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G&L Club Part 7

#24,101
funkmaster p said:
Isn't there more string energy over the neck pickup due to the increased string travel distance?
Click to expand...
Yes, you are correct. I got that reversed. There is definitely more energy in strings over the neck pickup. Sorry for that mix up. I knew what I wanted to say and said the opposite. I hate it when that happens! Thanks for catching that!
 
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#24,103
Thanks JGLunt. I had thought the neck PUP might always feel more powerful because it's more bassy, due to its location. But a pro on youtube was talking about PUP volume balance, so wasn't sure, unless I misunderstood somehow. I am still only 3 years into bass playing I definitely appreciate affirmation / clarification.

I may just end up taking it to my local store. I've just been playing it on another cab, a more tighter / bassy cab. The PUP measurements I noted above now seem way too high. I tightened the neck and it's not moved. I am only doing 1/8 turns and leaving it for a bit after tuning the stings again. The hum is a bit less now the PUPs are lower. But it is isolated to the bridge PUP. Will try a different amp / plug.
 
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#24,105
Holdsg said:
could some one please enlighten me? I seem to recall, but maybe I was just fantasizing, some discussion about the G&L boys working on an MFD type of pickup, but in a jazz bass format/housing. Was that a fantasy?
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Not a fantasy, but also not released to date.
 
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#24,107
I've noticed G&L doesn't just produce/release a pickup. All their pickups go on a bass they make. I needed a soapbar for a non-G&L bass. I would've loved an MFD, but G&L doesn't make a bass with a soapbar pickup, so I had to look elsewhere. So until they're ready to release a new bass with those pickups, I doubt we'll see one.
 
#24,110
Jackcrow said:
Looks like one with MFD Jazz pickups was sold here on TB

SOLD - G&L Jazz - MFD Jazz Pickups!
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In the description it sounds like either a custom shop build or an aftermarket mod done specifically by G&L. In other words, those pickups were either specifically wound for that bass or G&L adapted the bass to accept the single coil that goes in the SB-2. Maybe more info is available from the seller?? Or maybe if you're willing to get a custom shop build, you can have one of your very own.
 
#24,111
jglunt said:
In the description it sounds like either a custom shop build or an aftermarket mod done specifically by G&L. In other words, those pickups were either specifically wound for that bass or G&L adapted the bass to accept the single coil that goes in the SB-2. Maybe more info is available from the seller?? Or maybe if you're willing to get a custom shop build, you can have one of your very own.
Click to expand...

Yeah kind of strange. I'm not sure if they were ever listed as an option for an option order or custom shop. The only thing I can think of is that they weren't very impressed with the prototypes so they never fully offered them.
 
#24,112
Someone asked on the official forum back in March. Here are snippets of two of the replies

Screenshot_20220620-234049_Chrome.jpg

Screenshot_20220620-234121_Chrome.jpg


Whole thread is here
 
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#24,113
jglunt said:
I'm not an authority on basses, just an old fart with years of experience who tries to be helpful. I'll try to make some recommendations based on what works for me. You may feel free to disregard them. The newer Tribute truss rods are dual action. I don't know when G&L switched to this. but I would think the dual action truss rods would affect neck relief immediately, and while there might be some slight changes the next day while it "settles in" with string pressure on it, you should see some help more quickly than that. Of course, not all "new" Tributes seem to have recent necks. In a post above, we saw an example of a player who bought a new Tribute with a neck whose serial number indicated it was from 2010. There's nothing wrong with that as long as it's not a used neck being represented as new, but you might have a neck with a single action truss rod. Nothing wrong with that, either. Instruments used them for years. Adjust either one in small increments--may 1/8th turn--and be patient.

A volume difference between neck and bridge pickups is normal as there is simply more energy in the string vibrations where they pass over the bridge pickup than over the neck pickup. This is more critical in basses like the L-series basses that do not have separate volume controls or a blend control. I try to get my levels as close as possible by adjusting pickup height. I've only been semi-successful that way, but that's acceptable to me. And I'm careful not to sacrifice the tone of the neck pickup by adjusting it too far down. Better to deal with some volume imbalance than to negatively affect the tone, IMO.

These are humbucking pickups. There should be no hum. I no longer own my Tribute L-series basses, but I never remember any hum in them. Try plugging it in to a different amp. Also, try doing it in a different room or in a different building entirely if possible. If the hum is still there, I recommend having a reliable luthier check it out or doing it yourself if you feel qualified. Also, consider shielding at least the control cavity with copper tape. Though most Tributes are shielded using shielding paint, the tape is better and easy to use.
https://www.amazon.com/Kirecoo-Conductive-Shielding-Electrical-Grounding/dp/B09Z6F9RFG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1RUQ57GHZ4ZM5&keywords=copper+shielding+tape&qid=1655745942&sprefix=copper+shielding+tape,aps,122&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFRVk1IQzhRWDhWWjYmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1NjA5Njc4RUFRWEczNDE0WlAmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDE2MDg3MjFZOFA2WEVZUlRCWDMmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
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I'm making some good progress, thanks for the advice. I went back to step 1 and set the relief (again). Then lowered the strings to buzz levels and then raised them to taste. Now I am back on the pickups. For the neck PUP I now have it pretty low. If I have it up higher I can definitely hear the amp get pushed into overdrive. Even at the low level I have it now I can still hear some OD. The bridge is a bit higher. I think it's ok for now.

Not sure there's a right or wrong answer to this but when adjusting PUP height would you have your compressor in the input chain or not? I am thinking not. Thinking to keep it as clean as possible then add it back in the mix as it were. But as I generally have it always on maybe it'd make sense?

Lastly can you verbalize the sound of the PUP on the treble side, if it were too high. I think for the bass side it's fairly obvious in that it'll muddy and distort. But these L2000's seem really bright, so I am not totally sure what sound is too high, if you see what I mean.
 
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#24,114
Alex-Thompson said:
I'm making some good progress, thanks for the advice. I went back to step 1 and set the relief (again). Then lowered the strings to buzz levels and then raised them to taste. Now I am back on the pickups. For the neck PUP I now have it pretty low. If I have it up higher I can definitely hear the amp get pushed into overdrive. Even at the low level I have it now I can still hear some OD. The bridge is a bit higher. I think it's ok for now.

Not sure there's a right or wrong answer to this but when adjusting PUP height would you have your compressor in the input chain or not? I am thinking not. Thinking to keep it as clean as possible then add it back in the mix as it were. But as I generally have it always on maybe it'd make sense?

Lastly can you verbalize the sound of the PUP on the treble side, if it were too high. I think for the bass side it's fairly obvious in that it'll muddy and distort. But these L2000's seem really bright, so I am not totally sure what sound is too high, if you see what I mean.
Click to expand...
This may not be helpful or you may already know it, but a lot of G&L players keep their volume control well below max. It can help solve many distortion issues at the source. …same with the tone controls.
 
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#24,115
TomB said:
This may not be helpful or you may already know it, but a lot of G&L players keep their volume control well below max. It can help solve many distortion issues at the source. …same with the tone controls.
Click to expand...
Ah. Good point. I have been trying to set it up in passive mode, serial mode and the tone / vol max'd. My thinking was I can roll off any excess bass, treble but I didn't really consider the vol'
 
#24,116
Alex-Thompson said:
I'm making some good progress, thanks for the advice. I went back to step 1 and set the relief (again). Then lowered the strings to buzz levels and then raised them to taste. Now I am back on the pickups. For the neck PUP I now have it pretty low. If I have it up higher I can definitely hear the amp get pushed into overdrive. Even at the low level I have it now I can still hear some OD. The bridge is a bit higher. I think it's ok for now.

Not sure there's a right or wrong answer to this but when adjusting PUP height would you have your compressor in the input chain or not? I am thinking not. Thinking to keep it as clean as possible then add it back in the mix as it were. But as I generally have it always on maybe it'd make sense?

Lastly can you verbalize the sound of the PUP on the treble side, if it were too high. I think for the bass side it's fairly obvious in that it'll muddy and distort. But these L2000's seem really bright, so I am not totally sure what sound is too high, if you see what I mean.
Click to expand...
I don't understand why you're having distortion issues. None of my MFD equipped basses have been so overpowering that they distorted anything. As far as a compressor, I've never really cared for one when playing live, so I can't really tell you what it might do to a compressor. But as I said, if G&L was building basses that caused a bunch of distortion, they wouldn't be in business long. I think your distortion issue has to be caused by something other than the bass. Does your amp have a pad you can kick in? I'd just adjust the pickups up around specs and keep the volume backed off slightly. Should be OK.
 
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#24,117
Jackcrow said:
Yeah kind of strange. I'm not sure if they were ever listed as an option for an option order or custom shop. The only thing I can think of is that they weren't very impressed with the prototypes so they never fully offered them.
Click to expand...

So, did they ever say what exactly those pickups are supposed to be?...s/c?...duals? I'm thinking if they're just clones of the v2 SB-2 bridge pickup, but in a jazz housing they'd sound like ass.

OTOH, if they actually managed to recreate the original Lynx/SB-2 v1 pickups...that would be something. And if they weren't impressed by those pickups then maybe they need their ears checked.

Long since discontinued (naturally) like the fabulous Peavey Super Ferrites, one could build a bass around a pair of these MFD singles. I'd do just that if I could find a pair for sale.

upload_2022-6-20_20-18-59.jpeg
 
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#24,119
bullitproof said:
Long since discontinued (naturally) like the fabulous Peavey Super Ferrites, one could build a bass around a pair of these MFD singles. I'd do just that if I could find a pair for sale.

I did that with a Warmoth body and it turned out great.
View attachment 4726687
Click to expand...

Mucho gusto! That's one way to solve the lefty problem. :thumbsup:

I see you kept the 3-way toggle setup, too.
 
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