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G&L Club Part 7

My experience with the L-1500…

The resistor mod will reduce the amount of treble boost when the preamp is on. Stock, it's comparable to the "treble boost" setting on the L-2000, maybe even a little more of a boost, but with the mod, it responds more like the normal active mode on the L-2000. I wouldn't be surprised if you could play with the values to get it to boost even less treble.

There was also some analysis of the preamp done over on the old BBL forum that indicated there was a cap in the preamp that could be replaced to allow for more bass boost. I tried this and didn't notice much of a difference.

The bass roll-off is useless. So I see why they omitted it on the Kilo.

The stock cap value on the treble knob is .022uF, which is way too small, IMO. I swapped to a .1uF and it was a lot better. Actually, you could get a great tone with the stock preamp and all its normal treble boost but using a large cap on the tone knob and rolling it back almost all the way.

There's also a cap in the L-2000 circuit that's not in the L-1500 circuit that lowers the resonant frequency of the pickup. Not sure why the L-1500 excluded it, but in theory, it could/should take a little of the honkiness out of it. Unfortunately I didn't learn about it until after I had sold my L-1500. I'd love to find another cheap one to experiment with, but the days of finding sub-$500 L-1500s seem to be over.
 
There's also a cap in the L-2000 circuit that's not in the L-1500 circuit that lowers the resonant frequency of the pickup. Not sure why the L-1500 excluded it, but in theory, it could/should take a little of the honkiness out of it. Unfortunately I didn't learn about it until after I had sold my L-1500. I'd love to find another cheap one to experiment with, but the days of finding sub-$500 L-1500s seem to be over.

Same here. I didn't learn about the possibility of lowering the pickup's resonant frequency until long after I'd sold the L-1500. My L-1500 had spectacularly great playability, so I definitely would have tried that mod before selling the bass.

But it doesn't matter now, because with my M-2500's EQ and blend control, I can get very close to the L-1500's tone if I want.
 
Seems like on Reverb, they take the model name as a suggestion for the starting listed price.( $1499). I was interested in them because of the neck specs being beefier than the Kiloton's, but as it turns out so is the weight. (9+ lbs).
And I just don't think the Kiloton's wiring set up can be beat, since I have no interest in active modes.
 
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Seems like on Reverb, they take the model name as a suggestion for the starting listed price.( $1499). I was interested in them because of the neck specs being beefier than the Kiloton's, but as it turns out so is the weight. (9+ lbs).
And I just don't think the Kiloton's wiring set up can be beat, since I have no interest in active modes.
Well, just for the record, I had an L1500 that was below 8 lbs. …nice bass, long gone.
 
While I have a fretless Kiloton, putting La Bella flats on it mellowed it out. Love it.

Also got new strings (DR Fat Beams) and did a set up on my JB. Got a good reminder of how much I love this thing (despite its weight problem - 10.5lbs)

Gratuitous pic....
1000005809.jpg
 
While I have a fretless Kiloton, putting La Bella flats on it mellowed it out. Love it.

Also got new strings (DR Fat Beams) and did a set up on my JB. Got a good reminder of how much I love this thing (despite its weight problem - 10.5lbs)

Gratuitous pic....View attachment 7142552

Dig your JB! Both of those basses are sweet. My JB is similar but it has an empress wood body, 7.2lbs it's the lightest bass I've ever owned and I tend to play it more because it's so easy on my back.
20250113_151700.jpg
 
While I have a fretless Kiloton, putting La Bella flats on it mellowed it out. Love it.

View attachment 7142552

What styles of music do you play when using your Kiloton? I'll be using my in a heavier alternative band (Veruca Salt, Hole, Foo Fighters, etc.) so don't think I'll need to tame it too much, but may want to tame it a little. Maybe not flats, but something less zinging that Rotosound Swing Basses I have on it now.
 
I just got the Darkglass Harmonic Booster. When used conservatively, it really does enhance the tone of my Tribute L2000. The bass sounds sweeter and fuller.

Am loving the burpy sound I get when using the bridge pickup in series.

Many say G&L basses are a bit mid centric, it's kinda true. With the Harmonic Booster, it adds back some highs and lows, in the right manner.

IMG_7967.jpeg
 
I just got the Darkglass Harmonic Booster. When used conservatively, it really does enhance the tone of my Tribute L2000. The bass sounds sweeter and fuller.

Am loving the burpy sound I get when using the bridge pickup in series.

Many say G&L basses are a bit mid centric, it's kinda true. With the Harmonic Booster, it adds back some highs and lows, in the right manner.

View attachment 7143572
That transparent finish and the wood grain is stunning!
 
I just got the Darkglass Harmonic Booster. When used conservatively, it really does enhance the tone of my Tribute L2000. The bass sounds sweeter and fuller.

Am loving the burpy sound I get when using the bridge pickup in series.

Many say G&L basses are a bit mid centric, it's kinda true. With the Harmonic Booster, it adds back some highs and lows, in the right manner.

View attachment 7143572
Are you playing with the bass in passive mode with the harmonic booster? I've been using the Boss BB-1X to achieve what you're doing there.
 
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What styles of music do you play when using your Kiloton? I'll be using my in a heavier alternative band (Veruca Salt, Hole, Foo Fighters, etc.) so don't think I'll need to tame it too much, but may want to tame it a little. Maybe not flats, but something less zinging that Rotosound Swing Basses I have on it now.
Look into GHS Pressurewounds. They may give you what you're looking for.