G&L Club Part 7

[Picton]

So today, I took my first foray into buying off the G&L Clearance site.

See, one of my L2ks (a junky yellow one with a skinny neck that I love) has a body that's seen FAR better days, and is now cracked through in the vicinity of the control cavity. I've been haunting the G&L site for a replacement body, but all the USA L2ks on there for a good while have been the vintage style with the top-mounted controls.

Well? There's a Ruby one on there now, and I just nabbed it today. So, having built more than a few of my own guitars from scratch, plus rewiring a bunch of Fenders, it'll soon be time for me to take a soldering iron to a G&L.

Should be a blast!

While I'm waiting for this thing to ship...

That's the label it's wearing. I can see that it was someone's custom-ordered L2k in ruby metallic with no FB dots. I'm curious about the rest:

GTN: graphtech nut
BSL: black-on-silver logo
LD: logo delete? For the model?
SCM: ???

I'm assuming Alder, but I don't really care much.

 

[ahbass2500]

While I'm waiting for this thing to ship...

That's the label it's wearing. I can see that it was someone's custom-ordered L2k in ruby metallic with no FB dots. I'm curious about the rest:

GTN: graphtech nut
BSL: black-on-silver logo
LD: logo delete? For the model?
SCM: ???

I'm assuming Alder, but I don't really care much.

SCM is likely Single Coil mod (so the Series Parallel switch will also have Single Coil). I expect LD is logo delete for the model name. I think black-on-silver logo is typically going to have a black painted headstock (which generally does not have a model designation).

 

[Iridescentone]

Keep an eye on the garage sale section of the G&L website for B stock tribute bodies.

Thanks for that link, didn't even know that site existed.

Looks like my best bet for a drop-in body (for cheap $ too!). Eyes peeled.

 

[ahbass2500]

Thanks for that link, didn't even know that site existed.

Looks like my best bet for a drop-in body (for cheap $ too!). Eyes peeled.

Garage sale page is definitely cheap way to get good stuff. Sells out quick when they add listings so check often. I have purchased a few complete instruments from it and been happy with the results.

Tribute L2500 with minor finish issue (clear coat bubble on back) was $250
Tribute S-500 with finish damage from being dropped was $100

They seem to be doing bodies/necks separately more than complete instruments lately though. When it first opened, there were a few runs of complete instruments. Some with minor finish issues. Some with busted necks. If you read the descriptions and are ok with the damage, you can get a solid deal.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Thanks for that link, didn't even know that site existed.

Looks like my best bet for a drop-in body (for cheap $ too!). Eyes peeled.

I bought a Rosewood/Quartersawn Maple fretted USA L2500 neck for $120 and held onto it for a few years, then found a Redburst Ash Tribute L2500 body for $60 at the clearance store. The bridge/tuners/pickups/preamp were another $400, give or take. In all, I put about $600 into a really nice L2500, which I built with my son and gave to him a few years ago. He's primarily a drummer, but he also plays bass and is using it at youth camp this week.

We had to dowel and redrill the 6 neck bolt holes in the neck heel, but that wasn't a big deal. Otherwise, it went together really well.

 

[Picton]

Thanks for that link, didn't even know that site existed.

Looks like my best bet for a drop-in body (for cheap $ too!). Eyes peeled.

I've been haunting that site, and the Clearance section, for quite a few months now. The updates are infrequent.

The Garage Sale stuff really is amazing value, but I had a specific need and none of what they were selling would suit me. Bear in mind that Tribute is not always compatible with USA, too, so since I was pairing a USA neck? That eliminated a lot of the Garage Sale things off the bat.

The Clearance is a great site, but much more expensive. Still, if you're replacing a USA G&L body and don't want to go through a dealer, that's the play. Warmoth doesn't offer G&L-spec stuff, from what I know.

 

[Iridescentone]

I've been haunting that site, and the Clearance section, for quite a few months now. The updates are infrequent.

The Garage Sale stuff really is amazing value, but I had a specific need and none of what they were selling would suit me. Bear in mind that Tribute is not always compatible with USA, too, so since I was pairing a USA neck? That eliminated a lot of the Garage Sale things off the bat.

The Clearance is a great site, but much more expensive. Still, if you're replacing a USA G&L body and don't want to go through a dealer, that's the play. Warmoth doesn't offer G&L-spec stuff, from what I know.

In my case I have a Tribute L2K neck laying around that's never been mounted, or even had its nut slots cut yet. It just needs a set of tuners (which I have) and a body to mount onto. Plan is to do a custom finish, so I don't care what color P-type body I can find. If I don't snag a decent body I may just dump the neck....GAS is fickle.

 

[OldBlue61]

Well, as much as I loved my L2k from THIS post, I ultimately sold it, because it was just too heavy at 11lbs 10oz. I did however order a JB-2 in Sunburst which I should have Friday! Can't wait! Does that mean I can stay in the club?

 

[mmbass21]

Well, as much as I loved my L2k from THIS post, I ultimately sold it, because it was just too heavy at 11lbs 10oz. I did however order a JB-2 in Sunburst which I should have Friday! Can't wait! Does that mean I can stay in the club?

That weight is just bonkers. Even sitting down I think my leg would fall asleep with that on it!

 

[metron]

While I'm waiting for this thing to ship...

That's the label it's wearing. I can see that it was someone's custom-ordered L2k in ruby metallic with no FB dots. I'm curious about the rest:

GTN: graphtech nut
BSL: black-on-silver logo
LD: logo delete? For the model?
SCM: ???

I'm assuming Alder, but I don't really care much.

I had a BTO L2000 done in 2018 with those exact specs. I sent it back for a redo because they jacked up the neck finish pretty bad.

I ultimately canceled the order once the neck replacement time got to be about twice the time it took to deliver the original failed bass. So that could be the body.

Memories. That was my first experience with ordering something new from G&L. Took a while to learn my lesson. Never again.

 

[jglunt]

Well, as much as I loved my L2k from THIS post, I ultimately sold it, because it was just too heavy at 11lbs 10oz. I did however order a JB-2 in Sunburst which I should have Friday! Can't wait! Does that mean I can stay in the club?

WOW. I never realized that G&L made lead lined L2ks. That's a very rare bird! The Peavey T40s from the late 70s / early 80s have a reputation for being boat anchors. I have a 1978 T40, and it only weighs 9 lbs, 9 ozs. It's one of the lighter versions of that bass. In fact, both my USA alder Kiloton and my Tribute swamp ash Kiloton weigh that same amount. But 11 lbs 10 ozs! Does a baby elephant weigh that much?

 

[Ethix4]

Just trying to alert some future G&L owners here and people looking.
Don't buy this Greenburst mj4 from GC unless you want to pay another 500$ for a new neck, the truss rod nut inside is snapped off.
The neck is rather straight surprisingly. Bass in good condition otherwise. There is a thread about this bass where I entertained keeping it and replacing the neck but decided not to. Now it is listed again here at the local GC I returned it to.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[jglunt]

Just trying to alert some future G&L owners here and people looking.
Don't buy this Greenburst mj4 from GC unless you want to pay another 500$ for a new neck, the truss rod nut inside is snapped off.
The neck is rather straight surprisingly. Bass in good condition otherwise. There is a thread about this bass where I entertained keeping it and replacing the neck but decided not to. Now it is listed again here at the local GC I returned it to.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks for the warning. I came so close to buying that about a month ago!

 

[Ethix4]

Thanks for the warning. I came so close to buying that about a month ago!

I did a couple weeks ago as a bday present to myself and was stoked till I found the problem! Guarantee the previous owner was aware and was just trying to get some $ back from it.

thread I posted here
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/return-or-try-to-get-fixed-g-l-mj4.1653805/page-3#post-28520768

 

[OldBlue61]

Just trying to alert some future G&L owners here and people looking.
Don't buy this Greenburst mj4 from GC unless you want to pay another 500$ for a new neck, the truss rod nut inside is snapped off.
The neck is rather straight surprisingly. Bass in good condition otherwise. There is a thread about this bass where I entertained keeping it and replacing the neck but decided not to. Now it is listed again here at the local GC I returned it to.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Thanks for that! I was literally looking at that one last night. LOVE the color, but it was just a bit too rich for my blood. Glad I didn't go for it!

 

[Picton]

I had a BTO L2000 done in 2018 with those exact specs. I sent it back for a redo because they jacked up the neck finish pretty bad.

I ultimately canceled the order once the neck replacement time got to be about twice the time it took to deliver the original failed bass. So that could be the body.

Memories. That was my first experience with ordering something new from G&L. Took a while to learn my lesson. Never again.

I doubt it's your body; it's being clearanced for "Shrinkage & micro dents on the finish. Scratches & blemishes on the finish." I wouldn't imagine the shrinkage would've happened at your house, though the rest of it could have. Who knows? I'll give it a good home, regardless.

Do you remember what "SCM" meant?

 

[MrB64]

Maybe someone should start a petition to have G&L start building basses out of balsa wood.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

Just trying to alert some future G&L owners here and people looking.
Don't buy this Greenburst mj4 from GC unless you want to pay another 500$ for a new neck, the truss rod nut inside is snapped off.
The neck is rather straight surprisingly. Bass in good condition otherwise. There is a thread about this bass where I entertained keeping it and replacing the neck but decided not to. Now it is listed again here at the local GC I returned it to.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I just emailed GC about reposting that bass without disclosing the broken trussrod. I think everyone should do the same.

I mean, maybe you expect it at corporate level, but you would think the local store manager would be honest enough to disclose the info. That's just unacceptable. They should be shamed for being so dishonest.

 

[Glazenn]

While I'm waiting for this thing to ship...

That's the label it's wearing. I can see that it was someone's custom-ordered L2k in ruby metallic with no FB dots. I'm curious about the rest:

GTN: graphtech nut
BSL: black-on-silver logo
LD: logo delete? For the model?
SCM: ???

I'm assuming Alder, but I don't really care much.

All these options but one curiously relate to the neck, something that you won't get...
Is it common practice at G&L to put such a label in the pickup cavity?

 

[jglunt]

I just emailed GC about reposting that bass without disclosing the broken trussrod. I think everyone should do the same.

I mean, maybe you expect it at corporate level, but you would think the local store manager would be honest enough to disclose the info. That's just unacceptable. They should be shamed for being so dishonest.

As you suggested, I just emailed the store about that. Unethical business practices are nothing new. They happen when corporate greed overcomes customer appreciation, and they can happen in any business. Just to balance this out, I purchased both my USA Kiloton and my Tribute Kiloton used online from two different Guitar Centers, and they're both great.