Purchasing Dilema

[Motoro]

I have made the decision to learn how to play the bass guitar. After quite some time of researching what bass to purchase as my first bass I picked a Tribute L2000. Now mind you that I super "green so judging the differences between the different tones of different basses, to me they all sound like bass guitars. Now I have a friend who also plays the bass and the type of music that I want to play (e.g. Gospel, R&B, Jazz). While talking I informed him of the type of bass that I was intending on buying. He replyed that he had never heard of this type of bass and informed me that a fender Jazz bass would be a better purchase. To the question--is this bass comparable to the Jazz bass in tone and is it suitable for Gospel, R&B, Jazz type of music. I don't want to buy something that isn't capable of the genre's of music that I intend on playing.

I have the money to spend, I just need to know which bass to buy.

Also is it easier to learn on a 5-string or a 4-string?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[spideyjg]

While talking I informed him of the type of bass that I was intending on buying. He replyed that he had never heard of this type of bass and informed me that a fender Jazz bass would be a better purchase.

That statement right there, sight unseen saying a Jazz is a better choice than a bass he has never touched, smacks of brand snobbery and I'd not pay attention to anything he says.

Sorry to sound harsh but you will find brand name snobs who will poo poo anything not by their favorite maker.

The L-2000 will need no modifications at all to be a great bass. Search around and you will see many many Fender guys replacing pickups, bridges, and other electronics to improve their bass.
Get a G&L and you don't need to change a thing. The L-2000 has so much fat bottom you will be amazed.

That said the G&L using both of it's pickups in the bass cut mode and rolling down the bass control will work great for a Jazz bass scenario. Different strings, pickup selection via the switches, and pickup heights will get you an incredibly wide range of sounds. IMHO far more than any Fender Jazz can hope to do.

Now I will admit many people use and love the Fender Jazz and it it is not a bad bass. Go get your hands on both and see which feels best to you ergonomically. Buy that one.

Jim

 

[FroggyOne2]

Go get your hands on both and see which feels best to you ergonomically. Buy that one.

Jim

What Jim says is true! Not snobbing here, but I believe that if you give both basses an open ear, you will find that the G&L will win over the Fender. The G&L's are just more versatile with the electronics that are used on them. Read the post about different settings for the G&L and see that there are many different sounds that can be obtained by the G&L.

My two cents worth.

Randy

 

[lug]

While talking I informed him of the type of bass that I was intending on buying. He replyed that he had never heard of this type of bass and informed me that a fender Jazz bass would be a better purchase.

Explain to your friend that Leo Fender designed the Jazz bass after designing the Precision Bass. After he sold Fender, he designed the Musican Man Stingray which he felt was superior. After leaving the Musicman Company, he and George Fullerton formed G&L and designed several basses there including the L2000/L2500 which he felt was superior to both the Fenders and Musicman basses he had designed earlier. So, your friend is basically be at odds with the creator of both basses when he states the jazz is "better".

 

[spideyjg]

So, your friend is basically be at odds with the creator of both basses when he states the jazz is "better".

Now Lug, there you go bringing common sense, facts, and logic into stuff.

Jim

 

[RSalvador]

Just to add my 2 cents, if you consider the price of a Tribute L2000, you are going to be comparing it price wise to a Mexican Standard Jazz bass. The Tributes I've played in the store ALL played and were set up so much better than the MIM Fenders. All the Fenders seemed to need a setup and the action was way too high for me. They are not a bad bass to start out on, but I felt the need to change the setup right of the bat, the pickups would have been next, and so on. You could take the Tribute striaight from the store to the gig.

 

[Iridescentone]

Brand name preference is fine, but someone who's never even heard of G&L, might not be in a position to be making gear recomendations. LOL

 

[cb56]

Get the G&L L2000 tribute.
That way you can laugh at your friend everytime he begs you to trade it to him for his Fender.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Next I'm going to get a Tribute L2.5K.

And then, who knows? Tribute L3K???

 

[lug]

Now Lug, there you go bringing common sense, facts, and logic into stuff.

Jim

I appologize.


<....runs around yelling "G&L JIHAD!" and blows self up with fertilizer bomb>

 

[Chef]

Now Lug, there you go bringing common sense, facts, and logic into stuff.

Jim

You two are both heretics.
Everyone knows the 1972 Charvel Hollowbody is the best beginner bass...

Seriously, the Tribute 2000 is a fine bass, has more usable tones than your typical passive jazz bass, and is a serious bargain, especially when purchased used. Play both, buy the G&L...

 

[Motoro]

Hey Guys, thanks for all the replys. Most of the stuff that you guys are saying is what I was feeling and makes me feel confident that buying G&L will be a good buy.

 

[quickervicar]

I will add my input, too!

The G & L can sound worse than the Jazz if the proper settings are not selected. The Jazz can be easier to get a livable tone in a shorter amount of time. This is just like your home stereo: screw with the wrong knobs & things can sound super-thin or muddy. However, 9/10s of the tone settings on the G & L will sound fantastic. I agree with the advice to read the tone-setting threads on here before a choosing.

 

[spideyjg]

You two are both heretics.
Everyone know the 1972 Charvel Hollowbody is the best beginner bass...

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Great now everbody knows. Geez you gonna give out the secret handshake too?

Jim

 

[Chef]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Great now everbody knows. Geez you gonna give out the secret handshake too?

Jim

"It's all in the wrist."
There's one of those Charvel's on ebay right now

 

[bradjonesbass]

If you're sold on the tone of the jazz bass, G&L makes one of those too, and it blows the Fenders away. I don't think they make a tribute version of it though. Sweet bass!

 

[dgce]

I think the G&L Tribbys are some of the best deals going right now. Its Fender counter part would be the MIM Jazz and Precisions. Pound for pound, there is no comparing the two, G&Ls smokes both their standard and active/deluxe models easily.

I think just about the only advantage a Fender Jazz might have for a beginner is its simplicity (one volume knob for each pickup and one master tone, piece of cake). Now I've played my G&L ASAT for years and think nothing about the controls. However I can easily see how a beginner may be scratching their heads over all the whistles and bells on a G&L L2000 or L2500.

If it were my choice, of course I'd choose the Tribute. However... if I'd never played bass before; ever? Well, I might want to cut my teeth on something straight up and simple. Here's an idea, search eBay for a discontinued Tribute SB-2! Those were great basses with a very simple setup; two passive pickups, two volume knobs; great tone and playability. It’s criminal that they were discontinued. I recall really liking the Jazz-style neck and even without the active electronics, those US made P&J pickups are no joke!

r