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The Pimp was my second 2K and just didn't have the vibe of my '93. Looked at them side by side and made the pups match and voila, the vibe was there. On my K option equipped bass it is like riding a wild mustang.
Man that L1000 sounds so fat, but controlled at the same stage. How do you have it set (series or OMG mode I'm guessing?). Also - what strings.
Love me some Jet - great Aussie band - good to see they made it across the pond.
I owned a standard L2000 Tribute, a limited edition M2000 Tribute GTS, a Tribute SB2 and recently picked up a L2000 Tribute (Carved body). Basically all the Tribute basses I bought, owned and currently own all have the MFD pickups which are the exact same ones they use in the US models. So in terms of sound, they sound pretty identical.
They have similar (but not identical in terms of manufacture and from my understanding, quality) heavy mass bridge, and electronics. The difference is with the options you get with the US ones to basically customize it to your preferences, finish, wood, quartersawn neck, neck width, you don't really have a choice with the Tributes, but there are a few special versions of Tributes that might be worth looking for.
All the Tributes I have bought have been of very high quality.
I owned a standard L2000 Tribute from 2008.
The neck is 1 3/4" which I found just a little too wide for my taste so I traded it. Great sound though, the bass was terrific otherwise.Next, I got an SB2, then an M2000 Tribute GTS (the GTS was a special and limited version of the Tribute M2000- it had features that weren't on the standard M2000, carved body, binding, flame finish - some of the options I would have selected if I ordered a US M2000. Great bass and quality . Neck was 1 5/8" .
Just last week, I picked up another G&L L2000 Tribute as I was missing the previous one I traded.
This was a 2011 "deluxe" model that had the carved body, flame finish under the sunburst and even a vintage tint to the neck (fretboard and neck itself). Now this is where I'm a little puzzled. From my understanding these were supposed to come with the 1 3/4" neck as well but the one on my particular bass was 1 5/8" which was ideal for me, so I'm happy with that. Again, great quality and sound, very happy with it.
Hope this is of help. I wouldn't have any hesitation recommending a Tribute version to anyone.
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I own eight G&Ls, including 3 Tribs.
Tribs do feel different than USAs, this is true. One can talk themselves into the idea that Tribs are of lesser quality or should be upgraded. I don't fall in that camp.
For musicians who are into sound, not eye candy options, Tribs are the best. They deliver amazing G&L sound, great playability (if you pick the right one, like you would a USA) and great quality.
I've never considered upgrading my Tribs to USAs. There is no reason to.
I would take two good Tribs over one good USA. For sure.
Adding the neck profile of your choice to the model of your choice made from the wood of your choice comes under the heading of eye candy? I appreciate that typing that sentence must have felt agreeably self-validating, but nonsense is nonsense.
IvanBassist
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- Jun 8, 2008
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The Tribute JB that I got to test was a KILLER bass. Amazing tone. I think I liked it even better than the Fullerton DLX that I have
Hiya Ricky. I was simply stating my opinion, as people often do in these threads. But "self validating...nonsense"...I guess I will be more careful next time. I didn't know that comments like mine would bring out so much passion. I guess this is very serious business, for some of us. Very serious. Oh, my.
Thanks for sharing your 1st hand experience!
I had some roadie experience in the ‘80’s and all the equipment I moved around was manufactured by first line companies. I admit that at one time I was a gear snob and judged a player prior to hearing them when I saw the brand of instrument they played. I felt “sorry” for the guitar or bass player with a Squier assuming they couldn’t afford a “real” Fender. I was guilty of listening with my eyes when I judged a player by their instrument brand. (Just like the guitar player was when I came to a band audition and he said I should have brought a P bass ).
Recently I sold a high end Martin acoustic guitar because I wouldn’t play it outside my house due to damage or theft concerns, too great a financial risk taking it out to play. My Epiphone DR-500MCE sounds and plays just fine plus it’s replaceable if necessary.
I do understand the quality of wood difference used in the manufacture of USA instruments. Rarely if ever do I need to make a truss rod adjustment to my USA Fender Strat, Gibson Les Paul, or Gibson J-15 acoustic guitar. This difference could and probably is critical to a touring musician. Fortunately my gigs are local so the possibly less seasoned wood used in the manufacture of Tributes works fine for me.
Who knows, a USA G&L may at some point be in my future.
Again, thanks for your response!
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The way I think of it is ...
Tributes are great instruments at any price range . US G&Ls are greatness +1 with the added option to further personalize the bass to your own personal tastes which you don't get with most other major US premium manufacturers short of the custom shop options -probably the most economically feasible way of getting a "custom" bass I know of.
I have a US Musicman SUB and a US Fender P, my current Tribute quality is pretty close to either of them and the only difference I really notice are the rounded fretboards of the two US basses. Maybe I got lucky with the Tributes I've bought thus far, but quality is far better than expected for how much I paid for them. If I were to find some kind of comparison in the Fender world, the Tribute is a little closer to the difference in quality between the Fender Hwy 1 to the true US Fender than the MIM is to the MIA. Again, strictly comparing quality.
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I agree with you. If you're not as particular or need something like a different width neck, rounded fretboards or whathaveyou, the Tribute is more than good enough than what one would perceive a "budget" version should be. For example, the Trib M2000 GTS I used to own had pretty much the neck width, lesser weight, finish and binding I would have selected had I ordered a US one. Tributes have a terrific quality/cost ratio.
I would echo this. The only bummer in my case is that I'm a lefty, so the L2k is my only tribute option
I’ll just say that I’m of the opinion that the US line is notably better than Tribute models. And I’m not saying that the Tributes are bad by any stretch. Just that the US models are a cut above.
For reference, I have had 3 Tribute basses, 7 US basses (of which I still have 3), and 3 US guitars (of which I still have 1).
The fit and finish on the Tributes is nice, but two of the three had issues holding the strap buttons in, so I had to use glue to hold the strap buttons in. And I had to upsize a few screws on a pickguard on my SB-2, particularly around the output jack. I think that’s pretty indicative of a lower quality of wood used. And on the third (M-2500), the bridge pickup wasn’t totally aligned (i.e. strings weren’t right over the poles). Not sure if the bridge was off slightly or the pickup was, but I didn’t have any alignment issues along the neck.
The other thing with the Tributes is the hardware and pots being a little lower quality. Functionally fine, but definitely a step down in the same way the MIM stuff is a step down from US Fenders. If you compare them, you can tell a difference in the smoothness of the tuners* and pots, and the Tribute bridge saddles have that cheap chrome-over-potted-metal thing going on.
I’ve also handled a few Tributes in stores where I’ve been less than impressed with the fretwork. I’ve yet to run across a US model with fretwork issues.
Again, the Tributes are not bad instruments by any stretch. My SB-2 was my main player for years even when I had a US L-2000. They can definitely hang, and I wouldn’t hesitate to own one again, but I do think there is a fair step up in terms of quality when moving to the US line.
* Admittedly, I have no experience with the newer, current Ping tuners that they’re using, where people have been experiencing a rattle.
For reference, I have had 3 Tribute basses, 7 US basses (of which I still have 3), and 3 US guitars (of which I still have 1).
The fit and finish on the Tributes is nice, but two of the three had issues holding the strap buttons in, so I had to use glue to hold the strap buttons in. And I had to upsize a few screws on a pickguard on my SB-2, particularly around the output jack. I think that’s pretty indicative of a lower quality of wood used. And on the third (M-2500), the bridge pickup wasn’t totally aligned (i.e. strings weren’t right over the poles). Not sure if the bridge was off slightly or the pickup was, but I didn’t have any alignment issues along the neck.
The other thing with the Tributes is the hardware and pots being a little lower quality. Functionally fine, but definitely a step down in the same way the MIM stuff is a step down from US Fenders. If you compare them, you can tell a difference in the smoothness of the tuners* and pots, and the Tribute bridge saddles have that cheap chrome-over-potted-metal thing going on.
I’ve also handled a few Tributes in stores where I’ve been less than impressed with the fretwork. I’ve yet to run across a US model with fretwork issues.
Again, the Tributes are not bad instruments by any stretch. My SB-2 was my main player for years even when I had a US L-2000. They can definitely hang, and I wouldn’t hesitate to own one again, but I do think there is a fair step up in terms of quality when moving to the US line.
* Admittedly, I have no experience with the newer, current Ping tuners that they’re using, where people have been experiencing a rattle.
I don't have lots of basses. I haven't been playing bass for all that long.
But in my case, I made the choice to find and buy a great condition, older 2nd hand L-2500 via TB over a brand new Tribute from a store, for only a few hundred bucks difference.
But in my case, I made the choice to find and buy a great condition, older 2nd hand L-2500 via TB over a brand new Tribute from a store, for only a few hundred bucks difference.
You make a really good point. From what I see, it doesn't look like G&Ls hold their value well.
I bought my L-2500 from a fellow TBer for $950 and that included matching headstock, factory installed K-mod, and a markerless fingerboard. It was in outstanding condition. Last time I looked, new Tribute L-2500s were going for $800 at Musician's Friend.
I bought my L-2500 from a fellow TBer for $950 and that included matching headstock, factory installed K-mod, and a markerless fingerboard. It was in outstanding condition. Last time I looked, new Tribute L-2500s were going for $800 at Musician's Friend.
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It wouldn't surprise me if the US models are noticeably different (or else everyone would be happy with just buying the Tributes). I personally haven't seen Tributes with bad fretwork, ....well, that's because I hardly see any brand new Tributes at my local stores or for that matter, G&L basses altogether, new or used, US or Tributes - I see G&L guitars more often. G&L as a brand is an unknown even to some bassists here, I've heard some comments from "it's just another overseas manufacturer" (probably in response to seeing how some of the guitars bear a striking resemblance to Fender models) to genuine surprise when I mention the "L" stands for Leo Fender. Everyone knows Leo. I don't think they've marketed these basses enough, maybe they're happy with their niche in the industry or have the resources to promote or advertise like Fender. Also their US basses are custom built to order, so I don't know how they would promote that but I rarely see a mass produced Tribute brand new on the wall, in fact I can't remember when I last saw one.
The Tributes I've bought were all used so maybe some of the issues you mentioned if they did have them, were perhaps already addressed by the previous owners. I know my current one, the L2000 Trib carved body was hardly used or adjusted, so I'm assuming that one was of good quality out of the box.
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You are welcomed, man. I’ve learned so much in this thread. I feel fortunate to be here. I’m also glad to share my 2c worth, and listen to others.
thanks!
I don't even know what mode it was set in. Looking at the switch right now, it is in OMG mode. I don't always do that mode as it's sometimes TOO bottomy. It looks like I had the volume on full, treble nearly off and bass knob nearly full. I had it going direct into a Focusrite Scarlett Solo with a 7 band EQ plug in set to Fender bass, some distortion plugin, and a compression plug in, set to default bass settings. String-wise, they're what came on the bass when I got it just over 2 years ago. Based on the build sheet, D'Addario EXL170 45-100.
I don't claim to know what I'm doing with regard to recording. But I'm having way too much fun and playing along to tunes and bands I really dig.
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