G&L Club Part 7

[delta7fred]

with a G-string that can be heard *hiding*

It amuses me the way that the fanboys deny that there is weak G on some MMs.

I figured that weaker magnets was the easiest way to get less output from one string without winding special coils so checked the strength of the pickup magnets on my 2 MMs with a gauss meter.

The SR5 had magnets that were about 20% weaker on the G (and B but I never perceived that as weak).

The USA SUB4 had the same strength magnets across the pickup, you could tell as soon as you played it.

They were both nice basses (apart from the SR5 weak G) but are both long gone.

 

[dave64o]

have it:
View attachment 3888927
@dave64o

Sparkle has:
Bound, Markerless ebony fretboard.
Marty Bell Flake finish
Matched headstock.
Neck pocket shaved to a 2 degree angle (no shim) 6 bolt neck.

YES K-mod (inner) considering bypassing the pre (I NEVER use it-- no battery in it anyways) and use that 3 way to add:
Outer coils, and neck front/ neck front coils.

Replaced the switch tips with white ones, black for the pup selector.

did you say glitter?
View attachment 3888933
You can see just how DEEP the glitter coat is in this shot
View attachment 3888934

Nah left in '89
I built this in production, my initials on the neck. found it's way back to me.
83 SB-1
View attachment 3888958

Thank you, mate. Thank you!

 

[dave64o]

I know the L-1500 creates some "mixed" feelings but it would be my choice if I could only have ONE G&L. To be fair, I don't currently have one.

I've owned most of the G&L lineup at one point, excluding the M series, JB, and Kiloton. The 1500 just provides a uniqueness that I haven't found with another bass. The 1000 gets into P Bass territory (plus some), the 2000 is very versatile, the SB-1 and 2 are great, simple basses but stay close-ish to the Fender sound.

To me the L-1500 pickup position is where the MFD pickup really shines. In series mode you get enough low end, but ultra aggressive mids. A unique sound that I have not replicated with any other bass. I can understand the people that say it sounds "harsh", it certainly can. I usually play through an 8x10 with the tweeter off or 2 18s, which isn't the brightest amp setup.

I guess I'll have to pick up another one some day. Or maybe I'll try a Kiloton, I do like that body shape.

My prior L-1500 and L-1505:

View attachment 3888963 View attachment 3888964

Those blackbursts are beautiful!

 

[dave64o]

If you could only have on G&L bass (yea, I know), what would it be?

Tough question. My own L-2500 absolutely deserves to be drooled over, and I do, but I'm like Pavlov's dog when it comes to @/\/\3phist0 's. And recent posts here have gotten thinking about an M-2500, which I suspect might be an even better fit for what I play than an L. Thankfully, G&L doesn't make a five-string SB-2 because that would make answering the question even harder.

So what do I want? A five-string SB-2 with the M-xxxx preamp in silver metal flake with matching headstock?


Or maybe I'm I'm just chasing a fantasy when I already have it - a drop dead gorgeous L-2500 that I get to go home with after every gig.

 

[Crispus]

If you could only have on G&L bass (yea, I know), what would it be?

sb-2.

L2500 is a very close second, though.

 

[Mammoth_Bass]

Here is my newest G&L that should arrive tomorrow! I will be putting in MFD pickups in it. I prefer those pups, but the body style of the LB. Also have a PG that I covered in stickers that I am going to experiment with. If only my band was playing and I could take it out!

 

[dave64o]

Love G&L's metallic and metal flake finishes!

 

[Nedmundo]

The standard fingerboard radius is 9.5" for all current 4 string USA basses.

I've had 7.5, 9.5, and 12 inch radius G&L bass necks and I don't really feel a huge difference. My favorite is the classic #6 that was the narrow option for basses up until around 1998. They then made the 12" radius standard for basses until about 6-7 years ago, when 9.5" became standard.
I've found necks of all 3 radii that were very comfortable and some of each radius that weren't comfortable. For me, the rounding of the edges and the back contour are much more important to me than the radius in terms of how much I like a neck, at least within the 7.5-12" range.

I'm sensitive to fretboard radius, and generally the flatter the better. On fives, I'd gladly go flatter than the 12" on my M-2500. But like you said, rear profile and rolled fretboard edges matter too. For example, even though my JB-5 has the standard 9.5" radius, the neck is very comfortable due to the nicely rolled edges and slim rear profile. It's a beautifully designed neck IMO. Thing is, I know I'd like it more with the 12" radius, so I might sell it and order one to my specs.

BTW, I also remember those G&L maple fretboards with sharp edges. The first L-1500 I tried (around 2005) was like this. But even my 2010 JB and 2013 M-2500 don't have edges rolled as nicely as the MIA Fenders I've owned, including my wonderful 2003 J. That's one thing Fender has gotten right for a long time, but based on my JB-5 (and 2015 Comanche guitar) it seems G&L is there now.

If you could only have on G&L bass (yea, I know), what would it be?

If I had to choose one of mine, M-2500. Starting from scratch, L-2500, mostly to have a passive mode.

 

[FantasticFour]

If you could only have on G&L bass (yea, I know), what would it be?

I guess a Kiloton but I have yet to try a fretless version.

 

[DanTheMan2112]

The sharp edges on the Tribute M-2000 I had were very uncomfortable. I find the Tribute Kiloton more comfortable; the narrowness could be a big part of that.

 

[richwag]

Tough question. My own L-2500 absolutely deserves to be drooled over, and I do, but I'm like Pavlov's dog when it comes to @/\/\3phist0 's. And recent posts here have gotten thinking about an M-2500, which I suspect might be an even better fit for what I play than an L. Thankfully, G&L doesn't make a five-string SB-2 because that would make answering the question even harder.

So what do I want? A five-string SB-2 with the M-xxxx preamp in silver metal flake with matching headstock?


Or maybe I'm I'm just chasing a fantasy when I already have it - a drop dead gorgeous L-2500 that I get to go home with after every gig.

View attachment 3889063

the more I see matching headstocks the more I like them. I didn't even know G&L would do a matching burst.

 

[jmlee]

the more I see matching headstocks the more I like them. I didn't even know G&L would do a matching burst.

Oh my, yes they will! To wit, a greenburst from my L-2500:

 

[TDR1138]

I'm not a fan of matching headstocks, but I do think it's cool that G&L will burst a headstock. I can't really recall seeing many other bursts on the headstock.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Tough question. My own L-2500 absolutely deserves to be drooled over, and I do, but I'm like Pavlov's dog when it comes to @/\/\3phist0 's. And recent posts here have gotten thinking about an M-2500, which I suspect might be an even better fit for what I play than an L. Thankfully, G&L doesn't make a five-string SB-2 because that would make answering the question even harder.

So what do I want? A five-string SB-2 with the M-xxxx preamp in silver metal flake with matching headstock?


Or maybe I'm I'm just chasing a fantasy when I already have it - a drop dead gorgeous L-2500 that I get to go home with after every gig.

View attachment 3889063

Ok ,I've had the same Jones for a 5 string SB 2.
I plan on finding an SB 2 gen 2.
Grafting a L2500 neck, and bridge on to.
Sending body and neck to Marty.
Silver Sparkle.

I have a doner L2500 pickup.
Take poles from the L2500 pickup, and add / respace the SB2 neck pickup to have an extra pole in the Treble half.
And respace the bass half poles.
I can epoxy fill and redrill the shells.

As to to the bridge pup, I have to locate 2x Lynx, eltoro pups, and repeat above . It's do-able...

OTOH: I still have some connects at G&L, hmmm.....

Have Curtis Novak redo them?

Anyway

 

[dave64o]

Ooooooo....

 

[/\/\3phist0]

I'm not a fan of matching headstocks, but I do think it's cool that G&L will burst a headstock. I can't really recall seeing many other bursts on the headstock.

Carvin did too. I think Kiesel does.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Here is my newest G&L that should arrive tomorrow! I will be putting in MFD pickups in it. I prefer those pups, but the body style of the LB. Also have a PG that I covered in stickers that I am going to experiment with. If only my band was playing and I could take it out! View attachment 3889086

Loooooove desert flavor colors.

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Ok ,I've had the same Jones for a 5 string SB 2.
I plan on finding an SB 2 gen 2.
Grafting a L2500 neck, and bridge on to.
Sending body and neck to Marty.
Silver Sparkle.

I have a doner L2500 pickup.
Take poles from the L2500 pickup, and add / respace the SB2 neck pickup to have an extra pole in the Treble half.
And respace the bass half poles.
I can epoxy fill and redrill the shells.

As to to the bridge pup, I have to locate 2x Lynx, eltoro pups, and repeat above . It's do-able...

OTOH: I still have some connects at G&L, hmmm.....

Have Curtis Novak redo them?

Anyway

Ooooooo....

You know what?
I'll trace out an SB2 owned by a friend.
Grab some Okume / Empress and fab the body.
Maybe I can get an old friend Howard to fab the pups for me.
Warming up the old email printer, where are the bit-stamps!.


Lol

 

[dave64o]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...

 

[delta7fred]

If you could only have on G&L bass (yea, I know), what would it be?

Difficult question.

My duo buddy wants me to play my SB-2 (wired as an SB-1) when in his studio where we do live Facebook streams.

The guitarist in my 60's band much prefers the sound of my L-2000 to the SB-2 (1) so I duly oblige. It makes little difference to me which I play.

If I could only have one it would be a cherry burst L-2500 (I already have a natural one but prefer the look of a cherry burst).


P.S. If we ever get back to gigging again (guitarist is COVID-19 high risk so is self isolating for the foreseeable future and drummer has to have an op on his spine when the hospitals return to some sort of normality) I have GAS for a Kiloton so my "only one" might change.