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G&L L2000 CLF or Fender Elite P?

#21
Try both if you can. The G&L is more flexible if you can wrap your head around the preamp. Backing off volume can even have significant impact on your tone because the output is extremely hot. Some people (possibly including you) struggle with the pre and claim it only has one or two usable tones. Completely understandable and no judgement in that statement (I do not like variable mid controls; I can wrap my head around them, but I fiddle with them too much, so I sympathize with this group). Just pointing out that it is an odd setup compared to most of the market, some love it (including me) and some do not.

I will also echo the amp comment. I have found my L2500 and L5000 sound great through most amps, but I have tried a few that sounded terrible with them. While this is true for any bass, it has always seemed more extreme to me on the MFD equipped G&Ls. Active/Passive input/switch on the amp can make a significant difference on these basses as well. Cannot prove it, but I suspect the tuning of the amplifier input is what causes the great/garbage difference to exist.
 
#22
Both are great instruments.

Note the Elite has a compound radius which feels weird to me. I like my radius to be consistent. Some people must like it however.

I would recommend playing both and see which one tickles your muse.
 
#24
Another L-2000 fan here. I've had my main L-2000 for 25 years. Currently have two, plus a L-1000. It's what works for me. I keep my main L-2000 strung with flats and my other has rounds. The one with rounds would definitely be the first bass I'd grab if I was going into a situation where I ether didn't know what tone would work best or if I needed a lot of tones on hand. They really can do a lot if you know how to work them.

That said, I don't think you'd go wrong with either, but it really would depend on what you're looking for. The L-2000 is largely a passive bass and the preamp is really just a buffer/booster, and not your traditional active section that the Elite P would have. I haven't played the current Elite P, but the L-2000 sounds more organic to me than any other active basses that I've tried. The Elite P may be a little easier to dial in and have a little more range of boosting low/mid/high due to the traditional 3-band preamp.

As others have mentioned, if possible, try both before you buy. Even if the CLF L-2000 isn't available to try near you, a normal US or even Tribute should sound pretty much the same to give you the idea about the functionality of the controls and the tones you can coax from it.
 
#25
I currently own a Fender Elite Jazz, for years I played a G&L Asat and L2000, even owned a Tribute for about year. The Elite series is exceptional and every good as any USA G&L, the Tribute although good for the money is in a lesser league in terms of feel and quality ie. The neck on mine was a baseball bat and not as well detailed as the higher end basses we're talking about here.
G&L preamps and pickups are monsters, I kept mine in single coil passive mode most of the time and it still had a big sledgehammer tone. Keep in mind you can't roll back the neck or bridge pup individually on the G&L like you can on the Elite, I like to roll the neck back a bit on my Elite for that mid Jaco funky tone, your sorta stuck with the one volume knob on the G&L's which is why I don't play them anymore...
 
#27
I have an Elite P and am LOVING it. Weight is down, quality is there, Tone for days with 3 band eq on the fly. I had a 2000 tribute and immediately despised it. The switches! No dice man sounded honky and didnt have a great feel at all. BUT thats a tribby. Love my p deluxes also-But the Elite is doing it for me! My Fender Dimension HH deluxe with 5 way is great also for crazy variety without honkey MM tone! I too had the MM special and hated the tone immediately. GLWTSearch!
 

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#29
Thanks so much for the advice, guys....I actually had a l2500 tribute years ago and from what I recall it sounded great. I'm only using 4's these days and while I haven't played the CLF, the clips I've watched sound great. I may pick up a Squier classic vibe P to satisfy that itch if I feel like I need one still. This one will be here tomorrow! (example photo found on google)
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#30
I have owned two L-2000s, a USA and a Tribute. Both were very well-made. Like some previous posters, I felt that they could get 100 different tones, but only wanted to hear two of them. I found them overly complicated to dial in, and most of the tones too sterile. I'm contrast, I'm very happy with my Elite P in really every respect. YMMV.
 
#33
Pearl, an L-2000 30th Anniversary, is my main bass. I really like it with the Fender 9050 flats.

It pretty much does what I need gigging, multiple genres, but there's always a de-fretted Mexican P sitting next to it on stage for when I have the need.
 

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