G&L Club Part 7

[wrench45us]

looking at the rear of that bass, I see no string thru ferrules............

so does it look like 5 additional screws of some sort going through the holes in the bridge?
It doesn't look like G&L is daring to change the bridge design, just the mounting and/or options.


could be another opportunity for a DIY bridge mod drilling holes in the body to match up with the holes in the bridge and some hardware and we're back to string through option.

 

[seansbrew]

re: the bridge no longer string thru -- if you zoom over this 'new' 5 string model, doesn't it look like the old string through holes have some variation of the DIY aftermarket bridge mod?


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I have one of each. From what I understood they are/were going away from string thru body. The bridge is the same and unchanged. One version has wood screws going into the body thru the bridge. Another version has the strings going thru the body thru ferrules using the same countersunk holes as the one with the screws.

 

[Edmang]

Picked up an L-2000 from Music Store Live a few weeks ago. Has the K-mod. Love the look of the bass, especially the grain on the neck. Quarter sawn maybe? They were trying to get rid of the older models so had it priced low to begin with, but also had a 17% off sale. Couldn't resist getting it for under a grand new. Couldn't be happier. Still getting comfortable with all the settings.

 

[wrench45us]

Foolishly and impulsively I did not examine carefully the images on musicstorelive of the bass I swooned for
It will arrive at my door on Saturday. I am kind of partial to the string through cionfiguration.

It does look like it would be easy enough to modify the new configuration to the old as the bridge itself has not changed.

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[seansbrew]

Foolishly and impulsively I did not examine carefully the images on musicstorelive of the bass I swooned for
It will arrive at my door on Saturday. I am kind of partial to the string through cionfiguration.

It does look like it would be easy enough to modify the new configuration to the old as the bridge itself has not changed.

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Why do you want to do this?

 

[wrench45us]

I may not, or may not need to, but it took a while to find strings that really worked with the M2500 and when I did they went string through.

I'm thinking if it came to that, it wouldn't be difficult to do.
And there'd be no question about the integrity of the bridge to body juncture.

 

[Chef]

If you're going thru body, there's not worries. The strings aren't pulling on the bridge like that...
If you go strings on bridge, on a setup that does both, with only two screws holding the bridge on...maybe someday you have a problem, maybe.

 

[seansbrew]

With seven screws holding down the bridge there is no doubt, at least in my mind, as to the integrity of the bridge.
It is my understanding that, originally, g&l bolted the bridge down exactly the way yours will be coming to you when it was first designed.

Later, when all the rave was string thru body, they decided to run the strings thru the screw holes. They wanted to offer what everyone else was offering

There are many here that feel the bridge being bolted down with all the screws + the high mass + the bridge body contact + the saddle lock feature actually makes the bass sustain more than thru body stinging.

I installed screws in mine because I had a set of strings that were not long enough to go past the nut if I went thru the body.

 

[Chef]

Yessir; I understand all that.

 

[seansbrew]

I'm obsessed with G&l basses.

 

[68Goldfish]

Well, my new l2500 finally got here. I'll have to wait till Saturday to take some pics as it's already dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home.....

Black/Quarter sawn satin finished maple neck. Looks killer and sounds just like I remember my old tribute to sound like.
I actually sold that tribute because I got on a Music man SR5 kick. But to tell you the truth I always secretly thought that the B string sounded better and tighter on the tribby than on any of my U.S. MM's.

Anyway, the thing that struck me as odd was that the action was waaayyy high due to some serious neck relief. I was somewhat disapointed as I was looking forward to checking out what the plek treatment had to offer and I assumed it would come perfectly setup. I'm not really afraid of setting up my instruments but I figured since it traveled all across the country I'd wait a couple of days before making any adjustments other than tuning it up since it was slightly flat. After a couple of days had passed with no change in the neck relief I figured I'd make an adjustment and see how it reacted. I was super shocked to find that the truss rod was all the backed off. Loosey goosey. I've since made several adjustments creeping up on what seems to me to be a more reasonable amount of relief. Now not only does it sound great but it plays great too.

So, this makes me wonder if some dealers detune the strings and back off the truss rod for shipping, especially from coast to coast. Seems like it would be a little drastic to me. What do you all think?

I would like to do the K switching mod to this bass. Where are you guys sourcing your three way switches? I did the mod on the tribby l2500 where I changed the series setting to single coil but I'd like to keep the series on this one and use a three way switch.

Pics will be forthcoming!

 

[SlugThrower]

With seven screws holding down the bridge there is no doubt, at least in my mind, as to the integrity of the bridge.
It is my understanding that, originally, g&l bolted the bridge down exactly the way yours will be coming to you when it was first designed.

Later, when all the rave was string thru body, they decided to run the strings thru the screw holes. They wanted to offer what everyone else was offering

There are many here that feel the bridge being bolted down with all the screws + the high mass + the bridge body contact + the saddle lock feature actually makes the bass sustain more than thru body stinging.

I installed screws in mine because I had a set of strings that were not long enough to go past the nut if I went thru the body.

I love my 2014 L2500 that came stock without the string through option. I was surprised at first when I got it custom from Bass NW, but was quickly pleased when I got it back home and had a chance to play it.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'll have to wait till Saturday to take some pics as it's already dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home.....

They've got this cool thing you can use to illuminate dark spaces...

Just kidding!

 

[68Goldfish]

Yeah, but it's just not the same!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Sometimes the flash make them prettier.

 

[SlugThrower]

No string through body. Like I said earlier, I didn't know they had switched when I custom ordered it, but I think my next G&L 5-string will have the same option. After comparing my two L2500s, the string through option didn't added anything to the sustain or string tension. Personally, I think it sounds and plays better this way!

 

[jefff100]

No string through body. Like I said earlier, I didn't know they had switched when I custom ordered it, but I think my next G&L 5-string will have the same option. After comparing my two L2500s, the string through option didn't added anything to the sustain or string tension. Personally, I think it sounds and plays better this way!
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Top loading the strjngs on the bridge in the traditional fashion will certainly give you a wider range of string options.

The past week has been a circus trying to get a set of flats to fit my L-1505, that has the bridge & body drilled out to be a string through design.

 

[Lowendtech]

Top loading the strjngs on the bridge in the traditional fashion will certainly give you a wider range of string options.

The past week has been a circus trying to get a set of flats to fit my L-1505, that has the bridge & body drilled out to be a string through design.

La Bella 760FM-CB-TB through body.
How bout these?

 

[Chef]

MJ5 gig report:
came set up exceptionally well. it played great.
fit and finish are very nice.

however: despite whatever shielding it has (didn't open it and look) and the split coil J pickups; it was buzzy.

the neck is narrow, but deep, making it feel "more P than J."

the blend knob does nothing other than 1 degree off center: no nuance to be had.

the eq does stuff, but, at least in the case of this individual bass, in my hands, not in a very musical way.

there was no "jaco bridge tone" to be had, by me. which is a pretty big bummer in a J bass.

very, very middy; and the treble end of things feels very compressed. not open and airy. not much resemblance to the single coil J thing I like. could be that DA XL170 are a poor string choice for J bass tone. could be empress as a body wood "just does that." could be this individual bass...I played several variants of Sadowsky J5 before I landed on one I've kept for years and years.

different basses do different things in different peoples hands; so, while the MJ5, and this one in particular, may be a great thing for some folks, I'm sending it back: nice to have approval periods.

 

[dtsamples]

Sorry it didn't work out, but thanks for the honest review. I would've been extremely frustrated finding no extremes with the pan pot.