I actually found that it didn't in the case of the L2000 - at least the one I owned. I don't plan on doing it with this one that I own now, 'cause it's fine as is.
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G&L L2000 or M2000
- Thread starter Josh Grainge
- Start date
Great thread!! Over the last few days I've been heavily researching the M2000 vs the L2000. There are actually 3 or 4 VERY detailed reviews of each on YouTube, which unusually have very good sound.
The killer for me on the L2000 Tribute though is the neck width. I'm still going to try both (if I can find a stockist locally): but the 1.75" of the Tribute L2000 is too much for me to manage comfortably. Shame.
The killer for me on the L2000 Tribute though is the neck width. I'm still going to try both (if I can find a stockist locally): but the 1.75" of the Tribute L2000 is too much for me to manage comfortably. Shame.
Have you tried one? I thought it was going to be a proble,, but when you set it up well it's pretty easy. It's fairly thin front to back.
I feel you, I have the same problem, but you do get used to it.
Thanks, this encourages me to try it: I'm hoping that my local G&L dealer will have one in stock. I'm really enthusiastic about everything else on the L2000!!
If you want ideas or help on electronics mods I can help. The outer singles/series/inner singles mod is dead simple and cheap to do. After watching one of the Ed Friedland L2000 videos I realized that I can approximate the parallel setting by rolling off the volume when in series. I don't use parallel much anyway.
I went from Jazz bass sized necks to that so it was a little rough for me. Its not terrible but you do get a little hand fatigue for awhile. It goes away after about a month or so. Still, it's totally worth it for the instrument.
Those Tributes are fricking amazing for the price. They are super well constructed using pretty much the same quality parts as the US models. They do cut a few corners, for example by not drilling holes to keep the switch and knob washer-plates from moving around. Still, you can't beat it for quality in that price range or at least I haven't been able to yet.
The L2000 has one of the more unique control schemes. Usually to get something like that you have to do it yourself or order custom. I think it was designed though to be sort of a TRUE hybrid active/passive bass. Passive isn't some fall-back plan, and Active isn't just an add on to a passive bass. It's like that model was designed to go in to either territory and use it for tone shaping.
Series mode is your low-end boost, the preamp gives you the treble boost, and you have the PTB system to dial either frequency range back even when you're in passive mode. That's cool on it's own, I don't know of any other companies that offer the ability to cut back bass frequencies on a passive bass. Not that it's hard to do, just unusual. The PTB system + Active on can also be used to boost your mids. Then of course you have the two pickups.
I really like using series when I favor one or the other pickup, but parallel really shines I think when using both pickups. It's ultra-punchy but it's got a bit of growl in there too. Anyway, there are a lot of useable tones in that bass.
I bet you'll love it when you pick it up.
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I tried both extensively and bought the M-2000, so let me offer what seems to be the minority view, from someone who is no expert, but I know what I like.
If you're coming from outside the G&L family and want a quality active bass for general use, then the M-2000 is the one. If I was playing progressive indie rock then I'd get the L. The tone is very distinctive for that. The M pickups are described as underwound L, but in fact on reading the specs it seems to me the M is closer to average winding and the L is overwound; hence the aggressive nature. I can see how, from G&L's point of view, that might have been restricting sales, hence they made the M (that's only my guess, but it's how the positioning seems to me).
The L-2000 has been the iconic G&L bass for thirty years, so you'd expect long-time G&L bassists to prefer it, almost by definition.
I discovered the L-2000 first in the shop, and I knew I had found my bass. I loved the feel, the balance and the acoustic sound from the strings. Except for one little problem: I wasn't keen on the switches.
Maybe I'm not smart enough, but it seemed to me that with the L I would spend forever just fiddling with far too many options. The hybrid switch didn't make a lot of sense to me because most people are either wholly passive or wholly active, in my view; very few swap between. And as soon as you click that switch, you need to adjust amp settings! I disliked the switch system enough that I was ready to get an Ibanez SR800 instead, even though I didn't think it felt as good as the L.
Then I discovered the M-2000. It fixes what I didn't like about the L. The tone is good quality normal, neither aggressive nor soft. The neck feels even more comfortable. It took me a long time switching between L and M to realize the neck width is different. So much for my powers of observation. The M is a "plug it in and play" bass. The L is a "fiddle a lot to get the perfect tone" bass. If you're the type who enjoys playing with the settings, then get the L for sure. I just wanted to play a good bass, so I bought the M.
If you're coming from outside the G&L family and want a quality active bass for general use, then the M-2000 is the one. If I was playing progressive indie rock then I'd get the L. The tone is very distinctive for that. The M pickups are described as underwound L, but in fact on reading the specs it seems to me the M is closer to average winding and the L is overwound; hence the aggressive nature. I can see how, from G&L's point of view, that might have been restricting sales, hence they made the M (that's only my guess, but it's how the positioning seems to me).
The L-2000 has been the iconic G&L bass for thirty years, so you'd expect long-time G&L bassists to prefer it, almost by definition.
I discovered the L-2000 first in the shop, and I knew I had found my bass. I loved the feel, the balance and the acoustic sound from the strings. Except for one little problem: I wasn't keen on the switches.
Maybe I'm not smart enough, but it seemed to me that with the L I would spend forever just fiddling with far too many options. The hybrid switch didn't make a lot of sense to me because most people are either wholly passive or wholly active, in my view; very few swap between. And as soon as you click that switch, you need to adjust amp settings! I disliked the switch system enough that I was ready to get an Ibanez SR800 instead, even though I didn't think it felt as good as the L.
Then I discovered the M-2000. It fixes what I didn't like about the L. The tone is good quality normal, neither aggressive nor soft. The neck feels even more comfortable. It took me a long time switching between L and M to realize the neck width is different. So much for my powers of observation. The M is a "plug it in and play" bass. The L is a "fiddle a lot to get the perfect tone" bass. If you're the type who enjoys playing with the settings, then get the L for sure. I just wanted to play a good bass, so I bought the M.
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Funny thing is, I found that I spent a lot of time fiddling on the M2000, and my L2000 is a plug and play bass! I usually leave both pups on, so that switch doesn't get touched. I leave it in active mode, so that one is left alone. I always leave both volume and treble up full. The only two controls I mess with are the coil tap switch and the bass control. I am someone, however, that does most of my tone controlling with my Zoom B3 amp modeling pedal, so maybe I'm the rarity here.
I found that stringing it up with flatwounds really tames the L2000's aggressiveness and makes it very versatile. I've been using Sadowsky flatwounds for years with these basses.
The one thing that I would mention because I didn't see anyone else correct you, is that the L-2000 controls have Bass and Treble cut only, not 3 band like you had said at one point. It's an ingenious design because they work the same whether the bass is active or passive, but you have to think a little differently.
say you go to the family reunion and discover you have some cousins of your age you had never met.
One is a demure and sensible brunette and she's giving you subtle hints and one is a wild child flaming redhead and doesn't bother with hints or subtlety.
There's your choice.
One is a demure and sensible brunette and she's giving you subtle hints and one is a wild child flaming redhead and doesn't bother with hints or subtlety.
There's your choice.
I really love my M2000 GTB. Everything about it has been great. My main bass is a LB 100 and the M2000 just worked better for me as I am a set it and forget it type. Simple and sounds great.
Love my tribute L2000 for any rock or metal I play.
You might be better off keeping your eye open for a used USA L2000 with the neck width you want. The US L/M2000s come in 1 3/4", 1 5/8", and 1 1/2" versions.
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Both are my cousins? Why would I want either one?
Please choose a bass by feel and ear...not my a spec sheet or an advertsing campaign. Go and try them both and see which one floats your board. Sometimes the most simplest instrument is the most versatile.
The L2000 is a superbly built, extremely versatile bass. Had one as my main player since 1983, zero problems, stainless frets still good, bulletproof electronics.
