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Returns at GC are always accepted and shipping is usually $25. I take risks there all the time and it only ever costs shipping if it doesn't work out. That's how I got my mint 83 SB2 a few weeks ago. Sometimes it works out.
I'm going to pass on this one. I already have a black 88 and I think Ive had enough of the 3 bolt micro tilts. The white is really tempting though. Someone grab it!
I'm going to pass on this one. I already have a black 88 and I think Ive had enough of the 3 bolt micro tilts. The white is really tempting though. Someone grab it!
A lil PSA for those looking to source a replacement battery cover plate for their older G&Ls- the Stingray Classic plates available direct from the MusicMan site are a direct drop-in replacement. Feels good man lol
Got this L2K new a few months back and I am finally taking it to its first gig tonight. What a smoking player.
Maybe the wrong forum section to ask this but just looking for general opinions here.... I have a 30+ year old G&L L-5500 and the pickup blend knob is starting to go bad. Would you attempt to clean the pot? Replace the EMG BTC controlls entirely? Thanks.
I would start by using a squirt or two of Deoxit in the pot. Much simpler and less expensive than replacing the control, so hopefully that will work.
+1 I would first attempt to clean the pot.
If cleaning the bal pot doesn't help, at least the EMG BTC doesn't cost that much to replace. Not a hard DIY job, and would keep the bass all stock. That might be important to 5500 fans, as the BTC and EMG pickups make that bass the absolute killer five string that it is. For my money a 5500 is the most impressive sounding fiver ever, 34" scale notwithstanding. I often think about a 5 string build using that EMG setup just for that gigantic sound, but in a lighter weight package.
Still, heavy as they usually are, the 5500 makes a convincing argument for the "denser body woods and thicker necks sound stronger" crowd. There may be something to that, not sure. Maybe one day I'll do the build and find out for sure if a less dense package makes any difference.
The mighty G&L L-5500...the un-G&L G&L.
Good luck.
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Thanks all. @Templar - yes I almost took a soldering iron to it a few years ago to convert to 18v, but then found a 24v kit that was non-destructive.
Some pics including the cat, seen here probably thinking to herself "I thought tort was supposed to make this fool sound better."
Some pics including the cat, seen here probably thinking to herself "I thought tort was supposed to make this fool sound better."
My first G&L. Other than a dead pickup coil on arrival, incredibly happy with it. Love the aggression and snarl from it. Even has some flame figure in the neck wood.
The G&L 1997 5-string bass lineup...If cleaning the bal pot doesn't help, at least the EMG BTC doesn't cost that much to replace. Not a hard DIY job, and would keep the bass all stock. That might be important to 5500 fans, as the BTC and EMG pickups make that bass the absolute killer five string that it is. For my money a 5500 is the most impressive sounding fiver ever, 34" scale notwithstanding. I often think about a 5 string build using that EMG setup just for that gigantic sound, but in a lighter weight package.
Still, heavy as they usually are, the 5500 makes a convincing argument for the "denser body woods and thicker necks sound stronger" crowd. There may be something to that, not sure. Maybe one day I'll do the build and find out for sure if a less dense package makes any difference.
The mighty G&L L-5500...the un-G&L G&L.
Good luck.
My Jan. '97 L-2500 Custom has a chunkier 1-15/16" nut width (49mm).
Compared to a regular 1-5/8" nut, I claim it gives my L-2500 the same power feeling as a 1-3/4" nut does on a Fender P-bass (I'm refering here to my AVRI '62 P-bass) or, I imagine, on an LB-100...
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How come I never see these L-5500's anywhere? Never even knew G&L made a bass w/ stock EMGs.
They were only made for a few years, so there aren't that many of them around. I would have LOVED to have a transparent blue, green, or red (like the picture above) over Ash L5500 in 1995/96. I was in or just finished highschool and was teaching bass in a music store that carried G&L. We didn't have any in stock, but I had the catalogs. I remember mowing the lawn and dreaming of getting an L5500 someday. It never happened, but life isn't over yet!
No, but I've had the idea rattling around in the back of my head to mod a Tribute JB-2 with some EMG soapbars and the BTC preamp…
They used to pop up on ebay pretty regularly 20 years ago. I believe only a few hundred (400?) were built, and pretty sure they're all/mostly from '97. I've seen them in pretty much every finish that G&L offered at the time, including the infamous Swirls.
The catalog pic above shows the difference in body shapes between the unique 5500 and the 2500. Also the neck specs are listed as 1 13/16" at the nut. I had two 5500's, one had a nut that was 1 7/8" wide, the other had a nut fully 2" wide. Go figure. There were other variances too, like pickup locations. Add in that they had their own serial numbering system....the result is a pretty radical departure from the norm for G&L. I forget the guy's name who G&L brought onboard to design the 5500 series. Surely someone will chime in with more 5500 info. Cheers.
According to Google, the 5500 was designed by Paul Gagon, who was a BBE employee at the time, and Steve Grom.
That sounds like a pretty good idea. Fire up the router!
Godin used to offer a BG4 (and a BG5 if memory serves) with twin DC350's/340's and a BTC. But they cheaped out on the BTC, and had EMG make a "manufacturers grade" BTC sans the all-important internal dip switches. Seemed kinda dumb to me, as the BG's came with nice German Schaller tuners and bridges. Why downgrade the elecs to save a little $ per unit? Maybe because in their best chinesium impersonation..."the customer doesn't know what they can't see" ? Sneaky bastards...lol
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Does the truss rods engagement add stability to the neck?- Latest: lethargytartare
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