Question for the uninitiated, but which switch is the actual pickup selector? I remember trying a Tom Hamilton ASAT bass and while I loved it I couldn’t make heads or tails of the controls; that said this post does help.
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Here you can find the switch explanation.
I've bought a second hand tribute l2000 just one month ago and I like it a lot. You can dial in a lot of different tones and the chunky neck is super comfortable. On top of that usually the prices on used tributes are pretty good. Here in Italy they sell it new for around 700€ and you can find them used between 350€ and 450€ which I found to be a bargain for the quality you are buying.
I'm a tad sour on them. I bought one second hand a while ago (ash body MIK model) and failed to notice that one coil on the neck pickup was dead. Took it apart to repair, got busy with some other stuff and while it was sitting, the neck developed a twist. G&L won't sell me a neck so I ordered a cheap 21 fret Fender style replacement neck and will attempt to add / remove wood wherever necessary to get it back together with that. If that doesn't work, I may have some L2K parts for sale.
Played the one I got used from Guitar center and really like the tone. Big neck, but comfortable and easy to play. A million tone options with this bass. The only problem with this one is that it came with a stripped truss rod nut, so the neck cant be adjusted. I'm going to take it back for a refund and keep my eye out for another.
I've never got the fuss over the L2000s. Not played one that I like. I have an Ibanez ATK800 which is just as versatile as the L2000 but, to me, is a much nicer bass. Available now as the ATK810.
I guess it's just a matter of taste. I really like the l2000 that I own. It's comfortable to play, sounds nice and it seems well built. The price is really reasonable too.
I have paid about 350€ (430$) in Italy for mine second hand and you're getting a lot of bass for the money.
Nevertheless the ATK looks really nice too.
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I also have the ATK800 and yes, its a great, versatile bass. However, there is a big difference in the materials (maple fretboard, oak body), weight (ATK is much lighter) , neck shape (thick chunchy vs wide chunky) and base/starting tone (L2000 is brighter, punchier and more agressive).
Really enjoyed the Tribute L2000 with rosewood fretboard and basswood body. Heavy as heck, but played great and sounded awesome. Only issue was that the trussrod screw had been stripped by a previous owner. Sadly I had to take it back to Guitar Center. Good news is that I found another in a very nice sunburst finish (body and headstock) with rosewood fretboard and ash body for the same price. The weight is much better, then neck feels the same and it's a nicer looking bass, but it doesn't sound quite the same. The basswod body had a wee bit more fatness/bottom end and punchiness to it. The strings on my new one came loosened, so not sure how that might have affected the way its playing and sounding out of the box. Also, the "series/parallel" switch does not seem to be wired the same. I'm wondering if the previous owner rigged it to do a series/out of phase thing. Treble nob doesn't do much of anything when the "phase" setting is engaged. Anybody familiar with the wiring schemes on these? We'll see how it sounds after resting a few days with full tension.
I liked everything about mine. Didn't even realize the neck was wide, and I have small hands, until I saw someone mention it in a thread.
Incredibly versatile, might just have the best stock pickups and bridge, every bit as good as the USA-made L2000 that took it's place.
No need to worry if the battery dies…fully functional in passive mode.
I'm on my second L2000 and I know I'll eventually buy another.
Incredibly versatile, might just have the best stock pickups and bridge, every bit as good as the USA-made L2000 that took it's place.
No need to worry if the battery dies…fully functional in passive mode.
I'm on my second L2000 and I know I'll eventually buy another.
Tuners are better, pleked frets are great, plenty of color options, neck widths and fretboard material…I'd like to see the new Brazilian Cherry fretboard, but I can definitely see myself buying the new clear orange swamp ash L2000 Tribute.
Owned a 504. Light weight and a tone monster with a thin neck. Very playable. Only reason I don`t have it now is because, as a bigger guy, I felt like I was playing a toy, but still a very nice bass.
I've owned an L2000, M2000 Tribute and currently own a Yamaha TRBX304 (I know, it's not quite the same).
To be honest, between the L2000 and M2000, I preferred the M2000 because it has a slimmer neck, the controls are so much more intuitive and straightforward (although the L2000 gives you more options) and the M2000 sounds warmer. Both basses have the MFD pickups but the ones on the L2000 Tribute are overwound by I think it's 12 or 15% so it sounds "hotter". If you like that kind of sound, you'll probably love it, but I preferred the M2000 as it was well....tamer.
Pretty hard to compare a Yamaha to the G&L basses, it's going to be a matter of preference more than anything. The Yamaha basses are solid in quality and feel, and the pickups have a much deeper subtle, smoother tone to them , this is on my TRBX304 which has ceramic pickups, the TRBX504 has alnico so I imagine it's going to sound perhaps better. I don't have either of the Tribute basses now but holding on to my TRBX304 as it's more suited for what I'm playing now.
