G&L Club Part 7

[TDR1138]

Curiosity got the better of me, so I pulled out my SB-2t to see, and lo and behold, the E and A strings were doing what @jglunt was referring to.

I loosened the string just enough that I could wiggle the wraps around the post a little and wedged a pick in between the lowest wrap and the part of the string leading out to the nut. Used it as a guide to separate the strings as I retightened it.

And voila. Much better.

 

[metron]

Very early L series used Schaller tuners with straight posts. I'm not sure when the G&L tapered posts arrived, but someone here does. …around 2000, I'd guess.

I think at some point in the early 80s. I have vague recollection that the '83 L2000 I had used tapered posts but I sold it a long time ago. My late 80s SB1 has them.

 

[TomB]

I think at some point in the early 80s. I have vague recollection that the '83 L2000 I had used tapered posts but I sold it a long time ago. My late 80s SB1 has them.

Huh! My '89 SB-2 does not.

 

[metron]

Huh! My '89 SB-2 does not.

Interesting. Are they schallers? I wonder if they used them on and off over the years. My '80 l1000 definitely had straight post schallers.

 

[TomB]

Interesting. Are they schallers? I wonder if they used them on and off over the years. My '80 l1000 definitely had straight post schallers.

I think so, but I'll check. I think they're the same as on my '80 L1000.

 

[jglunt]

Sounds like typical G&L "Grab some out of that bin over there" assembly. It's both frustrating and endearing.

 

[jglunt]

To pull off down a side road with this discussion, who is their supplier of these tuners nowadays?

 

[Rogulus]

Interesting. Are they schallers? I wonder if they used them on and off over the years. My '80 l1000 definitely had straight post schallers.

My 82 L1K has tapered posts. They have the G&L stamp on them but I believe they are schallers.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

Interesting. Are they schallers? I wonder if they used them on and off over the years. My '80 l1000 definitely had straight post schallers.

Found pictures of my early L-2000 series E (with pre-lawsuit headstock) -- looks like straight-post Schallers:

 

[Murch]

To pull off down a side road with this discussion, who is their supplier of these tuners nowadays?

I believe the tuners are made by Ping now and in my opinion are inferior quality to the Schallers they used to use.

 

[ahbass2500]

I believe the tuners are made by Ping now and in my opinion are inferior quality to the Schallers they used to use.

They certainly fail more frequently. I have had 2 with the tuning key vibration issue. Cheap (or free if under warranty) to replace, but would rather have a higher quality part that is less likely to fail.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I mentioned having found a pg maker who stocks a warmer "ivory pearl" — here's the comparison against the regular sort

Think it'll go well with my SB-1's Pharaoh Gold

 

[Iridescentone]

Sounds like typical G&L "Grab some out of that bin over there" assembly. It's both frustrating and endearing.

Remember ~ the early 2000's when they apparently ran out of G&L-badged tuners, and sub'd with Hipshots for a while?...and right around the same time they mounted the tuners on an angle (ala Warwick) on a buncha basses? That didn't last long, I wonder who's brain storm that was. I guess sometimes they get a wild hair up their ass and go berserk! lol

 

[jglunt]

I believe the tuners are made by Ping now and in my opinion are inferior quality to the Schallers they used to use.

Ping?? You mean the golf club people? No wonder I have a hard time re-stringing basses with these tuners on them. I'm terrible at golf.

 

[Iridescentone]

Ping?? You mean the golf club people? No wonder I have a hard time re-stringing basses with these tuners on them. I'm terrible at golf.

Weren't Karsten Solheim and Dave McLaren members at the same country club in an alternate universe?...that would explain sooo much.

 

[Iridescentone]

They certainly fail more frequently. I have had 2 with the tuning key vibration issue. Cheap (or free if under warranty) to replace, but would rather have a higher quality part that is less likely to fail.

Recently I bought a used set of G&L tuners, and an NOS set off ebay, to replace the heavier, reverse-wind stock Hipshots that came on D. Lakin basses. Both G&L sets had a couple loose paddles.

"Newer" G&L tuners have a pin that holds the paddles in place. Instead of using CA glue (never liked that idea), I learned that tapping that pin with a small nail set & hammer solves the loose paddle issue. It remains to be seen if they stay fixed.

 

[jglunt]

Recently I bought a used set of G&L tuners, and an NOS set off ebay, to replace the heavier, reverse-wind stock Hipshots that came on D. Lakin basses. Both G&L sets had a couple loose paddles.

"Newer" G&L tuners have a pin that holds the paddles in place. Instead of using CA glue (never liked that idea), I learned that tapping that pin with a small nail set & hammer solves the loose paddle issue. It remains to be seen if they stay fixed.

View attachment 5081571

Good advice to try. Thanks. So far, my CA repair on the ones I put on my Tribute L2500 is holding, but you never know.

 

[Iridescentone]

Good advice to try. Thanks. So far, my CA repair on the ones I put on my Tribute L2500 is holding, but you never know.

Yeah if mine come loose again I'll go with the glue. Funny, these newer G&L tuners are the first ever to have loose paddles for me on any bass. I used to hear about the issue over the years, but figured it must be a pretty rare occurrence. Not so sure now with G&L....do I see a pattern emerging as the fog is slowly lifting? Maybe. Hope not.

 

[jglunt]

Yeah if mine come loose again I'll go with the glue. Funny, these newer G&L tuners are the first ever to have loose paddles for me on any bass. I used to hear about the issue over the years, but figured it must be a pretty rare occurrence. Not so sure now with G&L....do I see a pattern emerging as the fog is slowly lifting? Maybe. Hope not.

I don't think it happens often, but like you , I've never had it happen at all until these Ping tuners.

 

[svtbass]

Remember ~ the early 2000's when they apparently ran out of G&L-badged tuners, and sub'd with Hipshots for a while?...and right around the same time they mounted the tuners on an angle (ala Warwick) on a buncha basses? That didn't last long, I wonder who's brain storm that was. I guess sometimes they get a wild hair up their ass and go berserk! lol

Hipshots on my 2007 SB2 fretless. Superior tuners weighing the same as G&L ultralights. I'd prefer them on all my G&L's which currently have ultralights including vintage models.