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G&L: Help me "get" the hype

#161
twinjet said:
When you mention "trad", I think I get you. Somewhere on this thread I read a post saying people will take you more seriously with a Fender in hand as opposed to some unknown brand. People in person have said similar things, they have this idea that your brand of bass reflects your professionalism and dedication to your craft. But will a G&L make people question my dedication? Not that it matters, as your playing is what really counts, but...
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You can't imagine the ration of crap I had to take the time I brought my 6 string fretless Alembic to a Blues gig! (My thinking was it would work well because the extended lower range made transpositions and blues scales a snap and the extended upper range perfect for solos) And it did work well...musically...but the "look" was all wrong. Even *I* had to admit it! So I was a bit surprised when I noticed local blues bass players suddenly playing G&L L2500 like mine! And everybody was digging it and nobody said boo about it not being a Fender.

Still I suppose there is no guarantee that you might not be subjected to one of those auditions where they tell everyone who doesn't have a Fender bass to go home! Personally I tell them a G&L IS a Fender bass. It's just a "Late Leo" creation rather than his jazz and p-bass early work.
 
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#162
bassbenj said:
You can't imagine the ration of crap I had to take the time I brought my 6 string fretless Alembic to a Blues gig! (My thinking was it would work well because the extended lower range made transpositions and blues scales a snap and the extended upper range perfect for solos) And it did work well...musically...but the "look" was all wrong. Even *I* had to admit it! So I was a bit surprised when I noticed local blues bass players suddenly playing G&L L2500 like mine! And everybody was digging it and nobody said boo about it not being a Fender.

Still I suppose there is no guarantee that you might not be subjected to one of those auditions where they tell everyone who doesn't have a Fender bass to go home! Personally I tell them a G&L IS a Fender bass. It's just a "Late Leo" creation rather than his jazz and p-bass early work.
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I play a six string as well (see avatar) and when I used to show up to gigs/open mics I felt weird. In my town I was the only six string player I ever knew, though I heard of one other guy. Nowadays I play my Jazz bass for just about everything. Ever since writing this thread I've taken immense interest in a custom bass from G&L.

I feel almost a certain sense of loyalty to the guys at my local shop whom I've been bothering to allow me to try their USA Std. Jazz bass. I've been there several times and they offered such great service that I plan to buy my Fender through them. If I could order a G&L through them (and I probably can), I may do so in the future. Because I am familiar with Fender, I will likely buy that first. But the idea of a truly custom bass is exciting, especially after reading how great G&L basses are.
 
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#163
Turn Em Loose said:
Do you mean you play "jazz music" or play music on a "Jazz bass"? If the former, get an upright. Sorry to be blunt, but nothing sounds like a good (or even decent) upright.
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While I agree that there's no real substitute for a good acoustic upright, jazz comes in so many different flavours...sometimes bass guitar is a better fit for certain styles.
 
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#164
Frank77 said:
While I agree that there's no real substitute for a good acoustic upright, jazz comes in so many different flavours...sometimes bass guitar is a better fit for certain styles.
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OK. I have to agree with this as I was being a little, teensy-bit snarky. I blame the lack of coffee in my system at the time. That, and I'm kind of an a**hat.





BUT....C'mon. Upright and jazz? Goes together like fried and bologna! :D
 
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#165
Turn Em Loose said:
OK. I have to agree with this as I was being a little, teensy-bit snarky. I blame the lack of coffee in my system at the time. That, and I'm kind of an a**hat.





BUT....C'mon. Upright and jazz? Goes together like fried and bologna! :D
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Jazz has a subtle, inherent snarkiness - it thinks it's better than everyone else. As it is ;)
 
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#167
bassbenj said:
You can't imagine the ration of crap I had to take the time I brought my 6 string fretless Alembic to a Blues gig! (My thinking was it would work well because the extended lower range made transpositions and blues scales a snap and the extended upper range perfect for solos) And it did work well...musically...but the "look" was all wrong. Even *I* had to admit it! So I was a bit surprised when I noticed local blues bass players suddenly playing G&L L2500 like mine! And everybody was digging it and nobody said boo about it not being a Fender.

Still I suppose there is no guarantee that you might not be subjected to one of those auditions where they tell everyone who doesn't have a Fender bass to go home! Personally I tell them a G&L IS a Fender bass. It's just a "Late Leo" creation rather than his jazz and p-bass early work.
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When I was in Buffalo during '93-'94, I saw a guy using an Orange neck-thru 6-string Peavey fretless on a blues gig....sounded great and no one cared as long as it sounded good.

If someone told be to go home because I didn't have a Fender, I would tell them to "go f**k themselves".

...but what if you show up with a Fender Dimension H....not exactly a "blues" bass, but still a Fender...
 
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#168
eastcoasteddie said:
When I was in Buffalo during '93-'94, I saw a guy using an Orange neck-thru 6-string Peavey fretless on a blues gig....sounded great and no one cared as long as it sounded good.
If someone told be to go home because I didn't have a Fender, I would tell them to "go f**k themselves".
...but what if you show up with a Fender Dimension H....not exactly a "blues" bass, but still a Fender...
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There's a local guy who plays a 6-string with this ornate dragon pearl inlay up through the body and neck. Very pretty coffee table bass. He plays it at the blues jams and no one has anything negative about the instrument. They groan when he show up because he noodles through each song. Yes, all notes are in or around the blues scale but that is definitely not an in the pocket groove your layin' down.
Not all 6-string boutique bass players are wankers but a lot of wankers are 6-string boutique bass players.
 
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#169
Antisyzygy said:
...just have the brand name recognition. When I was in high school all the guitar kids had to play Fenders or Gibsons. I'm 31 and no one I know of really cares anymore.
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Recently I was having a conversation with my dad about a new bass I was thinking about buying and he asked me, "thought you had a new bass already?" I told him "yes", he asked "what kind is it?" I told him "an EBMM Stingray". He replied, "I thought Fender or Gibson was the best, back in my youth if you bought a guitar that's what you played". I replied, "dad, things have certainly changed since your day, we have names like EBMM, ESP, Ibanez, G&L, and many others." He went on to say "who cares, play whatever you want son."

So, anyway, he's 79 and I just found your reply and the conversation with him humorous and coincidental. :laugh:
 
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#170
dtsamples said:
I agree with Captain Howdy. It took me a while to get the hang of the controls. For instance, the Jaco tone requires bridge pup only, passive mode, passive treble rolled all the way off, passive bass at like 5-10%, and volume at 80-85%. Also, volume in general should be run at 80-85% most of the time, which can throw people.
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AND FRETLESS OF COURSE!

DSCN3175 R.jpg


This is my jazz bass. I also have a Jazz Bass.

Still waiting for the outer coil tapping mod (aka "K"-switch).
I have already done it on my L-2500.
Makes a convincing Jazz Bass tone (+ P tone with the neck PU only)..
Versatility at its most.
 
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#172
Try an L-2000 or an L-2500 (4 string - 5 string). Google the controls layout, because if you don't know what each switch does, you'll probably be a little lost. Once I googled the layout from my iPhone at the music store, it made tremendous sense and I found it easy to dial in so many versatile sounds.
 
#173
Mvilmany said:
Try an L-2000 or an L-2500 (4 string - 5 string). Google the controls layout, because if you don't know what each switch does, you'll probably be a little lost. Once I googled the layout from my iPhone at the music store, it made tremendous sense and I found it easy to dial in so many versatile sounds.
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From what it sounds like, an L2500 is too hot for what I play. Looking at JB series.
 
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#175
I skipped most of the thread and didn't read other feedback.

I almost bought a G & L USA JB, it was amazing but wanted a new Precision-Styled bass and bought an ESP which ended up being half the price.

For me, G&L make amazing basses and you can order anything you want which I would put in the same category as AV VIntage Fenders for much less.

There's one store in Oz that sells a bunch of G & L and have a huge range of great basses for up to $1000 less that equivalent basses in the same category.

Not to mention, the ASATs which I have major gas for are simply amazing and have a phenomenal preamp and pickup setup.

Go for it!
 
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