I was wondering, I can get an used American G&L for about the same price as a new Tribute. I have no problem with buying basses used. Is there really any difference between them, more specifically between the L2500 for each?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 Tribute vs American
- Thread starter SwagAttack
- Start date
IMO, the Tribute line is fantastic. The US line is one of the top production instruments available.
I'd go for the used US.
I'd go for the used US.
build quality mostly. they use the same parts. imo its all in the neck and fretwork quality. I was a big fan of the Korean tributes, the neck/frets were decent on them (I picked up one used for 500). The Indonesian tributes aren't nearly as awesome imo. But if you can land a good deal on US one and you have money laying around, pull the trigger, but if you want a deal, the korean tributes can be found for 400-500 if you're patient with ebay/craigslist
I try to not buy new. Remember a used Tribute is 1/2 the price of a used American G&L
I have a G&L Tribute Legacy guitar (Strat) and love it. I bought it new and it still looks nearly new. But it makes me a little queasy when I see them on CL for a little more than 1/2 of what I paid. My used Fender MIM bass is probably worth the same or a little more than the 300 bucks I paid for it in the tweaks I made to it.
However, if the new Tribute appeals to you, get it. And keep it. It won't disappoint in the playability and sound department.
Steve
I have a G&L Tribute Legacy guitar (Strat) and love it. I bought it new and it still looks nearly new. But it makes me a little queasy when I see them on CL for a little more than 1/2 of what I paid. My used Fender MIM bass is probably worth the same or a little more than the 300 bucks I paid for it in the tweaks I made to it.
However, if the new Tribute appeals to you, get it. And keep it. It won't disappoint in the playability and sound department.
Steve
The L2000 tribute that I used the own was a great bass. Though if it wasn't for the "baseball bat" of a neck,(1.75" nut width"), I'd probably still own it.
American models have a different preamp, tuners, are offered in a few different nut widths and neck profiles than the imports. And the US models are PLEKed too.
Needless to say, if I had the cash to drop I'd undoubtedly buy a US L2000.
American models have a different preamp, tuners, are offered in a few different nut widths and neck profiles than the imports. And the US models are PLEKed too.
Needless to say, if I had the cash to drop I'd undoubtedly buy a US L2000.
The American and Tribute models both have the same electronics, preamp and all.
I'm a pretty big fan of my L-2000 tribby....great basses for the dough....I really want a black or blueburst with a maple neck....on the radar...
The fretwork and wood selection are probably the biggest differences. Tributes are hardly "budget" instruments, best bang for your buck out there IMO.
For some reason, in my part of the world, G&L basses have a hard time selling on the used market.
On Kijiji, I have been following a fellow bassist that has been trying to sell his USA L-1500 Fretless for over 6 months.
The poor guy started at $900 and keeps knocking $50 off the price every month. He is down to $600 and it is still sitting.
I feel bad for him. I have been thinking of making him an offer in the past. However, I feel that now, if I offer him $600 for his bass that would be downright insulting.
I do not really need that kind of instrument. I just know that this is a steal.
On Kijiji, I have been following a fellow bassist that has been trying to sell his USA L-1500 Fretless for over 6 months.
The poor guy started at $900 and keeps knocking $50 off the price every month. He is down to $600 and it is still sitting.
I feel bad for him. I have been thinking of making him an offer in the past. However, I feel that now, if I offer him $600 for his bass that would be downright insulting.
I do not really need that kind of instrument. I just know that this is a steal.
On the L2500 series they are pretty much equivalent. Same pickups, equivalent bridge/tuners/preamp. Since there are no neck options for 5 string basses on the USA version it is down mostly to different finishes, body binding and stuff like that.
That's if you're buying new, of course. On the used market you're stuck with what's available...
I played both new and couldn't justify the price difference on the USA version. The Tribute played and sounded the same to me. Used I think it's a harder decision, it all depends on the condition of the bass you are offered...
That's if you're buying new, of course. On the used market you're stuck with what's available...
I played both new and couldn't justify the price difference on the USA version. The Tribute played and sounded the same to me. Used I think it's a harder decision, it all depends on the condition of the bass you are offered...
Just wanted to say that my S-500 Tribute is one of the very few guitars on my will not sell list. I've played guitar and bass for a long time and this one is just so good. Leo did a great job pushing the limits of a start with this one. Has the same parts as the American ones and the trans red finish was just so beautiful, I got my tribute for around three hundred bucks . My favorite strat ever, and I have had quite a few.
will eventually pick up an L2000 tribute, but the only one i found recently at gc hollywood was the most buzzy thing i had ever experienced and for 500 bones i couldn't take the risk
my usa sb-2 will be back tomorrow from being set up by schecter in burbank, it has been a complete monster since i put the hi beams on it
my usa sb-2 will be back tomorrow from being set up by schecter in burbank, it has been a complete monster since i put the hi beams on it
In my case the "baseball bat neck" was the feature I liked most about them!
I've got two USA L2500s and a Tribute. All in Ash. The used USA models were about the cost of the New Tribute (Mine is Korean and I got it when they just came out)
The Tribute and USA models are VERY close. But I must say there there is SOMETHING that makes the USA basses better. I really don't know what it is, but even though the tribute sounds like them, the USA speak with more "authority" somehow. Can't explain it but I swear it's true! (And oh yeah, another difference is that USA models always have "to die for" wood grain on the models where you see the grain)
Among Tributes I've noticed the basswood ones are a bit more mellow than the Ash ones (which I consider less desirable) and I really don't know about the Indonesian made ones.
But I can say that if you can find a decent used USA G&L pick that one FIRST! A used Tribute is likewise a great buy too! The deal with used G&L L 2x00 basses, however seems to be that often there are minor electronic problems (like the mini switches get loose or are rotated all around). If you can handle stuff like that you are home free as that also tends to lower the used price! (only my new Tribute didn't have to have the mini switches rotated back where they belong).
All my L2500 G&LS have been my main axes for some time now and you'd be hard pressed to find a better bass at ANY price let alone at the price of used G&Ls!
For some reason, in my part of the world, G&L basses have a hard time selling on the used market.
On Kijiji, I have been following a fellow bassist that has been trying to sell his USA L-1500 Fretless for over 6 months.
The poor guy started at $900 and keeps knocking $50 off the price every month. He is down to $600 and it is still sitting.
I feel bad for him. I have been thinking of making him an offer in the past. However, I feel that now, if I offer him $600 for his bass that would be downright insulting.
I do not really need that kind of instrument. I just know that this is a steal.
Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending if you are buying or selling) This kind of price is not that far off. I paid $600 for one USA G&L L2500 and closer to $900 for the other. Both were in excellent shape (except for loose switches and pots etc.) And the latter had been purchased new from dealer (came with original paperwork) and was about a year old and was very low mileage!
And the bad news for your friend is that $600 isn't all that insulting, but sort of what going rates out there can be on G&Ls.
Anyway, if you don't want to insult him, then offer him $700 dollars for it and you'll still have a great buy and a friend VERY impressed with you!
PS. My G&L L2500 fretless is THE best playing/sounding fretless bass I own. They are rather different animals from the fretted ones. And that is good. They are amazing!
Almost, but not quite. The Tributes have the same pickups, but different tuners and cheaper pots. The Tribby tuners seem quite good, though.
Not sure if the bridges are the same or not these days. At some point in the past the tribby bridges had "Tribute" stamped on them. Again, if there's a difference in the quality of the bridges, I'm not seeing it.
The general build quality and consistency is better in the US models, for sure.
I had a Tribute 5 and I hated it, put a US fretless neck on it, still hated it. Maybe it was a lemon, pickups were way too hot, no bottom end at all. So i finall traded it. I guess that it just didn't work for me.
