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new setup on G&L 2500 (disappointed) help!

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by jeffreyjrj, Jul 18, 2013.

  1. Jul 18, 2013 #1
    jeffreyjrj

    jeffreyjrj

    Jan 24, 2012
    so about 6 months ago i bought a used G&L l2500 from GC and i made the biggest mistake of my life by returning it cause it was a little overpriced for the condition it was in. anyways, i loved the g&L so much that i bought myself a new one but the playability has not been anywhere near the used one i got from Guitar center.

    i brought my new g&l in for a setup since it was brand new and i am displeased with the results. when i got it back the action was extremely high for my taste. when i tried lowering the action all i got was fret buzz and not the good kind. the tone was also fairly different which is what is really bothering me. i tried using the same strings but to no avail did it compare to the old one.

    the one i bought from guitar center had extremely low action and when played aggresively had this amazing snappy growl that i can't explain.

    anyways i don't know what to do now. im at the point where i like playing my schecter stilletto studio 5 more than my g&l. the bass sounds okay in my amp for when im playing with my friends, but it just isn't the same when im recording for fun. im starting to wonder if i should just sell it to GC and try some other basses.

    here is a clip with my old g&L i got from gc and the tone and playability i cant achieve anymore!

    the snappy growl i was talking about is played at the 06-08 and 18-21 seconds mark and i can't do it on my new bass cause im assuming the action is too high. i could do it on every string and it sounded amazing!

    1) why was the old g&l able to achieve such a low action, but my new one can't.

    2) why can't i achieve that tone i got in the video of my old g&L but i cant get it with my new g&l. (btw i used the same ampex svx preset and strings for both basses)

    3) is it possible that a lighter string tension will enable me to get that snappy growl notes i was playing at those two points in the video i was talking about earlier?
     
  2. Jul 26, 2013 #2
    tbz

    tbz

    Jun 28, 2013
    California
    TBH, take it to a different tech to get it setup. Talk to the guy beforehand and tell him that the action wasn't low enough for your tastes. Guitars off the rack from GC almost never have a proper setup, (which is honestly mind boggling....all my guitars at home play better than the new ones there because mine are all setup properly...doesn't really motivate me to buy stuff I try there) If I had to guess, the used one you bought was setup properly before it was sold back to GC, so your used one had a proper setup, but the new one does not.

    I'm not an expert but from what I've been told by my tech, action is set primarily by neck curve (relief) and string height. Your Truss Rod controls your relief, your saddles and nut control height. There's a few other factors (neck shims, et al) but that's the basics.

    Sounds like the guy who set you up didn't know how to adjust your neck properly to lower the action without buzz. When you tried to just drop the strings, with the relief he set, it caused buzz.

    So, yeah, take it to a better tech. G&Ls are rarely, if ever, true lemons.
     
  3. Jul 27, 2013 #3
    soflbass

    soflbass

    Mar 2, 2013
    S Florida
    Sounds like you need a setup from a better tech. If the new and used basses you bought are identical, they should feel and sound very similar. I would talk to some of your friends who may know a good tech or luthier in your area where you can take it. Where are you located? Maybe someone here on TB could recommend a good tech.
     
  4. Jul 27, 2013 #4
    PhatRon

    PhatRon I blow bass

    Feb 29, 2012
    Lake Stevens, Wa.
    take an hour or so and learn from the many available tutorials on you tube to do it yourself. It really is quite simple and FAR LESS expensive and you get to dial it in exactly as you like it. Truly, it's not difficult and the tools required are quite minimal and inexpensive.
     
    osonu likes this.
  5. Jul 27, 2013 #5
    fhm555

    fhm555 So FOS my eyes are brown

    Feb 16, 2011
    And it's easy enough if you don't like the result, just keep screwing with it until you do like it.

    I was wary the first few times I did it and checked and double checked, then checked again before moving on. After doing it a couple times I just run through the setup from the top and when I'm done all's well with the world.
     
  6. Jul 27, 2013 #6
    arginator

    arginator

    Feb 28, 2009
    Upstate NY
    +1
    Check out the videos on YouTube from Carl Pedigo at Lakland Basses. Very helpful. I set up my L2500 tribute and Jazz V by following his videos step by step, and they play and sound so much better now.
     
  7. Jul 28, 2013 #7
    soflbass

    soflbass

    Mar 2, 2013
    S Florida
    I wouldn't recommend anybody "learn" to make adjustments on an $1800 bass. Just my opinion.

    If you have mechanical ability and the proper tools, then by all means. Practice on your schecter first. Otherwise, take it to a different tech and explain how you'd like it adjusted.
     
  8. Jul 28, 2013 #8
    Major Softie

    Major Softie

    Sep 23, 2011
    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    I completely disagree. A quality bass will be more likely to be easily adjusted to your liking, and thus is actually better to learn on. A cheap bass may have enough neck problems or incorrectly cut nut to make it impossible to adjust correctly without more serious knowledge/techniques. If the OP has reasonable skills with his hands, a good tutorial, and is careful, then he should be fine.

    As the man said: "This isn't rocket surgery."
     
  9. Jul 29, 2013 #9
    boomboom4200

    boomboom4200

    Dec 12, 2012
    northwest corner CT
    I practiced on my daughters dollar store basses.then I set up my 2012 USA deluxe, now I am hooked
     
  10. Jul 29, 2013 #10
    soflbass

    soflbass

    Mar 2, 2013
    S Florida
    If you have the right tools and gain an understanding of what the steps are, I agree that its simple to do a setup. I personally would not trust myself enough to start on something really expensive. Once you try it a few times and get an understanding for the basics and geometry of a guitar, it is really satisfying to be able to dial in your own the way you like. Setting neck relief should be done in small increments allowing time for the neck to settle in. After doing setups a few times, you get a feel for the adjustments.

    On the other side, I wouldn't hand my 13 year old daughter a set of tools and some links to setup guides, walk away and allow her to setup an $1800 bass...