About 8 months ago, I got it in my head that I wanted an L2500. I've only had one G&L my entire musical life, a Tribute L2000, and although it's long gone... I remembered certain qualities that I thought would be awesome to have in a 5 string.
I remember when G&L first came around, I tried a few early models, but never quite got what the switches did. (It was '81, I didn't know series from parallel), and they were heavy. So... I basically ignored Leo's finest work for 30 years.
I picked up a used L2.5 in the TB classifieds for a very reasonable price, but the neck was sadly not up my standards. A new factory neck set everything straight, and now the bass has been on every gig since it's arrival. I'm having so much fun with this bass, it can cover anything I need. It's like having 3 basses in one (maybe more). I just had to develop some discipline to set it and forget it!
The low B is authoritative. Not something I take for granted with 34" scale. I've been playing my Lull 5s mostly and the 35" scale is addicting... but the L2.5 holds it own. It's not the same tone quality as 35", but it's equally useful. The narrower string spacing didn't take long to adjust to, in fact... it's easier for me. I lucked out because this bass only weighs 9lbs, they do exist!
Right after the L2.5 came back, I got an MJ-4 in to review for Bass Player. Again... knocked out! Man, the purity of the note... the way the vibrations travel through the body... the feel of the neck, the electronics... it's simply awesome. So... I'm getting REAL interested in the rest of their instruments now.
This has all led to me working out an arrangement with G&L to demo their instruments. The Bass Whisperer thing has pretty much been on hold for a while. I got too busy to spend all the hours making videos, and frankly... I lost interest in it. But these basses are making me real excited to get back into production mode! I'm doing some rearranging in my studio, so as soon as that is done, you'll start seeing the videos surface on YT.
FYI - in the beginning I was shooting video for whatever Guitar World, or Bass Guitar mag (RIP) sent me. It wasn't usually my choice, and I had to demo a lot of things that I felt ambivalent about. If anything truly sucked, I wouldn't do it, but a lot of those videos are of items that I would never personally use. A few years ago, I decided that I would only do video with instruments and gear that I have a personal interest in. The hassle, the time spent, the eye strain from editing... It has to be for a better reason than just getting paid. So... now that I've finally woken up to how awesome G&L basses are... vids will be coming out with some regularity.
It's funny... lots of people have been into G&L for years, and I'm just now "discovering" them. But it's a gas! Or make that GAS! I've always been a Fender guy... fancy boutique stuff is nice and all, but in my collection, I have ONE Smith 6, the rest of them are all bolt-on maple necks... painted bodies, Ps, Js, Lulls, MusicMans, Gibsons... with a few Eastwoods thrown in for the quirky factor. The G&L is TOTALLY within the parameters of what I like... and yet it took me 30 years to give them another shot! What a waste of time, I could have been playing them all along!
Now, I just have to convince these guys to make 5 string versions of EVERYTHING they've got. Waddya say? If everyone on TB sent them a note asking for an ASAT 5, or a JB 5, an MJ5... an SB2.5! Maybe they'll get the message. It seems unfair that the 4+1 crowd only gets two models to pick from! Let's show them that we're ready for it!
Okay, enough rabble rousing. I just wanted to post about this here... I've been blabbing about it for weeks on my Bass Whisperer FB page, and figured it was time to spread some of my excitement for these newly found treasure over here.
I remember when G&L first came around, I tried a few early models, but never quite got what the switches did. (It was '81, I didn't know series from parallel), and they were heavy. So... I basically ignored Leo's finest work for 30 years.
I picked up a used L2.5 in the TB classifieds for a very reasonable price, but the neck was sadly not up my standards. A new factory neck set everything straight, and now the bass has been on every gig since it's arrival. I'm having so much fun with this bass, it can cover anything I need. It's like having 3 basses in one (maybe more). I just had to develop some discipline to set it and forget it!
The low B is authoritative. Not something I take for granted with 34" scale. I've been playing my Lull 5s mostly and the 35" scale is addicting... but the L2.5 holds it own. It's not the same tone quality as 35", but it's equally useful. The narrower string spacing didn't take long to adjust to, in fact... it's easier for me. I lucked out because this bass only weighs 9lbs, they do exist!
Right after the L2.5 came back, I got an MJ-4 in to review for Bass Player. Again... knocked out! Man, the purity of the note... the way the vibrations travel through the body... the feel of the neck, the electronics... it's simply awesome. So... I'm getting REAL interested in the rest of their instruments now.
This has all led to me working out an arrangement with G&L to demo their instruments. The Bass Whisperer thing has pretty much been on hold for a while. I got too busy to spend all the hours making videos, and frankly... I lost interest in it. But these basses are making me real excited to get back into production mode! I'm doing some rearranging in my studio, so as soon as that is done, you'll start seeing the videos surface on YT.
FYI - in the beginning I was shooting video for whatever Guitar World, or Bass Guitar mag (RIP) sent me. It wasn't usually my choice, and I had to demo a lot of things that I felt ambivalent about. If anything truly sucked, I wouldn't do it, but a lot of those videos are of items that I would never personally use. A few years ago, I decided that I would only do video with instruments and gear that I have a personal interest in. The hassle, the time spent, the eye strain from editing... It has to be for a better reason than just getting paid. So... now that I've finally woken up to how awesome G&L basses are... vids will be coming out with some regularity.
It's funny... lots of people have been into G&L for years, and I'm just now "discovering" them. But it's a gas! Or make that GAS! I've always been a Fender guy... fancy boutique stuff is nice and all, but in my collection, I have ONE Smith 6, the rest of them are all bolt-on maple necks... painted bodies, Ps, Js, Lulls, MusicMans, Gibsons... with a few Eastwoods thrown in for the quirky factor. The G&L is TOTALLY within the parameters of what I like... and yet it took me 30 years to give them another shot! What a waste of time, I could have been playing them all along!
Now, I just have to convince these guys to make 5 string versions of EVERYTHING they've got. Waddya say? If everyone on TB sent them a note asking for an ASAT 5, or a JB 5, an MJ5... an SB2.5! Maybe they'll get the message. It seems unfair that the 4+1 crowd only gets two models to pick from! Let's show them that we're ready for it!
Okay, enough rabble rousing. I just wanted to post about this here... I've been blabbing about it for weeks on my Bass Whisperer FB page, and figured it was time to spread some of my excitement for these newly found treasure over here.
I wish G&L would change the headstock shape of their 5ers. It looks NOTHING like their 4 inline, which I love the look of.
