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NEW G&L: MJ-5 Available for order !!

#22
I know that orders have been placed, but have not caught sign of any delivered or reviewed.

Rumor has it 'we' may get a substantial bonus this year, but no salary increase just because of the advanced calculus of how the incomprehensible system formulae work, but I am considering what better way to encourage G&L to make more 5 string versions than to order an MJ5 if the bonus is verified.
 
#23
Tunaman said:
Awesome, please post a review here! The MIA J Deluxes were noisy & very dull sounding IME. I grabbed a MIA J V standard on CL someone practically gave away but I could always sell it for a MJ-5 down the road
Click to expand...

I think the stacked hum canceling coils in the SCN and N3 designs tend to sway away from a classic J tone and can end up sounding dull, depending on which strings you leave on there as well. Eveytime I drop a set of Nordstrand NJ5's in there the bass grows a serious set of gonads.
 
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#26
something to mention, as seen on the MJ-5, the bridge does not have the string-thru-body feature like on all the 5'ers. When I asked Greg (Rocket Music) to ask G&L about that, here's what they said

“All 4 string basses are string through bridge. All 5 strings are going through a running change to string through bridge from string through body. Currently our customers may get either one depending on when their instrument was manufactured. Moving forward all basses will have string through bridge.” Spencer James Brown/Production Manager
 
#28
I would rather have a fine fender American deluxe jazz V that performs as described. But the one I just purchased last week has terrible buzzing electronics and a sitar like annomoly on the b string.
Click to expand...
As an owner of an MJ-5, specifically the one posted by Greg from Rocket Music, I can confirm that it also has noisy electronics. Unfortunately, this is consistent with every other US G&L I've owned (an SB-2 and two JB's).
 
#30
so we learn two things
G&L's 'single coil' like pickups are noisy in the experience of JSmith with the new MJ5 and previous JBs
my MFDs on M2500 and L2500 are dead quiet except the L2500 in serial mode has a tiny bit of a buzz
I play in a room with a substantial electrical interference field that gets picked up if electronics are vulnerable in design or shielding.
So my desire for an MJ5 just decreased as buzz/hum noise bothers my delicate sensibilities.

and G&L is moving to top side thru bridge string going forward with all 5'ers
I converted the M2500 to top side and put nuts and bolts through the through holes because well it looked like it would be more substantial with only two screws holding the bridge down and I'm glad the option is there. I since learned the blade design and have more faith in that design, but still glad I did that.

I took more time to find through body strings that worked with the L2500
If anything top side stringing will work with greater variety of strings.
Still wonder why -- all Tributes are only top side is that true?
 
#31
not trying to speak for JSmith, but I don't think he meant the pickups themselves were noisy, but the electronics were due to the lack of shielding. the MJ-5 pickups are supposed to be a split-coil humcancelling design, so a lack of shielding is the only reason why I think it would have any noise.
 
#33
wrench45us said:
so we learn two things
G&L's 'single coil' like pickups are noisy in the experience of JSmith with the new MJ5 and previous JBs
Click to expand...

It's only noisy when my fingers are not in contact with the strings, so shielding the cavity should fix it. It's a bit frustrating that I should have to do any work to a new instrument, but I knew it was a strong possibility since my JB's had the same problem. EMG JVX and JAX pickups saved those basses from Craigslist. They're dead silent and sound much better than the stock pickups. I haven't decided if I'll just shield the MJ-5 or replace everything with EMG pickups and a BQS preamp.

Aside from the electronics, the instrument plays and feels great.
 
#34
So I just ordered an MJ-5 with the following options:

Metal Flake Margarita green, Matching headstock, Maple board, satin finish, Q. sawn neck)

After reading this I am concerned about getting a noisy bass. I am going to contact the music store that is ordering it and express my concerns. I want them to take this up with G&L. Maybe I can request additional shielding?
 
#35
seansbrew said:
So I just ordered an MJ-5 with the following options:

Metal Flake Margarita green, Matching headstock, Maple board, satin finish, Q. sawn neck)

After reading this I am concerned about getting a noisy bass. I am going to contact the music store that is ordering it and express my concerns. I want them to take this up with G&L. Maybe I can request additional shielding?
Click to expand...

Just try it first. No manufacturer is going to put extra shielding in a bass based on fears concerns etc. If it needs more shielding you can have it done locally. Or return it.
 
#37
I'm surprised to hear that the MJ5 is noisy. Just for reference, my MJ4 is super quiet, even if I dime the treble and mid knobs, and solo either pickup. And that's with a compressor on, which will raise the noise floor.

Also, I have to say that G&L did a good job with the pickups. I usually don't care for dual-coil jazz pickups, but G&L managed to capture most of the sparkly definition that I like about single coils.

I suppose it's possible that the MJ5 is somehow electronically different than the MJ4, but that would seem unexpected.
 
#39
My MJ 5 was ordered Monday. Since I already have a mettalic margeritta colored bass I changed the color to mettalic tangerine w/matching head stock. I've always wanted a bass in that color. Now i have to wait........its 7:27 pm.........its 7:28 pm.........
 

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