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G&L Club Part 7

#32,581
Amazing: two rare early L-2500 (with 4+1 tuning pegs) currently for sale in the same shop on Reverb...
The clear red one with a maple board and body binding (L-2500 Custom) is possibly a prototype as early as 1995... (guessed from a search on the G&L Registry).
It does not seem to have the bookmatched swamp ash body top found from 1996 onwards on the L-2x00 Custom series.
The 3-TSB one is 1996-early 1997.

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#32,583
pbass2 said:
I am scoping out JB-5s lately, and man I should prolly wait for these! I've had L2500s, and now my Kiloton V which I LOVE. But I need another fiver, something a little different from the Kilo (I need a fiver with flats and one with rounds). A Jazz V of some kind always makes sense, but I've never been able to try a JB-5 to suss out the B string....
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I had a JB-5 for a short while, and I thought the B string was decent, and comparable to the B strings on the other fives I've owned. The best has probably been my Sandberg TT-5 Superlight (34" scale J5), which holds up well even downtuned a half step, but my M-2500's B string is very, very close and I think the M is a better bass overall. Of course it depends on strings too. On average, I would expect a JB-5's B string to be similar to those of any other G&L fives.
 
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#32,586
I have Fenders, I have EBMMS, I have G&L guitars...but no G&L bass. I've been thinking about going the L-2000/CLF 2000 route, but would, at minimum, probably go with a BTO version. I'm considering the CS route, although I would not be interested in about 80-90% of the available CS options and would probably not get much "band-for-the-buck" value out of that path for just one or two specs changes (mainly....12" radius - too bad that isn't an option in the BTO category - seems easy enough to do via CNC).

I'm mainly interested in trying to get a bass as close to 8 lbs as possible, with more of a reasonable target in the 8.5 range. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there is any way to request this at either premium level (I believe there was discussion here in the last year or so where this USED to be an option, but has been taken off the table, unfortunately).

For those who have gone down this route already (yes....I know I should call Rocket Music to discuss at the dealer level), what have your personal experiences been? Happy with the result...or not? Things that you would have done differently? For those who own (or have in the past) one of those models...do you know the weight of the bass and what may or may not be reasonable to achieve?

Interested to hear your experiences and results. I used to sell high-end custom basses, so I'm very familiar with the process and potential pitfalls, but have had no first-hand involvement with the G&L company at all over the years and never carried the brand. Thanks.
 
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#32,587
Last night I had the privilege of seeing and playing L1000 #000833. It's the oldest 1980 I've seen in the wild, and it is close to pristine. Talk about a bedroom player - maybe once every other Sunday or so. It is the beautiful dark mahogany stain from that era, and boy it weighs a ton! It has the same "large hex" poles as my September '80, so clearly was from earlier in the year. Its owner had little idea of what he had bought - didn't even know where the serial number was until I showed him. He said he got it for $1200. "That's about what they go for" I responded. I know he was much happier after our encounter. Now if only I had the presence of mind to snap a pic! My phone was up on stage, and I'm terrible about that stuff. I may see him again and then I can share with you all.
 
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#32,591
JPJ said:
I have Fenders, I have EBMMS, I have G&L guitars...but no G&L bass. I've been thinking about going the L-2000/CLF 2000 route, but would, at minimum, probably go with a BTO version. I'm considering the CS route, although I would not be interested in about 80-90% of the available CS options and would probably not get much "band-for-the-buck" value out of that path for just one or two specs changes (mainly....12" radius - too bad that isn't an option in the BTO category - seems easy enough to do via CNC).

I'm mainly interested in trying to get a bass as close to 8 lbs as possible, with more of a reasonable target in the 8.5 range. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there is any way to request this at either premium level (I believe there was discussion here in the last year or so where this USED to be an option, but has been taken off the table, unfortunately).

For those who have gone down this route already (yes....I know I should call Rocket Music to discuss at the dealer level), what have your personal experiences been? Happy with the result...or not? Things that you would have done differently? For those who own (or have in the past) one of those models...do you know the weight of the bass and what may or may not be reasonable to achieve?

Interested to hear your experiences and results. I used to sell high-end custom basses, so I'm very familiar with the process and potential pitfalls, but have had no first-hand involvement with the G&L company at all over the years and never carried the brand. Thanks.
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I have a BTO L2K, and I'm very happy with the quality of the build. I had a JB neck put on it (1 1/2" width at the nut) and it's very stable. The relief has hardly moved at all in almost three years. I have no complaints with the electronics. The body is alder and it weighs in at a tiny bit over nine lbs. For me this is a non issue but empress would be lighter, maybe oukoum too. Good luck with your BTO!
 
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#32,598
lowfreqgeek said:
Now there's an idea... An ASAT bass w/Kiloton configuration. That would just be cool.
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On further contemplation, if I had money burning a hole in my pocket and nothing better to spend it on, I might see if the Custom Shop would build me a 5-string thinline ASAT fretless in roasted Pine, roasted Maple neck, and an ebony fingerboard with a single M-2500 pickup in the Kiloton sweet-spot and a 3-band EQ. That would be a looker, for sure!
 
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