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Tell me about G&L Tributes

#22
I gigged with an L2K for a long time, and tried to get an L2.5K but I couldn't get a decent deal on a trade-in. Since then, I switched to Precisions, but the Tribute was a nice bass: great finish, a fairly flat fingerboard, and a satin finish on the back of the neck, quality hardware. The controls were more complex than I'm used to, but a Saturday afternoon fiddling with it made it intuitive from then on.

WildWillies4.jpg
 
#23
I have owned 3 L2000 Tributes. They were all really well made and I had no issues with them except the really chunky neck. But the thing is I love them so much, I would buy one, play it for a year or so then move it on.

They have a lot of different tones available (I read somewhere there is 42 variations?) but I used mine in passive most of the time as the pickups are quite hot.

I would like to try their version of the Jazz as that has the narrow neck. Or mabye get another L2000 and get the neck shaved if possible.

Pros: great build quality, good range of tones available and as there aren`t too many about, they are a good talking point.

Cons: the L2000 has a thick wide neck so no good to me and the resale value is pretty dire. A new one in the UK is around £575 and the the typical s/hand value is around £350.
 
#24
I love my L2000 Tribute but I understand it may no be perfect for everyone. I use it as, sort of, power rock bass. BEAD tuning, fat nickel rounds and high action. Bridge pup soloed in parallel mode into a bass heavy 300W tube head and I'm in tone heaven, but that's just me.

One thing I noted is that L2K's are somewhat picky with strings, and many people like to use flats one them to get a mellower tone. And the neck on the Tribby is a force to reckon with.

OTOH, a Tribute JB-2 should be plug and play being a "real" J with all its typical properties, probably as good as it may ever get for the money.
 
#25
unclejane said:
The L2K can sort of -ish do the single-coil punchy thing, it's not quite a single-coil sound (tho it's a good enough facsimile to me).
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unclejane makes a good point here. I modded all my L2Ks with single-coil switching, so I kinda forgot about the stock setup. The stock wiring also only provides a single volume control so if you, like me, roll back one p'up or the other on a Jazz Bass, you won't be able to do that with an L2K.

Even without modding the switching, I think you'll find that the L2K has a very wide range of tones, some of which will get you in the Jazz Bass ballpark (more or less).

I have a crapload* of basses, but the one I gig with most often is the L2K.

*I counted them once and the number came to exactly one crapload.
 
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#26
Wow, thanks for all the responses! It sounds like any of of the models would be worth my money. I'm leaning towards the L2500 simply because it gives me options if I want them.

The neck should be fine - I'm comfortable with bigger necks and have owned basses with fairly hefty necks, including a CV 50s P Bass that had a massive neck on it and a Warwick 6 string you could land an aeroplane on.

Any ideas of weights?
 
#28
punkjazzben said:
I'm leaning towards the L2500 simply because it gives me options if I want them.
Click to expand...

If you do go that way, seriously consider doing the single-coil mod (a couple of hours of your time and a $15 switch from Digi-Key). I first installed it just to check it out, but soon found a lot of sounds I lean on heavily at gigs. It takes a bass that already has a ton of sounds and adds a ton more.
(And that's TWO tons!)
 
#29
GeorgeBerlin said:
Can't put an exact number to it but my swamp ash US L2500 fretless is the heaviest bass I own and have ever owned. Tribute versions don't use the lightweight tuners so they might be even heavier...
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My Swamp Ash Tribute L2500 is 10 pounds. It has all original tuners and hardware. Not the lightest bass in my herd but not the heaviest either (Heaviest is my ESP LTD B206SM 6 string at 12 lbs. 4 Oz. It's spalted maple over ash)

Compare to my L2500 USA G&Ls at 9 lbs 13 Oz each.

And by the way I second the endorsement for the single coil K-mod. All my G&Ls have it. (along with the OMG mod as a push/pull on the treble control. Yes, it's more knobosity, but really WORTH it!
 
#33
Lo-E said:
If you do go that way, seriously consider doing the single-coil mod (a couple of hours of your time and a $15 switch from Digi-Key). I first installed it just to check it out, but soon found a lot of sounds I lean on heavily at gigs. It takes a bass that already has a ton of sounds and adds a ton more.
(And that's TWO tons!)
Click to expand...

Low E, your posts have been hilarious, lol...
 
#34
punkjazzben said:
Wow, thanks for all the responses! It sounds like any of of the models would be worth my money. I'm leaning towards the L2500 simply because it gives me options if I want them.

The neck should be fine - I'm comfortable with bigger necks and have owned basses with fairly hefty necks, including a CV 50s P Bass that had a massive neck on it and a Warwick 6 string you could land an aeroplane on.

Any ideas of weights?
Click to expand...

About a ton for my L2K, maybe a little under. Most of that is the swamp ash body; I like it because there's no neck dive (and the body even wants to rock backwards a bit when playing it seated) so I wouldn't have it any other way.

The L2500 has a little neck dive so something to be aware of on it. I'd try to get the heaviest wood on the body I could because of that.

Also, the bridge attachment on the 2500 is defective, but it's only a problem if you don't string through the body. Do a search on the L2500 bridge bolt mod on here and read those threads. It's not a big deal because it's so easy to fix perfectly and permanently, but it's an annoyance.

Else, it should be a lovely bass...

LS
 
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#35
The word "chunky" really doesnt apply to anything other than the L2000 for neck profile, and "in your face tone" equally doesnt apply across the board.

The Tribute models come with completely different necks and completely different tonal characteristics..

the JB-2 and SB-2 have a 1.5" #8 neck with 12" radias... its a better slimmer faster and easier neck than a Fender Jazz..
The M2000 comes with a 1.625" #12 "medium C" neck with 12" radias.
The L2000 comes with a 1.75" #7 "medium C" neck, which iirc is the same neck as the 2500's so certainly the 5ers will have narrower string spacing than the 4bangers.

as far as initial quality, i doubt that G&L quality is any less than Fender, and both the ones i purchased were online orders.

Alexander said:
I had one and liked it. There were some quality issues early on (including with mine), but I think they've improved. Still wouldn't buy one sight unseen. Heavy, thick, in your face tone. Chunky neck and narrow string spacing won't be for everyone.
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#36
I think they are really good basses and not just "for the money". You cant really go wrong with one of these.

The one thing that baffles me is the $150 price difference between the JB-2 and the SB-2. The JB-2 is ash and has a six bolt neck and the SB-2 is basswood with a 4 bolt plate and costs more than the JB-2. crasi
 
#37
Interesting comments. I just picked up an M2500 Trib from MF for $500 new. Very very impressed.

It growls more than my Stingray and the EQ is very sensitive - lots of boost and cut available. With flats I was able to drop the outer saddles all the way to the bridge plate with no buzz whatsoever.

Surprisingly light and no neck dive - the neck dive comments surprised me because the body shape of Fender style basses is almost immune to that.

Now all I need to do is add a third pickup to make it my own.

The only negative for me was the color (ok but not a favorite) and the fact that its a 3 piece body. The US models are probably one piece of wood, but that might be the biggest difference.

Oh, one other - my M2500 Trib bridge is top load only. Surprised me but kinda glad because my favorite flats do not come long enough for string thru. GHS flats went on as soon as I made sure it was a keeper. Now it has a thumpy growl.
 
#39
Doner Designs said:
Interesting comments. I just picked up an M2500 Trib from MF for $500 new. Very very impressed.

It growls more than my Stingray and the EQ is very sensitive - lots of boost and cut available. With flats I was able to drop the outer saddles all the way to the bridge plate with no buzz whatsoever.

Surprisingly light and no neck dive - the neck dive comments surprised me because the body shape of Fender style basses is almost immune to that.

Now all I need to do is add a third pickup to make it my own.

The only negative for me was the color (ok but not a favorite) and the fact that its a 3 piece body. The US models are probably one piece of wood, but that might be the biggest difference.

Oh, one other - my M2500 Trib bridge is top load only. Surprised me but kinda glad because my favorite flats do not come long enough for string thru. GHS flats went on as soon as I made sure it was a keeper. Now it has a thumpy growl.
Click to expand...

The USA models are not one piece. Hardly anyone makes one piece bodies. And I don't think it makes any difference except aesthetically.
 
#40
StrangerDanger said:
The USA models are not one piece. Hardly anyone makes one piece bodies. And I don't think it makes any difference except aesthetically.
Click to expand...

I think mine are two piece. But the wood on USA and Tribs is not the same. You can tell the difference. The USA wood is almost always "to die for" in grain, looks, fit and finish, and tone. Small, but real difference.

Worth the big money difference? Well, that is up to you.
 

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