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Most online dealers have them new. Most meaning GC/MF/WWBW, American Musical, ZZounds, and Sam Ash. They even have a few colors other than black and white now.
That's interesting. Gibson/Epiphone certainly doesn't carry any parts for them. I have a Spirit XT-25 that I thought might need a new pickup. Since no aftermarket pickup exists for the 5-string, I called Gibson. They told me none were available. Luckily, I was able to repair the problem. If no pickups are available for them, I wonder how are they still manufacturing those? My guess is that they're just selling off old stock.
When was this? I just saw an article that makes it sound like they brought them back in 2020.
Steinberger Spirit XT-25 Standard review
I bought mine in May 2020, but it was a refurb with the front digits of the SN stamped out. I spent a couple months looking in vain for a pickup beginning about a year ago. I think those Spirits are like this Tribute M2000. It's selling as a new one, but G&L hasn't made a Tribute M2000 in years. I asked the seller about it. He said back in 2017 G&L offered him a gross of them at a really great deal, so he took it. He's still selling them off five years later.
G&L Tribute M2000 Bass | Reverb
I'd say the same. I bought a 2012 M2000 a couple of years ago marked as used but upon further inspection I'd call it either a very seldom played demo or NOS. I couldn't find any signs of wear at all.
Anyone have an empress bodied bass by G&L? Wonder how the tone is. The ones I see online look like they still use a nice finish on them. Other brands keep them mat. I also wonder how soft the G&L ones are.
Thanks!
Thanks!
From my own experience it's a pretty soft wood but once they put several coats of paint and poly on the body there's a lot of other stuff between surface and wood. I've never had any major issues with softer body woods.
My thoughts on the concept of tonewood are rather overshadowed by my thoughts on string and pickup choices, but I did once go in search of an opinion on the tonal qualities of Empress, and was pleased to find that what I read appealed to my tastes:
"In most cases, paulownia/empresswood is easy to work. Care should be taken when finishing the coarse grain. The wood is soft and liable to dent. It's relatively stable and glues, stains, and finishes well.
"Since this tonewood is rather easy to dent (due to its softness), it can be a good idea to laminate it with a harder wood top
"Paulownia/empresswood has a warm tone with lots of character in the mid-range. Its high-end is a bit subdued, though its overtone profile is rich across the audible spectrum. Its low-end is well-defined and maintains good sustain.
"Paulownia's low density and superb stability makes it a great choice for electric bass bodies as well. Its rich midrange can bring out the important first few hamornics of the bass tone and the low-end is pronounced, allowing the fundamentals to resonate nicely"
Overall the article seemed more enthusiastic about its use in basses than guitars.
In my own experiences with wooden objects (and metal ones for that matter) the deciding factor in how they look after spending time with me is not the material they're made from, but the amount of care I choose to treat them with (or not)
"In most cases, paulownia/empresswood is easy to work. Care should be taken when finishing the coarse grain. The wood is soft and liable to dent. It's relatively stable and glues, stains, and finishes well.
"Since this tonewood is rather easy to dent (due to its softness), it can be a good idea to laminate it with a harder wood top
"Paulownia/empresswood has a warm tone with lots of character in the mid-range. Its high-end is a bit subdued, though its overtone profile is rich across the audible spectrum. Its low-end is well-defined and maintains good sustain.
"Paulownia's low density and superb stability makes it a great choice for electric bass bodies as well. Its rich midrange can bring out the important first few hamornics of the bass tone and the low-end is pronounced, allowing the fundamentals to resonate nicely"
Overall the article seemed more enthusiastic about its use in basses than guitars.
In my own experiences with wooden objects (and metal ones for that matter) the deciding factor in how they look after spending time with me is not the material they're made from, but the amount of care I choose to treat them with (or not)
I have an Empress LB-100 and it sounds great. A lot of punch! No issues with the finish, yes apparently it's a soft wood but I haven't dinged mine yet.
Balance on strap is ok, a tad neck heavy but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The sheer lightness of it makes it so nice during long practices.
I recommend Empress!
Balance on strap is ok, a tad neck heavy but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The sheer lightness of it makes it so nice during long practices.
I recommend Empress!
My empress L-1000 is one of my favorite basses. I haven't noticed it being any more prone to denting than any other
of my basses. I love the sound of it, plenty of presence in all the frequencies, and I had surmised the warmth of the sound to be largely from the alnico (not MFD) pickup. But from Ricky's post, it seems the wood contibutes a great deal to that warm midrange sound, as well. The 7.5 pound weight has spoiled me, and I would love to order a Kiloton in empress, if it didn't cost an additional fortune to get one without a pickguard.
of my basses. I love the sound of it, plenty of presence in all the frequencies, and I had surmised the warmth of the sound to be largely from the alnico (not MFD) pickup. But from Ricky's post, it seems the wood contibutes a great deal to that warm midrange sound, as well. The 7.5 pound weight has spoiled me, and I would love to order a Kiloton in empress, if it didn't cost an additional fortune to get one without a pickguard.
Do tell about that pickup please?
Do you notice any loss in the lows with the empress?
I hear Punchy as a description of empress a lot. Would you say it lacks low end? I know it's subjective, but how would you describe Punchy? Thanks!
Tha
The Sandberg Super Light basses are paulownia/empresswood and as much care is taken, they sent very, very easily. They also do not have much of a finish coat as well.
I'm glad to see the G&L's can have a regular finish.
I've heard these basses described as punchy. I'm assuming this means bright? Also heard they lack a bit of low end.
Would love to hear otherwise. Im looking into a JB5 in empress but would also like a lightweight swamp ash. Looking for a Unicorn. Might need to order it up.
Thanks for the response!
The Sandberg Super Light basses are paulownia/empresswood and as much care is taken, they sent very, very easily. They also do not have much of a finish coat as well.
I'm glad to see the G&L's can have a regular finish.
I've heard these basses described as punchy. I'm assuming this means bright? Also heard they lack a bit of low end.
Would love to hear otherwise. Im looking into a JB5 in empress but would also like a lightweight swamp ash. Looking for a Unicorn. Might need to order it up.
To me the term "punchy" usually indicates more prominence is the mids and low mids and not necessarily brighter. I call it mid-forward in the same way that a Kilo is mid-forward. Pickups. electronics, and pickup position would have more to do with that than anything else.
I had an empress JB-5 for awhile, and while I only played it once with a band, I thought it sounded fantastic, much like the alder Fender Jazz V I had owned before. I thought it had plenty of low end, and a decent B string too. I wouldn't hesitate to order empress for any G&L bass.
For a five-string, I'd recommend paying extra for a quartersawn neck, because the extra rigidity is helpful IMO. I have these on my M-2500 and JB (four), and I think they're great.
My LB-100 has more than enough low-end, trust me. I sometimes have to cut the lows a bit depending which amp I'm playing.
To me, punch means responsive, the notes jump out…
To me, punch means responsive, the notes jump out…
Thanks!
I love my quartsawn neck on my JB. I will be adding that to the order if I order. That and a 12" radius.
The M-2500 is on my list to try as well.
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