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G&L vs Fender vs Music Man
- Thread starter Mr Cheese
- Start date
L1000's are all over the place on Reverb, even a couple CLF reissues when I checked this morning. I'm too broke to afford one now, but I'm always scouring for an L2K with an unlined jazz-dimensioned neck (the old #8 neck, which I don't think G&L calls it that anymore), but they're rare as hen's teeth...
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I've commented on this before, but I simply don't understand when someone says that the G&L headstocks are ugly. Can anyone explain to me why they think those headstocks are ugly?
I was never a big G&L fan, Fender's quality has seemed to drop over that past few years while Musicman has improved. I'll go with Musicman given the choice of these three.
Better overall consistancy than fender. Wider field of options. Real customization, not limited like fender to just a couple preset options.
Same with MM, which only offers a couple different options.
And better value. Can get USA made SB-1, SB-2, it jazz for under 1500. USA made fender is what 2k?
And the G&L tribute line is possibly the best value/quality there is for $600.
I have had and toured with several of each. They all had things they did great and all had areas that I felt were lacking. I still have an Ultra Jazz and Stingray special that I like a lot. I voted Fender just based on reliability. They are the only ones that I've never had any mechanical issues on while out. I know that's largely just luck of the draw but in the moment can be frustrating.
Especially with Musicman's neck replacement policies, which I totally get BTW.
Especially with Musicman's neck replacement policies, which I totally get BTW.
Back "in the day" i owned quite a few Fenders, and even a MusicMan Sabre. The last decade or so I found myself wanting to get another Fender but couldn't find one that I really liked. I'm into lighter weight basses now because of some back and neck issues. So a friend turns me on to G&L basses. We both order an LB100 (their take on a vintage P Bass) and I loved it. Empress Wood body=7.6 pounds. I ordered a Jazz with neck and chose the neck radius. Was able to pick the color out of probably 25 choices and could get Rosewood with any of them. Pickup was amazing and the bridge, sustain for days. Cost was under $1400. Try those choices with Fender is you're not going Masterbuilt at $6K. A stock American P bass was going for $1200+ at the time.
I wound up getting a few JB models too (the vintage Jazz Bass take). Great instruments, fit and finish plus the choice of options blow Fender away.
I wound up getting a few JB models too (the vintage Jazz Bass take). Great instruments, fit and finish plus the choice of options blow Fender away.
My main bass is currently a MM SS 5 HH. I think it is an outstanding instrument. That makes me partial to MM at the moment. I never got along with previous StingRays, so I would not call myself a fanboy. Fenders have had many hits and misses over the years. I own a great example of an RBV. Nothing else quite like that bass. I also have a good Precision. It's just a staple of many bassists collectionfor good reason. I've had G&L's before, but never for long. I think the L-2500 is a exceptional bass, but I just never liked the ergos. I think their 5 string J-basses are very good. I am not a J-bass fan, but I love the necks. I wish they would start building L-2500's with the J-bass neck and body. That would be killer. Never got a chance to try a Kiloton, although I wish I could.
I eventually figured out that I simply just like Leo, so I have the trifecta - I play a Musicman Stingray 5HH, a G&L L-2500, and a Fender Precision V. For that matter, I also have a FrankenJazz that does have one actual Fender part (the control plate, but at least it IS a Fender part! 
).
The Precision is the original so it's hard not to love it - and I do. And G&L is the one where Leo got to apply a lifetime of learning into the instruments and it shows. The controls on an L-2500 are kind of complex and it took me a while to get comfortable using them, but they're amazing - tons of great tone and very versatile. But, for me, my Stingray is the one, I love my all of those basses, even the lowly parts Jazz, but that one gets the overall highest score from me when I account for every factor I might consider is clearly my Stingray. I've never owned a Sterling or a Bongo, but I've been very impressed by the ones I played in the local Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Especially the Bongo.
My personal preference would be Musicman, but I also say to get at least one of each (i.e., there are multiple great basses under each brand name).
EDIT: May as well show 'em off
).The Precision is the original so it's hard not to love it - and I do. And G&L is the one where Leo got to apply a lifetime of learning into the instruments and it shows. The controls on an L-2500 are kind of complex and it took me a while to get comfortable using them, but they're amazing - tons of great tone and very versatile. But, for me, my Stingray is the one, I love my all of those basses, even the lowly parts Jazz, but that one gets the overall highest score from me when I account for every factor I might consider is clearly my Stingray. I've never owned a Sterling or a Bongo, but I've been very impressed by the ones I played in the local Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Especially the Bongo.
My personal preference would be Musicman, but I also say to get at least one of each (i.e., there are multiple great basses under each brand name).
EDIT: May as well show 'em off
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no loyalty
EBMM gets my vote for best QC
G&L is also excellent.
Fender owns the classic design and heritage, but the price is not at all a reasonable indicator of the quality
they all have their place. i've owned them all, and will likely own them all more than once again in the future.
EBMM gets my vote for best QC
G&L is also excellent.
Fender owns the classic design and heritage, but the price is not at all a reasonable indicator of the quality
they all have their place. i've owned them all, and will likely own them all more than once again in the future.
Thanks, I sure like em! Classic designs, but only the P is anything close to classic (1976). The others are all late model imports: J is MiM, Ray is Indonesian SBMM, L-2500 is MiK Tribute.WOW! What a great looking collection of classy classic basses!!!
I have four Music Man basses (Bongo, Big Al, Stingray, fretless Sterling), one Fender (Custom Shop P) and a Fender clone (Lakland Glaub P/J). I have owned a bunch of other Fenders, which were all good, just didn't make the cut at some point. Never owned a G&L.
I've had experience with them all and they're all great. Totally different personalities but then each individual instrument has it's own personality. I just happen to have had more Fenders than anything else throughout my life. Some great, some bad. I also like Peavey, Ibanez, and some others like Dillion, St. Blues, etc. Don't really owe a particular loyalty to any one. I take 'em one by one on their own merits.
OK, OK, OK, .... classic LOOKING basses.
Still a really beautiful collection, though.
Looks like you're on the same Leo bandwagon as me.OK, OK, OK, .... classic LOOKING basses.
Still a really beautiful collection, though.
gotta catch em all
I'm all for that. I just need to add a G&L to the stable.
Looks like you're on the same Leo bandwagon as me.
