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G&L L-2000 Bass - Anyone finding it underwhelming?

#61
Well the statement was who does that to an L2K? (Only idiots apparently)

The change called idiotic is entirely reversible back to original wiring, so it’s all part of a journey is seeing what works for him/her.

For some the weakest part of that bass IS the pre-amp and pick ups, no issues with tinkering

And if you read further, he put it back.

Seems like nothing idiotic happened to me
 
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#62
Torrente Cro said:
I think that with L2k tone pots are essentials of the sound, if you open them too much the sound is mud.
While I play all my other basses with 100% open tone pots, with L2K I go between 20 and 50%, both bass and treble.
As far as I know, these pickups are too hot to let them do what they like, you have to restrain them.
Click to expand...

This also aplies to the volume. Taking a little off will do wonders.
Tried different strings like chromes, flats, nickel and steel. I now use DR lo rider steel.
 
#63
Cuzzie said:
Well the statement was who does that to an L2K? (Only idiots apparently)

The change called idiotic is entirely reversible back to original wiring, so it’s all part of a journey is seeing what works for him/her.

For some the weakest part of that bass IS the pre-amp and pick ups, no issues with tinkering

And if you read further, he put it back.

Seems like nothing idiotic happened to me
Click to expand...

Not gonna read further after the first move.

Let's get a Porsche and put a BMW I6 in her! I'm sure it will work!

Don't blame the bass.
 
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#64
Sorry, what did you say after the first line.....?!

Can’t say I like Porsche’s or BMW’s, but that is irrelevant - something didn’t work for a guy, he tried something, then restored it - that’s it, trying stuff out is not idiotic, it’s just trying stuff out. If you alter any bass at all from factory spec are you an idiot? If that is the case Billy Sheehan is the biggest tool in the world

I can’t stand their #12 neck, but their #6 and #8 ones are things of genius.

It’s all preference, but you won’t have read this far so maybe I am the idiot for writing
 
#67
Well I too prefer them rewired passive with coil-tap switches, a series/parallel switch, Vol, Bal, and Tone. However, I probably won't have much to contribute because I always put flatwounds on mine for what I considered to be the perfect L2500 sound, so I don't think there's any unnecessary shortage of high end.
Do you ever debate the role that the wood itself might be playing in your case? Some particular basses sound naturally brighter or darker, more emphasis in certain registers than others, etc.
 
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#68
I bought a L2Ke brand new in 1981. The only thing that annoyed me about it was the constant hiss I was getting with the controls at full boost. G&L sent me a new op-amp but it didn't help. I held out for several years until I was in a position to dive in and make some changes. I tried a set of EMG V-Js with a BTS and then a Bart preamp until I settled on a U-Retro for the sound I was after. So flame me, but that's what worked for me.
 
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#69
thevintagesound said:
I've had the bass now for about 6 years. Removed my preamp and tone controls, made each pick up switchable from parallel to single to series a while back. It helped a little in the tone. Ran that way for a bit, but just wasnt happy with it. So I put it back to stock wiring again with the preamp and tone controls, just not digging it. Dull sounding, even with the bright switch enabled, it peaks in the upper mids, not the good ones. Was hoping that with all the switching, I could get something a little more "modern" sounding. Big influence here lately has been Dave Hollingworth from Dorje and Toska. The G&L cant seem to get the clarity on the mids through top end. Looking at just the pickups straight in on a spectrum, there's tons of lows but no high end. Its also missing that low mid growl.

Trying to figure out where to go with it. It was given to me years ago by a friend and would be hard to sell it. New preamp? Pickups?
Click to expand...

I can't say I faulted mine on highs or especially mids... I guess you are after a different kind of tone. I felt it was 'modern' sounding... what strings are you using? I used DR Hi Beams and then Fat Beams. I needed to tame the top end to get the sounds I wanted.

I rewired mine too. First I installed a 3-band with semiparametric mids (a John East MMSR) but then went passive, with switches for series/parallel for each pickup and single passive tone, and that was really nice.

I sold it for peanuts when I needed to downsize a few years ago as I was moving around a lot... I miss it.

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#70
MultiScaleMale said:
I had an L2500 for awhile and thought it was too “active”. Never bonded and it went to another home.
Click to expand...

I always saw the L2000/2500 as the active bass for passive bass lovers. The active option was very transparent (the treble boost could be tamed) and the passive tone controls took a bit to get used to but were really cool, I thought.

The MFD pickups, however, are a bit of a Marmite thing. They are veyr powerful, very high output, and not 'traditional' at all in the sound. I didn't love the sound of the bass when played alone when I first tried it, but it sounded great in the mix.
It is a shame that the pickup shapes were not compatible with other after-market types, as I think it could be even better (for my taste) with different pickups.

What I liked best was the built quality. I had both a 2500 and a 2000, and both were Tributes... seriously, if that's what they do for their 'cheaper' versions, I don't know what the USA ones are like!
 
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#73
I had a beautiful L2000, and I could not bond with it. Been a few years, but I seem to recall the neck radius was really flat. I also attempted that K-mod (?) as I could never get a tone from it that I really liked. I ordered the bass brand new, and did not try it first. I would never do that again with an L2000.
 
#74
I love the L2000! I own 4.

I gigged them pretty exclusively for about 4 years. I enjoyed everything about them! But I can understand when others don't. These beasts are real mid monsters. When used the way I like them to be, they are very dominant on stage. There's a breadth to them that is hard to overlook. The L2000 is so different in that way...sure, you can try to eq that result with other basses, using preamps or whatever. But the impact is there right away with an L. There's no need to go fix it later.

That being said, it's not really a bass that you can just pick up and play without spending some quality time with it, to really get it down. And a lot of folks are not into that. And that's ok, too.

And all that mid...it's not everyone's cup of tea. I get that. It's cool.

Also got an M2000, that I like a lot. I can get it to mimic the L. The midrange knob is pretty good for that. But it remains an imitation. Like a lot of other basses. I find that only an L sounds like an L.

John
 
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#76
Reading is fundamental.
Favorite Lincoln quote seems applicable here:
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."

It's wood and 'tronics!

Designed in the 80's when the quest for ever hotter, more aggressive tone was being chased, more detail in the upper mids was desired.

Look OP not every hat looks good on the wearer.

For me: the MFD's are some of the most killer pickups, the tone controls are very unconventional to be sure, but are very versatile, but again: not everyone's Cuppa. clarity lacking? not in my world.

I personally find I like my l2500 with EB cobalt flats to shave the top end off: L's are very bright to me.

My 1st Gen SB-1 ('83- made by my own hands while working there)
is like a raging p-bass on 'roids with rounds (currently Fat-Beams)
Pure passive joy that.
 
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#77
Well heck, reeeeeally glad I read this thread. I really liked my 30th anniversary L2k, but then a few months back something happened. I changed from Fender SS 9050s to LaBella Deep Talking medium and had a pro setup done. (Yeah, I'm a bottom dweller.)

Don't like it so much now, too 'tweaky', lost some fullness, I like a responsive bass but not this much. But...

I Also followed the 'sage' advice of the guy that did the setup, and started going with the volume knob at full on all the time instead of the 80% I used to run it at. Also I usually ran with the bass knob full on, neck pup, and varied the treble for the different styles we cover.

After reading this I'm going to go back to the old settings and see if I can get back what I lost. It sounds like it just might bring it back to what I really liked before. Maybe the LaBellas weren't at fault. Thanks !
 
#78
I had two G&L's...both Tributes. An L2500 and an L2000. I loved the L2500, only sold it after having it for years because it was really heavy and I never went below the low D. The L2000 was good, but I didnt bond with it. I really miss the L2500, had the most stable neck of any bass Ive ever had. But, its like any bass. Good for some, not for others. G&L's have a little bit of a cult like following IMO, so you get vocal advocates.
 
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#79
OogieWaWa said:
Well heck, reeeeeally glad I read this thread. I really liked my 30th anniversary L2k, but then a few months back something happened. I changed from Fender SS 9050s to LaBella Deep Talking medium and had a pro setup done. (Yeah, I'm a bottom dweller.)

Don't like it so much now, too 'tweaky', lost some fullness, I like a responsive bass but not this much. But...

I Also followed the 'sage' advice of the guy that did the setup, and started going with the volume knob at full on all the time instead of the 80% I used to run it at. Also I usually ran with the bass knob full on, neck pup, and varied the treble for the different styles we cover.

After reading this I'm going to go back to the old settings and see if I can get back what I lost. It sounds like it just might bring it back to what I really liked before. Maybe the LaBellas weren't at fault. Thanks !
Click to expand...
Strings are of utmost importance.
That's why you have to find what's best for your bass.
GHS black tapewounds.
Did my L2000 sound good with the factory strings?
Yes.
Does it sound better now?
Absolutely no question!
 
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#80
Cuzzie said:
You are right to a degree, the problem is not the bass, but the MFD pick ups.
IMHO Leo was compensating for hearing loss, and hence made pick ups which were far too hot.
L1500 being a classic example of being way too harsh like finger nails on a blackboard.
I also had an ASAT and an ASAT semi hollow - clarity wasn’t there.
Basses are fantastically well made, shame about the pick ups and electronics, and they should have made the enclosures regular size to enable easy change outs.
Click to expand...
lol I've entertained the same thot, just kept it to myself so not to start a war with the purists.
 
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