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I had a similar experience Fri night. Played a sub gig with my old wedding band, and it was the first gig I'd played in 3 months. I brought my almost-new LB-100, and it was the first time I'd played it through a real PA combined with my amp turned up past coffeehouse volume. Man, that bass sounds amazing. And that stock pickup has way more bite than I first realized. There were certain points when I dug in hard and the amp naturally distorted a bit, and the tone was killer. Too bad I don't have any more gigs on the books...
Yes it was an SVT Classic. Sounded great, but yeah what a freakin boat anchor! Belongs to a good friend who was also playing the same benefit we were just before us. Says he only brings it out a couple times a year because it is so darn heavy. I cant really blame him.
Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
Has some real nice Birdseye and flame i the neck and headstock. The finish on the back of the neck is almost completely gone and I'm gonna give it the Oil and Wax treament rather than refin it.
This is not the original finish on the body, but it was Natural to start with.
This is not the original finish on the body, but it was Natural to start with.
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Yeah the neck is purty and it feels great. When I got it however, it had a bad Ski Slope and a twist in it. Pretty much impossible to get a good set up on it. The neck was so sweet though I had to try to save it.
I sent it off to that Warpedneck.com place in Texas. He does a heat treatment process where it is clamped down and heated. Low and behold it really worked. It still is not perfectly flat, 95% better, but it takes a good setup and I could get the action down fairly low. I cant recommend that place enough. He saved this neck that would otherwise have taken traditional repairs that would have been far more expensive and intrusive.
I know what you mean, because I have an SB-2 and used to have an L-1500. They both have MFD aggression and the L-1500 has some P-bass aspects to its tone, but IME the SB-2 is a "plug-and-play" bass that always works, while my L-1500 sounded thin and nasal through some rigs, unfortunately including my G-K gear. And the SB-2 can sound more like a classic Precision with the volume rolled back. With the combination of P-bass vibe and MFD slam, my SB-2 actually kicked both my L-1500 and MIA Precision right out of the herd! I'd love to have an LB-100 too, but can't justify it when my SB-2, JB, and M-2500 cover so much sonic territory.
I think this is a pretty fair assessment, actually.
I had my SB-2 as a main player for about 4 years because it for so well in the band I was in at the time. Raw, grindy P-ish tone. After leaving that band, I wasn't really playing it much mainly because of the neck. As much as some people like the #8 profile, it was too skinny for me. So, GAS hits and the SB-2 was one of the ones to go. I miss it and would love to have it back, but truthfully, I'm fine without it and letting my L-2000s and LB-100 handle the work. That combo lets me bounce between the traditional P and the juicy MFD goodness.
I still have my black L2000,with the brown binding. If you don't mind me sharing with your green L1500.Since I know y'all are always looking for some more G&L Porn, I just traded my SB-1 for an L-1500. Here's my current stable of electrics. The 1500 and wunkay are a perfect match to cover everything I want!
You had some neck problems with that one, right? How's it holding up? Absolutely gorgeous bass...
Everyone that plays it at Church,tells me they don't understand why anyone thinks there is anything wrong with the neck? Since I talked to you about it,I removed the stripped nut,and replaced it with a new nut,and got the right allen wrench to adjust it with,from StewMac. It plays great,and I can adjust the relief,and the truss rod moves okay. See if you can see how the neck looks in these pictures if you can? Thanks!
Attachments
Pics make it look good... Glad it turned out ok. Plays great, that's the important part.
Posted this on the bass forum. Figured I may get more action here from fellow G&L owners.
I've been thinking about picking one of these up for a few months now. They're reasonably priced on the used market, and there happens to be a few floating around in the classifieds here and on reverb/eBay. As a reasonably responsible consumer, I've checked out dozens of reviews and listened to all the L-1505 youtube samples available. However, although the youtube videos sound good, the clamor regarding the bass's tone and noise are wildly different. On one end of the spectrum we have the camp that states, although the l-1505 isn't as versatile as the 2500 series it still sound great for a single pick-up bass; like a MM on steroids, or a MM on meth. On the other hand, we have users who are aggressively trying to unload their 1505s for something else, primarily a 2500 or MM-style bass, often citing noise issues and "tonal thinness" that accompanies G&L's preamp.
So what is it? I understand tone is subjective, but is it really that terrible?
I've been thinking about picking one of these up for a few months now. They're reasonably priced on the used market, and there happens to be a few floating around in the classifieds here and on reverb/eBay. As a reasonably responsible consumer, I've checked out dozens of reviews and listened to all the L-1505 youtube samples available. However, although the youtube videos sound good, the clamor regarding the bass's tone and noise are wildly different. On one end of the spectrum we have the camp that states, although the l-1505 isn't as versatile as the 2500 series it still sound great for a single pick-up bass; like a MM on steroids, or a MM on meth. On the other hand, we have users who are aggressively trying to unload their 1505s for something else, primarily a 2500 or MM-style bass, often citing noise issues and "tonal thinness" that accompanies G&L's preamp.
So what is it? I understand tone is subjective, but is it really that terrible?
The L-1500/L-1505 is, I think, often misunderstood. People expect a Stingray. It's not. People expect a L-2000. It's not.
What it is is a very mid-forward bass that takes a little getting used to in terms of how the EQ works.
Like all L-series, the treble and bass are cut-only controls that work active or passive. But the preamp injects a lot of high end. Since the mids are inherently prominent in the bass and you can only cut bass and treble, you have to work a little harder to control them. A lot of people modify the preamp to reduce the high end boost. IMO, that's actually the wrong thing to do. Preamp on, bass up about 80% and treble rolled back to about 10-30% and these things sound great. I do think they can benefit from a larger value cap on the tone pot, but that's my personal taste.
What it is is a very mid-forward bass that takes a little getting used to in terms of how the EQ works.
Like all L-series, the treble and bass are cut-only controls that work active or passive. But the preamp injects a lot of high end. Since the mids are inherently prominent in the bass and you can only cut bass and treble, you have to work a little harder to control them. A lot of people modify the preamp to reduce the high end boost. IMO, that's actually the wrong thing to do. Preamp on, bass up about 80% and treble rolled back to about 10-30% and these things sound great. I do think they can benefit from a larger value cap on the tone pot, but that's my personal taste.
OK @SlugThrower I have an ASAT and an L-1500, both 4 string so I cannot give a low string comment, but can the rest as ASAT has very similar electronics to the L2K.
They are correct about the L1.5K and its real zing and MM on steroids, especially the later models where the PUp is in the sweet spot, for a while it was about in the bridge position. It is a great bass, breast sound, punch and tone and I use it for my 'funkier' stuff, really light and a joy to play, well balanced.
Slap, pick, finger it will do it in that area of sound. Treble boost is very sharp and boosts hard. As the pups are so hot I run everything at about 75% on the bass.
The ASAT is a tone monster and I mainly use it with bass boost on and both pups blaring for a very full sound, metal and in drop d it really shines and sometimes I feel guilty putting a pedal on it as it has a lovely time to it. If I roll the tone off then you get near a P-bass sound.
I can compare these sounds to the fender Cabronita P bass I have and they both have more gusto, though I have a soft spot for the Fidelitron pick up.
I've also used EMG's in a Kramer and a starcaster and the MFD pick ups really are splendid.
Why do you see so many trades?
Well we all have GAS and are all building our sound without a bottomless pit of money and space so we trade things out! I do see a lot of people as well who have traded out the L1500 to wish they had it back again!
I am so happy with what I have, but am having serious gas for an an LB-100, and may consider shifting something to get something in and probably regret it if I do.
IMO they are both great bases that you will absolutely love, get the one which has the neck you like and you will not look back, or preferably get both.
Reviews are good, but it's all about you and your gut feeling, no decision is wrong
They are correct about the L1.5K and its real zing and MM on steroids, especially the later models where the PUp is in the sweet spot, for a while it was about in the bridge position. It is a great bass, breast sound, punch and tone and I use it for my 'funkier' stuff, really light and a joy to play, well balanced.
Slap, pick, finger it will do it in that area of sound. Treble boost is very sharp and boosts hard. As the pups are so hot I run everything at about 75% on the bass.
The ASAT is a tone monster and I mainly use it with bass boost on and both pups blaring for a very full sound, metal and in drop d it really shines and sometimes I feel guilty putting a pedal on it as it has a lovely time to it. If I roll the tone off then you get near a P-bass sound.
I can compare these sounds to the fender Cabronita P bass I have and they both have more gusto, though I have a soft spot for the Fidelitron pick up.
I've also used EMG's in a Kramer and a starcaster and the MFD pick ups really are splendid.
Why do you see so many trades?
Well we all have GAS and are all building our sound without a bottomless pit of money and space so we trade things out! I do see a lot of people as well who have traded out the L1500 to wish they had it back again!
I am so happy with what I have, but am having serious gas for an an LB-100, and may consider shifting something to get something in and probably regret it if I do.
IMO they are both great bases that you will absolutely love, get the one which has the neck you like and you will not look back, or preferably get both.
Reviews are good, but it's all about you and your gut feeling, no decision is wrong
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Brand new EBMM Stingray with very unleveled frets from the factory- Latest: Iridescentone
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