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G&L vs Fender vs Music Man
- Thread starter Mr Cheese
- Start date
After starting on a Fender Mustang, my first 34" scale was a 1st year L-1000, then a L-1000 fretless, and then after I went on the road I traded them both in on an El Toro that was my main axe for more than a decade. I had the neck reworked because of the ski jump at one point and that made it better for awhile, but it eventually became unplayable. Probably going to be seen as sacrilege that I replaced the stock pickups with EMGs, but to my ears (and the band's) back then it was a big improvement. Ditto on the bridge. The whammy was certainly a bit "out there" but it also improved the sound, perhaps because it's just such a big hunk o' metal. So my loyalty is to G&L. Of course, when I went looking to replace the Mustang ('74 which I recently restored to original spec) had the store carried Fender or Music Man that would have changed everything. They're all great as are so many other manufacturers and builders. #spoiltforchoice
My top 3 favorite basses in my herd are one of each brand.
Fender Precision V with TI Flats.
MM USA SUB5 with DR Lowriders.
G&L USA L2500 with DR Lowriders.
Build quality-wise, I would probably rate the brands MM, G&L, Fender. MM is an expensive brand. I like G&L a lot. Their Tribute line is a great value for what you get.
They all excel at what they do. If I have a favorite, it is probably the G&L, mostly for its versatility. I can grab any one of them and head to a gig. Although each has a different sound, I can fit them all into a mix. I recently took the MM to a 18 piece big band rehearsal and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. There were no negative comments from the band. It was a more modern sound compared to the usual Fender P, but it fit in. This band plays a mix of older swing and more modern show tunes. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!
Fender Precision V with TI Flats.
MM USA SUB5 with DR Lowriders.
G&L USA L2500 with DR Lowriders.
Build quality-wise, I would probably rate the brands MM, G&L, Fender. MM is an expensive brand. I like G&L a lot. Their Tribute line is a great value for what you get.
They all excel at what they do. If I have a favorite, it is probably the G&L, mostly for its versatility. I can grab any one of them and head to a gig. Although each has a different sound, I can fit them all into a mix. I recently took the MM to a 18 piece big band rehearsal and was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked. There were no negative comments from the band. It was a more modern sound compared to the usual Fender P, but it fit in. This band plays a mix of older swing and more modern show tunes. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!
You really believe this? They just replaced a neck for me for free on a L2500, threw in a matching headstock and free shipping both ways.
I don't see a problem being loyal to all 3. All 3 are great for different reasons.
Ok...I'll raise my hand...is anyone gonna comment that Mr Cheese and Dr Cheese are both in this thread?
Ok...I'll raise my hand...is anyone gonna comment that Mr Cheese and Dr Cheese are both in this thread?
I have no experience with their customer service. For me it's been the lack of local dealerships and I haven't been able to get a new G&L in my hands, so I never pull the trigger. Well, not completely true, I bought a 2500 awhile ago for a great price, but thought it was extremely aggressive sounding and ding care for it. Also, it was finished the last day of the week before Christmas shutdown and the last four frets were not PLEK'ed. They obviously said, "Done and pushed it out the door". I sold it, but had a local luthier fix the incomplete fret dressing first. Jive Sound is our local dealer, but it's a bit of a hike for me to drive to and essentially is an all day event. Haven't been there in quite some time.
Checkboxes woulda been better for this poll, imho.
I have 2 Fenders and 1 G&L. They are all quite different from each other, and I like each for what they are.
I would love a StingRay or Sterling, 4 or 5, but with so many variants it's tough for me to choose.
I have 2 Fenders and 1 G&L. They are all quite different from each other, and I like each for what they are.
I would love a StingRay or Sterling, 4 or 5, but with so many variants it's tough for me to choose.
I have owned Fender, Musicman and G&L basses. In my opinion Musicman are the best made, followed closely by G&L. However, I prefer the sound of a Jazz Bass. Solution, G&L JB-4. They're build as well as any higher end Jazz Bass out there in my opinion. I just wish all of them would go to the Musicman style daisy wheel truss rod adjustment. And they could all stand to be lighter.
I like all 3. I've owned and sold a Bongo, and a Tribute L-2500. I'm just not much for active basses, though I'd probably still have the L-2500 if I could have gotten along with the neck. Or if it had been an L-2000.
All I have now are Fenders, mainly due to availability.
EDIT: The Bongo had the best build quality of any bass I've owned, but I miss the sound of the G&L the most. I still really enjoy my Fenders though.
All I have now are Fenders, mainly due to availability.
EDIT: The Bongo had the best build quality of any bass I've owned, but I miss the sound of the G&L the most. I still really enjoy my Fenders though.
For me, G&L followed very closely my MM. Some days I might put MM in front. I've never owned a Fender. (Closest was a Fernandes Jazz clone.) Maybe some day...
My ideal bass would be a G&L L2500 with a Stingray5's neck profile and 22 frets. Plus a pickup blend knob instead of the switch, and a series-parallel-single switch for each pickup. 18mm spacing and a weight no more than 8.5 lbs. That sounds about perfect.
My ideal bass would be a G&L L2500 with a Stingray5's neck profile and 22 frets. Plus a pickup blend knob instead of the switch, and a series-parallel-single switch for each pickup. 18mm spacing and a weight no more than 8.5 lbs. That sounds about perfect.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
I have been making noise about a possible 19mm spaced G&L Fiver for at least a year now, and I heard rumblings from last NAMM that "soon" . 18mm or 19mm I would be all over it.
Yeah, 17mm feels pretty tight to me. 17.5 on the Stingray is mostly tolerable, maybe because I've been playing on it the longest. 18mm is ideal. 19mm is tolerable but a bit more of a stretch. (I have a Yamaha G5 that has that spacing.)
I've always thought the smart thing would be for 5-string manufacturers to do an 18mm bridge that allows some side-to-side play. A range of something like 17.25 - 18.75mm spacing would satisfy a lot of players. (Of course, the width of the fretboard at the nut and last fret is a factor as well.) That might not be possible with a Saddle-Lock design.
I've always thought the smart thing would be for 5-string manufacturers to do an 18mm bridge that allows some side-to-side play. A range of something like 17.25 - 18.75mm spacing would satisfy a lot of players. (Of course, the width of the fretboard at the nut and last fret is a factor as well.) That might not be possible with a Saddle-Lock design.
And that's why I love my Fender Deluxe 5. I have that exact adjustment range with my bridge. I came from 20mm spaced Warwick Streamer Stage I, and loved that spacing. Took a bit to get used to the 18mm on my Deluxe. But it has spacing options. My G&L M2500 is dead on at 17.5, and next to my Deluxe, took me a sec again, to get used to it. I know, I know. Haffa mm. I'm too sensitive. Ha! But, it is truth.
One reason my Deluxe is so beloved by me? I can adjust the spacing. Slightly. I do wish Fender would bring threaded saddles back. Fully threaded. Not just a three slots. But at least my Deluxe has a bit of a choice. G&L and MM do not.
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
Fender is actually 18.3 mm if you can sense the difference there IS a difference. I can feel the diff between Fender 18.3 and Sadowsky 19mm
Interesting you say that. I just measured my 2010 American Deluxe 5 Jazz. String center to string center, in the original slots as it was shipped to me from the factory, lined up with the poles, mine reads 18mm even. My old 2002 American Deluxe Jazz 5, also with the slotted saddles, also measured 18mm even. I'd just assumed. I could go slightly wider, prolly .3 mm. Ha! But mine was, is, set at 18 even.
My G&L is, using same method, 17.5, for sure. And yes, I can sense a difference. That difference when I was young didn't matter to me. It does today.
