If you know the answer, why are you asking the question? Do I smell a troll?
Well, on TB anything against popular thought is considered a troll.
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Well, on TB anything against popular thought is considered a troll.
The M2500 has the same pickups, but with a different preamp, I was just trying to help.
I honestly doubt there is a "global music industry" protocol on bass pickups. I would put pickup choice as highly subjective, and a matter of personal taste. But 99% (or more) of the folks listening couldn't tell you anything about the particulars of "which pickup is that".
Also, if you don't mind adding a custom pick guard, you can put in any aftermarket pickup or pickups you want. So yes, there are 100's.
I am curious as to what led you to by a L2500 to start with? I don't think I have ever bought a bass that I "hated the sound" of when I bought it.
I have an L-2000 Tribute. Same pickups. It's great playing live in a loud rock band. It cuts through distorted guitars easily. However, I hate the sound for recording, myself. (I love my P with the vintage Nordstrand in it for that.) Honestly, I would just sell the L-2500 if that sound isn't for you. Those pickups are meant to be in that bass. The electronics & preamp are odd in that bass, and personally, I'd think changing the pickups would take away from what that bass is. I wouldn't say this for very many basses, but sell that bass the way it is. G&L has a number of model that have traditional fender type alnico pickups in them, if you want to keep that G&L "solid" feeling and playability.
before this thread goes entirely into the crapper, OP if the pickup is anywhere close to the strings you should try lowering it a little, there's a lot of string pull.
does the bass have any series/parallel switching or coil-splitting?
does the bass have any series/parallel switching or coil-splitting?
Oh, if someone takes out the MFD pickups in a G&L bass, Leo's ghost will come haunt them and give them a mild reprimand.
30 posts in and still no indication of what you would like to hear from a pickup.
How about you start by telling us what you DON'T like about the stock pickups first.
How about you start by telling us what you DON'T like about the stock pickups first.
Rather than replace the pickups I'd try a thunderbird, Gibson EB, musicman, and star fire to see if you like those
I'm personally in love with my 83 L2k and I have anxiety about anything happening to the preamp and pickups and losing my tone
I'm personally in love with my 83 L2k and I have anxiety about anything happening to the preamp and pickups and losing my tone
Lots of horse hockey here. Maybe I'm adding more, but here goes...
G&L L2000/2500 is a great bass in many ways…except, IMO, for the pickups. I've had several of these basses, one of which I deeply loved for looks and playability, but the tone was not what I was looking for. Folks I trust get good results from using them solely in passive mode, but still not the answer for me.
My conclusion, also based on messing with some EBBM Stingrays (but subject to some exceptions, to follow), was that Alnico magnets are my jam, and that the ceramic magnets of the L-series were the problem. For me, those pickups present well in the way of volume, tonal range and cut, but ultimately fall short in that the pitch just doesn't center like I'd prefer, and the tone itself does not have a solid center. It ain't just me - a guitar tech acquaintance who has worked Al DiMeola, Slash and other luminaries put it well - "playing with ceramic magnets is like wearing rubber underpants." On the G&L I was constantly fiddling tone controls to get what I was looking for, and not quite getting there.
So…over the last year I've been told that G&L now makes an alnico replacement pickup for the L-series ceramic jobbers. This may well merit your investigation. I can tell you that if I'd had that option years ago, I'd not have sold an ebony-board cobalt-blue four-string that was a delightful instrument in many, many ways. Similar experiences abound in trying out a bunch of alnico and ceramic-based Stingrays (EBBM has done both, on different models or for different years). If EBBM did a 19mm 5-string SRHH, with the alnico pickups, that would probably be the bass I own rather than what I currently use.
Ah, yes, the ceramic exceptions …the J-pickup on certain vintage Yamaha P/J axes, and Sadowsky soapbars, sourced from Seymour Duncan. I've had great results from each, and still feel that way even though I've learned they are not alnico.
So there you have it. My experience may be neither useful nor transferrable, but you have it nonetheless. Call G&L and explore whether the alnico option indeed exists.
G&L L2000/2500 is a great bass in many ways…except, IMO, for the pickups. I've had several of these basses, one of which I deeply loved for looks and playability, but the tone was not what I was looking for. Folks I trust get good results from using them solely in passive mode, but still not the answer for me.
My conclusion, also based on messing with some EBBM Stingrays (but subject to some exceptions, to follow), was that Alnico magnets are my jam, and that the ceramic magnets of the L-series were the problem. For me, those pickups present well in the way of volume, tonal range and cut, but ultimately fall short in that the pitch just doesn't center like I'd prefer, and the tone itself does not have a solid center. It ain't just me - a guitar tech acquaintance who has worked Al DiMeola, Slash and other luminaries put it well - "playing with ceramic magnets is like wearing rubber underpants." On the G&L I was constantly fiddling tone controls to get what I was looking for, and not quite getting there.
So…over the last year I've been told that G&L now makes an alnico replacement pickup for the L-series ceramic jobbers. This may well merit your investigation. I can tell you that if I'd had that option years ago, I'd not have sold an ebony-board cobalt-blue four-string that was a delightful instrument in many, many ways. Similar experiences abound in trying out a bunch of alnico and ceramic-based Stingrays (EBBM has done both, on different models or for different years). If EBBM did a 19mm 5-string SRHH, with the alnico pickups, that would probably be the bass I own rather than what I currently use.
Ah, yes, the ceramic exceptions …the J-pickup on certain vintage Yamaha P/J axes, and Sadowsky soapbars, sourced from Seymour Duncan. I've had great results from each, and still feel that way even though I've learned they are not alnico.
So there you have it. My experience may be neither useful nor transferrable, but you have it nonetheless. Call G&L and explore whether the alnico option indeed exists.
Yes, they have all the bells & whistles coupled with the proprietary G&L pre...which we replaced with an EMG BTC (my 1505). Do you still have the MFD-equipped FrankenBass in the showroom?
The pups, even in passive mode, are waaaaay hotter than anything else I own. My polepieces are radiused (...it does make a difference in this case) and I lowered the pup height. Too close to the strings and they sound really harsh.
Riis
I am wondering if those G&L Z-pickups will go in ok. Maybe keep the rear humbucker and replace the middle pup with a Z
Pickup - MFD Z-Coil
So, rather than replace pick ups, change a guitar that I otherwise love playing and spend more cash in the mean time?
I'll change the pups
What is it about the sound that you don't like?
What basses have a sound that you would like to hear from your L2500?
What basses have a sound that you would like to hear from your L2500?
you mean "the Excalibass...Two Thousand!"? yes we do. (and the pause is part of the name, you have to say it that way).
+1 to those pickups being insanely powerful, i had at first wired each of them in series and the in-between split combo (one from each pair) also in series, and the damn thing was so hot it clipped the amps we were trying to use it to demo!
i re-did all the settings to parallel and got it back in the realm of clean-sounding again.
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Sounds like you love the feel and playability of a g&l so why not try the new jb 5? As long as you didn't over pay you can easily get the majority of funds together to switch up instruments. Once you put a router to the l2500 it is worthless on resale.
Just some food for thought from a proud l2500 owner who is thinking of going for a more vintage sound.
Just some food for thought from a proud l2500 owner who is thinking of going for a more vintage sound.
sorry, i missed the part about the neck satisfaction, but the only pickups that i can think of that i might change to are the nordstrand music man style pickups
also palm muting and roto 77s sound sweet on L series basses
Doug Parent
Supporting Member
The pickup location is perhaps half the voicing on that bass. Switching pickups to say something very smooth like a Bartolini for example, will make significant changes but there will still be some nasal quality to the instrument. It's the distance between both of those pickups in relation to the bridge.
This quote shall live forever! I love it.
IMO, the L-2000 series are versatile enough to rid yourself of any "nasal" tone. Flip the bass boost switch, for starters...
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