G&L vs Fender vs Music Man

[Doug Parent]

I've heard a lot of good about Musicman and especially G&L here at Talk Bass. So I was interested to see which Leo Fender influenced company earns your loyalty, and why it does. (Inspired by the Jazz vs P poll)

The G&L MFD pickups, M Series 3 band preamp and that solid bridge make for an undeniable instrument for me personally. My G&L M2500 and my Sadowsky RV5 may be the last basses left in my collection.

 

[Remoman]

...but with Fender offering some nice features like wider string spacing on five string models that G&L or Music Man doesn’t offer.

For now.

 

[I-play-bass]

Not sure what "weird sideways negative space gibson headstock top look" means, but if you're talking about the fishook, you're in luck. The CLF series has the non-fishhook headstock, and they're selling them at sweetwater now. CLF Research L-1000

I've been eyeballing those, not gonna lie.

What I mean about the G&L headstock is that its like they lined up the top of a Gibson "book top" headstock, traced it's outline onto their headstock, pressed the "italics" button, then cut it out.

 

[I-play-bass]

That's a ridiculous reason to be missing out on something you know is fantastic.

I'm so vain, that I DEFINITELY thought this song was about me.

 

[audreycashin]

That's just a seriously damned beautiful thing!

That's her newborn pic on the G&L set up bench

 

[eastcoasteddie]

...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....

Fender has gone out of the J and P bubble quite a few times, the Dimension being the latest, but Fender’s adventurous creations never seem to catch on. The Dimension, I think, would have been a bigger hit if they used some sort of standardized pickup shape, maybe the double-J shape like the Roscoe Beck had (that’s another model that was outside the bubble...deemed by many as the greatest bass ever produced), and not those one-off semi-ovals.

I actually modded one of my Squier Jazz basses and installed two MM pickups in the Dimension HH pickup positions

(Also happens to be the L2500 positioning)

G&L seems to be picking up where Leo left off with the CLF Research department, and it is really working out well for them...so why not continue down that path?
They did come out with the Kiloton as a new model, as simple as it seems, but I think they should have continued with the L1500 using the preamp modifications that fatten up the tone and tame the High treble output they were known for... I believe there were one or two resistors that needed to be changed for different values.
Let’s not forget the Matador, which is apparently the original Stingray Prototype.

They are working on a few pretty cool projects, like MFD Jazz pickups, but the going seems to be pretty slow on them...

as far as my loyalty goes...?
I voted G&L because I have one of the greatest L2500’s ever built. Though I own a couple Squiers, I have never owned a legit Fender. As much as I love the Stingray 4, I’m not sure I like the direction EBMM has gone lately.
If I could get a JB5 and a Kiloton5, I would be set for life...

 

[Remoman]

I like MusicMan, EB and SB. However, I'm a big G&L fanboy, and have been for a long time before my G&L and my connection to the factory. Fender, meh, only the old stuff.

As far as most Leo influence today, that's G&L hands down, irrefutable. They hold very dear to Leo, his office is still there at the shop, his notes, his designs, as well as some of Leo's original equipment. Their products certainly have evolved over time but many of them at Leo's own hands and vision.

 

[Yango]

I have a G&L LB100. Best sounding P Bass ever.

I have a MusicMan Classic Stingray 4H. Incredible sounding active bass.

I used to own two other MusicMan Stingrays, both 4H/3EQ. Amazing basses. I only sold them because I needed space, and well, did I really need three Stingrays?

I also used to own a USA MusicMan Sterling. An absolutely incredible bass. The tone of these basses are unmatched in my opinion. My gripe was with the skinny cramp inducing neck. If it was possible to take a Stingray neck and pop it right onto the Sterling body, then that’s what I’d be playing. I find it odd that MusicMan offers the option if having the Sterling neck on a Stingray body, but not the other way around.

The build quality of MusicMan and G&L Basses are second to none. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the more recent Fender basses.

The older Fender P and Jazz Basses are absolute classics. It’s what I grew up listening to. There’s nothing like the growl of a Precision.

Sorry, can’t make a choice, they’re all too nice.

 

[TheReceder]

I've got a vintage Jazz, a EBMM HH, a G&L L2000 love them all. I looked at the pictures of me playing outdoor gigs. In most of the pictures I'm playing...

One of my $100 peavey foundations.

Othersise right now I'm leaning towards that L2000 just because it's the latest addition.

 

[jd56hawk]

I've heard a lot of good about Musicman and especially G&L here at Talk Bass. So I was interested to see which Leo Fender influenced company earns your loyalty, and why it does. (Inspired by the Jazz vs P poll)

When I first joined this board six or seven years ago, I must admit I found it hard to believe all the posts about how the G&L L2000 was the best bass Leo Fender ever made, the best bass for the money, the best factory bass made, etc.
Then, in the summer of 2018, I finally saw an L2000 Ttibute hanging up at Robbie's Music in Totowa NJ. Picked it up, plugged it in, and within five minutes I realized all the hype was real.
Bought this two months later.
Best bass I've ever owned.
I've tried maybe 100 basses since then and haven't found one better.

 

[bordinco90]

I voted Fender, but I've never played a G&L.

 

[Hounddog409]

I've heard a lot of good about Musicman and especially G&L here at Talk Bass. So I was interested to see which Leo Fender influenced company earns your loyalty, and why it does. (Inspired by the Jazz vs P poll)

G&L

By far

 

[N4860]

I currently have 2 MM and 2 US Fenders plus one more MM on the way. I definitely prefer MM over Fender but can't say that I've had the opportunity to try a G&L.

Here's a pic of the above mentioned basses:

 

[chadds]

I voted Fender, but I've never played a G&L.

If they were marketed widely we’d all know about them. My guitarist had a beautiful guitar. I wouldn’t get a G&L so he finally gives me a beat G&L L-1000.

Body s now refinished and restored. Neck looks like the Derek and the Dominoes Strat wear. Frets nearly flat. Plays like buttah.

Guitarist’s G&L was the closest to boutique you could get. The fit and finish was amazing. The z coils were like custom winds.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Currently I have a G&L M2500 and a MM Bongo 5. They are both amazing basses, but the G&L is my fav.

I like some Fenders too but I would go G&L or MM over Fender

 

[Dardas92]

This is tough. I love both G&L and Fender pretty much equally.

When compared side to side, I think G&Ls slightly better to me because of the versatility and their value is much greater IMO.

I find the Fender Jazz bass to be more comfortable to play though and the sound is similar to me to the L series G&L basses.

Glad my J vs. P bass post encouraged you to post this

I think G&Ls are underrated and they deserve more publicity and praise!

Can't say much about Musicmann because I never had one.

 

[Doug Parent]

Slightly off topic but props for Fenders Dimension V H does a very decent Stingray vibe. That bass has a great neck.

 

[N4860]

Slightly off topic but props for Fenders Dimension V H does a very decent Stingray vibe. That bass has a great neck.

I was about to sell my Dimension 4 HH that I posted above but am seriously reconsidering as it is a seriously awesome bass. Definitely different from my sr5 but lots of good tones and as you said, the neck is amazing.

 

[Cutter8]

Big fan of Leo’s, but brand loyalty apparently isn’t my forte...

 

[larrysb]

I just sold an ASAT bass (1995) that I bought new in 1999. I kept the Fender JP-90 I bought new in 1993.

The G&L was fantastic, MFD pickups, active electronics, rock solid build quality. As good as it gets. The guy who bought it got a helluva lot of bass for the money.

I kept the Fender JP-90, which isn't as nice of a bass. It is really comfortable to play, very light, right shape. It has held up well over the years in spite of it being the cheapest made in USA instrument that Fender ever made.

Don't gig anymore and haven't really been playing bass much in the last dozen years or so. Got interested in it again and decided to get down to just one that made me happy to plink on here at home. So I let the ASAT go to a new home and upgraded and fixed up the JP-90. It's enough to keep me happy.

I've played a lot of Stingrays over the years and love those too.

All kinds of win in the choices in this thread!