G&L Club Part 7

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Another option to consider is a project. MFDs are available in the G&L online store - so if you have an inexpensive bass you like, like a MIM J, with some routing and soldering you can turn it into an "L2K". It's a bit of a catastrophic mod so you have to be sure you want the end result as the resale value will disappear. I've done a few projects like that and 2 of my 3 'regular' basses are projects that turned out just how I wanted (and since nobody would pay much of anything for them it helps me resist any churn urges).

Speaking of MFD mods, do you think a kiloton body could accommodate a MFD in the neck position?
Seems like a silly thing to do - why not get a L2K in the first place? - but I have a kiloton that I'm not sure whether to sell of mod or what.

It's a cool bass, but I can't find what I want with just the MFD at the bridge

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

There are four Frost Black Tribute Kilotons,by S/N, on the Sweetwater site that are all listed as slightly lighter than mine. I know that the same model can vary a bit - or it could be my weighing method. View attachment 5300526

Your weighing method is not that dependable and most bathroom scales are not that accurate.

 

[jfh2424]

…It's a cool bass, but I can't find what I want with just the MFD at the bridge…

I hear the Kilo differently than others in this thread. I really like it but…it's not a sound that can be manipulated a whole lot, in my opinion. You either like it or you don't. Like I said, I really like it. But I can understand if someone doesn't.

It's not an L or an M or a JB. Others have boasted about the Kilo's ability to cop many different tones, but that's not my experience.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I hear the Kilo differently than others in this thread. I really like it but…it's not a sound that can be manipulated a whole lot, in my opinion. You either like it or you don't. Like I said, I really like it. But I can understand if someone doesn't.

It's not an L or an M or a JB. Others have boasted about the Kilo's ability to cop many different tones, but that's not my experience.

Yeah man I like it too and the pickup is a monster.
I bought it out of curiosity, mainly, to see what a pickup in the ray sweet spot might be like.
Not really for me, is what I learned, but that doesn't meant these aren't awesome basses.
My fretless kilo in series sounds unique, but the fretted? Can't find my joy, really.

 

[jglunt]

Yeah man I like it too and the pickup is a monster.
I bought it out of curiosity, mainly, to see what a pickup in the ray sweet spot might be like.
Not really for me, is what I learned, but that doesn't meant these aren't awesome basses.
My fretless kilo in series sounds unique, but the fretted? Can't find my joy, really.

I have two fretted Kilos, one USA & one a Tribute. I am still intrigued there are so many sounds out of a single pickup. I love series with the tone rolled off slightly and single coil with the volume dimed and the tone rolled off just a little more. I must admit I'm not fond of parallel, but two out of three ain't bad!

 

[craigb]

Speaking of MFD mods, do you think a kiloton body could accommodate a MFD in the neck position?
Seems like a silly thing to do - why not get a L2K in the first place? - but I have a kiloton that I'm not sure whether to sell of mod or what.

It's a cool bass, but I can't find what I want with just the MFD at the bridge

Yes, I think you could fit that. I did that mod with an older Climax bass since I liked the comfort of the bass but am much more of a neck pickup guy.

I've got series/sc/parallel switches for both pickups and vol/vol/tone controls. I'm happy with how it turned out and although I'd love to find a light & comfortable L2K I like this bass. My other two are L1K-equivalents (one an actual L1K, one a JB2 modded into an "L1K"-ish). I generally play the neck pickup in series with the tone rolled way off.

I just don't like bridge pickup sounds when I'm playing - that's just not what I'm wanting to hear. I never used an L2K bridge pickup solo and prefer the sound from a Climax/L1500/Kiloton pickup position - it has enough meat to the tone for me, although in the end I always go back to the neck pickup.

If you mod your Kton post pictures and impressions!

 

[FearNoEvil65]

Just another lame post with pics of my full G&L collection, the California kids.
Hope to add another G&L this coming year, an L-1000, Kiloton or SB-2 not sure.
Happy New year and cheers !

 

[jglunt]

Just another lame post with pics of my full G&L collection, the California kids.
Hope to add another G&L this coming year, an L-1000, Kiloton or SB-2 not sure.
Happy New year and cheers !
View attachment 5300806 View attachment 5300808 View attachment 5300810 View attachment 5300811

The world would be a better post with more "lame posts" like yours.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Yes, I think you could fit that. I did that mod with an older Climax bass since I liked the comfort of the bass but am much more of a neck pickup guy.

View attachment 5300750

I've got series/sc/parallel switches for both pickups and vol/vol/tone controls. I'm happy with how it turned out and although I'd love to find a light & comfortable L2K I like this bass. My other two are L1K-equivalents (one an actual L1K, one a JB2 modded into an "L1K"-ish). I generally play the neck pickup in series with the tone rolled way off.

I just don't like bridge pickup sounds when I'm playing - that's just not what I'm wanting to hear. I never used an L2K bridge pickup solo and prefer the sound from a Climax/L1500/Kiloton pickup position - it has enough meat to the tone for me, although in the end I always go back to the neck pickup.

If you mod your Kton post pictures and impressions!

Thanks for the pic and info - that looks like a great bass.
I'll def keep y'all posted here if I go that mod route.
It could be magic...

 

[Ricky Rioli]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the responses. I'll keep looking for a USA L-2000 with a 1.5" nut width neck. And since I'm waiting, I'll look for other features as well (a color I want, matching headstock, quartersawn neck, &/or other unique things).

Upfront Guitars have a L-2000 with 1½" nut, 12" radius, frost finish Tangerine Metallic, 8.6 lb alder body, Indian Rosewood fb, clear satin quartersawn neck, hard case.

 

[woodyng2]

Upfront Guitars have a L-2000 with 1½" nut, 12" radius, frost finish Tangerine Metallic, 8.6 lb alder body, Indian Rosewood fb, clear satin quartersawn neck, hard case.

Wow! That satin finish on TM is gorgeous! I haven't loved GL 1.5" necks with 7.5 or 9.5 radius that much,
probably would prefer the 12" radius.

 

[FearNoEvil65]

Good thing that Tangerine Metallic Frost L2K doesn't have a matching headstock and SCM, or I may buy it LOL. Saved by the bell! Still a super cool bass, nice weight also

 

[RL5]

Upfront Guitars have a L-2000 with 1½" nut, 12" radius, frost finish Tangerine Metallic, 8.6 lb alder body, Indian Rosewood fb, clear satin quartersawn neck, hard case.

Thanks for that, but I'm looking used. Can't justify the cost of a new G&L, but that hits most of the marks. UpFront seems to have consistently had L-2000s with 1.5" nut necks for some reason. And that color looks great. If I were buying new, there were a few they had in the past that I probably would have bought.

 

[jglunt]

Thanks for that, but I'm looking used. Can't justify the cost of a new G&L, but that hits most of the marks. UpFront seems to have consistently had L-2000s with 1.5" nut necks for some reason. And that color looks great. If I were buying new, there were a few they had in the past that I probably would have bought.

I know that feeling. I am a "senior citizen" AKA an old fart. I am on a "fixed income" these days, but I earn quite a bit more by printing out extra $100.00 bills in my basement every week. (JUST KIDDING!--I don't have a basement! ) I am blessed to be able to play pretty much weekly, even though it's just a few songs at worship in church. (Today is an "All Music Sunday," so we'll play a lot more. That's always fun.) I can't justify the expense of even a new Fullerton Deluxe, but I have a bunch of exceptional basses in spite of that. Patience pays off along with the ability to move at the right time. Now if I could just STOP buying basses. Otherwise, I'm going to need to rent a storage facility.

 

[SteveAG]

Your weighing method is not that dependable and most bathroom scales are not that accurate.

Yep, that's what I figured. Based on the four shown, in lbs,ozs, on the Sweetwater site -I'm assuming that mine may be a little lighter than what my bathroom scale readings show.

 

[RL5]

I know that feeling. I am a "senior citizen" AKA an old fart. I am on a "fixed income" these days, but I earn quite a bit more by printing out extra $100.00 bills in my basement every week. (JUST KIDDING!--I don't have a basement! ) I am blessed to be able to play pretty much weekly, even though it's just a few songs at worship in church. (Today is an "All Music Sunday," so we'll play a lot more. That's always fun.) I can't justify the expense of even a new Fullerton Deluxe, but I have a bunch of exceptional basses in spite of that. Patience pays off along with the ability to move at the right time. Now if I could just STOP buying basses. Otherwise, I'm going to need to rent a storage facility.

Yeah, while I am not on a fixed income yet, I'm close enough to see those days ahead of me. And since we haven't been able to get a band out of the basement except for the occasional open jam session*, a brand new bass just doesn't make sense (the next one will be my 5th, with at least one other on my wish list). So I'll wait for the "right" used one to come along.

*I'm very hopeful that the current configuration will book some gigs by spring. Very dedicated and experienced guitarist/singer & drummer to go along with me and our lead vocalist. They have other projects as well that get gigs regularly, so they know the game. Just need to agree on song selections and we should be ready within the next month or 2 to start booking.

 

[tindrum]

I have this in the mail, should be showing up on Thursday. Got a great deal on GC used online. Love the figuring on the back of the neck! I'll post a review after I give it a run.

 

[jglunt]

View attachment 5301416 View attachment 5301417 View attachment 5301418 I have this in the mail, should be showing up on Thursday. Got a great deal on GC used online. Love the figuring on the back! I'll post a review after I give it a run.

Beautiful. Is that tobacco-burst? It's a great color.

 

[tindrum]

Beautiful. Is that tobacco-burst? It's a great color.

Yeah looks tobacco burst to me. I've played for 40 years and have owned dozens of basses and this will be my first in that finish. I've always wanted one so it works out.

 

[RickDeckardCain]

For Xmas, I received a set of TI Jazz Flats. So I decided to round up all the sets of strings I had at my house and record some samples with each set on my tribute L-2500. I'm big on flatwounds, so I had a set of year-old Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats, year-old Daddario Chromes, two-year-old but lightly used LaBella 760FL, and brand new TI JF345. I recorded both pickups in both parallel and series, and then neck pickup in both parallel and series as well. I was gonna do bridge pickup solo, but I don't use that setting ever, and I didn't want to spend too much time recording these samples. In a similar time-saving method, I only used a few takes, so please excuse the sloppy playing.



Let me know what you think. Were you surprised by how similar the different brands sounded?