Good topic
I will say Fender as I have the most experience with them
But the other two are great as well
Thanks
I will say Fender as I have the most experience with them
But the other two are great as well
Thanks
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G&L vs Fender vs Music Man
- Thread starter Mr Cheese
- Start date
I have more fenders, but I dig my G&L's, and I have Sterling HS and a Sterling HZ (piezo) fretless. That last one there is killer. I'm just LEO all the way 
I had a US G&L ASAT, L2000 and a LB100 Tribute....all excellent basses, but I now have a Carvin PB4 (but a LB100 is in the works, though)
EBMM, any day. I bought my son an EBMM HH Sterling for his 20th birthday which I hadn't try beforehand and wow ! Really exceptional. Very strong MM character and yet a whole palette of tones. had I not too many basses already (and 2k to spend) I'd go for a Sterling 5HH right away.
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I’ve had ’em all, but keep coming back to EBMM. They do some stuff I don’t like for sure, but the quality of the gear they kick out is always on point.
I’ve owned a half dozen Fenders (2 P’s, 3 J’s,and a Tele bass )over the years, and a first year Stingray.
But from my experience, my US made LB100 and JB2 basses are the best of them all.
They are both fairly recent makes, the quality and construction are outstanding, and they have a sound clarity that’s just fantastic.
I’ve pretty much decided (once again) i’m not a P bass guy,but i think the LB100 is the best version of that design.
I really want to check out a US Kiloton. I got to play a tribute version recently,and loved everything about it except for the obvious difference in quality.
But from my experience, my US made LB100 and JB2 basses are the best of them all.
They are both fairly recent makes, the quality and construction are outstanding, and they have a sound clarity that’s just fantastic.
I’ve pretty much decided (once again) i’m not a P bass guy,but i think the LB100 is the best version of that design.
I really want to check out a US Kiloton. I got to play a tribute version recently,and loved everything about it except for the obvious difference in quality.
I've had an L2000 , loved the versatility of it .
I've had a stingray ,loved it too
Had a Bongo 4 , that is the bass for me, but regrettably sold it when my ex ran off for greenery grass. I WILL have another.
I have a Ric 4003 and keep it mainly because it was a childhood dream. I'm a hobbyist player , but man when I play that along to backing tracks etc... it kills .
Right now I have a '70s classic jazz ( fender ) ,one of the last made.
A Steve Harris P current revision.
And a 4003 in clown burst
Next bass will be a Bongo 4
But...
Fenders pretty much scratch my itch.
I've had a stingray ,loved it too
Had a Bongo 4 , that is the bass for me, but regrettably sold it when my ex ran off for greenery grass. I WILL have another.
I have a Ric 4003 and keep it mainly because it was a childhood dream. I'm a hobbyist player , but man when I play that along to backing tracks etc... it kills .
Right now I have a '70s classic jazz ( fender ) ,one of the last made.
A Steve Harris P current revision.
And a 4003 in clown burst
Next bass will be a Bongo 4
But...
Fenders pretty much scratch my itch.
Sure classic Fender is good. And I own that, sure. And MM was Leos adventure in what active can do. If you are into active then you stop there. But I want it all and knobosity does not scare me., hence My vote went for G&L. I've got 3 G&L L2500. Love them all.
But I'm a bit disappointed that it all stops there. Why should there not be a forth generation Leo? Sure he's gone, but the spirit can live on. So here is a secret for TB: My G&Ls are NOT G&L they've been improved and modded to a new generation. No I won't tell what I've done to them yet and experiments continue. But just like Fender has little interest in going beyond the Jazz and p-bass, G&L has little interest in going beyond what Leo did. But I do! Say no more. (little hint. I would REALLY like to see an L3600)
But I'm a bit disappointed that it all stops there. Why should there not be a forth generation Leo? Sure he's gone, but the spirit can live on. So here is a secret for TB: My G&Ls are NOT G&L they've been improved and modded to a new generation. No I won't tell what I've done to them yet and experiments continue. But just like Fender has little interest in going beyond the Jazz and p-bass, G&L has little interest in going beyond what Leo did. But I do! Say no more. (little hint. I would REALLY like to see an L3600)
Like I've said, I've heard good about all of them, but I haven't owned any yet. The fact that the Stingray is active brings it down a notch IMO. I'm always paranoid about the battery dying on my Yamaha.
I used to be all Fender with severe GAS for MusicMan. Then I played a few G&L's...
My LB-100 and M-2500 are my go to basses. Of course, I wouldn't mind holding a MusicMan if someone handed it to me.
^^^
This. At the least, a 5-string option for the LB-100 and SB-2 would be great...
My LB-100 and M-2500 are my go to basses. Of course, I wouldn't mind holding a MusicMan if someone handed it to me.
^^^
This. At the least, a 5-string option for the LB-100 and SB-2 would be great...
Don't make me choose for bass (for guitar it's Fender all the way). If I had to choose for bass, it would be G&L, because that cheapo Indonesian L-2500 does more than the other 3 combined. But there's nothing like a a P, J or Ray. When you need it, you gotta have it.
(I didn't vote, for I have no brand loyalty. I plays what I likes.)
(I didn't vote, for I have no brand loyalty. I plays what I likes.)
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I presently have:
I don’t own a G&L at present but would like one.
- 2009 Fender American Deluxe (Amber w/ rosewood fingerboard) with D’Addario black nylon tapewounds
- 2001 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay 5H (Honeyburst w/ maple fingerboard) with EBMM rounds
- 2001 Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling 4H (Blue Pearl w/ maple fingerboard) with DR Fat Beams rounds tuned BEAD
I don’t own a G&L at present but would like one.
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My loyalty lies with whichever bass is right for the job...and carrots...always with carrots.
I played boutique basses for years. 6 strings, fancier the better. But when Geddy and Rush went back to a more Rock type of sound, and I decided I wanted a more traditional look and sound, I decided, like Geddy, I wanted a 70s styled Jazz; Blocks, binding, etc. It didn't help that a buddy of mine beat me to a 73 Jazz in a local pawn shop, fer $200, and it turned out to be the best sounding bass any of us had heard.
So, I wanted a Jazz. But not a 4. I could, did, give up the high C, but not my B strings. My jobs and style demanded it. Back then, who made a REASONABLY priced 70s style Jazz 5? The answer was not many. I went thru a few, Lakland DJ best among them. But was never quite satisfied with the whole package. Great tone without the exact styling, or vice versa. Then, in late 2009, I saw the new, redesigned, American Deluxe series.
That was it. I had to get one. I did get it, thru a friend. He worked at Fender, and got me a very early first run "Geddy" 5. Folk who say they didn't keep up with the times? Are mistaken. Bill Lawrence designed my pickups. 18v, 3 band eq with a passive option and passive treble roll off. Asymmetrical neck. Graphite bars under the board. Light tuners. Thru body stringing (makes a difference to me), high mass bridge (brass saddles, steel plate) with adjustable spacing. And most importantly, full sized Jazz body with blocked and bound Maple fingerboard.
Most of my heroes were associated with one bass for their career. They played the heck out of those basses. The basses were worn. Beat up. Personal. I wanted a bass that I could relate to like that. When I received mine, it was immediately exACTly what I wanted. I sold all my basses, and for the next ten years I played the bass at ALL my shows, sessions, rehearsals and private practice. And that adds up to around 3000 dates in a decade.
Outside shows in 0° weather in the Rockies. Scorching heat and humidity in Southern, coastal towns with a lotta salt air. And everything in between. The neck never moves. The setup is immaculate. No failures whatsoever. And the tone gets better every year. In my circle, 7 more Deluxe 5s were purchased, because they played mine. All were, and still are, fantastic instruments. I've played the Elites and Ultras, too. Fender shoulda stuck with my Deluxe. Heh.
I know each Fender is a bit different. And they do say, "Folk hate Fender, until they find that one." I am that guy. And even tho their newer offerings aren't quite my Deluxe, I will say that if you want a Fender tone? Get a Fender.
Ernie Ball? Their necks, nor a single pickup, ever moved me. I heard great tones, I couldn't dig one out myself.
G&L? Heh, another story. I went years and never played one. Never called to me. I play fretless a bit, on the occasion it's called for. I went thru a few of those. Circumstances put a one off, custom, CLF M2500 fretless in my hands. What a bass! I loved the pickups in other designs, but the L series was just too strong. Not my thing. I like to dig tones out of a bass. But the M Series, this bass, blew me away! I gotta say that maybe I missed out on G&L. Then again, like with most Leo basses, when ya find that One? It's over. G&L builds one heckuvva bass. And I'm lucky to own this one.
I chose Fender in the poll. It's the company that made my dream bass. But I just love Leo designs at this point. All of em. Even the old Stingrays. I don't like playing them, but I sure like hearing them played well. Leo Fender created all of this. And I'm thanking him right here.
So, I wanted a Jazz. But not a 4. I could, did, give up the high C, but not my B strings. My jobs and style demanded it. Back then, who made a REASONABLY priced 70s style Jazz 5? The answer was not many. I went thru a few, Lakland DJ best among them. But was never quite satisfied with the whole package. Great tone without the exact styling, or vice versa. Then, in late 2009, I saw the new, redesigned, American Deluxe series.
That was it. I had to get one. I did get it, thru a friend. He worked at Fender, and got me a very early first run "Geddy" 5. Folk who say they didn't keep up with the times? Are mistaken. Bill Lawrence designed my pickups. 18v, 3 band eq with a passive option and passive treble roll off. Asymmetrical neck. Graphite bars under the board. Light tuners. Thru body stringing (makes a difference to me), high mass bridge (brass saddles, steel plate) with adjustable spacing. And most importantly, full sized Jazz body with blocked and bound Maple fingerboard.
Most of my heroes were associated with one bass for their career. They played the heck out of those basses. The basses were worn. Beat up. Personal. I wanted a bass that I could relate to like that. When I received mine, it was immediately exACTly what I wanted. I sold all my basses, and for the next ten years I played the bass at ALL my shows, sessions, rehearsals and private practice. And that adds up to around 3000 dates in a decade.
Outside shows in 0° weather in the Rockies. Scorching heat and humidity in Southern, coastal towns with a lotta salt air. And everything in between. The neck never moves. The setup is immaculate. No failures whatsoever. And the tone gets better every year. In my circle, 7 more Deluxe 5s were purchased, because they played mine. All were, and still are, fantastic instruments. I've played the Elites and Ultras, too. Fender shoulda stuck with my Deluxe. Heh.
I know each Fender is a bit different. And they do say, "Folk hate Fender, until they find that one." I am that guy. And even tho their newer offerings aren't quite my Deluxe, I will say that if you want a Fender tone? Get a Fender.
Ernie Ball? Their necks, nor a single pickup, ever moved me. I heard great tones, I couldn't dig one out myself.
G&L? Heh, another story. I went years and never played one. Never called to me. I play fretless a bit, on the occasion it's called for. I went thru a few of those. Circumstances put a one off, custom, CLF M2500 fretless in my hands. What a bass! I loved the pickups in other designs, but the L series was just too strong. Not my thing. I like to dig tones out of a bass. But the M Series, this bass, blew me away! I gotta say that maybe I missed out on G&L. Then again, like with most Leo basses, when ya find that One? It's over. G&L builds one heckuvva bass. And I'm lucky to own this one.
I chose Fender in the poll. It's the company that made my dream bass. But I just love Leo designs at this point. All of em. Even the old Stingrays. I don't like playing them, but I sure like hearing them played well. Leo Fender created all of this. And I'm thanking him right here.
Musicman, Fender, then G&L. The only reason I've never owned a G&L is purely because I am vain and do not like the headstock. I'd 100% own and play one with their old headstock though. I acknowledge that they're much higher quality than the Fenders I have and sometimes play, but just can't get over that weird sideways negative space gibson headstock top look.
For me it's G&L. I have both the USA L and M 2500 and that's all I need. There's nothing like the L, I have really middy flats on it and the L just magifies them more, its just big balls. SS on the M for big wang and clang. Just didn't like the EBMM stuff as much although the only bass I ever gas for now is a Bongo 5. My USA Fender P is just a beautiful bass, but it's just a little too tame for me now. Plus it's a 4, so it just sits under the bed.
The narrow string spacing and 34" on the 5's is what I like. If you pick it up you say, "Hmm. Nice". G&L for me.
The narrow string spacing and 34" on the 5's is what I like. If you pick it up you say, "Hmm. Nice". G&L for me.
