G&L Club Part 7

[Glazenn]

When I had G&L replace the neck on my '08 SB-2, they put the same serial number on the back of the headstock as the original had. However, your point about it having a clearance neck from the G&L webstore is a good one. The flip side of that is, how did a clearance M2500 neck suddenly appear? The M2500 has to be the least ordered BTO bass that G&L offers. They seem to actively avoid publicizing the M2x00 basses. They're not even listed with the others when you hover over the bass button on the home page of the website. You have to go to the actual BTO page to find one listed. So how did they happen to have a spare M2500 neck laying around? I messaged the seller asking about it.

Build to Order M•2500 | G&L Musical Instruments

www.glguitars.com

 

[Glazenn]

That one on the G&L website (above post) is very similar to the Alder one below that I bought in 2012 (build sheet date: 3/7/2012).

 

[Iridescentone]

I'm going to watch it and see if it changes. I'm 30 minutes from the factory, so it's not getting any crazy climate changes. Like I said, I've noticed joint seams through opaque paint on some other basses, but not the actual patterns in the wood grain. Maybe I'm used to stuff that's glooped on thicker?

Since your bass in question is Ruby Red Metallic, I'm wondering if G&L (or any builder, really) does those candy-type finishes the old school way like Fender used to. That is, a white primer coat over the sealer coat, before spraying the metallic undercoats, then spraying the trans "candy" coats?

Or, have manufacturers eliminated the primer coats altogether, due to improved sealers? (guessing that's the case)

 

[Glazenn]

Since your bass in question is Ruby Red Metallic, I'm wondering if G&L (or any builder, really) does those candy-type finishes the old school way like Fender used to. That is, a white primer coat over the sealer coat, before spraying the metallic undercoats, then spraying the trans "candy" coats?

Or, have manufacturers eliminated the primer coats altogether, due to improved sealers? (guessing that's the case)

That's the original recipe for the ´Candy Apple Red' finish.

 

[MrB64]

Not all new is improved.

 

[jfh2424]

I'm 30 minutes from the factory, so it's not getting any crazy climate changes…

To me, you are in a much better position to get your bass returned to you in a reasonable amount of time than I am.

I'm pretty sure that if I showed up regularly there, I wouldn't still be waiting more than a year later for my L2000.

If you're that close, I'd say go for it. It's not like the finish is going to improve with age…

 

[TDR1138]

To me, you are in a much better position to get your bass returned to you in a reasonable amount of time than I am.

I'm pretty sure that if I showed up regularly there, I wouldn't still be waiting more than a year later for my L2000.

If you're that close, I'd say go for it. It's not like the finish is going to improve with age…

I've actually already been there for warranty work on this bass (fretwork) and did go in person. Took a couple of months, but that's a lot better than a lot of people are experiencing. That was a couple of years ago.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Looks like the G&L Custom Shop has been doing some really interesting finishing work and limited runs for countries outside of the U.S. lately. I've been an ASAT guitar owner since the early/mid '90s, but have never been able to pull the trigger on a bass....yet. I know that they've recently brought in some new resources to manage the business and have been doing some interesting projects with YouTubers (Phil McKnight, for one).

For those who have been more involved that me over the years, are you seeing new trends, progress, and excitement around the brand, or is it the same-ole', same-ole' as far as you're concerned? Personally, I'm more interested in G&L that I've been in years, if not ever.

I got psyched on G&L in 2020, bought four of their basses over two years, the sold two this year.

I'm all in on the jazz basses, curious about SB-1s, tried Kilotons, but they're not for me - those are the two I sold.

All my basses have been excellent upon arrival, with just some truss rod turning to suit me, but as mentioned, there have been some service and qc problems discussed in this thread a bit over the past year.

Personally I think the basses are great. I'd love to try the L2K and L-1000, too - but for now the jbs feel perfect. I just added a J-tone East preamp and man - I can't see needing another EB now.

 

[JPJ]

I got psyched on G&L in 2020, bought four of their basses over two years, the sold two this year.

I'm all in on the jazz basses, curious about SB-1s, tried Kilotons, but they're not for me - those are the two I sold.

All my basses have been excellent upon arrival, with just some truss rod turning to suit me, but as mentioned, there have been some service and qc problems discussed in this thread a bit over the past year.

Personally I think the basses are great. I'd love to try the L2K and L-1000, too - but for now the jbs feel perfect. I just added a J-tone East preamp and man - I can't see needing another EB now.

Out of curiosity, being a jazz bass guy myself and heavily favoring them over the years (though, not playing them exclusively), what is it about G&L JBs that you like so much over the competition? Same question for anyone else who fits into this same category.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Out of curiosity, being a jazz bass guy myself and heavily favoring them over the years (though, not playing them exclusively), what is it about G&L JBs that you like so much over the competition? Same question for anyone else who fits into this same category.

For me, I had only played P-Basses and Rickenbackers, but was jazz bass-curious.

In scrolling through all the possible variations, almost endless, from Fenders to Cort NJS and on and on...the bridge is actually what made me pull the trigger on a G&L. I know Fender-style bridges work fine, but to my inexpert eye-test, that flimsy looking thing looks like a toy compared to the beefy saddle-lock thing on a G&L jb.

Then, when I had one in my hands, the 1.5" neck, 7.5" radius, the pickup blend - all of it was easy, intuitive, and felt great. Finally, when I heard how it recorded, compared to my Rick 4003, I was a convert: the sound, for me, neck full bridge about half, is what an electric bass should sound like.

I'll mention that Lulls and Sadowskys and Laklands are too much to spend for my amateur self. I take bass seriously, but as a hobbyist, they're a no-go. They may blow G&Ls out of the water - but I have neither been there nor done that.

 

[paulraphael]

In scrolling through all the possible variations, almost endless, from Fenders to Cort NJS and on and on...the bridge is actually what made me pull the trigger on a G&L. I know Fender-style bridges work fine, but to my inexpert eye-test, that flimsy looking thing looks like a toy compared to the beefy saddle-lock thing on a G&L jb.

I love the bridge too. I'm convinced it makes no sonic difference (I've seen enough A/B tests to question the hype). But the G&L bridge is so pretty. And it inspires confidence. I just bought a MIJ Jazz bass with the normal Fender sheet metal bridge. I'm not going to replace it. But I'm also not going to oggle it and pet it.

I'll mention that Lulls and Sadowskys and Laklands are too much to spend for my amateur self. I take bass seriously, but as a hobbyist, they're a no-go. They may blow G&Ls out of the water - but I have neither been there nor done that.

I don't think that once you get to this level anything will really blow it out of the water. You get into diminishing returns. Some of it is things like the playability or evenness of the neck. Some of it is just knowing that Roger Sadowsky or Sander De Gier made the thing for you.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I love the bridge too. I'm convinced it makes no sonic difference (I've seen enough A/B tests to question the hype). But the G&L bridge is so pretty. And it inspires confidence. I just bought a MIJ Jazz bass with the normal Fender sheet metal bridge. I'm not going to replace it. But I'm also not going to oggle it and pet it.

I don't think that once you get to this level anything will really blow it out of the water. You get into diminishing returns. Some of it is things like the playability or evenness of the neck. Some of it is just knowing that Roger Sadowsky or Sander De Gier made the thing for you.

I wish you hadn't told me about De Gier.

 

[Stinkoman20xx]

I possibly have a trade lined up for an 81-82 E-series L2000. Natural ash body, rosewood board. slot pole pickups. Is there anything I should look out or inspect on these before going through with it?

 

[Murch]

I possibly have a trade lined up for an 81-82 E-series L2000. Natural ash body, rosewood board. slot pole pickups. Is there anything I should look out or inspect on these before going through with it?

I'd be sure to check for any twist or ski-jump in the neck, make sure the truss rod functions, condition of frets, etc.

 

[jfh2424]

If weight is important to you, I would check that too. Cause a lot of those early ones are boat anchors.

 

[Murch]

If weight is important to you, I would check that too. Cause a lot of those early once are boat anchors.

True - mine is 10lbs. 2 oz.

 

[MrB64]

I got psyched on G&L in 2020, bought four of their basses over two years, the sold two this year.

I'm all in on the jazz basses, curious about SB-1s, tried Kilotons, but they're not for me - those are the two I sold.

All my basses have been excellent upon arrival, with just some truss rod turning to suit me, but as mentioned, there have been some service and qc problems discussed in this thread a bit over the past year.

Personally I think the basses are great. I'd love to try the L2K and L-1000, too - but for now the jbs feel perfect. I just added a J-tone East preamp and man - I can't see needing another EB now.

I have a Fullerton Deluxe JB, and I love that bass. I might put some noiseless pickups in it eventually, but that would be down the road.

I have a BTO L2K that I'm crazy about. Mine has a JB neck on it. If you get one I don't think you'll be disappointed, provided you get one with no QC issues. Both of mine are fine.

 

[ahbass2500]

I have a Fullerton Deluxe JB, and I love that bass. I might put some noiseless pickups in it eventually, but that would be down the road.

I went down that road with my JB5. Started with Nordstrand single coils, moved on to Aguilar dual coils (DCB), finally landed on JBE pickups. If you like G&L MFD pickups, myself and others in this thread have found the JBEs sound similar to MFDs. Not quite the same, but certainly closer than any other J pickup I have used. I also did not realize how much I would like noiseless Js until I finally tried them with the Aguilars.

 

[TomB]

True - mine is 10lbs. 2 oz.

They do vary a lot, and the mahogany bodies tend to be hefty. But not all, my '80 L-1000 ash body is 8.6 lbs.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

I went down that road with my JB5. Started with Nordstrand single coils, moved on to Aguilar dual coils (DCB), finally landed on JBE pickups. If you like G&L MFD pickups, myself and others in this thread have found the JBEs sound similar to MFDs. Not quite the same, but certainly closer than any other J pickup I have used. I also did not realize how much I would like noiseless Js until I finally tried them with the Aguilars.

Im thinking maybe Fralins are in my future