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That's my impression exactly. I bought a new MJ5, traded it for an MJ4, and finally sold that. They were both really good instruments, beautifully done and great to play on stage. However, perhaps because of the preamp, they shared a lot of the character of the M-series but without the MFD pickup flavour which is what I loved best. If I didn't already have a great active J-bass and an M-2000, I might have kept one of them.
To me the L and the M sound pretty similar. My favorite setting on the L is series with both pickups which is what the M is naturally. As far as soloing one pickup or the other I like the L's passive single coil front pickup setting better but the M gets a lot more out of the rear pickup when solo'd. The L just doesn't have enough eq to make the rear pickup sound anything but thin and nasally. With the M you can actually add bass to it and fatten it way up. To me that's the biggest difference between the two, the M's EQ is just way better. Love how the highs aren't brittle at all even when dimed and the mid is just beefy not honky.
I was wondering how I was going to feel about the absence of the fretboard dots. Funny thing is I don't even notice their gone unless I actually look at it. No problem at all.
And I don't know if the graph-tech nut has anything to do with it, probably does, but the tuners feel twice as smooth as any other tuner I've ever felt.
To be honest, I didn't really notice that my fretboard was markerless at first, either. I was sort of keeping my eye open for an L-2500, but only if it was one of a few specific finishes. After waiting for a long time I eventually saw this one pop up and I jumped on it right away because it was one of those finishes. The markerless fretboard was a bonus (as were the matching headstock, the factory-installed K-option, and the bridge mod! 
). And the fact that I was able to work out a way to pick it up in person and save the former owner and me the extra costs, hassle, and risks of shipping, it was a a deal I never could have passed on!
). And the fact that I was able to work out a way to pick it up in person and save the former owner and me the extra costs, hassle, and risks of shipping, it was a a deal I never could have passed on! 
To celebrate her 20th birthday I installed the boost-only Aguilar OBP-1 circuit in 18V. I used to play this bass all of the time through the now discontinued DB924 so this mod felt like home immediately.
Very happy - dark, open and smooth.
Very happy - dark, open and smooth.
Here is my latest. A beautiful custom shop I just got in a trade with another TB er. This thing plays amazing, very light, and the Delano pick ups sound phenomenal. I wish I was a better picture taker because I am not doing this justice.
Any of you guys tried the La Bella nickel rounds or the Dunlop flats yet on your g&ls or for any kind of bass for that matter?
Still so happy with my JB5 Empress... for sure the right choice in a traditional light weight bolt on 5er!
It's really not possible to do photographic justice to a G&L burst. They are works of real beauty (as is yours)!
About a year ago I started a thread in the Strings Forum specifically to ask about LaBella nickels for the L-2500 I had recently bought. I got some varying opinions, but maybe this will help:
Labella RX's vs. LaBella SN's - compared to DR Lo Riders?
dieselman
Supporting Member
unfortunately i've got pat wilkins branded ones, standard nickel rounds, and the vapor variety
Really nice bass there! Absolutely gorgeous. Factory upgrades bring G&L's to a whole 'nother level IMO, and the JB-2 is one of my all time fave jazz basses. Congrats.
Here's a few of mine from days gone by.
Too true, especially for some of us who totally suck with a camera, like me. This 3-tone L-1500 doesn't look like much in this pic, but in person it's captivating.
Agreed. I just can't get the fine grain details photographed on my L-2500 no matter what camera I try. Unfortunately my L-1505 doesn't look much different from this picture. Even though it's clear red it's pretty much devoid of grain. Musta been a Friday bass.
Just a general comment ..... I'm loving the pictures that people have been posting lately. These are some really nice looking basses!
