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So, I just stopped into G&L today and had a little chat with Memo.
My new SB-2 had a couple of frets where the end of the fret did not reach the edge of the fretboard, maybe about the width of a business card from the edge on the E side up at the 19th fret or so. Didn't impact playing, but once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it. Frankly, I might have learned to live with it if I had to go through much trouble to get it back to G&L, but they're close and it was a good excuse to stick my head in. So I took it in about 7 weeks ago. Memo was even more critical about the fretwork that I was, especially concerning the taper of the fret ends and a little roughness that I hadn't noticed. All in, they made a new neck and did some spectacular fretwork on it. Not thrilled that it took as long as it did, but in the end, it came out great. Memo is a super nice guy, really wanted to make sure I was happy with it, and we got into a little conversation about gear, checked out a Wunkay he had in the shop, etc.
Coincidentally there was a JB on the bench, which gave me good excuse to ask about the MFD J pickups. The gist of it is that they're still prototyping them, and the issue that they're having is with the height. MFDs require magnets under the pickup and the J pickup design doesn't allow for wide, flat coils, so they are having trouble getting things to have a low enough profile for their liking. They're targeting early-to-mid 2023 to have them available, possibly in a new model (he didn't offer details about that).
Oh, and there was talk about a .750 Tribute L-2500, too...
My new SB-2 had a couple of frets where the end of the fret did not reach the edge of the fretboard, maybe about the width of a business card from the edge on the E side up at the 19th fret or so. Didn't impact playing, but once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it. Frankly, I might have learned to live with it if I had to go through much trouble to get it back to G&L, but they're close and it was a good excuse to stick my head in. So I took it in about 7 weeks ago. Memo was even more critical about the fretwork that I was, especially concerning the taper of the fret ends and a little roughness that I hadn't noticed. All in, they made a new neck and did some spectacular fretwork on it. Not thrilled that it took as long as it did, but in the end, it came out great. Memo is a super nice guy, really wanted to make sure I was happy with it, and we got into a little conversation about gear, checked out a Wunkay he had in the shop, etc.
Coincidentally there was a JB on the bench, which gave me good excuse to ask about the MFD J pickups. The gist of it is that they're still prototyping them, and the issue that they're having is with the height. MFDs require magnets under the pickup and the J pickup design doesn't allow for wide, flat coils, so they are having trouble getting things to have a low enough profile for their liking. They're targeting early-to-mid 2023 to have them available, possibly in a new model (he didn't offer details about that).
Oh, and there was talk about a .750 Tribute L-2500, too...
I was also told next year for the MFD J pickups when I called a couple of months ago.
Depending on the colors, I am in trouble if there is a tribute 750 L-2500.
I guess I know who to contact the next time I need some info from G&L!..."Hey, can you swing by and ask Memo about...?"So, I just stopped into G&L today and had a little chat with Memo.
+1 @TDR1138. I'd like to know what's taking them so long to respond back to my sweetwater rep about putting in my option order. He submitted the build but says he's waiting for the build pricing?
Thank you sir. I have a Traynor YBA 200 which I believe is easy to OD (reading Ken's comments about the L2000 easily OD'ing some amp's, on other TB posts - some years ago). With all the L2K controls max'd and with the YBA factor, this may be why. I am not talking massive mud, but enough to notice on the bass PUP solo'd.
I freaking love this bass! G&L are way underrated IMHO. Imagine having a beer with Leo, what a mind he had!
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Anyone use a digital or analogue read out to gauge PUP height? Bear with me....:
Using my MAC with some software (tuner): As a test if I put the PUPs WAY up so they're stupid close to the strings, then try to tune, the gauge is all over the place. Hard to tune. As I steadily bring the PUP(s) down the gauge stabilizes. So if I tune my E string, or try to, with the PUP way high it visually swings left and right. When lowered you can visually see it staying stable / in tune. In my mind that's telling me the PUP magnets are backed off enough that it rings the note out in a stable way.
Am I mad or does this have some credibility?
Using my MAC with some software (tuner): As a test if I put the PUPs WAY up so they're stupid close to the strings, then try to tune, the gauge is all over the place. Hard to tune. As I steadily bring the PUP(s) down the gauge stabilizes. So if I tune my E string, or try to, with the PUP way high it visually swings left and right. When lowered you can visually see it staying stable / in tune. In my mind that's telling me the PUP magnets are backed off enough that it rings the note out in a stable way.
Am I mad or does this have some credibility?
The magnets exert pull on the strings, which is probably why the tuner is going crazy when the strings are too close. The strings are being affected way to much by the pickup magnets. That can also affect sustain because a magnet too close to the strings will stop them from vibrating and keep them from ringing out.
If they haven't taken your money yet, consider yourself lucky. You are in the throes of the G&L option order experience, but because you haven't paid, you still have time to reconsider. There's a bunch of G&L basses that are available on line, used or new, where you won't have to deal with G&L directly. I would suggest you consider them, before things go much further. Once they have your money, the G&L option order experience intensifies. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. But they have your money, so there's not much that can be done.
I ordered an option order bass from them. It was probably the worst decision I've made in my entire bass playing career. But I also own 7 other G&L basses, that I bought used. They are great! I'm so happy I have them. But I would never buy option order. Fortunately, I only did that once.
As fun as it is popping in there, sorry, but I'm not shaking the tree for others' orders.
Unless they make me a dealer.
But then I have to work and sell stuff.
I've had mostly older or prebuilt instruments from them. My SB-2 was my first option order, and I didn't think the process was bad at all. Yeah, the build time was a little slow, but that was when everything was moving slow with all the delays and backlogs and everything. So I could be patient. And they were very responsive to my dealer (Rocket Music) and even let me change the neck finish specs while I was still in the queue. So not a bad experience at all. The only hang up was my aforementioned fret issue.
@mmbass21 I would think Sweetwater would have enough clout and volume to get attention from them, but perhaps try a different dealer?
I didn't ask and it didn't get mentioned. But I'd think that if they're getting enough of a response to the 750 that they're working on a Tribute, I wouldn't be surprised if the M was on their radar. Though I doubt the M does nearly the sales volume of the L.
Hmmmmmm, I have a YBA-200 and a few G&Ls, and while I can overdrive the YBA's preamp when I want to, it's not something that I've ever noticed happening unintentionally, even with my SB-2s, which are even hotter than my L2k.
I appreciate the feedback. With sweetwater you don't have to put anything down with a credit card on file for the order. If you use your sweetwater card they will start charging you immediately based on the payment plan which is 36 months right now.
I may go to another dealer but now your info scares me. I feel safer with the way sweetwater does it. As much as used would be the way to go, I want Andromeda and single coil mode. I'm more than comfortable waiting, I've waited 20 months for a bass before, didn't love that but it was worth it.
Honestly I'm really annoyed with sweetwater over it. First their pdf doesn't specify what the standard options are, I had to tell them from the G&L site. Then there's no prices on the options. So he has to pick everything then submit it to G&L for pricing. G&L emailed back thanking him for the order request and they'll write back with a price shortly. Been over a week now. If it wasn't for the 36 months I'd be with another dealer. The 36 months ends at the end of the month so they have 1 more week.
This is very helpful, thank you. Also leans me to rocket, I want empress!
That's a shame. I STILL have trouble understanding why G&L changed to the "Option Order" "Fullerton Deluxe" "Custom Shop" scenario.
I've had (2) G&L's ordered in the past from an Independent Dealer wherein I picked the available finish, neck, tint, fretboard, binding etc. They both were built fairly rapidly and were both flawless.
It's sad to hear that it might be an issue getting the bass you want built from them now.
BTW- I priced out a Custom Shop build fairly recently (for a SB-1; w/ nothing too exotic). I thought the cost was crazy high, even with todays inflation
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