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G&L made in Fullerton vs. Indonesia (Tributes)

#81
Ha! I've been here for a while. I'm sure I've been in and out of "jail" a number of time. Over the years I've been very fortunate to have relationships with some major names in the Bass building world. (my truth) Some basses are magic and some are dogs that bark at the moon. It's the magic of wood and workmanship. I a student who's folks went to a major music store and got him a lower end Fender Jazz bass. The bass was dead, just dead. I took the kid and parent back to the store and exchanged the bass for another. I played 5 basses. One or two were ok, one was amazing. We took it and I told the family if he ever looses interest in it, PLEASE let me buy it. It was as good as any $3,000 boutique Fender type Jazz bass made by any boutique maker.
I will now be marked as a traitor. Let the stone throwing begin. LOL
 
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#83
B String said:
Ha! I've been here for a while. I'm sure I've been in and out of "jail" a number of time. Over the years I've been very fortunate to have relationships with some major names in the Bass building world. (my truth) Some basses are magic and some are dogs that bark at the moon. It's the magic of wood and workmanship. I a student who's folks went to a major music store and got him a lower end Fender Jazz bass. The bass was dead, just dead. I took the kid and parent back to the store and exchanged the bass for another. I played 5 basses. One or two were ok, one was amazing. We took it and I told the family if he ever looses interest in it, PLEASE let me buy it. It was as good as any $3,000 boutique Fender type Jazz bass made by any boutique maker.
I will now be marked as a traitor. Let the stone throwing begin. LOL
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Same here, I bought a Sterling Ray4 because of all the talk, I got to hand-pick it off the wall at GC. Been set up by the tech, played a little, been a good bass, neck wood grain is all north/south, now its my main player, playing it at tonight's gig! I may replace the nut & tuners.
 
#87
FearNoEvil65 said:
I read the Tributes made by Cort Indo G&Ls aren't exactly the same as USA made, different hardware, different but similar bridges, and pickups are made in Asia from what I read, different pots and wiring also. At least that's what I've read consistently for a while on all the G&L pages and sites. Used to be certain MFD humbucker pickups were the same as USA model basses, but I've heard those in the tributes are now made in Asia also and not the same ones exactly as USA, but made to the same specs.
Is the USA made better than a Tribute? Possibly better fit and finish, or woods and paint job etc., better potentiometers, but man are the USA models costly now. Only you can decide if you can afford and want the USA models.
I will say, of 4 USA made G&L basses all bought new, on 2 the necks warped and had to be sent back to California for a neck replacement. G&L was good about it and fixed them, but what a bummer on a new bass to have to send it back and get a neck replacement.
Anyways, you can go on the G&L thread here and ask for more info
G&L Club Part 7
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I can personally attest that the USA models and Tributes are not exactly the same. They have different preamps. Both are marked as the 1.3 version, but Cort makes the Tribute version pres. I ordered what was supposed to be a used US L2500 and received a Tribute instead. They then shipped the actual bass I ordered.. Here are some differences I noticed. The feel was completely different. The finish was much better on the US model and this particular Tribute sounded noticeably different, with the US winning the competition. The B string was also better on the US model.
However, for the price the Tribute was a very good bass. The action was nice and low with no fret buzz at all. The action was lower than the US version's set up.
 
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#89
I own and have owned quite a few of both USA and Tribute basses (and guitars, I play both)

Still own a tribby SB2. Its an older Korean model. The rest are all USA models including the custom shop fretless M2500 in my avatar.

The tributes are a great bang for the buck bass. The USA models are better (in general) by a good margin. Wood quality, fit and finish, etc are just on a different level. The Custom Shop is on par with any of the boutique builder basses you see talked about here regularly.

Prices have gone up and options down though recently and not by a small amount.
 
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#90
I tried a Tribute L-2000, and the neck was much wider and thicker than my USA L-2000 or I might have bought it. It weighed a lot also. I don't think it was on par with a USA build. That being said, I'd like to try different Tribute models, maybe an SB-2. Especially of I can find one that's lighter weight. The USA models have become quite pricey !
 
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#92
steveinohio said:
I think the new import G&L’s are comparable to the G&L’s built in the 90’s. I think the build quality the new US G&L’s are superior. Just the same they are all really good.
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Many would argue (me included) that the ‘90’s G&L basses are incredible and tough to beat. The Tribute models are good, but definitely not nicer than a ‘90’s built domestic-built G&L.

I have one G&L Tribute in my collection; an SB2. I also have a domestic-built SB2. The sum of the differences between the two builds really adds up when I A/B the two basses side by side. HOWEVER, when I grab the Tribute and run out the door to a quick jam session I smile because I know the bass will sound good and I don’t stress about putting it in a cheap gig bag. Lastly, I don’t stress about sometimes leaving it behind at a rehearsal space (if it walks, I’m not out a huge amount of money and I can easily replace the bass).

I have a mid-90’s L2000 fretless that is incredible. Solid. Never a problem and sounds incredible. I had a newer L2000 Tribute for a few days…and sent it back due to not loving the feel of the neck and it was heavy. Also, in my opinion, it just felt too cheap for the price that had paid for it.

My other G&L’s are each high-optioned, built to order instruments, especially when it comes to the necks, and none of them are from G&L’s Custom Shop. The Tribute line has no options, other than a few colors. To some, that matters; to some, it doesn’t. Unfortunately, G&L recently reduced the number of available options on their build to order basses. It’s not as bad as having no options, like the Tributes, but it does limit things when building a new G&L bass. As a result of G&L’s decision to limit options, none of the basses in my collection could be replaced through their build to order bass line. I’d have to go through their Custom Shop to get a replacement. Kinda sucks, but at least the original options can still be found through G&L’s Custom Shop IF you want to pony up for the big $$$$.
 
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#94
G&Ls are by far my favorite instruments. As many have already stated, tributes are extremely high quality imports but tend to be on the heavy side. I had a an old Tribute L-2000 which was probably the heaviest bass I ever played. I never weighed it, but it had to be about 11 pounds. Conversely, I currently have an Empress JB-5 which is 7.5 pounds and an L 100 which is just over 7 pounds. I also have a Climax bass from the early 90s which is pretty light. My 1981 L-1000 is pretty heavy, but is otherwise amazing.
 
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#96
Pluckoff said:
I would guess that this has been asked before.
I've played six-string guitar for decades and a bit of bit of bass about 30 years ago. About a year ago I picked up a Sterling Stingray at a local GC. After a couple weeks I returned it and came home with a new G&L Tribute JB-2. The quality and playability of the Tribute seemed much better (IMO) compared to the Sterling.

Since then I've purchased a used 2021 Tribute JB and a 2003 Tribute L2000 (pretty sure made in Korea). On the JB and JB-2 I had the plastic nut replaced with bone. I like a straight neck so I adjusted the neck, set the saddles string height, set intonation and all are using 45-105 NYXL strings.
All three of them play consistently, no neck ski-ramp issue, frets are clean and without burrs or edges. The JB has a bit of hum when not touching the strings, but otherwise quiet when played through a solid-state amp. Basically, they sound great and play great (IMO).

Is the cost of an American made version, which is about three time more, justified?
I don't have any experience with an American G&L or American made Fenders. However, I just can't picture them being much better than these Tribute's, which seem to be excellent quality already.
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It is definitely justified!
 
#99
pecBass said:
that is quite a difference in weight. I don't see weight listed on the G&L site - any ideas where I can find it?
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It used to be listed on the G&L website (I haven't really looked in a couple of years) for U.S.A. instruments that were already built (obviously a B.T.O. is a bit of a crap shoot, and I think there's a bit of back and forth re. custom shop).

It's usually listed on the build sheet. But not every website shows the build sheet, or lists weight.
 
#100
PhillipHolbrook said:
I can personally attest that the USA models and Tributes are not exactly the same. They have different preamps. Both are marked as the 1.3 version, but Cort makes the Tribute version pres. I ordered what was supposed to be a used US L2500 and received a Tribute instead. They then shipped the actual bass I ordered.. Here are some differences I noticed. The feel was completely different. The finish was much better on the US model and this particular Tribute sounded noticeably different, with the US winning the competition. The B string was also better on the US model.
However, for the price the Tribute was a very good bass. The action was nice and low with no fret buzz at all. The action was lower than the US version's set up.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I never played the USA Legacy but my Tribute Legacy had one of the nicest sunburst finishes I (and several guitar & bass player friends) have seen.
 

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