• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

G&L Love

#301
Tunaman said:
Every time I try an active J or a J with non-single coils... this is how I feel too

I was so close to getting a MJ-5 but I just liked passive single coils better & went with a MIA J V Standard. I didn't like the MIA J Deluxe V for that same lack of character even in passive mode. (Theres a reason you see a TON of deluxe models up for sale)
Click to expand...

I can't agree with the generalization. My main J-bass is a Warmoth creation with Lindy Fralin pickups and an Audere pre-amp. The Audere is so neutral and hi-fi that the great character of the Fralin pickups rings through. Lots of character. So it *can* be done, even if it doesn't happen often.
 
#303
jmlee said:
I can't agree with the generalization. My main J-bass is a Warmoth creation with Lindy Fralin pickups and an Audere pre-amp. The Audere is so neutral and hi-fi that the great character of the Fralin pickups rings through. Lots of character. So it *can* be done, even if it doesn't happen often.
Click to expand...

I tried Audere a few times. I liked them. I liked the tone better with single coils but I tried to get the hum down, but couldn't. I then went to humcanceling & then hated the tone. I would have loved to have tried a full pro shield job with an Audere & SCs
 
#304
I have been a long time G&L fanboy but have come back to the team after watching Ed's videos. I was particularly sold on the LB100 and M2000 (ok it was a M2500 video). Both are my main players now. I have two sweet Lull's but I would be lying if I did not say that the G&L's are what is in my gig bag most time I walk out of the house. You get the fit, finish and playability of a "premium" hand made build at a very affordable price from a company with a lineage to the man himself. The LB100 may very well be my favorite P bass I have ever had.... mine wears TI flats and really delivers. The M2000 is the active bass I always wanted. I loved the L2000 and did not think it could be improved upon... I was wrong.

The MJ-5 is the the other G&L that I have an interest in.... I will stay tuned.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fit4pain
#306
very thorough review

There are after market hum cancelling jazz pickups from Nordstrand and Aguilar, etc
If one goes by reviews and you tube videos, one could believe 'character' is possible with this technology
but it may never be as cutting as a true single coil.

from the review the impression I get is the MJ5 has a lot of the same 'polite' characteristics of the M2000/M2500, which isn't without its appeal.
Just may not have the same character as a sharper edged jazz single coil.
 
#307
-most blend pots make the majority of their change coming off center as you state. yup.
-yeah, they should have brought the cavity paint up over the edge to contact the cover shielding
-all my J5's are active. they don't "sound passive," with the exception of the Alleva, which does really well at that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tunaman
#309
Chef said:
-all my J5's are active. they don't "sound passive,"
Click to expand...

Chef bringing the knowledge.

I personally have 2 EBMMs that do great active stuff for me so I didn't need the MJ-5 to be my 3rd active with no passives in the stable. If I add another bass it still would be passive or active\passive. I think G&L would have more interest if the MJ-5 went active passive, I know I would have ABSOLUTELY looked into it more over the Fender MIA J V Standard.
 
Last edited:
#310
I'll also add this:
I've played very, very few active basses that had a passive mode I liked.
My advice to you would be "be happy with the native tone of the bass you want to buy," be that active or passive.
A passive mode is nice as a "limp home when your battery dies or something" kind of thing, but, if you want a passive bass, get a passive bass.

Which, could be a JB5 later this summer :D
 
  • Like
Reactions: Iridescentone and Glazenn
#312
Yeah, I always used active. But, I haven't had one of those (or any G&L) for some years now.
Passive, they tended to be on the dark side for me.
Active, the highs tended to be harsh for me.
Plus, weight, and string spacing.
It was easier for me to just move on.
 
#315
What do you guys think about the G&L 34 inch scale B strings. My G&L 5 string experience is quite limited and the one I really dug was the L5500.... I had three! But was never knocked out by the B on the few L2500's I had. I always found it lacking when compared to the Stingray 5 but still blew the doors off any Fender B string offering.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joebar
#316
Glazenn said:
jmlee, what have you left for the bass whisperer to say now???
Click to expand...

I don't think I'm much of a pre-emptive threat to Ed's excellent work.

In answer to a couple of other questions, the blend control is not as effective on the MJ-5 as on the Tribute M2000 I have, even though the preamps share some DNA. I have several other active basses which also have very effective blend controls. I don't think the MJ-5's issue is endemic to active basses.

My L2000 sounds great passive, not much different when active: a bit louder, a bit more fleshed-out. Maybe it's those particular MFD pickups.

Finally, I had a U.S. L2500 that had a very uninspiring, thru-body B-string at 34". The B on this top-loading MJ-5 is a world better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: basslifter
#317
Good review JMLee.
Within a week of receiving my LB-100 I replaced the strings and had the sharp fret edges removed.

The strings are a personal choice, the stock ones did nothing for me.

The edgy frets on the other hand should have been better then how mine arrived.
I am getting a little pu noise (the only one of 5 basses), I'll take it apart some day and see what's up.
 
#318
armybass said:
What do you guys think about the G&L 34 inch scale B strings. My G&L 5 string experience is quite limited and the one I really dug was the L5500.... I had three! But was never knocked out by the B on the few L2500's I had. I always found it lacking when compared to the Stingray 5 but still blew the doors off any Fender B string offering.
Click to expand...

I don't know about anyone else, but my L-2500 sounds just fine from the Low D on up. And that's pretty much all I ever use the B string for on any of my 5-strings (or 6-strings). I rarely use the low D or Eb and pretty much never use anything below D. So, what an open B sounds like doesn't really matter much, to me. Though I do have (and have had other) basses where the low B sounds very full and strong.
 
#319
Chef said:
Yeah, I always used active. But, I haven't had one of those (or any G&L) for some years now.
Passive, they tended to be on the dark side for me.
Active, the highs tended to be harsh for me.
Plus, weight, and string spacing.
It was easier for me to just move on.
Click to expand...

I agree... I have a Big Al that does Active Passive & the low & high boost from active is pretty clear. I'm
armybass said:
What do you guys think about the G&L 34 inch scale B strings. My G&L 5 string experience is quite limited and the one I really dug was the L5500.... I had three! But was never knocked out by the B on the few L2500's I had. I always found it lacking when compared to the Stingray 5 but still blew the doors off any Fender B string offering.
Click to expand...

The last l2500 I tried had a terrible b. Worst I ever tried.

The mia fenders b is better with the string through and right strings, in my recent experience.

I can't account for all fenders or g&l but it's enough for me personally to not buy a new custom g&l 5er hoping the b comes out good without a return policy
 
#320
It took me some trial and error to find strings for the M2500 and L2500
for one thing I had to give up my preconceived notions of the kind of strings and gauges I wanted

The issue I had most was inconsistent tone and sustain on the B string starting about the 6th fret.
I noticed it most playing the G on the B string -- went very thuddy

But I'm past that now
Dean Markley rounds stainless or nickel or Helix (string through) medium gauge (.128 on the B)
And they just get better with age.
 
  • Like
Reactions: armybass

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back