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GL L2000(US 90s) vs. Squier P-bass JV
- Thread starter Bashke81
- Start date
Unless you just want a P Bass, I would get the G&L. Versatility on the L2000 is fantastic (as long as you bond with the control setup, some struggle to work with it). The main complaint you will see with the L2000 is weight, but the Squier is typically in the same ballpark.
Apples and oranges so here’s my take: PBass is classic. L2000 is like a Swiss Army Knife on steroids. Pbass will give you that pbass tone which can be awesome if that’s the tone you’re looking for. L2000 can approximate everything (p bass, j bass, stingray) BUT it all has this unique color and I will warn you ahead of time that you will either love it or hate it. Those MFD pickups in the G&L are super powerful… they are the most articulate pickups I have ever played but they are their own thing. They’ve definitely got this late 60s/early 70s muscle car vibe to them - which can be awesome if that’s what you’re looking for. Me personally I have grown to love it but that’s just me. The pbass is super easy - plug in and play with 2 knobs. When I got my L2000 I literally had to draw out a schematic diagram of all the knobs and switches just to wrap my head around all the parameters you can adjust. With the pbass it’s kind of like “what you see is what you get” and you know for a fact it’s going to give you that 1 thing, but that 1 thing only. With the L2000 I think Leo was trying to take the best of parts of the big 3 basses, put them all into 1 instrument, and then update the entire electronics package. From one perspective the L2000 is everything under 1 roof and from another perspective it’s a jack of all trades but master of none.
I remember seeing a Scotts Bass Lessons video about the L2000 a while back. Interesting and honest assessment.
Here are the questions only you can answer: What is your goal? What do you want to do with this instrument ? What is more important to you - reliability or versatility.
I hope this helps and best of luck
I remember seeing a Scotts Bass Lessons video about the L2000 a while back. Interesting and honest assessment.
Here are the questions only you can answer: What is your goal? What do you want to do with this instrument ? What is more important to you - reliability or versatility.
I hope this helps and best of luck
Agree, except I don’t think the L2000 is complicated. For me it’s intuitive despite the number of knobs and switches. And you’re not obliged to use all these options (I’m always using the same settings). Once you’ve found your prefered tone, you can stick to it - if you want.Apples and oranges so here’s my take: PBass is classic. L2000 is like a Swiss Army Knife on steroids. Pbass will give you that pbass tone which can be awesome if that’s the tone you’re looking for. L2000 can approximate everything (p bass, j bass, stingray) BUT it all has this unique color and I will warn you ahead of time that you will either love it or hate it. Those MFD pickups in the G&L are super powerful… they are the most articulate pickups I have ever played but they are their own thing. They’ve definitely got this late 60s/early 70s muscle car vibe to them - which can be awesome if that’s what you’re looking for. Me personally I have grown to love it but that’s just me. The pbass is super easy - plug in and play with 2 knobs. When I got my L2000 I literally had to draw out a schematic diagram of all the knobs and switches just to wrap my head around all the parameters you can adjust. With the pbass it’s kind of like “what you see is what you get” and you know for a fact it’s going to give you that 1 thing, but that 1 thing only. With the L2000 I think Leo was trying to take the best of parts of the big 3 basses, put them all into 1 instrument, and then update the entire electronics package. From one perspective the L2000 is everything under 1 roof and from another perspective it’s a jack of all trades but master of none.
I remember seeing a Scotts Bass Lessons video about the L2000 a while back. Interesting and honest assessment.
Here are the questions only you can answer: What is your goal? What do you want to do with this instrument ? What is more important to you - reliability or versatility.
I hope this helps and best of luck
But maybe I’m biased, it’s not better than a P, just different.
Also I suppose the value of a USA G&L is higher than a Squier (G&L’s equivalent of « Squier » are the « Tribute »)
OMG! G&L all the way. The Squire is not in the same league. I'll temper my response with the G&L being in good playing condition. No issues.Hi guys
Which one to get?
Pros/cons and value as well
Thanks in advance.
That JV is a rare bass. They were only made for a few years and to full 60's P-Bass specs. A step up from the SQ series, excellent workmanship from Japan and probably a lot lighter than the G&L. Play them both if you can. I would grab the JV in a heartbeat. That G&L with the matching headstock is sweet too.
The only solution here is to buy both basses, play them for a while, decide which you prefer, and then sell a kidney so you can keep both.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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G&L, no contest. There are a zillion really good P basses in the world. I don't fully understand why people romanticize these Squiers so much. Yes they are good, but you can very easily find a FENDER precision bass for good money
The one that feels best when you pick it up. You should know.
I’d get the G&L. Squier P-Basses are available everywhere.Hi guys
Which one to get?
Pros/cons and value as well
Thanks in advance.
Yep you’re right - not better just different. And yep once I got the concepts down THEN the L2000 became manageable for me. At that point it became fun and in one sitting I could cover stuff like Howlin’ Wolf AND Howard Jones with the same instrument. I know they’re not to everyone’s taste but I love it
I'll buck the trend here and say the Squire no doubt and I'm really not a P-Bass guy. Being a Jazz Bass fanboy, I lusted for an L2000 for a long time. I finally found the one that checked all the option boxes for me and dove in. It was a used 1990's model. Yuk. Hated the sound and controls. It had quality issues. I tried really hard but I could not mesh with that bass. I finally surrendered sold it at a loss. I also vowed to never do G&L again despite the el Toro being on my bucket list for years. If I want another souped up FSO I will buy or build another Warmoth to the desired specs. JMHO based on my personal experience.
Personally don’t get the hype of those P basses, it’s a good bass, but the money they are starting to go for is pretty ridiculous, they used to be a good deal because they were good basses for cheap, now it’s far from the case.
I’d go G&L, if you want to get real fancy give it a K Mod and turn the 2 way series/parallel switch into a 3 way series/single/parallel switch, so it gives you “jazz bass mode” but when on the neck pickup it gives a pretty convincing single coil p bass tone the passive treble and bass have spoiled me, I have a G&L Comanche and Doheny guitars that have them and it’s hard to go back to a regular tone knob.
I’ve had several L2000s over the years and they are exceptional basses, I would suggest treating it like its own thing rather than hunting for existing tones in it, because it has a really great tone that can stand on its own
I’d go G&L, if you want to get real fancy give it a K Mod and turn the 2 way series/parallel switch into a 3 way series/single/parallel switch, so it gives you “jazz bass mode” but when on the neck pickup it gives a pretty convincing single coil p bass tone the passive treble and bass have spoiled me, I have a G&L Comanche and Doheny guitars that have them and it’s hard to go back to a regular tone knob.
I’ve had several L2000s over the years and they are exceptional basses, I would suggest treating it like its own thing rather than hunting for existing tones in it, because it has a really great tone that can stand on its own
For me? The G&L all day long.
For you? Well, I can’t speak for you. They’re both quality instruments. They have very different characters.
For you? Well, I can’t speak for you. They’re both quality instruments. They have very different characters.
This is up to you as a player. I have no idea how the G&L feels but I am not a fan of p necks. But if someone was to offer me anything free or a very good deal I would take a Fallout Bass in a heart beat, though I am getting a Mustang right now I would love to have it in the tool box. I do agree G&L are well more all round if you want more tones, some more variety within EQ and so much more. At the end of the day I think any bass can work with anything but at the same time the G&L may help you to not buy anymore basses since it can fill in so many spots...
Two different beasts, where one of the beasts is more of a trustworthy pussycat, and the other is a well trained pitbull.
One more vote for the L2000... unless you're cat person.
One more vote for the L2000... unless you're cat person.
I have a really nice ash bodied L2000 with a rosewood fretboard, and I’m still yet to really bond with it.
When I hear other people play them, especially this guy:
Helps that’s he’s a monster, but my L2000 just sounds super honky to me. I can tame the mids a bit by rolling back the volume, but I can’t seem to find that smooth tone that he’s getting.
Those MIJ JV Pbasses are exceptional instruments. If you want a Pbass, you’d be hard pressed to find a better version.
It’s all in what you want.
I kinda agree that Pbasses are plentiful, and get a great set of tones, but the L2000 is more versatile.
Oh and that guy Rasmus in the YouTube link is playing a Tribute model.
When I hear other people play them, especially this guy:
Helps that’s he’s a monster, but my L2000 just sounds super honky to me. I can tame the mids a bit by rolling back the volume, but I can’t seem to find that smooth tone that he’s getting.
Those MIJ JV Pbasses are exceptional instruments. If you want a Pbass, you’d be hard pressed to find a better version.
It’s all in what you want.
I kinda agree that Pbasses are plentiful, and get a great set of tones, but the L2000 is more versatile.
Oh and that guy Rasmus in the YouTube link is playing a Tribute model.
Two different animals………….
For me, contemporary music with the G&L and all the rest with a precision.
For me, contemporary music with the G&L and all the rest with a precision.
