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Just got word that my L-2500 is almost ready. Should be shipping out next week. So excited.
I'll be watching for it on the G&L posts.
I'll be watching for it on the G&L posts.
Thanks for all the notes on the DR Pure Blues. Seems to generally good feedback there so I ordered up a set from Sweetwater this afternoon
I needed a replacement nut for my L2K. Ordered a Fender bullet truss rod nut from Stewmac and it was a good replacement, but had to use 1/4 inch Allen wrench instead of 4mm size it replaced.
The L2500 Tribute showed up last night - and WOW! This thing is a beast! Fretwork was really good, but I like a very low action, the only thing I've had to do so far was to spot level 3-4 frets in the lower register and a couple of adjustments to the truss rod. I still need to check the string slots to see if they are ideally cut or not, but they seem pretty good at first glance. She's playing really good now though!
Can't believe how punchy this thing is! Still discovering the little nuances of the position of the bass & treble knobs in relationship to series/parallel mode - where I like them, etc.
Been finding perfect tones for a very wide range of genres with this bass. The factory strings are still on it, but I might change them out to something more familiar pretty soon.
Can't believe how punchy this thing is! Still discovering the little nuances of the position of the bass & treble knobs in relationship to series/parallel mode - where I like them, etc.
Been finding perfect tones for a very wide range of genres with this bass. The factory strings are still on it, but I might change them out to something more familiar pretty soon.
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That finish is beautiful - and I think the lighter look of the maple fingerboard helps make the shading and the wood grain more visible.
Congrats!
Congrats!
Glad to see you're enjoying you're enjoying your L2500!
If you do decide to swap out the stock D'Addarios, may I suggest that you try DR Pure Blues? They're a great match for this bass IMHO.BTW, many of us run our L-series basses entirely in passive mode. (The battery's actually out of mine entirely.) I've not found the boost or boost+treble of any real use and the MFD pickups pump plenty of level without it. Give that some thought as well, and see if you notice any difference in passive mode, battery in vs battery out. (I did.)
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Thanks! The grain pattern is evading my cellphone camera pretty good so far, lol.
In person, it's really beautiful - the finish is rich & deep & the wood grain stands out really well.
I'll be trying to get better pics soon.
Glad to see you're enjoying you're enjoying your L2500!
BTW, many of us run our L-series basses entirely in passive mode. (The battery's actually out of mine entirely.) I've not found the boost or boost+treble of any real use and the MFD pickups pumps plenty of level without it. Give that some thought as well, and see if you notice any difference in passive mode, battery in vs battery out. (I did.)
Those MFD's definitely have the output to run passive - they could punch through walls. Holy cow!
I've seen it stated that there seems to be a slight tonal difference (perhaps for the better) when running in passive mode with the battery physically removed from the circuit. I haven't gotten that far yet to try that out, but I've read something like that along those lines on here and found it interesting. Mental note made to try that out.
Another quick pass with my baroque fret crowning file on a couple of tiny spots and this thing is playing like butter. 
Also, I think I might be joining those who play theirs entirely passive - those MFD's have such a muscular output, I'm thinking I really don't need active mode all that much.
I mean, I really like the extra bit of treble clarity that active (and active/treble boost) mode give, but those are something I can easily dial in on my amp. Plus, I think I have a wider selection of which high-end frequencies I want to boost on my amp. So although I haven't yet - I'll be taking the battery completely out of the circuit. Might have do A/B recording to see if I can hear any tonal difference.
All in all, I am completely blown away by the L2500 - so versatile and both the punch & clarity factors are off the chart. Also - the B string is KILLER. Not sure if its just the physical tension or just the solid punchy tone but this has got to be the BEST B string in a 34" I've ever played. It truly incorporates perfectly into the tone of the other strings in both tone & tension, rather than sounding duller & floppy like so many other B strings often do. I don't have to baby my technique or adjust anything in my playing to get a strong, punchy & clear note anywhere on the B string. This thing rocks!
Also, I think I might be joining those who play theirs entirely passive - those MFD's have such a muscular output, I'm thinking I really don't need active mode all that much.
I mean, I really like the extra bit of treble clarity that active (and active/treble boost) mode give, but those are something I can easily dial in on my amp. Plus, I think I have a wider selection of which high-end frequencies I want to boost on my amp. So although I haven't yet - I'll be taking the battery completely out of the circuit. Might have do A/B recording to see if I can hear any tonal difference.
All in all, I am completely blown away by the L2500 - so versatile and both the punch & clarity factors are off the chart. Also - the B string is KILLER. Not sure if its just the physical tension or just the solid punchy tone but this has got to be the BEST B string in a 34" I've ever played. It truly incorporates perfectly into the tone of the other strings in both tone & tension, rather than sounding duller & floppy like so many other B strings often do. I don't have to baby my technique or adjust anything in my playing to get a strong, punchy & clear note anywhere on the B string. This thing rocks!
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I find active/passive both useful on my L2500Trib, but my Pups are wound down a ways. The difference in out put into my amp between the L2500 and my active Jazz isn't too different going buy my trim settings. Perhaps try lowering your Pups before giving the active side a miss : )
I've lowered the pickups just a tad, but that was due to my preference for very low action - they're so strong I didn't want them pulling on the strings too much due to the significantly lowered action from the factory setup.
It's not that my gain is too much, or I'm clipping the front end of my amp, or anything like that. I guess it's more of a testament to the power of the MFD pickups. I just can't believe they can have that much power in passive mode. Again, in a good way.
Maybe too, because all the controls and series/parallel switch still works in passive mode - well, minus the active/treble boost switch. The gain and controls pretty much feel like I'm still working in active mode, even in passive mode.
So again, it's not a gain issue for me - just more of WOW factor. If the bass sounds this good in passive, the only advantage (for me) I'd be giving up by going fully passive is a slight bit of treble boost. But I think I'd almost want to set the high end on my amp anyway so that I can sculpt the exact center point of the top end - depending on the gig/room.
I'll be finding out later today how the L2500 sits in the mix at a band rehearsal - very excited to see how it does!
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For all of the recently tasters of the L2x00.I've lowered the pickups just a tad, but that was due to my preference for very low action - they're so strong I didn't want them pulling on the strings too much due to the significantly lowered action from the factory setup.
It's not that my gain is too much, or I'm clipping the front end of my amp, or anything like that. I guess it's more of a testament to the power of the MFD pickups. I just can't believe they can have that much power in passive mode. Again, in a good way.
Maybe too, because all the controls and series/parallel switch still works in passive mode - well, minus the active/treble boost switch. The gain and controls pretty much feel like I'm still working in active mode, even in passive mode.
So again, it's not a gain issue for me - just more of WOW factor. If the bass sounds this good in passive, the only advantage (for me) I'd be giving up by going fully passive is a slight bit of treble boost. But I think I'd almost want to set the high end on my amp anyway so that I can sculpt the exact center point of the top end - depending on the gig/room.
I'll be finding out later today how the L2500 sits in the mix at a band rehearsal - very excited to see how it does!
The Preamp is simply a signal boost , line driver.
All tone and pickup switching is passive and the preamp, treble boost was intended to overcome the signal loss and treble attenuation with a longer cable run.
Use it as you see fit, but know the design intent.
The L2500 sounded amazing at rehearsal today - I think I found my new main bass for live work. 
It simply cuts through the mix with sheer ease. Not just by sheer volume (yes, it has plenty of that too). But I was most impressed by it's versatility - toggling between parallel or series was a fantastic way to suite different songs, dynamics.
I was also impressed with how it felt very smooth, very controllable, it's responsiveness to playing dynamics. I was a little concern, going in, that it might be a bit much for some of the quieter songs in the set list. But once we got to those - it was no problem. Yes, you can tell there's a lot of power on hand, but it's definitely highly responsive - like a well tuned sports car.
Note-to-note volume was beautiful even in a full mix. Just highly, highly impressed - the guys in the band loved the tone too! They're definitely going to be seeing a lot more of the L2500 going forward. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here in the thread - just excited to finally experience a G&L product!
Note: The entire rehearsal today was in passive mode, definitely loving the passive tone!
It simply cuts through the mix with sheer ease. Not just by sheer volume (yes, it has plenty of that too). But I was most impressed by it's versatility - toggling between parallel or series was a fantastic way to suite different songs, dynamics.
I was also impressed with how it felt very smooth, very controllable, it's responsiveness to playing dynamics. I was a little concern, going in, that it might be a bit much for some of the quieter songs in the set list. But once we got to those - it was no problem. Yes, you can tell there's a lot of power on hand, but it's definitely highly responsive - like a well tuned sports car.
Note-to-note volume was beautiful even in a full mix. Just highly, highly impressed - the guys in the band loved the tone too! They're definitely going to be seeing a lot more of the L2500 going forward. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here in the thread - just excited to finally experience a G&L product!
Note: The entire rehearsal today was in passive mode, definitely loving the passive tone!
They are truly extraordinary instruments. My last outdoor gig in October, I played my blue Tribute L2500 and every note of the gig made me smile. It's just a tremendous instrument. I hope they introduce some new color options in 2020. If they do.........I will buy my 6th G&L and 3rd L2500.The L2500 sounded amazing at rehearsal today - I think I found my new main bass for live work.
It simply cuts through the mix with sheer ease. Not just by sheer volume (yes, it has plenty of that too). But I was most impressed by it's versatility - toggling between parallel or series was a fantastic way to suite different songs, dynamics.
I was also impressed with how it felt very smooth, very controllable, it's responsiveness to playing dynamics. I was a little concern, going in, that it might be a bit much for some of the quieter songs in the set list. But once we got to those - it was no problem. Yes, you can tell there's a lot of power on hand, but it's definitely highly responsive - like a well tuned sports car.
Note-to-note volume was beautiful even in a full mix. Just highly, highly impressed - the guys in the band loved the tone too! They're definitely going to be seeing a lot more of the L2500 going forward. I know I'm probably preaching to the choir here in the thread - just excited to finally experience a G&L product!
Note: The entire rehearsal today was in passive mode, definitely loving the passive tone!
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+1
Couldn't agree more - this instrument just flat out shines in a mix. I imagine an outdoor gig where you can get a little louder than indoor gigs was really fun.
The other main quality I'm still in awe over, is just how mean & growly this thing can be one second, and then can easily be dialed in to be totally smooth the next second. It's so versatile!
George and Leo knew what they were doing!+1
Couldn't agree more - this instrument just flat out shines in a mix. I imagine an outdoor gig where you can get a little louder than indoor gigs was really fun.
The other main quality I'm still in awe over, is just how mean & growly this thing can be one second, and then can easily be dialed in to be totally smooth the next second. It's so versatile!
