• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

G&L

H

hesham8

Mar 21, 2008
186
1
#1
Now, if you know your instrument history, Leo Fender sold Fender in 1965, and worked for MusicMan (The StingRay was his biggest hit there) in the 70s, and when that didn't go as planned, he created G&L Guitars.

Last week, I played a $600 G&L 4 string bass. And all I can say is "Oh my god." It plays and sounds nicer than my Fender Deluxe Jazz. I was feeling ambitious, and tried a G&L guitar. Simply put: I'm getting rid of my Stratocaster, ASAP.

From what I've heard, G&L quality control is lacking. Though, from what I've played...I love it. Why is this company so awesome and not mainstream?
 
#2
hesham8 said:
From what I've heard, G&L quality control is lacking. Though, from what I've played...I love it. Why is this company so awesome and not mainstream?
Click to expand...

I've never heard of anyone say that G&L's quality is short of amazing. To say that G&L aren't a 'mainstream' company wouldn't exactly be right, they are very well known, I think 'popular' is a more fitting word. So, why aren't they more popular you ask? I really don't know! :hmm: Great instruments, as is almost anything Leo designed. :)
 
#5
G&L makes exceptional instruments and, for the most part, the build quality and tones can be amazing bang for the buck. One of the best sounding basses I've ever heard was a friend's L1000. Having said that, the one and only G&L I ever had - an ASAT bass - was a lemon. Neck needed adjusting every other week, weighed a ton, balanced poorly, etc. I would never go as far as to say I'm writing off G&L completely, just that my first hand personal experience was not a good one.

I don't understand why they're not more popular either, especially considering it was once a Leo fender company. The only explanation I can come up with is they're a bit dull to look at aesthetically.
 
#7
dbcandle said:
I'm guessing it may be a marketing issue, or production issue.

It can be hard to find G&L distributors. I'm guessing the company is marginally funded, and is intentionally growing slowly.
Click to expand...

Some companies make a choice to not grow as large and as quickly as possible (my contracting company has done the same thing). When you are making a good quality product at a volume that is comfortable for the production department and you're making decent money, sometimes trying to grow quicky upsets the balance and ends up hurting the bottom line and your reputation.

G&L has recently been showing up with some of the larger online retailers (MF, Music123, Zzounds, etc.). I would expect that this will result in a big increase in volume for them.
 
#8
LeoQuote.jpg
 
#9
pjmuck said:
...the one and only G&L I ever had - an ASAT bass - was a lemon. Neck needed adjusting every other week, weighed a ton, balanced poorly, etc. ..

...The only explanation I can come up with is they're a bit dull to look at aesthetically.
Click to expand...

I played a bunch recently and have to say, the build quality was exceptional every time. Even the import Tribs. As for poor balance on an ASAT, yeah, that was the deal killer for me. Nicest looking and lots of old school mojo but I fortunatley asked to play it with a strap and it was neck dive city.

I just bit on an L-2000.:hyper: Same electronics as the ASAT but better balanced body. In the looks department, the only ones I really liked were the ASAT, L-1500, and the L-2000.

I think distribution is their hinderance. We have three stores here listed as G&L dealers but only one carries USA models.:crying:
 
#10
G&L lacks in the endorsement deal part of the marketing too.

I think they are popular in country music, but they don't have any "signature" model instruments...like the Flea model basses or the Sting model. I mean, things may be different for the Stingray were it not for Flea. Very few in pop music are seen playing them and they are almost non-existent in Metal and Alternative. Therefore, noone for youngins to imitate...no raise in popularity.

I understand why they do this, but it may be why they don't get more popular.

Just an example to prove my point:

The first time I heard a G&L was from the band "Hot Water Music". Jason Black used an ASAT. It was the sound that I fell in love with and I made it a point to look into them more. This was difficult because G&L has few retailers in my area...and I have LOTS of shops around here! Only one had a G&L in it...and they had 1 L-2000 and 1 ASAT to try out. I ended up custom ordering through them.

That's also part of the problem...no distro through GC or Sam Ash....
 
#11
Now, if G&L distributed through Guitar Center, I'd fall in love. I love their instruments, and I'm seriously thinking of getting rid of my Deluxe Swamp Ash Stratocaster in place of a G&L (I played one of their guitars, and I knew that instant that it was leagues better than any stratocaster on the market).

Perhaps "mainstream" may have not been the right word, as has been noted. Popular functions as a much better word, as they aren't as popular as they should be. Exceptional quality at moderate prices really is wonderful.


As for the weight...I didn't notice anything with the instruments I played. Though, I really don't care about the weight, as long as it's under 13 pounds or so for a bass and about 6 pounds for a guitar (Which is why I like Swamp Ash - The body is about 5 lbs).
 
#12
According to info from NAMM, the G&L factory is so busy that they had to add a night shift because they don't have space for extra workers. Whatever can be drawn from that- sounds like the popularity is catching on?

If you check their website there are a good many artists that are "in the know" as far as G&L. http://www.glguitars.com/

There's actually a pretty impressive list of artists that use the basses/guitars. Everything from Tim Mcgraw band to Aerosmith to Goldfinger to Everclear to INXS to Thrice to Angel Dust to Allman Brothers to Elton John band to Collective Soul to Staind to 30 Seconds to Mars to The Dillinger Escape Plan to Black Label Society to the Butthole Surfers to Corrosion of Conformity to Matisyahu to Alice In Chains etc. etc.
 
#14
Spiritfield said:
According to info from NAMM, the G&L factory is so busy that they had to add a night shift because they don't have space for extra workers. Whatever can be drawn from that- sounds like the popularity is catching on?

If you check their website there are a good many artists that are "in the know" as far as G&L. http://www.glguitars.com/

There's actually a pretty impressive list of artists that use the basses/guitars. Everything from Tim Mcgraw band to Aerosmith to Goldfinger to Everclear to INXS to Thrice to Angel Dust to Allman Brothers to Elton John band to Collective Soul to the Butthole Surfers.
Click to expand...
Don't forget Devo! Bob Mothersbaugh has been playing G&L SC-2 guitars for about 27 years now.
 
#17
pjmuck said:
Having said that, the one and only G&L I ever had - an ASAT bass - was a lemon.
Click to expand...

So was mine! I had a Tribby L-2000 I DON'T think it was a LEMON per se' I-ME- couldn't get a decent sound outta it no matter how I tried. ALL the sounds-& there are LOTS with the Passive/active, series/parallel etc.... were there but I couldn't make ONE work for me.:rolleyes:
I tried a mates US made L-2500 & I found it VERY similar -LOTS of options but NONE that worked for me!
Just MY 2c.:hiding:
 
#18
A few weeks ago I asked why Music Man was more popular than G&L. It generated much good discussion that fits here.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=437654

I love my L2000. (Got it new a couple of years ago for $900 as the store was no longer going to be a G&L dealer. They just didn't sell that many for some reason. They didn't understand it either.) It's the most well balanced comfortable bass I own--even with it's wide but shallow neck.

The craftsmanship is second to none. I can find no flaw with it. I have yet to see a finish better than the one on my G&L. The rosewood is thick unlike my Fenders. Everything from the wood to knobs and pots to tuners is by far some of the best I've seen.

Sound! Despite what many say--it has a distinctive sound. There's no way you can't hear this thing when played live.

Note also that people don't buy them and start replacing parts as with most other basses. This speaks volumes.

I did have something with the preamp go out (when engaged) and they weren't sure what was going on so they replaced the entire harness at no charge and no questions asked.

Another thing I like about it--everybody doesn't have one!
 
#20
I have had a Trib L2500 and now a US L2500 for a number of years---I think part of the prob, is that we're always reading about how an L2000 or L2500 can produce all these other sounds like "other basses"---i.e. can cop a jazz, or a 'ray, or a P, and so one. I have NEVER been able to get mine to do that--sure it's versatile, and technically you're perhaps approximating the EQ/sound of these other basses, but it sounds nothing like them. The L series have their own sound and it is a great, unique one, but it is NOT plug-and-play IMHO. For one thing, with the volume and tone dimed on these, it's often TOO big and just plain blurry. BUT, when you start experimenting with the controls and rolling things back, you will be rewarded. But I think the lack of tonal "instant gratification" as far as the plug-and-play factor goes hurts the appeal a little.
But I'm keeping mine:)

Oh yeah, I hear you can totally cop a Wal sound on an L2500 . . .:)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back