G&L Club Part 7

[MarkM13]

Question for the club. I'm considering a G&L but am hung up on which model. Part of me would like the Kiloton as a smaller bodied alternative to the Stingray. But another part is very curious about the L1000. Which leads me to my question. Would an L2500 with the bridge pickup soloed sound like the Kiloton and with the neck soloed sound like the L1000? BTW, not that it matters but these would all be five strings.

Thanks
Mark

 

[jmlee]

Question for the club. I'm considering a G&L but am hung up on which model. Part of me would like the Kiloton as a smaller bodied alternative to the Stingray. But another part is very curious about the L1000. Which leads me to my question. Would an L2500 with the bridge pickup soloed sound like the Kiloton and with the neck soloed sound like the L1000? BTW, not that it matters but these would all be five strings.

Thanks
Mark

Well...I guess the brief answers to your two questions are no and no. The closest matches would be between the neck pickup of the L2500 and the L1000 (5-string version). The locations and nature of the pickups are the same, but the L1000 has a different, passive coil-tapping electronics set-up to give you parallel coils mode, single coil and something called the OMG setting which filters one of the coils to give a fatter tone—while the L2500 has series and parallel coil modes and an active/passive option with a high end boost available in active. So, they'll really just sound close with the neck pickups only, and both in parallel mode—but after that they'll diverge. Bass and treble controls are identical passive roll-offs in both, though. The 5-string Kiloton has the sleeker, SB-2 type body and its one pickup is further from the bridge than is the bridge pickup of the L2500. This is the position of the single pickup inherited from the now-deleted L1500 bass. As well, the electronics in the Kiloton are all passive, with a series/parallel/split coil switch—again not the same as what's in the L1000 or the L2500. The three basses are just...well...different. If you're new to G&L, the place to start is almost certainly the flagship L2000/L2500 and see if the characteristic MFD pickup sound is what you like. You get more tonal colours and pickup/electronic options with the two-pickup basses for sure. At that point you might be able to sort out what end of the available tones best suits and think about whether the L1000 (super-duper-P-bass) is the way to go, or the Kiloton (punch machine) is the way to go. Hope that helps. It's confusing for sure.

 

[Hawk620]

Having owned both an L2500 and a Kiloton I have to agree with jmlee especially on a Kiloton which IMHO is an animal all to itself based on the single MFD pickup and it's unique location. It's a mid forward bass that can punch through a concrete wall of a mix.

An L2500 is gonna be an extremely versatile sounding bass but IMHO it will never replace a PBass or the G&L L1000 equivalent. Not once did I ever consider selling my PBass and trying to coax my L2500 into replacing it. I suggest trying out and L2500 yourself and form your own opinion on it.

 

[pbass2]

I have owned a couple L2500s in the past and now a Kiloton V. The L2500 is for sure versatile and has some great sounds on tap. But I'm finding the Kilo to be more "P like" in how it sits in a mix no muss no fuss. Not that it sounds like a P but just in its focused quality. I could never quite get there with the L2500. And it's not all about aggressive mid punch. I use flats and it's very responsive to where you pluck. You can go from tight and punchy over the pickup to very mellow and blooming up towards the neck. Very clear and even sound in the mix from the low B all the way up. I play in a funk soul band, a country band, and with a modern pop singer and it's my new numero uno fwiw. I've never used Stingrays much but to me it's like P meets Ray, but leaning more to the P side in a mix.

 

[MarkM13]

Well...I guess the brief answers to your two questions are no and no. The closest matches would be between the neck pickup of the L2500 and the L1000 (5-string version). The locations and nature of the pickups are the same, but the L1000 has a different, passive coil-tapping electronics set-up to give you parallel coils mode, single coil and something called the OMG setting which filters one of the coils to give a fatter tone—while the L2500 has series and parallel coil modes and an active/passive option with a high end boost available in active. So, they'll really just sound close with the neck pickups only, and both in parallel mode—but after that they'll diverge. Bass and treble controls are identical passive roll-offs in both, though. The 5-string Kiloton has the sleeker, SB-2 type body and its one pickup is further from the bridge than is the bridge pickup of the L2500. This is the position of the single pickup inherited from the now-deleted L1500 bass. As well, the electronics in the Kiloton are all passive, with a series/parallel/split coil switch—again not the same as what's in the L1000 or the L2500. The three basses are just...well...different. If you're new to G&L, the place to start is almost certainly the flagship L2000/L2500 and see if the characteristic MFD pickup sound is what you like. You get more tonal colours and pickup/electronic options with the two-pickup basses for sure. At that point you might be able to sort out what end of the available tones best suits and think about whether the L1000 (super-duper-P-bass) is the way to go, or the Kiloton (punch machine) is the way to go. Hope that helps. It's confusing for sure.

This is super helpful! Thank you for taking the time for such an in depth post.

Cheers,

Mark

 

[TonyP-]

If you're new G&L, the place to start is almost certainly the flagship L2000/L2500 and see if the characteristic MFD pickup sound is what you like. .

Excellent advice...You can get into a tribute for cheap money.

 

[pbass2]

It really does come down to the MFD thing - they are unique and can take a little getting used to for many folks. Many, including myself, "tame" them by lowering the pickups and in particular not running the volume of the bass dimed--it puts you in a more "traditional" zone, less aggressive (I believe that flexibility was part of the intent with the design). For example, my passive Kilo V with the volume at about 80% is the same output level as my passive Fender Pbass with standard-wind Lindy Fralins. So when you try one, be sure and do that to see how the sound changes, the tone opens up. It doesn't have to be all aggro. I just tracked mine on a folky acoustic ballad for a client, and they said the bass sounded "like caramel".

 

[TonyP-]

M vs L differences tone wise (to me).

Well I recorded 4 tracks this weekend 2 where on the M and 1 on my new L. (1 on my Lull).

I haven't had a American L in my stable in a bit years and I honestly feel that the USA made instruments have improved over the last few years. (Generally speaking).

People speak of the L being more aggressive and I'm not sure if that is a %100 accurate IMHO or at least to my ears.

I feel like the growl is at a different spot. (Roundwounds of course)

L -In parallel more in the upper mids to me. Even going into series I feel its adding lower mids more then lows themself.

M -Distinct more lows, less-upper mids more true mids (hence I cut a lot of that out). I'm not sure why this bass is not more popular in the P&W community.
I would think those players would love it...Also if you coming from EMGs DCs the M with the mids cut will get you closer to that camp.

 

[Hawk620]

M -Distinct more lows, less-upper mids more true mids (hence I cut a lot of that out). I'm not sure why this bass is not more popular in the P&W community.

Your thinking parallels my own Tony. As I posted before, having owned an L2500 that I can compare my M2000 to I found more there of what I wanted a bass to do for me. More tonal control that was easier to dial in. I can understand if demand was low why G&L opted to stop producing them as stock production models but maybe they should rethink that and promote them a little more. Just something they might consider.

 

[TonyP-]

Your thinking parallels my own Tony. As I posted before, having owned an L2500 that I can compare my M2000 to I found more there of what I wanted a bass to do for me. More tonal control that was easier to dial in. I can understand if demand was low why G&L opted to stop producing them as stock production models but maybe they should rethink that and promote them a little more. Just something they might consider.

Amen Hawk...I actually did the unthinkable this weekend...I actually cut my lowed lol (just barely off the center dentent). I easily could have had my production partner put a little HPF on it, but we are working kind of quick. This is music for the Food Network and writing under a timeline.

I know that G&L had recently had more BTO Ms and believe chatting about them helps keep the model alive.
The M-2500 is one of the biggest sleepers in the bass community.

 

[pbass2]

M vs L differences tone wise (to me).

Well I recorded 4 tracks this weekend 2 where on the M and 1 on my new L. (1 on my Lull).

I haven't had a American L in my stable in a bit years and I honestly feel that the USA made instruments have improved over the last few years. (Generally speaking).

People speak of the L being more aggressive and I'm not sure if that is a %100 accurate IMHO or at least to my ears.

I feel like the growl is at a different spot. (Roundwounds of course)

L -In parallel more in the upper mids to me. Even going into series I feel its adding lower mids more then lows themself.

M -Distinct more lows, less-upper mids more true mids (hence I cut a lot of that out). I'm not sure why this bass is not more popular in the P&W community.
I would think those players would love it...Also if you coming from EMGs DCs the M with the mids cut will get you closer to that camp.

Was gonna pull the trigger on a used M2500 recently as another fiver option with my Kilo V - was thinking it would be a more "modern" sound that could be really useful. Alas I ordered a JB-5 instead--fickle me! But I will say that my favorite (and best recorded) sounds I've gotten with my old L2500s(always passive) or with this Kiloton are when I use them with an external pre--Sadowsky and now the Xotic RC - or some similar EQ sculpting in the box, and scoop some mids, essentially "modernizing' the tone for lack of a better term. Part of that "taming" of the MFD approach. I do this with no other basses I own. I do of course track them straight and leave all that prominent midrange intact for some music though, but it's when I really want the bass to poke out (which it certainly does!).

 

[pbass2]

Amen Hawk...I actually did the unthinkable this weekend...I actually cut my lowed lol (just barely off the center dentent). I easily could have had my production partner put a little HPF on it, but we are working kind of quick. This is music for the Food Network and writing under a timeline.

I know that G&L had recently had more BTO Ms and believe chatting about them helps keep the model alive.
The M-2500 is one of the biggest sleepers in the bass community.

It's funny, I do alot of production music, ad work, TV---and y'know how your music often ends up super low in the mix with a wall of VO and sound design on top? And the low end stuff is the first thing to disappear? One thing about the G&L MFD basses is they can really speak out through all that if you need a bass part to still be heard .

 

[TonyP-]

It's funny, I do alot of production music, ad work, TV---and y'know how your music often ends up super low in the mix with a wall of VO and sound design on top? And the low end stuff is the first thing to disappear? One thing about the G&L MFD basses is they can really speak out through all that if you need a bass part to still be heard .

Oh Man....There is a art to it for sure. I'm just happy if the client is happy. I part of of 2 person production team (for that stuff) and I alwasys ask...Is this attention grabbing bumper or a backround? As you know its how to make someone happy with all if it in 3 seconds sometimes.

 

[pbass2]

Oh Man....There is an art to it for sure. I'm just happy if the client is happy. I part of of 2 person production team (for that stuff) and I alwasys ask...Is this attention grabbing bumper or a backround? As you know its how to make someone happy with all if it in 3 seconds sometimes.

Yep, the way I mix for much of that is pretty different from how I would an album track etc! I get asked to do a lot of soul/ funk vibes and they always want an in your face bass. Sometimes I'll hear the final production and they've ONLY used the bass stem in places!

 

[pbass2]

I started out the year determined to get another US G&L having sold my old L2500 years ago. Now I find myself with two and very stoked: got the Kiloton V a few months ago, and just now got this JB-5 to keep it company

 

[KPJ]

Damn, I just can't stop. Added 2 tributes, a Kiloton and an SB-2 to the quiver. I have a bunch of gigs and practices this month and I am only using my G&Ls. "G&L June"!

 

[jfh2424]

My Ms are not more mellow than my Ls. To my ears, the mids hit a different spot.

The difference to me is that the M is easier to mellow out, if that's what you want. Mellowing an L is possible, but it's not easy.

 

[pbass2]

My Ms are not more mellow than my Ls. To my ears, the mids hit a different spot.

The difference to me is that the M is easier to mellow out, if that's what you want. Mellowing an L is possible, but it's not easy.

All depends I suppose--many factors. With my Kiloton now and with my old L2500s(passive), if I kept the volume down about 80% I could go positively polite if needed ((especially with flats).

 

[woodyng2]

Damn, I just can't stop. Added 2 tributes, a Kiloton and an SB-2 to the quiver. I have a bunch of gigs and practices this month and I am only using my G&Ls. "G&L June"! View attachment 7250054

Still loving that L-1500
Would be interested in reading your thoughts comparing it and your Kiloton. (With the 1500 in passive mode).

 

[pbass2]

Interesting....I've gotten quite used to and comfortable on my new Kiloton V as far as the string spacing and neck. As I was just playing my new to me 2017 JB-5, I was noticing it felt a little roomier than the Kiloton V. I thought the necks were the same based on the specs (both spec'd as "1.750" nut width Modern C5 with 9 1/2" radius" on the current models) but turns out they're different. The bridge and string spacing there is the same as expected. The JB-5 is a 20 fret, the Kilo 21 fret. The nut width is just a teeny smidge wider than 1.75 on the JB-5 and the width at the 20th fret is also a teeny smidge wider on the JB-5. The back of the JB5 neck is flatter, the Kilo neck rounder. We're talking very small differences, but it was enough for me to feel it playing. All good, but go figure . Were the JB-5 necks in 2017 spec'd differently than they are now?