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NBD! First G&L!

Lazarus.Bird

Lazarus.Bird

Mr. Personality
Aug 16, 2010
10,577
1,367
Pittsburgh
www.facebook.com
#1
NBD! This is my first G&L. I'll steal the picture from the TB classified thread as the pics I took are kind of grainy...

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This is the first time I've even played a G&L and it lived up to the hype! This thing plays super smooth and is gorgeous looking. I won't get a chance to play it through my big rig until tomorrow, but it sounds pretty slick through my BDDI into my practice amp.

The bass really needed a setup done to it when I got it. I just recently started doing my own setups as opposed to taking it to a pro and I feel I've done a pretty good job on my other basses. I play kind of heavy handed, but even when making a conscious effort to play lightly, I'm getting some unwanted sounds from this bass. When I play a note, the string sometimes slaps off a fret further down the neck which is fine, however it makes a noise similar to touching the pole pieces with the string and the strings are definitely not making contact with the pickup.

The neck curve is set to about the same as my ATK and Roadstar II and I certainly don't get that noise with those. It isn't string clank, it's more of a clipping pop. This was pretty noticeable through my little Fender Rumble 15. I doubt I'll be able to hear it with my SVT, but I'd like to make it go away. The strings are flats and have yellow silk windings on them, so I'm guessing they may be Rotosound 88s? Seems they are all low end thump and no mids much unlike the Chromes I use. Roto's website describes them as "Super smooth with ultra low tension transforms any electric bass into a jazzy upright sound. Great on a fretless bass. Also works well with any kind of jazz, fusion, dub and reggae styles." and I am playing loud doomy stoner rock. I love the way these feel but should I switch to Chromes?

Anyways, thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me. Can't wait to hear how this bass sounds through this :bassist:

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#3
Can't see your picture here at work, so I don't know what bass you've got. If it's an older 3-bolt neck, then maybe your micro-tilt is engaged. Backing that off would reduce your neck angle an affect overall action. I have 3 older G&Ls (got my first < 2 years ago) and think they're great. Enjoy!
 
#4
If your Fender amp doesn't have an active input or an input gain cut of some sort, the MFDs will prolly clip the input gain section of your amp since they have such high output.

Edit: I just reread your post and that doesn't sound like it's the same problem. Sorry :D .
 
#5
spufman said:
Can't see your picture here at work, so I don't know what bass you've got. If it's an older 3-bolt neck, then maybe your micro-tilt is engaged. Backing that off would reduce your neck angle an affect overall action. I have 3 older G&Ls (got my first < 2 years ago) and think they're great. Enjoy!
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It's a 3-bolt SB-2. The S/N dating on G&Ls site puts it as a '91. Could you elaborate a bit more on the micro-tilt? Not quite sure what you're talking about.
 
#6
Congrats! I've been through a few G&Ls myself and loved them all.

If you're getting buzzing from the higher frets when you play then you either need to reduce the relief in the neck (less bow) or raise the saddles. The type of strings you use can have a big impact on this and what works best varies from instrument to instrument.

junkfoodisgood said:
If your Fender amp doesn't have an active input or an input gain cut of some sort, the MFDs will prolly clip the input gain section of your amp since they have such high output.
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You know that there are volume controls on the bass, right? ;) Actually, the MFDs tend to mellow out a bit if you roll them back to about 80%. I like it, but it depends on the kind of sound you're looking for.
 
#7
It's not normal fret buzz. The neck curve and action is set quite well right now. Like I said, it sounds like the strings are making contact with the pickup pole pieces (they aren't). It's hard to explain, but the best description I can give is it sounds like the attack is clipping the amp. I'm probably missing something obvious but I don't know how to fix this. I could try to record what I'm talking about tonight.
 
#9
Lazarus.Bird said:
It's not normal fret buzz. The neck curve and action is set quite well right now. Like I said, it sounds like the strings are making contact with the pickup pole pieces (they aren't). It's hard to explain, but the best description I can give is it sounds like the attack is clipping the amp. I'm probably missing something obvious but I don't know how to fix this. I could try to record what I'm talking about tonight.
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Ah, I see. You could try turning down or lowering the pickups or pole pieces. Since the SVT has an adjustable gain I agree that you're unlikely to have the same problem there.
 
#12
Welcome to the asylum!

G&L makes a fantastic bass. I've owned two of them. An L-2500 Tribute that I loved so much I bought a US version.

I still smile with I play my G&L because it sounds so big and full. Those MFD pickups are magic.
 
#13
I have a '91 SB-2 as well, love it. That P is super-hot, it's the loudest of all my basses, active or passive. Turn down its volume! Micro-tilt is the adjustment at the neck pocket to change the neck angle - you get at the adjuster through the little hole at the pointy part of the neck plate. If you can slip a thin piece of paper under the heel at all, then the micro-tilt is engaged. Search out the G&L setup manual online for better detail, but you basically loosen the screw near the adjuster a little, and loosen the other two screws a little less. Then using the appropriate allen wrench, turn the m-t adjuster a very small amount (a little goes a long way). You might hear it clunk. Clockwise increases angle. Then kinda shift the neck around to get it settled and slowly tighten the screws in the reverse order. Don't crank the cr@p out of them, but of course make sure they're tight. Of my 3 G&Ls, to get my preferred action I need a little micro-tilt in 2 of them (one being my '91 SB-2). Not much, though.
 
#14
I was looking closely at the pickups and I do not believe the strings were touching. In fact the action is high enough and the pickups low enough that I really have to press down on the string to make contact. With the J volume zeroed and the P volume at ~40% I was still getting the sound. My active ATK definitely doesn't do this. Maybe it's just the MFD and I'm not used to how it works and I need to roll my volume off even more.

I guess the real test will be to see how the SVT reacts to it, as the combo amp you get with a Squire Affinity starter pack is certainly not the best amp to bench test with. I just thought it was odd no other bass I've owned has done this. The only thing I can think of is when I had an Ibanez Rick copy and the strings were hitting the magnets on the neck pickup, but as I said it didn't look like the strings were making contact on the G&L.
 
#15
When I play a note, the string sometimes slaps off a fret further down the neck which is fine, however it makes a noise similar to touching the pole pieces with the string and the strings are definitely not making contact with the pickup.
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I know the sound you're talking about, have encountered it on a few basses, especially when the action is set very low.

The string is making contact with an upper fret when you dig in, makes a little "clack" noise? The MFD is super strong, it will hear the clack noise and add it to the signal.

You could try lowering the pickup to reduce the clack effect, or raise the action and maybe eliminate it altogether. Beyond that, maybe some fret leveling? Dunno, good luck.

Edit: I see in your last post (I type slow), that you've already tried the above suggestions to no avail.
 
#16
I appreciate the input. I think my action is fine but I will lower the pickups. I didn't think about the fact that the MFDs are so strong that they would amplify the "clacking" noise to where it is coming through the amp. I've set up some basses where there is plenty of clack but it is only acoustic, not coming through the amp. That makes a lot of sense.
 
#19
I replaced my Blueburst L-2500 Tribute with a new L-2500 USA....also in blueburst. Only difference is the natural wood binding.

It's fantastic!

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