I just saved up enough money to buy a new bass, and after a lot of research I have narrowed it down to two basses, a Fender MIM P-Bass or a G&L Tribute L-2000. Now I just can't decide between these two basses. Any recomendations???
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MIM P-Bass or G&L Tribute L-2000?
- Thread starter blues_bassist
- Start date
Play both a P MIwhatever and an L-2000 USA or not, and decide. G&L L series is all about the MFD pickups. If you love them nothing else will suffice, and if you hate them there is no replacement you can drop in.
Tributes are made better than MIM P's. You don't need to upgrade the pickups, or bridge like many do on Fenders.
Jim
Tributes are made better than MIM P's. You don't need to upgrade the pickups, or bridge like many do on Fenders.
Jim
Having played both, I love the G&L tribute and dislike the MIM Fender. I've heard quality control is up and down for the MIM Fender, but the one I play (the church's) is terrible. Fret buzz, sharp frets, stuck bridge components (as in I gave up even with tools), huge dead spot on the g-string, thin neck that needs to have the truss rod set-up (and this is only a few years old). The G&L Tribute I bought needs to have special length of strings to go through the body, or else you risk the bridge coming up, but the sounds you can get with the electronics are great and it's built like a rock. That's been my experience, and I'm just one of many bassists.
I recommend buying used, first of all, and playing both and only buying a MIM Fender you have actually held in your hands and played.
I recommend buying used, first of all, and playing both and only buying a MIM Fender you have actually held in your hands and played.
Tribute ftw
These basses are completely different beasts tone-wise. That's definately something to take into consideration.
Also, as far as I know the bridge issue on G&Ls is limited to the L 2500s. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...I'm sure you will
These basses are completely different beasts tone-wise. That's definately something to take into consideration.
Also, as far as I know the bridge issue on G&Ls is limited to the L 2500s. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...I'm sure you will
Tribute. This one.
http://tinyurl.com/lj3d3f
Evidently, it's a pre-price increase example. It's been on the Bay for months. It's also a nicer than average looking piece of swamp ash.
After having been away from the bass for many years, I came to TB and asked for opinions about all of the 'new to me' brands I was interested in. They all had their supporters, but none were more staunch than the Tribute guys.
They are true believers. There must be a reason.
http://tinyurl.com/lj3d3f
Evidently, it's a pre-price increase example. It's been on the Bay for months. It's also a nicer than average looking piece of swamp ash.
After having been away from the bass for many years, I came to TB and asked for opinions about all of the 'new to me' brands I was interested in. They all had their supporters, but none were more staunch than the Tribute guys.
They are true believers. There must be a reason.
Get the G&L Tribute.
I actually regret of selling my Tribute L2500. I sold it to raise fund for my friends wedding, so i can buy new cloths etc ....
I actually regret of selling my Tribute L2500. I sold it to raise fund for my friends wedding, so i can buy new cloths etc ....
I think the MIM Fenders are very good these days, and if you're thinking about the Classic '50s Precision it would be a tough choice. But unless you're totally set on having classic Fender P-bass tone, I'd recommend the G&L against an MIM Standard. It will sound quite different, but on the neck pickup wired in series, you can approach P-bass territory.
Or, if you want G&L quality and MFD goodness in split-coil P-bass form, get a Tribute SB-2. You'll get a thinner neck than on the L-2000, which you might find easier to play, and the hottest, most badass split-coil pickup imaginable.
Or, if you want G&L quality and MFD goodness in split-coil P-bass form, get a Tribute SB-2. You'll get a thinner neck than on the L-2000, which you might find easier to play, and the hottest, most badass split-coil pickup imaginable.
I've had both an L2000 and L2500 Tribute, both fine instruments. I think you can get more different tones from them than the P, and that can be useful. I no longer have a Trib, I found the large array of switches and combinations cumbersome. My only active bass now is an Ibanez ATK700.
One more thing. If you are going to buy a Tribute on line inquire about the weight if that is an issue for you, my ash L2000 was nearly 11 pounds.
One more thing. If you are going to buy a Tribute on line inquire about the weight if that is an issue for you, my ash L2000 was nearly 11 pounds.
I have had both (the trib on my Avatar) and I regret letting it go (daughter's college tuition required some sacrifices). That said, the MIM Ps are--in my expereicne--quite fine instruments. Maybe I've been unlucky, but I thunk if you found one here on the forum, as I did, you will do well. The Tribute has a very high output and may be a bit of a beast for smaller venues and it tends to be heavy. I had to gently file the fret edges on mine, but the maple board was beautiful. I say get the trib and pick up a nicely modded used MIM P here on the forum.
I'll go against the current here. I traded off my Tribute L2K after I got a Classic '50s Precision. It had so much more punch and presence that the band wouldn't let me play any thing else. The Tribute was great for "versatility" (I could get a faux-StingRay sound, a faux Jazz sound, a faux P sound) but nothing was convincing. The Precision had a lot more sass and personality.
As far as quality, the L2K was fine: nice natural ash body with a maple fingerboard, satin finish on the back of the neck, excellent feel to the neck, and it was almost exactly what I wanted.
But the Fender, with its poly high-gloss neck, funky fiesta red color and high-crown fingerboard killed the Tribute on tone. It was as playable as the Tribute, once I got used to it (playing the bass runs on Black Magic Woman was a LOT easier on the Tribute, at first).
The bottom line? The Tribute is long gone, unlamented: the P is my main bass now. My problem with the Precision is that a friend of mine borrowed it for a gig and hasn't brought it back! Guess there's another Fender purchase in his future.
As far as quality, the L2K was fine: nice natural ash body with a maple fingerboard, satin finish on the back of the neck, excellent feel to the neck, and it was almost exactly what I wanted.
But the Fender, with its poly high-gloss neck, funky fiesta red color and high-crown fingerboard killed the Tribute on tone. It was as playable as the Tribute, once I got used to it (playing the bass runs on Black Magic Woman was a LOT easier on the Tribute, at first).
The bottom line? The Tribute is long gone, unlamented: the P is my main bass now. My problem with the Precision is that a friend of mine borrowed it for a gig and hasn't brought it back! Guess there's another Fender purchase in his future.
I've looked at a lot of Tributes lately, new and used. They are great except for one thing:
The quality of the rosewood they use for the fingerboards is poor IMO. It's just muddy low grade stuff with indistinct or divergent grain patterns. it is closer to pallet wood than tonewood.
I've seen this on L-2000's, JB-2's and SB-2's. So it's no random accident.
With that in mind, I would either get a Tribute with a maple board or scrutinize the rosewood closely if it's rosewood.
Other than that, they are doing a great job with the Tribs, especially the newer ones. And I see that there's decent wood selection happening with the ash bodies, so c'mon, G&L.
There's no excuse for using lousy fingerboard wood, especially after a price increase.
People's Exhibit A: the surprisingly good fingerboard (and neck) woods to be found on the Squier CV basses. Those are 350.00 basses, and the wood selection on them just kills the Tribs.
That also means that IMO, a CV 60's P bass is better than a MIM P bass, for what that's worth.
The quality of the rosewood they use for the fingerboards is poor IMO. It's just muddy low grade stuff with indistinct or divergent grain patterns. it is closer to pallet wood than tonewood.
I've seen this on L-2000's, JB-2's and SB-2's. So it's no random accident.
With that in mind, I would either get a Tribute with a maple board or scrutinize the rosewood closely if it's rosewood.
Other than that, they are doing a great job with the Tribs, especially the newer ones. And I see that there's decent wood selection happening with the ash bodies, so c'mon, G&L.
There's no excuse for using lousy fingerboard wood, especially after a price increase.
People's Exhibit A: the surprisingly good fingerboard (and neck) woods to be found on the Squier CV basses. Those are 350.00 basses, and the wood selection on them just kills the Tribs.
That also means that IMO, a CV 60's P bass is better than a MIM P bass, for what that's worth.
Hi,
Do yourself a favor and try both.
Yes the G&L has more tone, has an EQ etc. but it simply ain't a P-bass. If you go to a store play the P and go whoah, that's the tone I have in my head, the G&L's never going to give you that.
If you play them both side by side you'll immediatly figure out wich one you like best.
Also don't forget to play as much L-2000 and as much P-basses as you can in the stores because every instrument sounds different, buy the one the speaks to you.
Do yourself a favor and try both.
Yes the G&L has more tone, has an EQ etc. but it simply ain't a P-bass. If you go to a store play the P and go whoah, that's the tone I have in my head, the G&L's never going to give you that.
If you play them both side by side you'll immediatly figure out wich one you like best.
Also don't forget to play as much L-2000 and as much P-basses as you can in the stores because every instrument sounds different, buy the one the speaks to you.
