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G&L USA worth that much more than Tribute?
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
Don't misunderstand the point, these Basses are cheaper for a reason. If you think your getting the same quality as an American made Bass for a third the price your out of your mind ! ! ! The other thing is, I don't play it.Is that why you're selling your Tribute?
I was @ the G&L booth @ NAMM this past January & I was surprised at how much difference there was between the USA basses. Some were set up beautifully and played perfectly, and some were downright horrible~ I guess you've got to find a good one. Sorry didn't try any Tributes, but I would definitely play the specific bass that you buy rather than buying one online.
Not the same, better components like the shocks and springs. Yes over all one part will fit on the other but because they interchange dose not make them the same.
If I buy a G&L it's going to be a USA model. My buddy played his Mexican Fender before me at a jam the other night, I got up there with my USA Jazz V and there was no comparison to the sound. The MIA blew away the Mexican Jazz hands down thru the same amp with the same settings. Fit and finish do talk to me, so it's US G&L all the way in my book.
So you think that if you put American pickups in a Mexican Jazz Bass it will play and sound just like an American made Bass?
I don't know what it would sound like, but it'd sound different than it does with whatever pickups come in an MIM.
It'd be very interesting to hear a Squier, MIM, and USA Fender all with the same pickups in them, with socks over the headstocks so the power of suggestion didn't come into play.
It'd be very interesting to hear a Squier, MIM, and USA Fender all with the same pickups in them, with socks over the headstocks so the power of suggestion didn't come into play.
I would guess it would be more the feel of the Basses then the tone. Although I would also guess all things being equal "same types of body and neck wood" there would still be a distinctive difference in tone as well.
There you go. You are definitely in the right place to find a nice used US L2000. I shopped them for a while on TB, and had many solid choices, some of which still are probably floating around, and available. Great bass, IME.
lol this is not true.... the components may be different, but not inferior... (unlike a guitar you could put the Lincoln suspension and interior in a crown Vic and be hard pressed to tell the difference. Basically it is like a lot of guitars fit and finish. Honestly I have seen a lot of USA made Gibsons and Fenders that were pure crap! Just because something is made in USA doesn't automatically mean it's better (generally though I agree with you, they aren't the same. I have a Tribute guitar with sharp exposed fret ends... this tells me the wood did shrink!) I am all about playing guitars and buying whatever feels and plays right for you! BTW I have a MiM Jazz V with USA pickups and pots.. it does not play or sound exactly like a USA model for sure.. I like it, but it took a bit of work and tweaking, and at the end of the day it's still a MiM..
If you look at the G&L online store parts, you'll see that some of the parts are (apparently) different between the US and Tribute models. In particular, I note that the pots are different between the US and Tributes. The pickups and bridge are the same, though. I don't know if a difference in pots could be a sign of differences inside the control cavity that might result in differences in sound between the two.
Agreed. Build quality is better, which often means it will play better. Both sound nice.
And, if you buy the US version, you will be supporting US jobs - and I try to do that wherever I can (I guess this doesn't apply for a used purchase...)
Even buying used MIA helps US jobs. More demand on the used market helps keep prices up, which in turn helps keep new prices up. I mean, if nobody was buying used, then the used values would tank (even worse than they already are), and who would pay $2K for a new one if there were 17 different minty used ones to choose from for $500?
My point was that perhaps the OP would be a lot happier finding a used G&L for only a few hundred bucks more then he would spend on a new Tribute. No matter how nice an imported copy is, there is always more mojo in the real thing!
Crabby, no question that for $100 more you were better off getting the 'Ray, however, I'm just amazed that a lefty Tribute would cost $900 in Canada.
In the states, these were going for $550 new, though the price recently went up past $600. I found my lefty used for $350. IMO, there is NO better bass to be found for under $600, but I agree at $900 it's not much of a bargain.
I agree if I could have gotten one for around $500 I would have thought it was a very good deal. The few minutes I spend with the defective one led me to think I could really like the Tribute for what it is. In Canada they do charge a fair bit more and you don't get the gig bag that is included with the Tributes sold in the US. I was totally excited to buy the Tribute I ordered but in the end it just didn't make sense to pay that much for a Tribute. I plan to find a used one one day.
I did had many choices for my budget $500 or less, including used, I played a lot of different ones and was sold on the Tribute. Mine came with the same USA electronics (based on the serial no.) Woods came from indo. I did played it (through a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 12T and a Gallien Krueger head with a 4x10” Cab) before I bought it @$475 used in mint condition, that's why I bought it. If you can't play it, don't bother buying it (Unless you are getting a custom made instrument to your specs or a no questions asked return refund). I've been playing for over 20 years (guitars) and less on Bass. Everyone here is right about been careful on lesser quality woods or fit and finish, but it does not necessarily has to come from overseas to get those types of problems as I've seen it in USA made ones too. There are many professional reviews out there for musical instruments (check You Tube!!), and nothing beats you trying it out for yourself through a good Rig setup (preferably the rig your will be running it through). Hope this helps. Have fun!
This is photo of mine after a few months of use by me. It was a real steal of a deal!
This is photo of mine after a few months of use by me. It was a real steal of a deal!
