G&L: Help me "get" the hype

[twinjet]

Ok guys, talk me into a G&L. I hear excellent things about them, but the ones I've heard only somewhat make me lust for one. What am I not understanding? Or hearing?

I am aware that Fender himself declared this line of basses as his best, but... Why? What flaws were present in his personal line, more specifically, the American Standard, that were changed in G&L?

The whole G&L vs Fender thing is not intended to be a flame post at all. I'm just looking for my first high-end bass and I really want to get into the heads of those who play them.

I am primarily a jazz bassist. After that, I do some blues, a bit of rock, and other things. But my favorite style of music is jazz, so that's what I need. Additionally, your help on a wood type for fretboards would be great.

Right now I'm leaning toward an American Standard jazz bass, but the L2500 also has my attention. Help me! I appreciate you guys and gals.

 

[Gorn]

You've heard excellent things about the company but not about the basses?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I guess you haven't tried a G&L with the humbuckers, active/passive switching, & parallel/serial switching.

 

[DwaynieAD]

I find them generic and bland sounding. If u already don't like them you're not gonna fall in love with one. Spend ur money elsewhere.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Here is a nice 5 string with the configuration I like.

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Half price used at GC.

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"ELECTRONICS: Tri-Tone™ system with 3-position pickup selector, series/parallel switch, 3-position pre-amp mode switch, volume, treble, bass"

The pre-amp modes are Off, On, On with Treble boost.

The tone controls continue to function when the the pre-amp is off, even w/o a battery installed, so it is indeed completely passive in the off position.

 

[pbagley]

I like my G&L bass, but it is rather simple compared to the L-2500 above. My bass has one pickup, one volume, one tone, all passive.

I like the way it plays and sounds. That is the criteria I start from, no matter who made the instrument.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I have a 1983 G&L L2000 I bought new. In the 32 years I've owned it, it has had precisely one (1) issue. The preamp fried. They still make replacements for this preamp, which is amazing in itself, although I was able to find one from a guy on the BassesbyLeo Forum for cheap. It's far and away the most versatile bass I've ever owned, and the only one to survive all these years. People describe the electronics as complex, but it really isn't, and the various switch combinations give you an amazing variety of usable tones. The neck is somewhere between P and J at the nut, but very thin front to back, so it's fast and comfortable. No neck dive, balances perfectly. The stainless frets are original and show very little wear. Other than very infrequent setup adjustments, it's just been a tank, I never have to wonder how it's going to feel or sound. The bridge is solid as hell, one of the first truly high-mass designs out there, with a set screw that locks the saddles together. Mine has the three-bolt neck with neck tilt adjuster, which I've literally never had to use, so the fact they've gone to 4-5 bolt necks doesn't bother me. Have I raved enough about this bass? I'll let others comment on current production, but other than expanding the line for more budget minded alternatives, I haven't seen much change in quality of build, electronics, etc. in the L2000 line.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

the fact they've gone to 4-5 bolt necks doesn't bother me.

My ASAT bass has 6 screws.

 

[twinjet]

I guess you haven't tried a G&L with the humbuckers, active/passive switching, & parallel/serial switching.

I haven't had the chance to try one. None of the music stores in my area keep them anymore, despite what glguitars.com says. That's all the more reason to be skeptical about buying.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Well, you could buy one from GC & have it shipped to you. If you hate it, just take it back to their nearest outlet.

 

[twinjet]

You've heard excellent things about the company but not about the basses?

I've heard good things about G&L basses. I'm just not able to try one out at a store. So far I'm still sold on American Standard Jazzes, though the L2500 has great sustain from what samples I did hear.

 

[twinjet]

I tried watching Ed Friedland reviews on the M- and L2500 basses, but he's no help. He makes every bass sound amazing!

 

[2saddleslab]

Solid construction, fine attention to detail, quality fit & finish, and multiple dynamic tones available.

 

[craigb]

I haven't had the chance to try one. None of the music stores in my area keep them anymore, despite what glguitars.com says. That's all the more reason to be skeptical about buying.

I'm a huge G&L fan - owned gazillions over the years, still have 5 of 'em. I love the comfort, a G&L with a skinny satin finished neck is egonomic nirvana for me and hte only bass I can play in complete comfort, and the quality. The finishes are primo. And I love the tone -- but which model I like best changes from day-to-day (if not hour-to-hour). I think the value is good, especially if you can find what you want used (3/5 of my current bunch I bought new). I've sold Tribs to several friends who love them and I get to see/hear them used on an almost weekly basis.

But I'm not going to try to talk you into one. Just because they are the right thing for me doesn't mean they are the right thing for you. Ed Friedland/the Bass Whisperer has some killer demos on youtube of them (but he makes everything sound good) if you want to hear how they sound. MFDs can be polarizing - either you like them or you don't. Sometimes my favorite model is a JB2 which doesn't have MFDs, it has regular jazz pickups.

I do remember the first time I tried an L2000 in a store I was all "meh, whatever". But I didn't know enough about what the knobs & switches did, and going through the store's gear didn't let me really understand what it could do. The non-MFD models are easier to get your head around but the MFDs are where G&L really differentiates from other makers.

I put them in the same class as US Fenders & US Musicman basses. All are really good factory-made US basses with various different strengths/weaknesses. You can't go wrong with any of them and just have to pick the one that works for you.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I've never owned a g&l, but the extra fret, slimmer body, high mass bridge, different pickups and active electronics were considered upgrades, but I might be wrong. personally, I don't need any of that so I sick with USA standard fenders.

Rock

Edit: I meant "I stick with USA standard fenders..." auto correction lol

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I sick with USA standard fenders.

I'm sorry to hear that you're sick of Fender.

Most of those features you mentioned are standard fare on a G&L.

 

[twinjet]

I've never owned a g&l, but the extra fret, slimmer body, high mass bridge, different pickups and active electronics were considered upgrades, but I might be wrong. personally, I don't need any of that so I sick with USA standard fenders.

Rock

What sort of fretboard? I'm stuck between finishes because the USA Jazz I want is in jade pearl metallic with maple... drool

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Fenders have 20 frets, normally, while G&L has 21 frets.

 

[bassbully]

We had a dealer in my area a few years back. I tried like heck to like G&L's played a bunch, but they never did anything for me over the Fenders I owned at the time. I loved the colors, looks and features but tone wise they were flat to me.

 

[KickingBass]

I sometimes play a Tribute with the humbuckers, I think they have a great thick sound but it's a 5 string and the neck is (Trump voice) huuuge! I'm used to thin Ibanez 5 string necks. If you don't mind chunky necks then you're getting a lot of great bass for the buck. There may be other thinner necked models but I haven't played them.