G&L Tribute: why are they cheaper?

Your intuitions are correct, they're built overseas.

 

Checked a couple of Tributes some time ago .... they can't compare with the real thing. Those were just very poorly assembled pieces of wood ...

 

I play a G&L Tribute L-2500 and the quality is amazing IMO. Fit and finish is flawless, neck has a bit of a birdseye grain to it, and the intonation was spot on out of the box. Stays in tune for ever, and just sounds huge. I've used it in my metal band, in my pep band in college, and in jams and everyone thinks that it sounds fantastic. It just fills up the bottom end and is just a very powerful bass. I play it in series, passive mode with both pickups on and a little treble rolled off. The neck feels fantastic, it's not too heavy and it balances very well! I believe I have a 2008 model. I bought it on Memorial Day 2008. I love this bass and I am playing it pretty much exclusively, very much to the chagrin of my 1978 Precision I still break it out every once in a while, since it has a nicely worn set of flats. The action is fantastic and is very playable... I believe that I play better on this bass. I bought this bass last May and it still puts a smile on my face every time I play it. I got a good deal on it... bought it for $499 new on sale, but now they're quite expensive from Musician's Friend. I would still recommend this bass to anyone, especially if you can get a cheaper one used.

 

the tributes are one of the nicest overseas-made basses out there. extremely nice for the money.

 

+1.

I almost pulled the trigger on a Tribute L-2500 recently for $599CAD (approx $499USD). Great playing, sounding and looking bass for the $$$. Construction looked flawless too.

 

I don't own a Tribute but I'm seriously considering getting one based on Ed Friedland's review of the L-2000 on YouTube. Check it out. He gives it a big thumbs up and it sounds fantastic (helps that he can play like a man possessed...)

 

I won't go as far as "flawless", but the dude that said it was a very poorly assembled piece of wood is pretty wrong, too. I've owned both American and overseas G&L's. The Tributes are very good basses. They are not necessarily up to the American series quality (and they have far fewer options), but they are worth a look in their price range.

Mike

 

The L-2500 I was going to buy was put together as well as any of the overseas Sadowskys or Laklands I own/have owned. This one just might have been a real good one, but after looking it over with a fine tooth comb for 10 minutes, I didn't find any flaws with construction.

 

Sorry. I'm just basing my comments on the one I own (05 model). I haven't picked up that many others. I kept mine over a USA L-1000.

Mike

 

I strongly disagree. I think Tributes are some of the best budget basses money can buy. Moreover, Tribute L-2500s tend to have better B strings than American L-2500s. That said, the L-1500 I owned had a great B string.

American G&Ls are certainly much more refined, and worth the money if you have it.

 

Man, I'm just reporting my experience. I checked two Tributes: both had very bad fret job and one even a gap in the neck pocket.

 

The very best action I've played on a bass EVER was on a used, 4-string Tribute I found at a Guitar Center. I'm virtually certain it had a good professional setup, and it was clearly a high-quality instrument that could reflect the full benefit of such a setup. The strings were unbelievably low over the fretboard, there was ZERO fret buzz or rattle and the intonation was perfect. I still kick myself for not buying it.

Bluesy Soul

 

Man, I'm sorry you can't disagree because I didn't say ALL Tributes are crap. We can't speak for all the Tributes out there so each one of us talk by personal experience. I have no reason to doubt that you checked amazing Tributes so, please, do the same with me.
Now, we're talking about mass-produced instrument and we all know lemons are always behind the corner. That said I once checked both the two Tributes hanging at a store's wall. Both had really bad fret job and one even a gap in the neck pocket.

 

I was totally impressed with the L2500 Tribute I owned. Fit and finish exceeded my expectations. I got it after it was set up by a luthier recommended on this board and it played like a dream. I just didn't bond with the neck - it was wider than I'm used to (I only play four stringers) and the instrument was very heavy. If the U.S. versions are lighter, that would be worth paying something extra for, for me anyway.

 

The report of the crummy Tributes posted above is the first time I've encountered a report of them being anything but great. i love mine, and have been impressed with every one I've picked up. They're generally considered comparable to lakland Skylines in temrs of quality...certainly a couple of steps up from MIM Fenders.

 

Technically you didn't say all Tributes were crap, but you are much more nuanced in your criticism in your response to me than you were in your initial post. Furthermore, you probably should have taken my post as a report of my own personal experience much as you are now presenting your initial post instead of apparently seeing it as a personal attack.

 

I’ve got both a USA L2000 and Tribute L2000. Yes, I do play the USA over the Tribute but I’m really splitting hairs here. Really the sound difference and quality are minimal. The USA does have a certain something in both these areas, however, no one in the audience or the band can tell the difference but me. If I never had my USA I wouldn’t miss it with the Tribute being around.
And If I did a blind taste test between the 2 basses, the Tribute actually weighs less but has a wider neck at the nut and I probably wouldn’t tell any difference otherwise. Is that really worth the price difference??

 

Another vote for an incredibly well-built bass at a very good price.

Kim