteria, feels, sounds, and looks good and/or satisfactory, and you were happy with the price, then I say keep it despite the few issues you had with it.

Maybe don't buy from that retailer again, though.

[Edit] I see that it's a natural Ash Lefty. I'm inclined to think that it is not likely you'll find another one like it for a better price. That's a pretty rare bass as it is.

I've had some time to think about it and have decided to keep it, as you say despite the issues I've had with the bass I still really like it and it may be difficult to find another Natural Lefty one very easily.

I'm really not sure about the 2010 serial number on the neck, despite the dullish finish of the frets I actually think it is a new neck, the back of it seems very clean and smooth (from newness not from playing/wear). I took the strings off and the nut is completely clean and neither the nut, frets or fingerboard show any signs of wear.

I also removed the neck to see if there were any date stamps on the body or neck but unfortunately not, but there were a few bits of newish looking sawdust in the neck pocket. I cleaned the frets which didn't need much effort into getting them back to being bright and shiny and I applied some Dunlop Lemon Oil to the fingerboard so the neck is looking really nice now. After that a quick clean of the bridge and a new set of D'Addario ProSteels and the bass is looking and playing really good. The rest of the night I've spent playing it and going through all the tonal options. I'm not sure whether the treble control works as it should though, with the treble control fully off there only seems to very small sweep of the control before the treble cuts in?

Looking forward to gigging with it now but our next show is a few weeks away yet.

 

[jglunt]

I've had some time to think about it and have decided to keep it, as you say despite the issues I've had with the bass I still really like it and it may be difficult to find another Natural Lefty one very easily.

I'm really not sure about the 2010 serial number on the neck, despite the dullish finish of the frets I actually think it is a new neck, the back of it seems very clean and smooth (from newness not from playing/wear). I took the strings off and the nut is completely clean and neither the nut, frets or fingerboard show any signs of wear.

I also removed the neck to see if there were any date stamps on the body or neck but unfortunately not, but there were a few bits of newish looking sawdust in the neck pocket. I cleaned the frets which didn't need much effort into getting them back to being bright and shiny and I applied some Dunlop Lemon Oil to the fingerboard so the neck is looking really nice now. After that a quick clean of the bridge and a new set of D'Addario ProSteels and the bass is looking and playing really good. The rest of the night I've spent playing it and going through all the tonal options. I'm not sure whether the treble control works as it should though, with the treble control fully off there only seems to very small sweep of the control before the treble cuts in?

Sounds like a wise decision. I don't know about the neck. I'd say it has to be a '10 neck, but decals have gotten messed up before. Cort sent G&L a bunch of Tribute JBs in Turquoise Mist. The decal on the head definitely said JB, but the necks were 21 fret necks, and the JB uses a 20 fret neck. Intonating those was impossible as it created a bass with an approximate 34.5" scale.

The sweep of the treble pot is probably normal. It's a 250k audio taper if you want to try a different one. Keep in mind it's a passive control, so it's cut only.

How do those D'Addario Pro Steels feel to your fingers? I bought a 5-string set for a dark sounding bass I have but haven't put them on yet. The stainless set I have on it now is like playing barbed wire...well almost...well, OK, not really almost like barbed wire, but uncomfortable.

 

[Hot Rats]

Right,
Because I trust a resizing program over my own eyes and experience.

Is this sarcasm? Because I'm thinking it might be but I just can't be sure. It is, isn't it? I don't know man, did you feel attacked somehow? sorry man. It's just a cool chart I found and thought it was relevant to the conversation. So, are we cool man? No harm meant. We good?

 

[Baker69]

The sweep of the treble pot is probably normal. It's a 250k audio taper if you want to try a different one.

How do those D'Addario Pro Steels feel to your fingers? I bought a 5-string set for a dark sounding bass I have but haven't put them on yet. The stainless set I have on it now is like playing barbed wire...well almost...well, OK, not really almost like barbed wire, but uncomfortable.

I'm used to having a tone control which has a much greater sweep and all of the tone alteration on this Tribute is within the final 1/4" of the control pot. I might consider changing it at some stage, my concern at the moment is that I find it quite easy to accidentally alter the treble control setting if you flick the adjacent toggle switch to parallel mode, I've done this several times already.

The ProSteels may not be to your liking, I have used them for a few years now and I do like them. They are a bit rough to the touch and take a bit of getting used to and I have preferred using these to the Nickels which I find to be a bit slippery? After they've lost their new string 'zing' I find the ProSteels still maintain a good and usable brightness for quite some time.

 

[Baker69]

Sounds like a wise decision. I don't know about the neck. I'd say it has to be a '10 neck.

I'm not going to get to the bottom of the issue regarding the serial number unfortunately, even though the frets were a bit dull it appears to be un-played, there is no wear or signs of any string abrasion or marks on the fingerboard, and the nut looks totally fine. The back of the neck is very clean 'new' looking satin finish wood.

I have played the bass for a few hours now since I got it and it is already putting a sheen on the wood from playing & the oils in your hands, I think this sort of evidence of playing would have been clearly evident had it been used?

 

[jglunt]

I'm not going to get to the bottom of the issue regarding the serial number unfortunately, even though the frets were a bit dull it appears to be un-played, there is no wear or signs of any string abrasion or marks on the fingerboard, and the nut looks totally fine. The back of the neck is very clean 'new' looking satin finish wood.

I have played the bass for a few hours now since I got it and it is already putting a sheen on the wood from playing & the oils in your hands, I think this sort of evidence of playing would have been clearly evident had it been used?

There are a few ways I could think of that could explain the neck, but as you say, getting to the bottom of that issue is impossible, and my guesses would be exactly that--guesses--nothing better. The bass looks like a great bass and apparently is pretty rare, and I know the L-series basses sound amazing, so enjoy it! Congrats on the great bass.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I like my Pro Steels. After a few months they mellow out, but its a change of character, not a loss. The initial slight roughness goes pretty quickly. Not as stiff as Swing Bass.

With a pickup making a rich tone in the first place, they'll add depth and sparkle. I changed the tone cap to .022 so that I can skim off the top and leave the meat of the sound intact.

 

[Baker69]

I like my Pro Steels. After a few months they mellow out, but its a change of character, not a loss. The initial slight roughness goes pretty quickly. Not as stiff as Swing Bass.

With a pickup making a rich tone in the first place, they'll add depth and sparkle. I changed the tone cap to .022 so that I can skim off the top and leave the meat of the sound intact.

Yes, the ProSteels do lose their initial zing and mellow out but they take quite a while to go 'dull'.

I think the treble control could do with a different value cap to give it a darker tone when it is fully off, on the wiring diagram I have it has a 0.47 cap, maybe a 1.0 cap would be better? The bass control is shown as having a 0.202 cap.

 

[russ_bass]

List of things where that couple of inches makes a world of difference:

1. Pickup placement
2. Pouring champagne into a flute
3.

Of course number 3 must be what is seen in many movies. Reaching for a hand at the edge of the building to stop you from falling 100s of feet to the pavement but missing by a couple of inches. Right?

 

[jivetkr]

USA JB-4. Strung up with DR high beams. Sounds superb.

 

[dedpool1052]

Is this sarcasm? Because I'm thinking it might be but I just can't be sure. It is, isn't it? I don't know man, did you feel attacked somehow? sorry man. It's just a cool chart I found and thought it was relevant to the conversation. So, are we cool man? No harm meant. We good?

Sorry bro.
I can get pretty feisty at times.
You posted the pic without any text,
And It felt like a challenge to my experience.
The internet is not the always the best place to convey tone, inflection, and the like.
I misinterpreted your intent, which was not malicious at all, and automatically jumped to the defensive.

We're good, man.

 

[Jackcrow]

USA JB-4. Strung up with DR high beams. Sounds superb.

View attachment 4718881

What an awesome looking JB. I'm going with either Hi Beams or Rotosounds on my JB when I change strings next.

 

[jivetkr]

What an awesome looking JB. I'm going with either Hi Beams or Rotosounds on my JB when I change strings next.

Thanks! It's been a really great bass. I've always loved high beams but just bought a set of fat beams to try also. I have a set of ghs compression wound on another bass and just love those strings. They are the smoothest rounds I've ever played. Got a set in the mail for my fretless

 

[MrB64]

USA JB-4. Strung up with DR high beams. Sounds superb.

View attachment 4718881

That's gorgeous. I have one of those in Vintage White with the Caribbean Rosewood fingerboard. I love how they sound. I have Rotosound stainless steels on mine. Great sounding basses.

 

[Baker69]

With the L2000 & L2000 Tribute's MFD pickups being so powerful, has anyone found it necessary to lower their pickups rather than reducing the volume & tone controls? If so, by how much?

As yet I've only tried my new Tribute at home through my Boss GT1B effects unit, I've found I've had to reduce the volume on the bass slightly and reduced the bass control slightly (except for the bridge pickup soloed where I think it sounds better with the bass full up and in series mode).

I've spent a fair bit of time experimenting with all of the various switching and tone combinations and I am fairly happy with the tone settings that I've arrived at with the 3 pickup switching options, but (through the GT1B) I'm finding I like the Passive mode generally so perhaps I'm not far away from it being fine with the pickups remaining where they are.

I'm hoping to give it a blast through my Rumble 800 at home in the next couple of days (when the neighbour has gone out!)

 

[jglunt]

With the L2000 & L2000 Tribute's MFD pickups being so powerful, has anyone found it necessary to lower their pickups rather than reducing the volume & tone controls? If so, by how much?

As yet I've only tried my new Tribute at home through my Boss GT1B effects unit, I've found I've had to reduce the volume on the bass slightly and reduced the bass control slightly (except for the bridge pickup soloed where I think it sounds better with the bass full up and in series mode).

I've spent a fair bit of time experimenting with all of the various switching and tone combinations and I am fairly happy with the tone settings that I've arrived at with the 3 pickup switching options, but (through the GT1B) I'm finding I like the Passive mode generally so perhaps I'm not far away from it being fine with the pickups remaining where they are.

I'm hoping to give it a blast through my Rumble 800 at home in the next couple of days (when the neighbour has gone out!)

I keep my MFDs a little lower than the G&L specs call for...2 reasons. (1) To my ear, it sort of smooths the pickups out a little without losing articulation. (2) It seems to help add sustain because that strong magnet has slightly less effect on the string.

If you're overdriving the front end of a pedal or an amp, it will also help stop that, but I never have had that problem.

 

[eccles77]

With the L2000 & L2000 Tribute's MFD pickups being so powerful, has anyone found it necessary to lower their pickups rather than reducing the volume & tone controls? If so, by how much?

As yet I've only tried my new Tribute at home through my Boss GT1B effects unit, I've found I've had to reduce the volume on the bass slightly and reduced the bass control slightly (except for the bridge pickup soloed where I think it sounds better with the bass full up and in series mode).

I've spent a fair bit of time experimenting with all of the various switching and tone combinations and I am fairly happy with the tone settings that I've arrived at with the 3 pickup switching options, but (through the GT1B) I'm finding I like the Passive mode generally so perhaps I'm not far away from it being fine with the pickups remaining where they are.

I'm hoping to give it a blast through my Rumble 800 at home in the next couple of days (when the neighbour has gone out!)

I always ran the L2000 in passive with the volume around 75%. They were too hot for my amp at the time.

 

[MrB64]

I think it's great that you can lower the pole pieces on the MFDs, so they don't have to be too hot for an amp.

 

[Baker69]

I've just been looking at the pickup clearances in the G & L Owners Manual which I downloaded and it is showing "Rhythm" and "Lead" pickups for the bass, I'm assuming the Rhythm pickup is the neck pickup and Lead the bridge pickup?

 

[SJLee]

That looks A LOT like what my dorm room wall looked like back in 1982!

Although, it would still be a few decades before I finally started playing bass.

Just seeing this now. It was tempting to do the dorm room but we'd get dinged on our deposit for messing up the walls. Some guys filled them with toothpaste to pass inspection. Fortunately, my folks were gracious enough to allow me to hang album pictures and posters on the way at home.