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G&L Club Part 7

I would never tell someone not to get an L-2000, but have you considered a different G&L, like a L-1000 or Kiloton?

^This. I would be more likely to try a slightly different G&L rather than doing the L2500/L2000 pairing. An L-1000, Kiloton, SB1 or SB2 is where I would go if I were getting a 4 string to go with an L2500. You could also consider another 5 string if you do the L1000 Series 750 or Kiloton.
 
The USA preamp in the G&L online store indicates that v1.3 is the current USA version of the preamp board. I'm not sure if they use the same PCB for Tributes?

One other thing that can be a Tribute giveaway is the washers used on the mini toggle switches. See how the red switch to the right has a little tab on it? That's a Tribute tell. The USA ones usually have flat washers.

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Could you answer an important question for me? I'm still not sure about my L2500. Is the 1.3 preamp the Tribute preamp?
My preamp is NOT the 1.3. It just says bass preamp. I think that means I have a US preamp, right?

And thank you so much for helping me!

Can you post pictures of the bass? There are other ways to tell US versus Tribute that photos will help with. An easy one is that the neck bolts on Tributes are black. Another easy one is that any US G&L prior to CNC should have dowel fill "birthmarks" on the headstock and body (if transparent finish).
 
This is it...
 

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This is it...

String through body bridge that is stamped G&L instead of Tribute. That should be US. They had string through bridges on early Tributes but those were also labeled Tribute. I have a G&L Catalog that shows a Tribute with G&L stamped string through bridge, but the same catalog also shows Tribute stamped string through bridges. It would have been a smaller number of them due to the timing of transition away from string through bridge and when the Tribute branding was removed. The string through Tribute L2500 with G&L stamped bridge was Blueburst or Carved top (so no sunburst of any kind).

The other giveaway that it is US is the burst. Never seen that much red in a Tribute one. Looks like three tone sunburst which I do not recall being offered on a Tribute L2500 other than the Japanese made Tributes which are incredibly rare in the US. Noting other Tributes have been made in 3 tone sunburst.

Edit: Corrected some information after flipping through some of my G&L catalogs
 
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String through body bridge that is stamped G&L instead of Tribute. That should be US. They had string through bridges on early Tributes but those were also labeled tribute. I have a G&L Catalog that shows a Tribute with G&L stamped string through bridge, but the same catalog also shows Tribute stamped string through bridges. It would have been a smaller number of them due to the timing of transition away from string through bridge and when the Tribute branding was removed. The string through Tribute L2500 with G&L stamped bridge was Blueburst or Carved top (so no sunburst of any kind).

The other giveaway that it is US is the burst. Never seen that much red in a Tribute one. Looks like three tone sunburst which I do not recall being offered on a Tribute L2500 other than the Japanese made Tributes which are incredibly rare in the US. Noting other Tributes have been made in 3 tone sunburst.

Edit: Corrected some information after flipping through some of my G&L catalogs
Thank you so much!
 
String through body bridge that is stamped G&L instead of Tribute. That should be US. They had string through bridges on early Tributes but those were also labeled Tribute. I have a G&L Catalog that shows a Tribute with G&L stamped string through bridge, but the same catalog also shows Tribute stamped string through bridges. It would have been a smaller number of them due to the timing of transition away from string through bridge and when the Tribute branding was removed. The string through Tribute L2500 with G&L stamped bridge was Blueburst or Carved top (so no sunburst of any kind).

The other giveaway that it is US is the burst. Never seen that much red in a Tribute one. Looks like three tone sunburst which I do not recall being offered on a Tribute L2500 other than the Japanese made Tributes which are incredibly rare in the US. Noting other Tributes have been made in 3 tone sunburst.

Edit: Corrected some information after flipping through some of my G&L catalogs
Thank you!
 
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String through body bridge that is stamped G&L instead of Tribute. That should be US. They had string through bridges on early Tributes but those were also labeled Tribute. I have a G&L Catalog that shows a Tribute with G&L stamped string through bridge, but the same catalog also shows Tribute stamped string through bridges. It would have been a smaller number of them due to the timing of transition away from string through bridge and when the Tribute branding was removed. The string through Tribute L2500 with G&L stamped bridge was Blueburst or Carved top (so no sunburst of any kind).

The other giveaway that it is US is the burst. Never seen that much red in a Tribute one. Looks like three tone sunburst which I do not recall being offered on a Tribute L2500 other than the Japanese made Tributes which are incredibly rare in the US. Noting other Tributes have been made in 3 tone sunburst.

Edit: Corrected some information after flipping through some of my G&L catalogs
Will the body heel have a dowel like the head stock?
 
Found another Blue Burst G&L. Hopefully the neck on this one will be okay. 1996 L2000 Blue Burst with original molded case. Pictures are seller's in the advertisement. Don't have the maple binding which I wish it had,but the blue burst finish on the G&l's catch my eye. Will post more pictures when gets here maybe Monday?
 

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Found another Blue Burst G&L. Hopefully the neck on this one will be okay. 1996 L2000 Blue Burst with original molded case. Pictures are seller's in the advertisement. Don't have the maple binding which I wish it had,but the blue burst finish on the G&l's catch my eye. Will post more pictures when gets here maybe Monday?

I wanted blueburst for my first G&L but ended up falling for vintage white with matching headstock. 21 years and several G&Ls later and still have not bought a blueburst one. Still one of my favorite finishes.
 
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I wanted blueburst for my first G&L but ended up falling for vintage white with matching headstock. 21 years and several G&Ls later and still have not bought a blueburst one. Still one of my favorite finishes.
I really like the body binding,and have had at least three blue burst with maple binding. Hopefully you could see the pictures,way they down loaaded have to double click on the black arrows.
 
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Although my good buddy is advising against doing this in order to keep its historical Mojo, I am looking for a safe polish for my new-to-me '81 L-2000. Just got it at a guitar show, it's really gunked up, especially the neck, with who-knows-what and other people's DNA.

From another TB G&L forum I had read that you have to be careful with these finishes, and sure enough this is what one manufacturer came back with:

Nitrocellulose finishes are very finicky. Therefore, we recommend you test any products from our Formula 65 line on an inconspicuous area before applying it to the entire guitar.


If you are going to use the product please be advised of the following: If there are any cracks, chips and or checking DO NOT spray the polish directly on the finish. Doing so will cause the polish to get under the finish. We do recommend that you spray a small amount onto the polish cloth and polish the finish.

For those that have one of these older models, what are you using to clean or polish it?
 
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I have a CLF Research L2500 750. I have a Tribute L2000. I'm thinking I might liquidate the Tribute and a nice Ibanez EHB1506MS to purchase a CLF Research L2000. Am I stupid? I'm not playing the Ibanez because I just can't do 6-strings, try as I might. I'm playing the L2000, but not a lot.

John
I test drove a CLF Research L2K. I did like it, and I liked the slim neck profile. I just wasn't crazy about the 1 5/8 nut width. So, I sent it back and did a build to order L2K with the 1 1/2 inch nut width. Basically an L2K with a JB neck. I love that bass, it's my #1, has been for a year since I got it. I would say go for it. If you like your L2500, I don't see why you wouldn't love the L2000. Be sure to check out Greg O'Rocket's post with the new finishes.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/g-l-club-part-7.1035742/page-1370
 
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I test drove a CLF Research L2K. I did like it, and I liked the slim neck profile. I just wasn't crazy about the 1 5/8 nut width. So, I sent it back and did a build to order L2K with the 1 1/2 inch nut width. Basically an L2K with a JB neck. I love that bass, it's my #1, has been for a year since I got it. I would say go for it. If you like your L2500, I don't see why you wouldn't love the L2000. Be sure to check out Greg O'Rocket's post with the new finishes.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/g-l-club-part-7.1035742/page-1370
Is the 1-1/2" with the lawsuit headstock shape?
 
My SB-1 with the troublesome neck has been back at Leo Towers for three weeks now.

Now with them for five weeks. No news is good news, right? :wacky:

Meanwhile, after a month and a half of having only flats to play, I've temporarily taken my Chromes off, in need of the sound of rounds for a bit. First of all, I've a set of 40-60-80-100 Swing Bass. When I tried them for a week on the SB-1, I found them too floppy for my tastes. Idly messing around with numbers I realised that this set tuned to F# standard is the same tension as the 45-105 Chromes. So I've now got a set of Swing Bass uptuned to F# ... which means I've chanced on the perfect bass for playing early Smiths songs.

Swing Bass through a Lindy Fralin isn't quite the same as Swing Bass through an MFD, but it's a good sound.
 

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