NBD G&L L-2500 (a bass for a very special occasion)

[TonyP-]

Hello Folks,
First off I just want to say, I'm still an Lull artist. This is just something very different and nothing like Lull produces, its also a Tribute (the import series as most know).

One of the guitarist that I work with Joe Feloni, is one of the latest G&L artists in their roster. The project that I work with Joe (Dig Baterre) has been asked about playing at "Live At Leo's" which is the lounge at G&L Guitars.

To pay proper honor, I will of course be playing something 'that was Leo's' and G&L. So after a giving it some thought and possibly going with a Kiloton I wanted something with a back pickup and very-very G&L. So they sent me a L-2500 tribute.

Bottom line...Its killer. Its plays fantastic, the sound is slightly aggressive and its sits excellent in the mix.

I have a couple of quirky requirements to gig a bass. For one the output has to be boosted since I have all my basses around the same output to make changing live from bass to the other with no issue. This bass came with the just the highs and lows cut just a touch is the same output as all my other Lulls with Nordstrand Big Singles in series using Bart Preamps.

I don't know the woods but I don't think this is cherry wood for a fretboard, I think its rosewood and I believe the body is ash. It looks like it and feels that way. I would call this bass about 9.5 lbs. I'm not sure but it feels about that weight.

It is a punchy as it gets and for a mid tier instrument its is fantastic. I recived it setup excellent right out of the box from Southern California to Boston.

Just for the record. They are not giving me this bass, it was mine to try ect...Well just know this I'm %100 buying this instrument. Its way to good not to. The tonal options are over the top and I have no idea why these instruments are not more popular.

If you are looking for something different, then go check these basses out.

 

[TonyP-]

 

[Tony G]

I have no idea why these instruments are not more popular.

Great bass, and I'm sure it plays and sounds killer. The blue burst was an excellent choice.

As for why they aren't more popular in my opinion, they aren't exactly exciting to look at. The shape of the body and headstock is kind of bland. They don't have the classic look of a fender, and they don't have an exotic look of a custom bass. They are very utilitarian, which can appeal to some people, surely. Now, I do dig some of the other G&L basses. I really like my natural ash tribute LB100, and I've seen some pretty cool Kilotons. But in general the aesthetic design of the L2000 and L2500 doesn't speak to me, no matter how good they sound or play. Again, these are just my opinions as to possibly why they are not more popular.

 

[TonyP-]

Great bass, and I'm sure it plays and sounds killer. The blue burst was an excellent choice.

As for why they aren't more popular in my opinion, they aren't exactly exciting to look at. The shape of the body and headstock is kind of bland. They don't have the classic look of a fender, and they don't have an exotic look of a custom bass. They are very utilitarian, which can appeal to some people, surely. Now, I do dig some of the other G&L basses. I really like my natural ash tribute LB100, and I've seen some pretty cool Kilotons. But in general the aesthetic design of the L2000 and L2500 doesn't speak to me, no matter how good they sound or play. Again, these are just my opinions as to possibly why they are not more popular.

I can totally see why someone sees that. They have that workhorse kind of vibe.

However the play-ability and girth with a touch of grind is on par with basses that cost 4 times as much. Its kind of scary.

 

[Tommyc]

I’ve got to chime in on this ongoing thing about appearances. It is a musical instrument, a tool. I don’t look at my leathercrafting tools for example, many of which are from the early 1800’s and say I can’t use this thing anymore, it’s just too ugly. Instead I marvel at the edge it can take and how despite its beaten appearance, it slices through stiff leather like cheese. It’s a tool. This guy Bobby Vega doesn’t disagree, I don’t think. It’s guys like him that made the relicing thing cool.

 

[Tony G]

View attachment 3567060 I’ve got to chime in on this ongoing thing about appearances. It is a musical instrument, a tool. I don’t look at my leathercrafting tools for example, many of which are from the early 1800’s and say I can’t use this thing anymore, it’s just too ugly. Instead I marvel at the edge it can take and how despite its beaten appearance, it slices through stiff leather like cheese. It’s a tool. This guy Bobby Vega doesn’t disagree, I don’t think. It’s guys like him that made the relicing nonsense cool.

Yes, every musical instrument is a tool, but to many it is more than that. They can be works of art. They can be an expression of ones self. It is not much different then the clothes you prefer to wear or the car you drive or the house you live in. These are all things that under the surface don't have any specific requirement to be aesthetically pleasing. But I like to wear clothes that I like the look of, I like to drive a car I think looks nice, and I like my house to be attractive and presentable. Do these things make me a shallow person like wanting a bass that plays well and sounds great, as well as having a look I prefer? I guess, yes, someone could see it that way.

I don't particularly care what my actual hand tools look like in the tool box in my garage, but I don't think I connect to them on the same level as a musical instrument.

 

[Tommyc]

Yes, every musical instrument is a tool, but to many it is more than that. They can be works of art. They can be an expression of ones self. It is not much different then the clothes you prefer to wear or the car you drive or the house you live in. These are all things that under the surface don't have any specific requirement to be aesthetically pleasing. But I like to wear clothes that I like the look of, I like to drive a car I think looks nice, and I like my house to be attractive and presentable. Do these things make me a shallow person like wanting a bass that plays well and sounds great, as well as having a look I prefer? I guess, yes, someone could see it that way.

I don't particularly care what my actual hand tools look like in the tool box in my garage, but I don't think I connect to them on the same level as a musical instrument.

That’s Paganini’s actual violin. A work of art to be sure, but not in a decorative sense as it would, for the most part, appear as any other violin would. But it is Il Cannone, the cannon, so named for what it can do, not what it looks like.

 

[Beersurgeon]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my L2500 tribby!!! She is such an amazing bass and I can get so many tones from her. I have the blue burst too!!!!!!!

 

[TonyP-]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my L2500 tribby!!! She is such an amazing bass and I can get so many tones from her. I have the blue burst too!!!!!!!

Awesome, what year is yours?
This color is not on the website so I’m guessing it’s older.
Cheers

 

[Jim C]

Beauty!
How's the weight?

 

[Michael Jewels]

I think G&L basses look just fine.

I have a G&L ASAT Special Tribute guitar, and this thing sounds great.

I've been thinking about getting a Tribute bass, a four stringer with that wide 1.75" neck for a while, and this thread is pushing me closer to it.

Mike

 

[Tony G]

View attachment 3567146
That’s Paganini’s actual violin. A work of art to be sure, but not in a decorative sense as it would, for the most part, appear as any other violin would. But it is Il Cannone, the cannon, so named for what it can do, not what it looks like.

I think I've officially overstepped in this thread about Tony P's wonderful new G&L. I have absolutely nothing against any, and I mean any instrument out there that anyone chooses to play for whatever reason. There are many reasons why a particular instrument would make someone very happy, and among them because of how it sounds, how it plays, or how it looks, and any combination of those reasons.

I wish Tony P the best with his new G&L, a fantastic bass which will be played by a fantastic player.

 

[TonyP-]

Beauty!
How's the weight?

Hey Pisan...Thank You
It’s about 9.5 lbs...I call that medium weight.

 

[Tony G]

Again, just to clarify that I'm not a G&L hater, actually quite the opposite, but was only stating my opinion to Tony P's question wondering why this model isn't more popular. I'm very happy with my Tribute LB100. Totally killer p bass at a ridiculous low price for its quality and tone.

 

[Beersurgeon]

Awesome, what year is yours?
This color is not on the website so I’m guessing it’s older.
Cheers

I got mine about 6 years ago. And she has been my primary bass since but I almost always have her on passive. We have one song that i slap and then i flip the switch to active with treble booster with the bridge pick up. LOVE MY L2500!

 

[TonyP-]

I got mine about 6 years ago. And she has been my primary bass since but I almost always have her on passive. We have one song that i slap and then i flip the switch to active with treble booster with the bridge pick up. LOVE MY L2500!

I’m digging the ‘plain old’parallel with just a touch of bass and treble cut.

I like in series and passive mode for slightly warmer tone.

Forget neededing a P5 the neck pickup gets its own slightly tighter version of one. I like that in parallel...

I also see (but not tried yet) that when strings get old, using the treble boost and adjusting the treble cut to taste to cop that ‘fresh string vibe’ again

I play Lulls that cost multi $K which is part of me and with being said, I can still say I love this bass.

 

[TonyP-]

I'm very happy with my Tribute LB100. Totally killer p bass at a ridiculous low price for its quality and tone.

I played one of them as well at that factory in May and was impressed, along with the Kiloton.

 

[skyline_01]

Congrats, bro! I have the same bass, blue finish and all, and it's my workhorse. I still can't believe all the tones its capable of and it's completely effortless to play. And I got mine locally for all of $500 used from Sam Ash.

I play in series and passive about 80% of the time, and using the pickup selector alone is generally enough to get a little variation in the material that I play. And yes, you CAN cop a pretty convincing P-Bass tone with the neck pickup soloed.

 

[skyline_01]

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my L2500 tribby!!! She is such an amazing bass and I can get so many tones from her. I have the blue burst too!!!!!!!

Same here, blue burst for the win! Love it!

 

[BassWaffle]

I think y'all are overthinking the fact that people just like stuff that looks cool