G&L Club Part 7

[BigDrew]

Hey man - what sort of basses are you coming from? I'm a stainless rounds user, but I can get serious low end vintage thump in series mode with the treble dialed back. It still has some G&L muscle and clank but plenty (maybe too much?) low end. I'm thinking something else is going on here.

Tell us your whole set up.....strings, switch positions, bass/treble knob positions etc.

It’s a 2018 US with Ash body and rosewood neck. It’s got a flamed maple top and it looks like the original DAddario strings on it. It looks unused. I’ve tried all settings and changed the battery. I bought another set of DAddario’s to try. Neck had a ton of relief so I took that out over the last day and a half.

I watched a bunch of videos and that growly, nasal sound may just be the preamp.

 

[BigDrew]

Also, I’m playing through a Bergantino Forte + HDN112 and a Rumble 40. Sounds much better through the Rumblr.

 

[TomB]

Have you tried it passive?

 

[BigDrew]

Have you tried it passive?

Yes. I’ve tried all settings.

 

[jfh2424]

L2500 are usually known to be very middy. And in passive/series mode with the treble rolled off to taste, they are usually anything but nasally...I wonder what is going on here.

Plus, if you are running it through a Rumble, that should make it even more vintage sounding...

 

[Edgetone]

Hello all, some help needed!

I just picked up an L-2500. I like it, but is has an odd sound. I think it may just be the G&L sound; very middy and growly. It’s not big and thick sounding. Any way to make it more “vintage” sounding besides just passive mode?

After reading the other responses, my first thought would be your instrument cable. Do you use a pedal board? Bad connections in the board can also lead to a loss of "beef" in the sound. When I build mine, I used an Evidence Audio solderless patch cable kit. I was so happy with it all wired up neatly, then plugged in my L-2500 and all the tone was sucked from the sound. At first I thought it was one of my pedals, but it was just bad connections. I wouldn't ever go solderless again for custom cables.

As for getting old-school sounding vibes, reducing the volume on the L can also help dial in that vintage tone. Those MFD's are hot.

 

[BigDrew]

After reading the other responses, my first thought would be your instrument cable. Do you use a pedal board? Bad connections in the board can also lead to a loss of "beef" in the sound. When I build mine, I used an Evidence Audio solderless patch cable kit. I was so happy with it all wired up neatly, then plugged in my L-2500 and all the tone was sucked from the sound. At first I thought it was one of my pedals, but it was just bad connections. I wouldn't ever go solderless again for custom cables.

As for getting old-school sounding vibes, reducing the volume on the L can also help dial in that vintage tone. Those MFD's are hot.

Thanks! Mogami instrument and Speak On cables. No pedal board. The bass defintily sounds better through my little Rumble....maybe I like a thick mud sound with this bass>!

 

[dedpool1052]

Another thing to consider @BigDrew
Have you tried lowering the pickups?
Sometimes that can open up the tone.
Also, since your "blend" is based on a pickup switch and the height, if the bridge pickup is considerably higher than the neck, it could be contributing to the mid-heavy/nasally character.

 

[IvanBassist]

Hey everyone
I had Steve Araujo from The Bass Hang / G&L as a guest on my podcast. I thought you guys might like it:


Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3jau9K8
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2DX5c60

 

[BigDrew]

Another thing to consider @BigDrew
Have you tried lowering the pickups?
Sometimes that can open up the tone.
Also, since your "blend" is based on a pickup switch and the height, if the bridge pickup is considerably higher than the neck, it could be contributing to the mid-heavy/nasally character.

Thanks! I will definitely try that!

 

[craigb]

I like pickguards & control plates so I jumped at the opportunity when Quickguards got posted. I ordered one in gold sparkle paisley for my L1K and one in silver paisley for my "JB21K" (JB2 modified into an L1K). They arrived today and are thick and meaty pickguards (3mm) and look great. They did not quite match my L1K neck/pickup layout - I had to remove roughly 1/16" from the neck pocket space in the pickguard to get them to fit. Once I did that they were good. It shows that when I measured/eyeballed the jb21k pickup it did not end up in the same spot - so that one has to wait for the weekend. I'll take it apart and extend the pickup route so the pickguard will work (and that will get it in the exact same spot as my L1K).

I've stuck it on with some 3M adhesive for now - if I decide it's going to stay "forever" then I'll probably use screws.

It's gold & black and looks pretty good in person (better than the pics) and the sparkle doesn't really come through. I'm liking it so far but time will tell if I keep it, scrap it, or just decide on a different pattern/material.

 

[TDR1138]

I like pickguards & control plates so I jumped at the opportunity when Quickguards got posted. I ordered one in gold sparkle paisley for my L1K and one in silver paisley for my "JB21K" (JB2 modified into an L1K). They arrived today and are thick and meaty pickguards (3mm) and look great. They did not quite match my L1K neck/pickup layout - I had to remove roughly 1/16" from the neck pocket space in the pickguard to get them to fit. Once I did that they were good. It shows that when I measured/eyeballed the jb21k pickup it did not end up in the same spot - so that one has to wait for the weekend. I'll take it apart and extend the pickup route so the pickguard will work (and that will get it in the exact same spot as my L1K).

I've stuck it on with some 3M adhesive for now - if I decide it's going to stay "forever" then I'll probably use screws.

View attachment 4011366 View attachment 4011365

It's gold & black and looks pretty good in person (better than the pics) and the sparkle doesn't really come through. I'm liking it so far but time will tell if I keep it, scrap it, or just decide on a different pattern/material.

I think it looks great, but I gotta say, that would look way cool with the CLF control plate too.

 

[jcburn]

I think it looks great, but I gotta say, that would look perfect with the CLF control plate too.

Fixed your post man ;-)

I agree - I really like a pickguard on a bass. I realise it's aesthetics only but hey....what can I say? I'm vain!!!
I would love to know if the CLF control plate would fit a 90s 3 bolt L2000. Again realising the 90s were rear routed and I'm assuming the CLF models are front routed. I just think the control plate looks great!

Would anyone have a template for the control plate?

 

[Lucky Chuck]

It's gold & black and looks pretty good in person (better than the pics) and the sparkle doesn't really come through.

In the picture, it looks like sparkling leather (in a really kool way!)

 

[mikeyvr6]

Hello all, some help needed!

I just picked up an L-2500. I like it, but is has an odd sound. I think it may just be the G&L sound; very middy and growly. It’s not big and thick sounding. Any way to make it more “vintage” sounding besides just passive mode?

It should be able to get big and thick for sure, especially in series mode. There are some good suggestions already thrown your way. I’m sure you’ve read this already but keep in mind the preamp bass and treble controls are cut only. So when they’re full up that’s when it’s considered flat. All knobs up and the preamp in series/active mode should level small buildings.

 

[craigb]

I think it looks great, but I gotta say, that would look way cool with the CLF control plate too.

I agree (and like jcburn's correction that "perfect" would be the right adjective ). So essentially the Matador look. That would be it.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

Hi gang,
Wondering if this odd-looking, old, online find might fill my needs. It claims to be an early-80's SB-2 with J/J MFD pickups. I'm looking for p-bass thump -- flats, finger style, the whole nine yards. Without a split-coil pickup, could this funny-looking, old thing do that for me?

Unusual pickups, unusual controls... I know I've read good things about the newer ones, but I didn't realize they were so different back then.

Could something like this get me some Jamerson thump?

Thanx in advance for all the wisdom you-all are about to share.

 

[Holdsg]

If you want Jamerson, get an LB-100 or an L-1000. I have to think this bass would sound much more in the direction of Jaco than Jamerson.

 

[Lucky Chuck]

If you want Jamerson, get an LB-100 or an L-1000. I have to think this bass would sound much more in the direction of Jaco than Jamerson.

Dang. I'm trying to get that sound but with a Jazz neck (1 1/2" nut). Thanx.

 

[TDR1138]

Dang. I'm trying to get that sound but with a Jazz neck (1 1/2" nut). Thanx.

That SB-2 would have a wider nut anyway. It could do thump with the neck pickup only, flats, and tone rolled back. But that’s not what it excels at.
You can get a Lb-100 with a 1.5” nut, though.