NBD - G&L M2000

[jmlee]

The M-2000s are useful basses. They’re pretty much like any of a number of active basses on the market: Volume, boost or cut B/M/T, and pan, while being full time active. So nothing special from the perspective of the larger bass playing realm. Just a typical “blank slate” active bass that you can dial in a lot of tones on....The M has little inherent character of its own, but because of this “flat” character combined with its more capable controls, it can easily be made to sound like practically anything, just using the onboard knobs.

Wow! That's not been my experience at all. My M-style basses have both had that distinctive MFD tone to them, not to my ears a blank slate. As evidence for the defence, let me repost Ed Friedland's great mashup of the tones from the L2500 and M2500 basses. It seems to me that they share a great deal in common, despite the tweaking of the M's MFDs to work better with the preamp circuit.

 

[One Way]

@jmlee I completely agree

 

[GroovyBaby]

Wow! That's not been my experience at all. My M-style basses have both had that distinctive MFD tone to them, not to my ears a blank slate. As evidence for the defence, let me repost Ed Friedland's great mashup of the tones from the L2500 and M2500 basses. It seems to me that they share a great deal in common, despite the tweaking of the M's MFDs to work better with the preamp circuit.

I would agree. The M still sounds like an MFD, just a more tame version of them than comes in the L. It's not without character and definitely has it's own sonic signature.

 

[Wyrdlow]

A belated Happy New Bass Day! What a beauty. A wise decision; I've regretted not buying way more than buying, that's for sure! Enjoy!

 

[groove pump]

The M series is active only and the pickups are still powerful but more neutral sounding. The L is active and passive but the active system is very different from what most people are used to. The L series pickups are wound even hotter than the M and have a very pronounced mid range that I liked, but found hard to dial down. I like both but find th M to be a more neutral sounding platform.

I had both a Tribute and a U.S. M-2000 in the house through the past year or so. After I fell for the Tribute and took it home, I went nuts and tracked down a nice (hopefully lighter) U.S. model with an ebony fingerboard, etc. in the used inventory at GC. Unfortunately I couldn't really live with either one because after a little while I found that they didn't quite fit me right - returned the U.S. bass and sold the too hefty Tribute to my guitar pal.

When I played either one of those M's, I found that I never needed to boost anything at the on-board preamp. I usually found my best sounds with all three controls at their center detents or "cut" to some degree, but this wasn't any sort of drawback for me. I could run from a mellow, old-school sort of thump right into more modern sounds with throaty mids, snappy highs, and always plenty of low end at the ready. Love these basses!!

I had a U.S. L-2000 a loooong time ago, but now I'm thinking of trying another to see what impressions I get with the different settings, preamp personality, etc. I remember not liking that I had to switch between pickups on the L2K instead of having a blend control that we get with the might M.