G&L Club Part 7

[soulman969]

I bought an L-2500 Tribute that had sat in a store room for a few years, one of the switches was not working correctly (can't remember which). I ran a drop of switch cleaner down the switch toggle and exercised the switch for a couple of minutes and haven't had any more bother with it.

My guess is that the silver contacts in the switch had oxidised with not being used.

Doing a little work with some contact cleaner is where I'll start Fred. I saw that mentioned in a previous post and if it was you who suggested that thank you. If that's not the issue I'll need to take a peek at a diagram of the stock wiring scheme to compare mine to it before I can attack that.

 

[soulman969]

That's a fantastic burst finish!

Thanks Dave. I thought is was pretty well done when I first saw if too and I actually prefer a maple board to rosewood so once we agreed on a price I was thrilled to get it. Those are photos the dealer posted and all I had to go by. Although the bass is either used or a demo it's in near mint condition cosmetically.

Getting a hardshell case with it was a nice bonus as well. Couldn't be happier with the deal and the service from Upfront Guitars. Both were excellent. They're located in Franklin, MA for anyone in that area who might be looking for a G&L dealer.

Now it's come down to fixing that switching issue and string selection. There's a set of DR Pure Blues on it now and tonally they're fine but the tension is a little less than I'm used to. I have a set of GHS Pressurewounds on my Jazz Bass and those are what I prefer so I may try those soon to see if they're a little more to my liking.

Overall though I'm very pleased with the bass. Even without the "both pickups" combination working at the moment it's got a ton of tonal versatility and some nice "growl". It'll probably take over for the Jazz Bass but I still love my PBass with a set of good old thumpy LaBella Flats for certain stuff.

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

More props for UpFront. I'm working with them on my SB-2 order. They sold my lefty LB-100 and credited the entire net to my order.

It's also a fun place to visit (I'm about an hour away). It's in the basement of a house, but nice space. They have a practice area and all their inventory right there. They made me coffee and I lollygagged for about two hours talking about my bass and about music generally. Eric asked what kind of music I like, and recommended I check out Vulfpeck. Good recommendation--I've since bought their entire discography.

Can't wait to go back and pick up my new ax sometime in mid-late 2018

 

[TDR1138]

Good looking bass. Congrats. I'm partial to the maple/3TS myself (have an '89 L2k in that combo).

Now it's come down to fixing that switching issue...

If a new switch is in order, might as well take advantage and use a 3-way to add the single coil option.

 

[dave64o]

Thanks Dave. I thought is was pretty well done when I first saw if too and I actually prefer a maple board to rosewood so once we agreed on a price I was thrilled to get it. Those are photos the dealer posted and all I had to go by. Although the bass is either used or a demo it's in near mint condition cosmetically.

Getting a hardshell case with it was a nice bonus as well. Couldn't be happier with the deal and the service from Upfront Guitars. Both were excellent. They're located in Franklin, MA for anyone in that area who might be looking for a G&L dealer.

Now it's come down to fixing that switching issue and string selection. There's a set of DR Pure Blues on it now and tonally they're fine but the tension is a little less than I'm used to. I have a set of GHS Pressurewounds on my Jazz Bass and those are what I prefer so I may try those soon to see if they're a little more to my liking.

Overall though I'm very pleased with the bass. Even without the "both pickups" combination working at the moment it's got a ton of tonal versatility and some nice "growl". It'll probably take over for the Jazz Bass but I still love my PBass with a set of good old thumpy LaBella Flats for certain stuff.

I hope you do get that pickup selection issue fixed easily. IMHO, all of the settings give you distinct and very usable tones and all are worth having.

That being said, my favorite setting remains neck/serial/passive with the treble and bass adjusted to taste. I know that probably sounds funny because it's one of the least growly settings on a bass that's renowned for its ability to growl. And, if you want to hear something even funnier, I took off the Lo Riders I was using and put a set of flats (Chromes) on it! But, to me, it just sounds so good in that setting and then the flats take away the harshness and the string noise and leave just the right amount of growl for me. Plus, there's still *lots* of opportunity to make it growl even more with the other settings when I want it to.

 

[dave64o]

Good looking bass. Congrats. I'm partial to the maple/3TS myself (have an '89 L2k in that combo).



If a new switch is in order, might as well take advantage and use a 3-way to add the single coil option.

Great point.

 

[soulman969]

Good looking bass. Congrats. I'm partial to the maple/3TS myself (have an '89 L2k in that combo).



If a new switch is in order, might as well take advantage and use a 3-way to add the single coil option.

Thanks TDR. I have the bass on the bench now. As soon as I have time I'll pop the hood to see what's happening. So far running some contact cleaner down into the switch externally didn't solve the problem so I'll go deeper.

I may have some questions after I examine the wiring. Has anyone posted a stock wiring diagram in this thread? I'm not an electronics guru but I can easily follow a wiring diagram. I've been installing pickups, switches, pots, etc. for many years although all of that has been done on he Fender guitars and basses I'm most familiar with.

 

[soulman969]

I hope you do get that pickup selection issue fixed easily. IMHO, all of the settings give you distinct and very usable tones and all are worth having.

That being said, my favorite setting remains neck/serial/passive with the treble and bass adjusted to taste. I know that probably sounds funny because it's one of the least growly settings on a bass that's renowned for its ability to growl. And, if you want to hear something even funnier, I took off the Lo Riders I was using and put a set of flats (Chromes) on it! But, to me, it just sounds so good in that setting and then the flats take away the harshness and the string noise and leave just the right amount of growl for me. Plus, there's still *lots* of opportunity to make it growl even more with the other settings when I want it to.

One of the first things I wanted to check out is how close I could get it to sound like my PBass in the neck only setting. While the neck pickup isn't perfectly positioned for it I found that it gets me close enough even with the rounds that are on it now.

These days I play a lot more blues and r&b/soul stuff than pure rock so my PBass is usually in play for that but all to often I wish I had a JBass option to roll into as well for busier or funkier bass lines where I need a little more top end and punchier mids.

Swapping basses all night becomes a PIA so the G&L will hopefully allow me to do that with relative ease. I tend to stick more with a passive setting only because the one active JBass I had just didn't cut it with a 9v system vs my Modulus which had an 18v system. It was like night and day and eventually I sold both during one of my sabbaticals from playing. Bad move on he part of selling that Modulus. It was an incredible bass but still not as tonally versatile as this L2500.

So I'm hoping the net result is having more of a Swiss Army knife bass than any I've owned before. I just have to adapt to playing a "fiver" again and to finding the two or three settings that nail what I'm looking for most of the time. It would also be nicer if it was a 35" scale but ya' can't have everything without paying the freight and any Modulus would be a whole lot more money than this gem cost me. I can live with that.

 

[lakefx]

One of the first things I wanted to check out is how close I could get it to sound like my PBass in the neck only setting. While the neck pickup isn't perfectly positioned for it I found that it gets me close enough even with the rounds that are on it now.

These days I play a lot more blues and r&b/soul stuff than pure rock so my PBass is usually in play for that but all to often I wish I had a JBass option to roll into as well for busier or funkier bass lines where I need a little more top end and punchier mids.

Swapping basses all night becomes a PIA so the G&L will hopefully allow me to do that with relative ease. I tend to stick more with a passive setting only because the one active JBass I had just didn't cut it with a 9v system vs my Modulus which had an 18v system. It was like night and day and eventually I sold both during one of my sabbaticals from playing. Bad move on he part of selling that Modulus. It was an incredible bass but still not as tonally versatile as this L2500.

So I'm hoping the net result is having more of a Swiss Army knife bass than any I've owned before. I just have to adapt to playing a "fiver" again and to finding the two or three settings that nail what I'm looking for most of the time. It would also be nicer if it was a 35" scale but ya' can't have everything without paying the freight and any Modulus would be a whole lot more money than this gem cost me. I can live with that.

I've owned a few L2Ks and always found them a little hard to get the P-bass sound out of. Don't get me wrong, I love the L2k, but it's a unique beast. I haven't played one with the single coil option, but my L1K in single coil mode sounds a lot like a P-bass, so that may get you exactly what you're after. The best tip I can give you to tame the L2K is to turn the volume down a bit, then start with the bass and treble controls below 50% and add as necessary. Otherwise, it's really easy to just blow everything else away.

 

[jmlee]

I've owned a few L2Ks and always found them a little hard to get the P-bass sound out of. Don't get me wrong, I love the L2k, but it's a unique beast. I haven't played one with the single coil option, but my L1K in single coil mode sounds a lot like a P-bass, so that may get you exactly what you're after. The best tip I can give you to tame the L2K is to turn the volume down a bit, then start with the bass and treble controls below 50% and add as necessary. Otherwise, it's really easy to just blow everything else away.

My L1K in single coil is indeed very close to what you'd think a P-bass sounds like. It's worth noting that the pickup on the L1K uses the coil closest to the bridge in single coil mode. If you have a k-mod on an L2k, you can get exactly the same sound *if* you've modded to use the two *inner* coils (what I have). Select front pickup, single coil, and run in passive (as I do 90% of the time). It's nice.

 

[TomB]

My L1K in single coil is indeed very close to what you'd think a P-bass to sound like. It's worth noting that the pickup on the L1K uses the coil closest to the bridge in single coil mode. If you have a k-mod on an L2k, you can get exactly the same sound *if* you've modded to use the two *inner* coils (what I have). Select front pickup, single coil, and run in passive (as I do 90% of the time). It's nice.

Good advice, IME, and yes, identical to an L1K in that mode. I'd add that I usually end up boosting the treble but only boosting the bass about half-way or so. These things have a monstrous low end no P-bass can touch if you so choose ...and that's without even mentioning an L1K in OMG mode!

 

[soulman969]

I've owned a few L2Ks and always found them a little hard to get the P-bass sound out of. Don't get me wrong, I love the L2k, but it's a unique beast. I haven't played one with the single coil option, but my L1K in single coil mode sounds a lot like a P-bass, so that may get you exactly what you're after. The best tip I can give you to tame the L2K is to turn the volume down a bit, then start with the bass and treble controls below 50% and add as necessary. Otherwise, it's really easy to just blow everything else away.

I've definitely learned how hot these pickups are compared to the Wilde J45 and P46 I have in the other two basses. This seems to be true of all of Leo's G&L MFD pickups. My ASAT Special works best with the volume and tone rolled off a bit as well.

I have plenty of volume output from my amp and preamp so I don't really need to "goose" the bass itself that much. Even in passive mode it has more than enough balls for me so the active mode is more like the gravy than the meat for me.

It doesn't need to sound exactly like a PBass either. I have one specifically for that when needed and if I have a lot of vocals to do I'll still use the PBass more often then. A five string seems to mess up my concentration on vocal lines a bit more anyway. All the L2500 has to do is get in the ball park and it does. I've even found that where I used my right hand can produce some nice variations on basic tonality.

What I really wanted it to do is sub for the Jazz Bass and I think that side is does capture well and then some. It's very expressive which is one thing I really enjoy about it.

 

[soulman969]

My L1K in single coil is indeed very close to what you'd think a P-bass to sound like. It's worth noting that the pickup on the L1K uses the coil closest to the bridge in single coil mode. If you have a k-mod on an L2k, you can get exactly the same sound *if* you've modded to use the two *inner* coils (what I have). Select front pickup, single coil, and run in passive (as I do 90% of the time). It's nice.

This is why I need to explore the current wiring to see what I have and what changes I may want to make. Right now as I've done with most of my others I'll play it for a bit to see what might be missing then attack that and only that.

 

[Camaro69]

I've definitely learned how hot these pickups are compared to the Wilde J45 and P46 I have in the other two basses. This seems to be true of all of Leo's G&L MFD pickups. My ASAT Special works best with the volume and tone rolled off a bit as well.

I have plenty of volume output from my amp and preamp so I don't really need to "goose" the bass itself that much. Even in passive mode it has more than enough balls for me so the active mode is more like the gravy than the meat for me.

It doesn't need to sound exactly like a PBass either. I have one specifically for that when needed and if I have a lot of vocals to do I'll still use the PBass more often then. A five string seems to mess up my concentration on vocal lines a bit more anyway. All the L2500 has to do is get in the ball park and it does. I've even found that where I used my right hand can produce some nice variations on basic tonality.

What I really wanted it to do is sub for the Jazz Bass and I think that side is does capture well and then some. It's very expressive which is one thing I really enjoy about it.

One of the things I was noticing about mine is that is has a "Jazz bass sound" but it sounds nothing like the Jazz bass I have. Both good and bad on that part.

I am going to do the wiring mods on this honey though

 

[soulman969]

One of the things I was noticing about mine is that is has a "Jazz bass sound" but it sounds nothing like the Jazz bass I have. Both good and bad on that part.

I am going to do the wiring mods on this honey though

The JBass "growl" is there and then some but the MFDs don't respond exactly like JBass pickups. Their output is much greater than any more vintage type single coil bass pickup I've ever played. But it still gets me in the ballpark. Close enough that I would consider selling my Jazz even with it's upgrades. The G&L just does more and that's a good thing for me.

 

[soulman969]

OK, here's where I could use a little help from those who've worked "under the hood" a bit more. Man that's some tight quarters with a whole lot going on in there. Based on what you all have said it's seems it's either some oxidation on the switch contacts or I have an incorrectly wired issue here. So let's find out which. Seems like it should be one or the other.

Trying to inject some cleaner into the switch and working it didn't solve the problem. Still no neck pickup in the middle (both) setting. So, would removing the switch help me to get at the contacts more easily if indeed that's actually the problem.

Let's also review the wiring for that pickup selector switch if that's OK with you guys.

I can't draw it out and upload it but it's easy enough to describe. There are three wires attached to the three right side terminals of the switch. Green (top), White (middle) and Red (bottom). Is this correct or am I lacking a connection from the neck pickup to one of those terminals or a terminal on the left side of the switch?

Just trying to trouble shoot what may be the most obvious and likely problem and I sincerely appreciate any guidance anyone can give that might allow me to do a quick repair here. If it's beyond me to solve it I can take it to a G&L tech here in Denver.

 

[delta7fred]

There are three wires attached to the three right side terminals of the switch. Green (top), White (middle) and Red (bottom).

That is correct, the centre (white) wire goes to the volume pot, the red and green go to the series/parallel switch.

It looks like your pickup selector switch is faulty.

There are the diagrams of the USA G&Ls here G&L Wiring Diagrams and Schematics

 

[Glazenn]

Great point.

G&L (on-line shop) do not sell the 3-position toggle switch.
Available from Mouser, Farnell, Amazon, ebay, etc.
Multicomp 4PDT on-on-on ref. 1M46T1B5M1QE.

 

[jmlee]

G&L (on-line shop) do not sell the 3-position toggle switch.
Available from Mouser, Farnell, Amazon, ebay, etc.
Multicomp 4PDT on-on-on ref. 1M46T1B5M1QE.

No, they do sell the Multicomp Switch:
Switch - DP3T (on/on/on)

 

[soulman969]

That is correct, the centre (white) wire goes to the volume pot, the red and green go to the series/parallel switch.

It looks like your pickup selector switch is faulty.

There are the diagrams of the USA G&Ls here G&L Wiring Diagrams and Schematics

Thanks Fred. Those diagrams are what I lacked. Did you remove the switch to clean the contacts or just leave it in place?