• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

G&L Club Part 7

Here's my latest addition. Only the 2nd G&L I've ever owned. I'm loving it so far. LB-100 in Ruby Red Metallic.

View attachment 3880670

Nice looking bass man.
Is that a GZR P? How does it sound with the Labellas? I'm using Chromes with my GZR P and I find the Chromes are still a little bright and clanky (TBH they are very new, and my first foray into flats - I'm usually a round nickels guy).
 
Nice looking bass man.
Is that a GZR P? How does it sound with the Labellas? I'm using Chromes with my GZR P and I find the Chromes are still a little bright and clanky (TBH they are very new, and my first foray into flats - I'm usually a round nickels guy).
Hi J.C. Thanks. And good eye. They ARE Geezers. The guy I got it from had them in, but he also included the original pickups. This is my first go-round with the Geezers. I usually use Seymour Duncan SPB-1's on my P-Basses. I think the Duncans sound a bit more "vintagey" than the Geezers. I've only had this a couple days, so I'll give the Geezers awhile, then probably put the originals in to see which I like better.

The Labellas are great. I love them. Don't worry about the Chromes. They are VERY bright (for flats) when new, but after awhile they settle in and sound great. But that's why I stopped using them. I'm not real patient. I like them to sound less bright (more like FLATS!) right out of the package. :D But once the Chromes settle in, they're great!

Besides the Labellas, I recently tried a set of DR Legacy Flats for the first time on my American Original Fender Jazz. I've been very impressed with them. Unless I happened to get a flukey-good set, I'd put them right alongside the Labellas.

Another type of flats that sound fantastic right out of the box is the GHS Precision Flats. They were my flats of choice for years until they stopped making the regular Long Scale. They still make the Long Scale Plus, which are great for stringing through-body, but a bit too long for top loading on a 34" scale bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jcburn and woodyng2
Just browsing Sweetwater for GearFest news. Saw Tribute Fallout Bass (no stripes). Hoping for more than just that, but I am sure people will be happy with the new option on the Fallout.


Glad to see the stripe disappearing. Different strokes I guess.

I've tried several mustangs and always been underwhelmed by the sound and feel. Maybe you get used to it but it felt a bit like a toy to me.

Im glad to see see G&L went with the massive humbucker so I know sound will be ok.
 
Hi J.C. Thanks. And good eye. They ARE Geezers. The guy I got it from had them in, but he also included the original pickups. This is my first go-round with the Geezers. I usually use Seymour Duncan SPB-1's on my P-Basses. I think the Duncans sound a bit more "vintagey" than the Geezers. I've only had this a couple days, so I'll give the Geezers awhile, then probably put the originals in to see which I like better.

The Labellas are great. I love them. Don't worry about the Chromes. They are VERY bright (for flats) when new, but after awhile they settle in and sound great. But that's why I stopped using them. I'm not real patient. I like them to sound less bright (more like FLATS!) right out of the package. :D But once the Chromes settle in, they're great!

Besides the Labellas, I recently tried a set of DR Legacy Flats for the first time on my American Original Fender Jazz. I've been very impressed with them. Unless I happened to get a flukey-good set, I'd put them right alongside the Labellas.

Another type of flats that sound fantastic right out of the box is the GHS Precision Flats. They were my flats of choice for years until they stopped making the regular Long Scale. They still make the Long Scale Plus, which are great for stringing through-body, but a bit too long for top loading on a 34" scale bass.
The factory lb100 pickup sounds great. I know I would prefer it to any emg pickup.
And i feel the same as you about Chromes- for me, the "settling in" period is YEARS.
Labella's Low Tension Flexible Flatwounds sound like old school thumpy flats the instant you install them, but are a whole different feel from the stiff and tensiony Chromes. I have a set on my GL JB2, and they just sound fantastic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jcburn and Jeff K
I've had the same set of Chromes on my L2000 for at least the last 3 years, if not longer. They sound great when they're broken in. Give em time.

I've been on a flats kick lately, actually. I also have Fender 9050s on my LB-100 that have been on about 6 years. Love them. Similar to Chromes, maybe a little less of the top end, and priced well.

I had LaBella LTFs on my L1000. Really great tone, definitely more of the thump than the Chromes or 9050s. I did just take them off and have the bass string with GHS P Flats when it got a refret. Haven't had a chance to hear them in a mix yet, but initial impressions is that they're fairly similar to the LaBellas.
 
I posted my "new" LB-100 in Post 16811. I tried to add this bottom pic to that post, but I'm unable to do it.

The original pic is a much more accurate depiction of the color; but this one with the flash shows the metallic in the paint. But this one makes the paint look lighter than it really is, and makes the pickguard look hideous. Just wanted to get the metallic to show up. Lousy camera.


IMG_16001.jpg


IMG_2226.jpg
 
I posted my "new" LB-100 in Post 16811. I tried to add this bottom pic to that post, but I'm unable to do it.

The original pic is a much more accurate depiction of the color; but this one with the flash shows the metallic in the paint. But this one makes the paint look lighter than it really is, and makes the pickguard look hideous. Just wanted to get the metallic to show up. Lousy camera.


View attachment 3882434

View attachment 3882433
That's even more beautiful
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff K
I know I sound like a broken record but my M2500 just sounds so good. I kept trying to switch to my Bongo 5 for a change now and then, but it just seems blah compared to the M. And the Bongo is a great bass... Anyway I just sold the Bongo and now have some dough for something else. Thinking JB5, Kiloton, or maybe something totally different (considering saving for a custom build)
 
  • Like
Reactions: One Way
Interesting. I definitely don't need to indulge my GAS right now, but I've found myself looking at some Bongo For sale ads recently. Never owned one, but have played a few in stores and was pretty impressed with them, especially the HH's.

So what is it about an M-xxxx that you prefer over a Bongo? Hopefully that doesn't sound sarcastic, because I really do want to hear your opinion. I've been curious about M's, too, but wasn't sure they be different enough from my L-2500.
 
  • Like
Reactions: picnic01
Holy crap, Tim Lefebvre!!! One of my favorite bass players.
We are going to have Tim on the Big Bottom podcast soon...

He loves the fallout bass.
 
Finally joined this club unofficially today on the bass side after a long term loving relationship w/ G&L guitars w/ this 1992 SB-1 in emerald:
mag5NCl.jpg

HO8Lbkv.jpg

lPazpKq.jpg

I've loved my friend's L-2500 when I'd played it but I think this one fits me a good bit better.

The G&L herd has been thinned a bit on the guitar side in the last couple years, but here's the two I can find pics of at the moment (also hanging onto a black '95 Legacy):
WAHZjEV.jpg

1982 Fullerton red SC-1
m96TJ8A.jpg

xKcH6eM.jpg

2018 satin frost monkeypod Doheny
 
Interesting. I definitely don't need to indulge my GAS right now, but I've found myself looking at some Bongo For sale ads recently. Never owned one, but have played a few in stores and was pretty impressed with them, especially the HH's.

So what is it about an M-xxxx that you prefer over a Bongo? Hopefully that doesn't sound sarcastic, because I really do want to hear your opinion. I've been curious about M's, too, but wasn't sure they be different enough from my L-2500.

Bongo is brighter and really modern sounding. The M can go that route but also has some great vintage tones. Bridge pup on the Bongo sounds great, both pups sounds really powerful and has an amazing slap tone, but the neck pup never sounded quite right to me. I think it's a little too boomy. Maybe I would like the HS model. I find the Bongo eq to be much more finnicky also, it can be hard to replicate settings quickly as the eq is very sensitive.

Also not the most comfortable bass sitting but it does hang on a strap really well.

The M feels more organic and it's hard to make it sound bad. The Bongo eq can definitely sound weird if not set well.

It's been 10 years since I had my L but the M seems more versatile to me, even without the series parallel switch. M definitely sounds more hi Fi to me
 
Hi J.C. Thanks. And good eye. They ARE Geezers. The guy I got it from had them in, but he also included the original pickups. This is my first go-round with the Geezers. I usually use Seymour Duncan SPB-1's on my P-Basses. I think the Duncans sound a bit more "vintagey" than the Geezers. I've only had this a couple days, so I'll give the Geezers awhile, then probably put the originals in to see which I like better.

The Labellas are great. I love them. Don't worry about the Chromes. They are VERY bright (for flats) when new, but after awhile they settle in and sound great. But that's why I stopped using them. I'm not real patient. I like them to sound less bright (more like FLATS!) right out of the package. :D But once the Chromes settle in, they're great!

Besides the Labellas, I recently tried a set of DR Legacy Flats for the first time on my American Original Fender Jazz. I've been very impressed with them. Unless I happened to get a flukey-good set, I'd put them right alongside the Labellas.

Another type of flats that sound fantastic right out of the box is the GHS Precision Flats. They were my flats of choice for years until they stopped making the regular Long Scale. They still make the Long Scale Plus, which are great for stringing through-body, but a bit too long for top loading on a 34" scale bass.

Cool answer man - my Chromes are currently on a PJ bass with EMG GZR pickups, but I struggle now tonewise with any other bass than a G&L L series bass.

Think I'm gonna swap the Chromes on to one of my L2000 basses. One of them is currently sporting DR Fat Beams and for a stainless tone.... Oh my..... It sounds incredible..... But even with treble rolled off the tone is bright and aggressive. I'm thinking I'm gonna need flats to tame the tone of the L2000. Chromes may not get it done I feel so the Labellas may be the next string to try.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Jeff K

Latest posts