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MM Stingray vs. G&L L-2000

J

joeschitterefsk

Supporting Member
Oct 10, 2010
47
5
#1
Needed: Opinions from owners of 1 or both of these basses.

I'm in the market for a new piece and have narrowed it down to these 2 however I haven't been able to put my hands on both of these for a side by side.

What is the general feeling out there?

Also, which variant of the MM or G&L is better? Dual Humbucker, HS, single H or what?

Very confused by the options.
 
#2
Having owned both, my opinion on what works for me is the L-2000. I like the options available on board for tone shaping, it's passive/active (I run it passive 90% of the time) and the sound of the Leo designed MFD pickups is the sound I hear in my head when I think "bass". ymmv.
 
#3
I haven't owned the four string version of either, but I have a G&L 2500 currently and used to have a Stingray 5.

I feel like the G&L will do the Stingray sound as well as a ton of other things. The Stingray, while by no means a one trick pony, is definitely more specialized sonically.

I prefer the Stingray neck considerably though.

The only real answer is for you to somehow try them. They are both wonderful instruments and you will be doing well no matter which you get.
 
#4
I have a StingRay 4 and an L2500 (5-string version of L2000)

I certainly love the feel of the Stingray, but I kind of like the tone of the G&L better. It is definitely more versatile since my Stingray has one pickup and no series/parallel switching. The Stingray sounds like a Stingray, period. The G&L can sound like a Jazz bass, a P-bass and something closer to a Sterling, but not so much a Stingray. If I were to get another SR, it would definitely be an HH model.

You have to really love the SR tone, many will opt for the G&L because it will sound like the more popular and traditional Fender instruments.
 
#6
All great stuff, thanks guys!

One follow up question: I may go "built to order" if I do the G&L. In your opinion's; do you lose/gain anything by choosing a neck with a smaller radius? I was considering one of the "Vintage Narrow "C"" necks in my build with G&L
 
#7
Both are excellent. The MM is probably the classic must have bass between the two, very good for funk, rock, metal.

However the L2000 is a bit more versatile, and played through an SVT with a pick is probably one of the best punk rock/rock sounds available.

Zander
 
#8
I never got along with SR's sonically (but I love how they sound when other cats play them)..... where the L2K has the ability to be in the mix where you need it..... you can have "sit", "punch" or "cut" in the mix. Being able to go passive, active or active with treble boost, along with the cut only electronics in active really lends itself to being one of the most versatile basses available. Excellent basses. About the only drawback, for me, is that it sounds horrible with stainless rounds... of any brand or gauge. I'm stuck only being able to run nickel rounds on it.
 
#9
joeschitterefsk said:
All great stuff, thanks guys!

One follow up question: I may go "built to order" if I do the G&L. In your opinion's; do you lose/gain anything by choosing a neck with a smaller radius? I was considering one of the "Vintage Narrow "C"" necks in my build with G&L
Click to expand...

Of course it's personal choice but I went with a number 8 neck on mine (1 1/2", 12 inch radius). it's feels just slightly thicker front to back than the Fender jazz and I find I like it a bit more for long playing sessions (less hand fatigue). It's the perfect neck size for me. It's also the standard neck on both the ASAT, the JB2, and the SB2 if you get a chance to play one out there somewhere.
 
#10
I personally have never felt that an L2000 can cop Stingray tones. Soloing that bridge PUP gives you a beefier, aggressive J tone, IMO, not a 'Ray tone.

I agree that a G&L L2000 is more versatile than a standard 'Ray, but I'd be curious to see how the 2 PUP 'Ray would compare. (I own a Bongo, so that probably gives me some idea). The one thing I wish the L2000 had was the ability to adjust volume of each pickup to blend PUPs rather than just a switch that turns them on/off.
 
#11
I had a G&L L2500 for 2 years and I loved it, I switched to a stingray 5 HH due to my producer wanting me to for our recordings.
I will say that the G&L can get close to a stingray, but not close enough, it gets the top end sizzle, but the low end is lacking, if you are using only the bridge pickup.

The stingray I have gets that Ray tone, and gets a pretty Good P-bass tone.

Having owned both now I will say this, in my opinion the G&L sounded fuller, but has the tendancy to over drive everything you plug it into so you have to go easy on the volume knob.

I got the G&L L2500 sounding close to a stingray by lowering both pickups all the way down, raising the pole pieces of the inner coils of both picups, lowering the pole pieces of the outer coils of both pickups, and always leaving it in parellel mode with both pickups on in active mode.

if i did not have to have a stingray, and had to choose i would choose the G&L, it is a tone monster, and has a big set of balls.
 
#14
Wow a lot of love for the G&L's. I had a '91 Ray and really wanted to love it, but didn't. Everything people say about the Rays is true (craftsmanship, build quality, fit and finish) and the are top notch basses for sure, but you gotta love that Stingray sound. Personally I don't want a bass I need to "tame" or take out the inherant sound of the bass. I just couldn't get past the zing of the Ray.
I recently got a great deal on a Tribute L-2500 and am really falling in love with it. So many usable tones and different configurations. Admittedly I mostly use it in passive mode, but it has great active tones as well. It is fat and punchy without being zingy IMO, YMMV. I guess that is what people mean when they say it can't do the Ray tone.
I would suggest checking out the Tributes. I hate saying that because I support American made products, but it is an amazing value for the $. The build quality of the Tribute is right up there with the Ray and my 2 USA Fenders. I just can't imagine a USA G&L being THAT much better to justify the extra $.
 
#19
I have both, in 4 and 5. I love the Stingrays but somehow I always take my G&L L-2500 (Tribute) to the gigs now. I do play them all at rehearsals, and a few others as well.

The tonal variations are greater on the Rays (in my opinion) but I don't seem to need them, the G&Ls do what I need and more. They are a very hot output though, as someone pointed out, so make sure you have adequate pad facilities or you will overdrive your input stage if you get a bit volume happy on the bass.

Rays are active tone controls, cut and boost.

G&L are passive (cut only) but don't let that put you off, those MFD pickups are just so powerful, they generally need a bit of cut to tame the highs and lows. They can be run passive - still pretty hot, active - even hotter, and active with treble boost for slapping etc.

Both very nice guitars. Play them both if you can but you won't go wrong with either of them, 4s or 5s.

(I actually prefer bananas) :)
 

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