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Has anyone A/Bed the USA and Legacy SB-2? The smaller body and J spec neck are really teasing me in a bad way but since I don't gig nearly as much as I used to I can't justify the price difference.
Yes I was lucky enough to catch one from @RocketMusic 49 other basses, this is the one that gets played
Not sure I can play in this game but that's an impressive sisterhood you've got there.
For real though. No one here can answer whether or not these L1K's are legit discontinued? Because I see people posting some here (including a 5'er) that look new yet I don't see them listed as a bass option on the company's website.
They are indeed discontinued.
The one that @audreycashin posted was from the @RocketMusic special run a few years ago (around '14-'15)
The one that @armybass has was from another run last year.
Hopefully if there's enough demand, it will make it's return to the pricelist as part of their normal line-up instead of being a "special run" bass from time to time.
I was lucky enough to get one of them last run with @RocketMusic. They're a very sweet rig in their own way. Did a show with mine recently, strung with TI flats, and it felt so natural and comfortable in its simplicity. It's an instrument that takes the player in a different direction than does the L1500 or the Kiloton. Maybe it's just me, but I find that the instrument I'm playing strongly influences how I play in a given context. It probably shouldn't, but it does.
So, I thought I'd ask this here before I go and return the bass later this week...
I bought a 2nd hand L2500 Tribute from GC's guitar section, and I think I got a dud. It sounds... very weak. I have a Sire V3 and a Kramer Forum that kick it's ass in terms of aggression. It sounds low output, muddy, and there isn't much midrange growl like I was expecting. I've seen people call these things fire-breathing monsters, and all I got is a Ford Pinto.
Also I suspect there's something wrong with the electronics because the preamp modes don't work for jack. It originally had an old battery that expired 3 years ago, and when I activated the preamp modes it sounded like someone cranked up a fuzz pedal. Passive mode sounded "fine". After changing the battery for a new one, the preamp modes were dead. Almost no output whatsoever.
At this rate, I'm assuming GC sent me a lemon, and I should return it when I take my next trip there.
I bought a 2nd hand L2500 Tribute from GC's guitar section, and I think I got a dud. It sounds... very weak. I have a Sire V3 and a Kramer Forum that kick it's ass in terms of aggression. It sounds low output, muddy, and there isn't much midrange growl like I was expecting. I've seen people call these things fire-breathing monsters, and all I got is a Ford Pinto.
Also I suspect there's something wrong with the electronics because the preamp modes don't work for jack. It originally had an old battery that expired 3 years ago, and when I activated the preamp modes it sounded like someone cranked up a fuzz pedal. Passive mode sounded "fine". After changing the battery for a new one, the preamp modes were dead. Almost no output whatsoever.At this rate, I'm assuming GC sent me a lemon, and I should return it when I take my next trip there.
The L has very punchy pickups with lots of lows and mids. I backed my pickups down to mellow them. I suppose someone could have lowered them too much on yours leaving low output. Worth a look. The preamp is a different story. Not sure what to tell you there. It sold give slight high and low boost when on. I actually don't use the pre in mine at all and took the battery out. I'd check your pickup height though. Those MFDs are punchy!So, I thought I'd ask this here before I go and return the bass later this week...
I bought a 2nd hand L2500 Tribute from GC's guitar section, and I think I got a dud. It sounds... very weak. I have a Sire V3 and a Kramer Forum that kick it's ass in terms of aggression. It sounds low output, muddy, and there isn't much midrange growl like I was expecting. I've seen people call these things fire-breathing monsters, and all I got is a Ford Pinto.
At this rate, I'm assuming GC sent me a lemon, and I should return it when I take my next trip there.
Got mine in 2014 I think....no talk of a new run at this time.....
Nah, changing the pickup height didn't help either. It increased output slightly but its still really dark and low-output. Both my Kramer and Sire can overpower it no issues.
Sounds like the preamp is toast, luckily available on the G&L store for around $50. It amounts to soldering 5 wires IIRC, but it's quite the spaghetti mess in there.
Electronics - Preamp - USA L-series
I'd check all the obvious stuff first, loose wires, cold solder joints, etc before concluding it's the preamp, but mine finally died after 30 years, so they aren't prone to sudden death. Big you'd problem if you just want to return it, of course.
Electronics - Preamp - USA L-series
I'd check all the obvious stuff first, loose wires, cold solder joints, etc before concluding it's the preamp, but mine finally died after 30 years, so they aren't prone to sudden death. Big you'd problem if you just want to return it, of course.
Sorry to say this but it looks like you got a lemon.
If you've put a good battery in and there is no change then something is wrong. I would recommend that you return it (unless you can get a really good discount on it and know someone who can fix it).
Usually it is the IC that has died, on the USA models it is in a socket so is easy to change, unfortunately on the Tributes it is soldered in (one of the corners they cut to get the price down) and not quite so simple to change.
It was early 2017 for mine, order placed mid-year 2016.
Even if your preamp is toast, shouldn't the passive side still sound great? Did someone cannabalize the electronics? Something isn't right for sure. Punchy is what Ls are all about!
Hadn't thought of that, @GroovyBaby is right, it should still work fine in passive, which is one nice aspect of that system, if the battery dies, you just switch to passive. If you like the bass otherwise, maybe the GC guitar tech can easily fix it if it's just a bad connection.
Yeah, that doesn't sound right. I've owned dozens of basses over the years and my G&Ls have the hottest output of any! I think your bass is broken.So, I thought I'd ask this here before I go and return the bass later this week...
I bought a 2nd hand L2500 Tribute from GC's guitar section, and I think I got a dud. It sounds... very weak. I have a Sire V3 and a Kramer Forum that kick it's ass in terms of aggression. It sounds low output, muddy, and there isn't much midrange growl like I was expecting. I've seen people call these things fire-breathing monsters, and all I got is a Ford Pinto.
At this rate, I'm assuming GC sent me a lemon, and I should return it when I take my next trip there.
Received the tort pickguard for my SB2 reclamation project. With the new pickguard, an MFD split-coil installed, and a stacked master/j-pickup volume and tone controls it is ready to go. At some point I'll have to clean up the shielding job that someone did to it - you're not supposed to see it when the bass is put together . . .
I also installed DiMarzio Model Js in the empress JB2 I got from bdgotoh. Went all out and gave myself series/parallel options for each pickup and for the pair. When I install them in my Trib JB2 (have some on the way) I won't bother with the individual pickup series/parallel - just for the pair. Yeah, I like them - MFDs sold me on adjustable poles and these don't disappoint. Not very visually interesting other than the black poles make the pickup look different than the silver poles on the OEM pickups.
I also checked out a used Trib M2K I picked up via GC used. I did like the toned-down MFD humbuckers and the blend control. I'm not sure I liked the 3-band eq over the old G&L system and the bass itself had some issues that meant I'm returning it to them tomorrow. I may try another one someday, but I'm in no hurry as it didn't really grab me in any way to make me think I want one.
I also installed DiMarzio Model Js in the empress JB2 I got from bdgotoh. Went all out and gave myself series/parallel options for each pickup and for the pair. When I install them in my Trib JB2 (have some on the way) I won't bother with the individual pickup series/parallel - just for the pair. Yeah, I like them - MFDs sold me on adjustable poles and these don't disappoint. Not very visually interesting other than the black poles make the pickup look different than the silver poles on the OEM pickups.
I also checked out a used Trib M2K I picked up via GC used. I did like the toned-down MFD humbuckers and the blend control. I'm not sure I liked the 3-band eq over the old G&L system and the bass itself had some issues that meant I'm returning it to them tomorrow. I may try another one someday, but I'm in no hurry as it didn't really grab me in any way to make me think I want one.
