G&L Club Part 7

[gbrooding]

Guys I'm on the hunt for another G&L bass, basically because I want one! The used G&L market in Australia is almost non-existent so I'm looking at a few nice looking L2000s on Ishibashi, but what would be really cool is a later model El Toro (the one with the forearm and belly contour). They are very rare in Australia, I only know of one other that I've seen here.
If anyone has one they would like to move on shoot me a PM.
I'm still loving my L2000. I have some nice other basses but none of them get any play time these days.
I'm still to find another bass whose tone alone can replace my mid '90s L2000, both pickups on 100%, active circuit on (no treble boost), parallel mode with tone knobs up full. Any other bass just doesn't have the balls or presence in the mix. The biggest problem I have is any amp I play through has to have an input gain control, that I usually run at 9 o'clock!
Just changed my avatar to a good G&L action shot!

Here is one that is currently on ebay. I think it's overpriced, but, looks like they ship to Australia... G&L EL TORO 1984 w/Original Hard Case

 

[BrentSimons]

View attachment 832338 View attachment 832339
Fun story, this. I've been watching LB100's from a distance for some time. Came across a great deal made even better when my brother was able to pick it up at Music Store Live and deliver it to me at a family gathering in NY (He and MSL are in VT - I'm in PA).
Wow. This is a solid instrument, and it sounds awesome. It is set up so nicely, I may wait a while before throwing some flats on it.
Either way, we'll be spending a lot of time together (the bass and I, not my brother and I).

That looks like my parents fireplace!

Oh nice looking G&l too.

Take care,
Brent

 

[bdgotoh]

but what would be really cool is a later model El Toro (the one with the forearm and belly contour).

You're confusing the El Toro with the early single coil SB-2 and later Lynx. The El Toro has always had forearm and belly cuts.
There were active/passive and passive only versions of the Toro so watch for the battery cover on the back if you want an active one.

Good luck in your search, they show up a few times per year. If you can handle the body shape you might want to consider the G&L Interceptor bass along with the Toro, it's the same pickups and electronics. I personally love the Interceptor, but some people hate it!

 

[Iridescentone]

You're confusing the El Toro with the early single coil SB-2 and later Lynx. The El Toro has always had forearm and belly cuts.
There were active/passive and passive only versions of the Toro so watch for the battery cover on the back if you want an active one.

Good luck in your search, they show up a few times per year. If you can handle the body shape you might want to consider the G&L Interceptor bass along with the Toro, it's the same pickups and electronics. I personally love the Interceptor, but some people hate it!

Good luck finding an Interceptor. As a G&L fanster I've had an Interceptor on my watch list for years....nada.

Does anyone recall the two NOS Interceptors on ebay about 12 years ago? Seller was Flynn Brothers Guitars in Chicago. Both were '87 models, and both had two-tone paint jobs. Listed at $850 each, which seemed high at the time, but looking back they were a steal. Anyone?

 

[jcburn]

You're confusing the El Toro with the early single coil SB-2 and later Lynx. The El Toro has always had forearm and belly cuts.
There were active/passive and passive only versions of the Toro so watch for the battery cover on the back if you want an active one.

Good luck in your search, they show up a few times per year. If you can handle the body shape you might want to consider the G&L Interceptor bass along with the Toro, it's the same pickups and electronics. I personally love the Interceptor, but some people hate it!

Cool man - thanks for the clarification. I guess I'm just gonna have to be patient!

 

[Chrome Dome]

I have a poster/

flyer,of the G&L's basses that were available,when they were being advertised. Thought I would share. I had the red El Toro,back a few years ago.

 

[Wamba]

My L2500 arrived yesterday, can I join the club?

So, the wiring mods on this bass are not what I thought they were going to be. That's on me, not the seller. I thought I was getting the "k" mod but it turns out to be something else. So, far I'm really diggin' everything about this bass including the sound! (as you can see I've become addicted to G&L's)

What I have is an all passive circuit, the front switch is the standard pickup selector. The middle switch controlling the neck pickup and the rear switch controlling the bridge pickup. Each of the rearward switch has three options. (forward=OMG bass boost...middle=single coil...rear=standard humbucking)

Does anyone have any experience with this setup?

There is a ton of tonal options but I'm wondering if I'm missing out due to a lack of active options.

 

[dedpool1052]

OMG mode/SC/parallel was the standard wiring for the original L1ks. I myself prefer the standard series tone over the OMG setting, so I cut out the capacitor on both my L1ks and haven't looked back. Personally, I don't feel I'm missing anything by not having the active option.

 

[mpdd]

i'd like to report that when you use an LB100 with rounds into a harshly overdriven mesa d180 you get a pretty sublime tone

 

[Clipped]

That looks like my parents fireplace!

Oh nice looking G&l too.

Take care,
Brent

SON!

 

[mpdd]

today i'm using the sb-2 with alleva coppolo vintage flatwounds into my new mini mooger fooger delay, for some reason i always sell all my jazz basses, but i just can't get enough of this g&l with the mfd p and j blended, i keep the p at 75% and the j at 50%, can't decide where to put my thumb though, it sounds incredible on both pickups

 

[R&B]

I played my sweet little CAR/maple 8 pound SB-1 (split coil) last night. Almost blew out the windows when I went to tune it on normal amp settings. Those MFDs are incredible!

 

[mpdd]

L5500 with emgs and a cracked neck pocket and headstock crack
G&L L5500 5 string bass guitar

 

[TDR1138]

It's been on reverb for a bit.
Bit steep considering the repairs, IMO.

 

[gbrooding]

@TDR1138 don't know if you are looking, but this just popped up on GC... [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[TDR1138]

@gbrooding thanks for that. Gorgeous bass. But at this point, I'm committed more to upgrading my 5-string than getting to another 4. Which leaves me at the point where I need to sell my current 5er and convince my wife or let me start siphoning off the gig money that would otherwise go into the family vacation fund into a selfish I-want-a-new-toy fund. I'm not ready for that, um, discussion just yet. But an L1505 is on the short list for when I do.

 

[gbrooding]

@TDR1138 Well, if it's a 1505 you are looking for...I know it's a fretless, but I figure it can't hurt to pass it along... [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[bassbenj]

So, the wiring mods on this bass are not what I thought they were going to be. That's on me, not the seller. I thought I was getting the "k" mod but it turns out to be something else. So, far I'm really diggin' everything about this bass including the sound! (as you can see I've become addicted to G&L's)

What I have is an all passive circuit, the front switch is the standard pickup selector. The middle switch controlling the neck pickup and the rear switch controlling the bridge pickup. Each of the rearward switch has three options. (forward=OMG bass boost...middle=single coil...rear=standard humbucking)

Does anyone have any experience with this setup?

There is a ton of tonal options but I'm wondering if I'm missing out due to a lack of active options.

Not familiar with that exact wiring mod, but in standard wiring both pickups are selected as series, single coil (with K mod) and parallel. The fact you can control each pickup separately is an interesting mod. Downside is active circuits are gone. Of course they aren't "gone" just now you have to use the ones on the head to boost highs etc. On my L2500(s) I find I use passive vs active (no boost) about 50-50. Both have their sounds. I use High boost when needed, but not a lot.

I think you may have mistaken series coils for OMG. The OMG circuit is a capacitor that rolls off highs on one pickup coil so that highs are reduced so lows appear boosted in series mode (on mine both pickups will be in series mode) To tell if your series is OMG or not you need to check for the OMG capacitor across one coil. Personally I put OMG mode as push-pull switch on my treble control. I like the tone of OMG every now and then but usually I just prefer the straight series coils sound. The switch lets me choose. I like that.

I like the idea of this mod! I may think about replacing the single pickup series/parallel switch in my Tribby with two switches with one for each pickup! I'm less reluctant to fill a hole and drill two more on the Tribby than on my USA L2500s! That way I get to keep the standard active modes! I'm sure two two pole switches will fit where the current four pole one now resides! Plus if you mount the pair of switches close you can just grab both handles and flip them together and the bass acts just like it was originally! I need to look into this!

 

[Wamba]

Not familiar with that exact wiring mod, but in standard wiring both pickups are selected as series, single coil (with K mod) and parallel. The fact you can control each pickup separately is an interesting mod. Downside is active circuits are gone. Of course they aren't "gone" just now you have to use the ones on the head to boost highs etc. On my L2500(s) I find I use passive vs active (no boost) about 50-50. Both have their sounds. I use High boost when needed, but not a lot.

I think you may have mistaken series coils for OMG. The OMG circuit is a capacitor that rolls off highs on one pickup coil so that highs are reduced so lows appear boosted in series mode (on mine both pickups will be in series mode) To tell if your series is OMG or not you need to check for the OMG capacitor across one coil. Personally I put OMG mode as push-pull switch on my treble control. I like the tone of OMG every now and then but usually I just prefer the straight series coils sound. The switch lets me choose. I like that.

I like the idea of this mod! I may think about replacing the single pickup series/parallel switch in my Tribby with two switches with one for each pickup! I'm less reluctant to fill a hole and drill two more on the Tribby than on my USA L2500s! That way I get to keep the standard active modes! I'm sure two two pole switches will fit where the current four pole one now resides! Plus if you mount the pair of switches close you can just grab both handles and flip them together and the bass acts just like it was originally! I need to look into this!

I attached the information that was sent along with my L2500.

 

[bassbenj]

I attached the information that was sent along with my L2500.

NICE! I see that OMG caps are installed! I did forget to mention the hum thing with OMG mode which is another reason I put it on a push-pull switch on the treble control. If you look at the diagram you can see it's a simple matter to run the ground side of the two .1 mfd OMG caps to the push pull switch. Or not. Can also decide which you like best and wire it that way.

By the way I'm a great fan of what I call "Leo's last circuit". I also have a bass wired like yours with no active part. It's not a G&L however. It was this fretless SX bass I got for $10 when I bought some Barts from a dude. Electronics was a mess and bass needed a bit of clean up. So I decided to put the passive part of "Leo's last circuit" in it. (essential yours but with one dual pickup switch instead of two) Even though it just has ordinary soap bar humbuckers and not MFD pickups it still is a kick butt bass with lots of versatility! Works great!