G&L Club Part 7

[Gravedigger Dav]

I'd echo that. My Empress LB-100 is a remarkably resonant instrument although just over 7 lbs. That resonance seems to translate into a wonderfully woody, focussed tone that impresses everyone who's played it—me especially.

I'm thinking an LB-100 in Empress will be my next bass. I just wish they made it as a 5ver. I don't particularly like 5vers, but I'm getting into a project where some songs are standard, some 1/2 step drop (Eb), and some are drop D. I'm thinking a 5ver would alleviate me having to schlep 3 basses around and time to change between tunes.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I'm thinking an LB-100 in Empress will be my next bass. I just wish they made it as a 5ver. I don't particularly like 5vers, but I'm getting into a project where some songs are standard, some 1/2 step drop (Eb), and some are drop D. I'm thinking a 5ver would alleviate me having to schlep 3 basses around and time to change between tunes.

Would you consider a Hipshot D-tuner? I've only got one among 14 basses, but it's on a P bass and I use if often when I want low notes on a Pbass. I'm planning to get at least 3-4 more for my LB100, SB1, a Jazz, and a fretless 4 I have. I've got plenty of 5 strings, too (including a fretless L2500), but the D-tuner is a handy thing to have around.

 

[jmlee]

I'm thinking an LB-100 in Empress will be my next bass. I just wish they made it as a 5ver. I don't particularly like 5vers, but I'm getting into a project where some songs are standard, some 1/2 step drop (Eb), and some are drop D. I'm thinking a 5ver would alleviate me having to schlep 3 basses around and time to change between tunes.

I've got an Empress JB-5 on order from G&L via Greg at present. That might be the tool and in another 4 or 5 weeks I hope I can confirm my positive impressions from the Empress LB-100.

 

[RocketMusic]

Is Empress only available on Custom Shop instruments, or can it be had with an "Option" level bass?

Yep, Empress can still be had on Option Order instruments!

Greg your support on this thread is invaluable. I've been on a mission for a while to source an L2500 with a 4+1 headstock. The neck heel on the Kiloton 5 looks to the eye it matches the current L2500. If this indeed is the case do you think G&L may consider this as some type of custom order?

That seems like the kind of thing that ought to be doable, but I'm not sure it actually is. G&L's price list clearly states that the Modern C 5 neck is "exclusive to the JB-5 and Kiloton 5". Sorry!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Would you consider a Hipshot D-tuner? I've only got one among 14 basses, but it's on a P bass and I use if often when I want low notes on a Pbass. I'm planning to get at least 3-4 more for my LB100, SB1, a Jazz, and a fretless 4 I have. I've got plenty of 5 strings, too (including a fretless L2500), but the D-tuner is a handy thing to have around.

I've considered it, but it would be nice to have one already set up to see how I like it. I wouldn't want to have to remove one if I didn't like it. Thanks for the idea.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

I've considered it, but it would be nice to have one already set up to see how I like it. I wouldn't want to have to remove one if I didn't like it. Thanks for the idea.

I don't use it unless I need it, so I almost forget it's there until I need it. I do have to make sure it's all tuned *before* I use it in a song, but otherwise, it's easy enough to forget about when you're not using it. Just a thought!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Sparkle on a night out.

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I've considered it, but it would be nice to have one already set up to see how I like it. I wouldn't want to have to remove one if I didn't like it. Thanks for the idea.

They don't require any new screw holes, if that's a concern. Entirely reversible install.

I use slim width necks and have some trouble with even standard P width necks, much less most 5-strings. I depend on my drop tuner quite a bit.

 

[Nedmundo]

I'm thinking an LB-100 in Empress will be my next bass. I just wish they made it as a 5ver. I don't particularly like 5vers, but I'm getting into a project where some songs are standard, some 1/2 step drop (Eb), and some are drop D. I'm thinking a 5ver would alleviate me having to schlep 3 basses around and time to change between tunes.

I've used drop tuners and fives, and I think you might prefer a five. For tracks in D, a drop tuner is great, and I sometimes prefer it to using the low D on a five, but for tracks in Eb (and some other keys), I think a five is better. For a couple of years I played with a songwriter who often wrote in D and Eb, and I did fine with a drop tuner, but it would have been easier with a five. I bought a five after that band dissolved, and I've found them enormously useful, especially for musical theater shows. My M-2500 is just fantastic.

I also wish G&L would release some kind of P-bass fiver, either LB-105 or SB-15/25, because then I could replace my SB-2 with one and keep the herd at a manageable four, but it seems they've settled on the Kiloton as their single pickup passive fiver.

 

[jmlee]

I've used drop tuners and fives, and I think you might prefer a five. For tracks in D, a drop tuner is great, and I sometimes prefer it to using the low D on a five, but for tracks in Eb (and some other keys), I think a five is better. For a couple of years I played with a songwriter who often wrote in D and Eb, and I did fine with a drop tuner, but it would have been easier with a five. I bought a five after that band dissolved, and I've found them enormously useful, especially for musical theater shows. My M-2500 is just fantastic.

I agree completely. About a month ago I played in the pit orchestra for Suessical The Musical at my daughter's school—more than 150 pages in the bass book alone, and it seemed to me that most of it was in 4-6 sharps or flats, changing every 11-13 bars. Yikes! The M-2500 made the job quite a lot easier and a drop tuner would have been no help at all.

 

[jmlee]

Sparkle on a night out.
View attachment 3398989

Nice! What's that stand your stuff's on?

 

[dave64o]

Sparkle on a night out.
View attachment 3398989

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Nice! What's that stand your stuff's on?

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...wj8iuOt_O_hAhXV7Z4KHbLdA2sQwg96BAgLEEU&adurl=

I got mine at Home Depot, I *think* Lowes has it too (I'm getting a second, i usually use is as a mixer stand)

 

[Btbp]

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...wj8iuOt_O_hAhXV7Z4KHbLdA2sQwg96BAgLEEU&adurl=

I got mine at Home Depot, I *think* Lowes has it too (I'm getting a second, i usually use is as a mixer stand)

Thanks for that, looks like a great product, trying to think of a need for it...

How do you like having your cabinet that far off the floor, are you losing or gaining any fidelity that way?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Thanks for that, looks like a great product, trying to think of a need for it...

How do you like having your cabinet that far off the floor, are you losing or gaining any fidelity that way?

I'm 6'3", in the clubs that I use it there is strong foh and the subs wash the stage.
So, the low end loss is moot, but having it 3' up makes it much easier for me to hear it clearly, at the low volume it's running at. In this way the room is filled with the FOH, I can hear myself WELL despite the rig only running at coffeehouse volume. A small touch of my highs and mids in the monitors, and I'm surrounded .
Oh also I send post eq from the DI on the Mesa WD800 to FOH so I get "my sound" all around.

Other places where FOH is not used, it's on the floor, tilted with a wege, or another smaller stand.

That worktable serves as the mixer stand when I'm serving as sound engineer also.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I've used drop tuners and fives, and I think you might prefer a five. For tracks in D, a drop tuner is great, and I sometimes prefer it to using the low D on a five, but for tracks in Eb (and some other keys), I think a five is better. For a couple of years I played with a songwriter who often wrote in D and Eb, and I did fine with a drop tuner, but it would have been easier with a five. I bought a five after that band dissolved, and I've found them enormously useful, especially for musical theater shows. My M-2500 is just fantastic.

I also wish G&L would release some kind of P-bass fiver, either LB-105 or SB-15/25, because then I could replace my SB-2 with one and keep the herd at a manageable four, but it seems they've settled on the Kiloton as their single pickup passive fiver.

I'm with you on that. I tried a Kiliton, but didn't like it at all. I could get no low end from it at all. I agree a 5 string is the answer, but G&L may not have a bass I want. I don't do active pickups. I don't know if anyone is making a 5 string P/J. I'd like to try one out.

 

[gbrooding]

Really liking the L-1000. It fits perfect in the Bakersfield Sound band that I am in!

 

[Luigir]

Really liking the L-1000. It fits perfect in the Bakersfield Sound band that I am in! View attachment 3401121

I see you have a P too. Can you get a p sound with the L1000? In what they differ?

If I've got it correctly the pickup position should be the same, isn't it?

 

[gbrooding]

I see you have a P too. Can you get a p sound with the L1000? In what they differ?

If I've got it correctly the pickup position should be the same, isn't it?

Just my 2nd show with the L-1000, but there are definite similarities. But to me the L-1000 is much punchier in my opinion, and maybe a little brighter?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I'm with you on that. I tried a Kiliton, but didn't like it at all. I could get no low end from it at all. I agree a 5 string is the answer, but G&L may not have a bass I want. I don't do active pickups. I don't know if anyone is making a 5 string P/J. I'd like to try one out.

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