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G&L

Yeah, I never though my L2k sounded anything like anything else I own. As was mentioned the idea that is sounds like others is highly overstated--approximates is the correct wording.

Pbass2 is correct in the with these it may take a little tinkering to get the sound you like best. Part of the "problem" is there are so many variations (of the G&L sound) to choose from.

I like to think it takes a smarter player to use a L2K! ;)
 
Any bassist in LA should checkout the SAMASH on Sunset Blvd.
If you are a G&L fan, I highly reccomend the experience
I have never seen so much G&L in one place. The salesman were pretty cool and very knowlegable. They told me that next week they were getting another 4 or 5 unique models....cant wait to go back

Finally ....a cool bass shop on Sunset:bassist::bassist:
 
I really wanted to like G&L, but everytime I play an L-2000 I'm let down. They just don't play well in my hands and I've never been in love with the tone.

I love the design, the appearance and the features, but I just haven't found one that left me smiling.

I've got two L-2500s and I have to sort of agree with this.
Except in my case, I love the design, appearance, the features, the bridge, the pickups, the neck, and the wood.

But it's always been the "around the edges" things with G&L that kept me from falling in love. For example I love that the tone controls are passive and work in passive mode, but at the same time I hate the range of the things which is rather limited compared to active tone controls. I love the uber bright factory SIT strings for some slap and range issues, but really they never EVER sound decent as a good killer all-around bass tone in the normal EQ ranges. Plus, the electronics is something less than optimum given to noise and RF pickup in a big way, even though I love the tone selection the switches offer. And lastly is G&L customer service which is SO variable. Some people report them bending over backwards to deal with some of these issues and others (me) get the "we're much too busy to be bothered with customers" attitude where they absolutely refuse to answer emails or even letters!

I'd have to say you don't get to be a major player doing this kind of luthier-ego stuff. But the good news is that with some new strings, a quick redesign of the electronics and some added features (like single coil options) and this bass simply kills. But if they can't produce one from the factory that's already highly useable, Joe-bass player isn't going to be interested. Usually guys I know tend to give up on the active stuff and just flip the bass into passive mode and leave it there. Which does really, really, sound good, but that really eliminates a lot of what this bass can do.
 
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?
That is the first time I have ever heard that, every single one I have ever played has been nothing short of fantastic.
 
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.

You mean like this one?

P1000699.png


P1000698.png
 
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.

This. Definitely.

I struggled to get a tone I really liked out of my L-2000 until I rolled the bass knob back to around half way. It was like taking a blanket off my amp.
 
Originally Posted by hesham8

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?
That is the first time I have ever heard that, every single one I have ever played has been nothing short of fantastic.
Ditto. If anything, G&L is one of those few companies where I'm comfortable buying sight unseen online. Lemons are extremely rare. You'll find some variation in weight, but most play and sound great. I bought my used ASAT Semihollow fretless bass online and it's the pride of my collection.

As for their limited market impact, I think they've found a business model of limited quantity, very hands-on manufacturing, and a small willing market of buyers, that works for them. They still use manufacturing methods and Leo Fender-designed machines to make semi-handbuilt guitars in a manner similar to the pre-CBS Fenders. It's efficient in smaller quantities and makes very high quality instruments at an affordable price. However, with the rock'n'roll band craze plus the British Invasion of the early '60s, this method could no longer keep up with demand. When Leo Fender sold his company to CBS Musical Instruments in 1966, his company had a two-year backlog. CBS set about to reduce that and the methods they employed to get there made the pre-CBS units legendary in quality and playability. I get the sense that G&L returned to that pre-CBS model and have laid slightly low to keep it there.