G&L L-2000 Series E Has only one toggle switch....

[hal26]

This is a low serial number (probably a 1981 or 82) model that I am thinking of selling. While checking out the market for these I noticed that mine is a bit different from the others that I have seen in that it only has one toggle switch. There are a pair of small holes where they typically install two more toggles at the factory. Upon close inspection they appear to have not been installed when it was built. The finish is mint in that area which indicates to me that it has never been tampered with or modified in any way from new.

Question: Is this some rare model or special construction? Does this affect the value of this bass? Thanks!

 

[Mrtoodamnsabre]

Unless g&l had a passive only request that it granted it Probably has been modded to some degree, it could be the active passive preamp switch went bad or the person wanted it to be permanently active or permanently passive my guess is that they’d opt for the latter. Good news is you can easily obtain a new preamp if they took out the original preamp but you have to open it up and post pictures for me to conclusively tell what’s done! It does effect the value quite a bit depending on what’s happened but I wouldn’t fret too much

1. The modern g&l preamps are pretty close if not identical to their early preamps
2. As a result The aftermarket for an original g&l preamp isn’t as insane as it is for a stingray or Sabre
3.early l2000s are so similar to the modern ones that putting a new g&l preamp in there probably only will knock a couple hundred off the value

few questions also, does the bass treble knob do anything? Is the switch you have on there a pickup selector switch? If the preamp still alters the sound it’s likely a reversible mod, just add the switches and rewire everything, if they don’t you might have no preamp in there, can’t really tell without pictures. Preamps and switches aren’t glue in so removing them wouldn’t damage paint in the process!


Fwiw my 79 Sabre that I’m picking up today had its switches modded to function like the 81 l2000 lol so as a result I can tell you what’s been done by looking at your wiring scheme and your preamp!

 

[metron]

Can you post a picture? Sounds like a modification from the description. There are rumors of a very rare passive L2000 in the early days but I think that should still have two switches.

 

[hal26]

I looked very closely and it appears that the 2 toggle switches were removed at some point. There are some wires that were taped together after the removal. My question now is how difficult and expensive would it be for me to return it to its original condition. This bass has been sitting in my closet for approx. 28 years. I owned a new one that I used 3 or 4 nights a week gigging around Austin. I will attempt to upload a pic or two.

 

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View attachment 4714178 View attachment 4714177

 

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[PeaveyPlayer]

I don’t know what that it is

but I want it lmao

 

[Lo-E]

Somebody has removed the original electronics and replaced them with some other preamp and that’s why the switches were removed.

Diagrams of the original circuit are readily available online and I suspect you could get all of the parts you need directly from G&L if you don’t want to hunt them down elsewhere.

Those early L2Ks are very desirable and well worth restoring. (and I’d happily take it off your hands if you don’t want to deal with it! )

 

[BigDrew]

That's not the original electronics. Someone replaced the preamp.

 

[dedpool1052]

My question now is how difficult and expensive would it be for me to return it to its original condition.

Electronics - Control Assembly - USA L-2000, L-2500, ASAT Bass
Pre-wired harness direct from the source.

The standard wiring is a bit different than back then, utilizing the "single coils with bass boost" mode, instead of the common series.

 

[hal26]

I'm going to just leave it as is. Nice bass for someone to tinker with. I will advertise it as a nice hard to find collectible bass that can be played right now that can be brought back to original if desired. I'm thinking around $1K plus shipping is about right. Seems like if it were all original it would be worth around $1500. Does that sound about right to you guys?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

"What's it worth" questions are only permitted if you're a supporting member. But I'll just say that I think you'll be very fortunate to get that much when the electronics are gone.

 

[Lo-E]

Electronics - Control Assembly - USA L-2000, L-2500, ASAT Bass
Pre-wired harness direct from the source.

The standard wiring is a bit different than back then, utilizing the "single coils with bass boost" mode, instead of the common series.

The original circuit is series with bass boost, not single-coil. The only difference is two capacitors, easily added.

 

[dedpool1052]

The original circuit is series with bass boost, not single-coil. The only difference is two capacitors, easily added.

I know what it is.
How it was stated in early prints/manuals was "single coil with bass boost"
That's why I put the "

 

[2F/2F]

The finish is mint in that area which indicates to me that it has never been tampered with or modified in any way from new.

That conclusion makes no sense to me. That year would have a front control plate, so what on Earth would the condition of the finish tell you about whether the switches had been removed or not?

And you can pretty much bet that nothing went out to a retailer like that.

Seems like if it were all original it would be worth around $1500. Does that sound about right to you guys?

No. More like $1,100 to $1,300, if nice player grade, with OHSC. To hit $1,500, it'd have to be somehow very rare, e.g. a special color, or in extremely clean condition. I have several far cleaner and far more rare L-2Ks of that era or earlier, purchased locally this year, and I haven't paid over $1,295.00 for any of them.

Somebody screwed that thing up pretty royally, because vintage repair parts are hen's teeth, and the stuff you can get from G&L today is not a direct replacement. It won't sound the same, won't be built to the same standards of quality, and will still devalue the bass if installed.

I would sell it as is, ask $1,000 OBO, and be willing to take as little as $700–$800. That's IF the neck is straight and the frets are good, and you have the OHSC.

Someone who had a same-vintage body with a screwed up neck would be the best person to buy it. They could transplant their electronics into your bass, or transplant your neck onto their body (depends which one has the preferable body).

The sad truth (for sellers, but not for buyers) is that these basses are rarely worth selling. They have far more value as quality musical instruments than they have market value. In other words, you have a $1,000 (tops) instrument there that has the raw build quality you can't buy new for $1,000 these days.

Additionally, as a G&L collector, that is not what I would call a "low serial number." My cutoff would be the first generation ones, with the large hex pole pieces: serials in the range of about B00500–B002000 (approximately, and with some exceptions, of course).