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Thinking about downsizing…seeking advice

I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time, and have even written about it here a few times.

I currently have my #1 - 1996 L2500, which is my forever bass.
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I also have a pair of fraternal twin 5-string Parts Jazz basses, made of Squier bodies and Warmoth necks.
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I have been collecting parts here and there to build another Warmoth bass, 5-string Stingray inspired. I have collected enough to make the purchase of the body and neck.

But then I started to think about my bass-playing situation and have 2nd thoughts about having FOUR basses that I rarely play. I don’t gig and don’t have all that much time on my hands these days, so I’m confined to a bit of noodling for a few minutes every chance I get.

I started thinking that if I sell the Twins, I’ll have enough to buy one brand spankin’ new USA G&L, to have a companion to my L2500.

my question is this…since I like the idea of having Fraternal Twin basses, fretted and fretless (back in 1994-1997 before I got the L2500, I had Twin Stingray 4’s, fretted and fretless), would you advise on getting a Blueburst/natural edge-bound Fretless L2500?

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Or since I’ve been wanting to build a Stingray-inspired bass, would you advise on a similarly styled fretted Kiloton 5 ?

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What to do…what to do…first-world problems….
Depends. If you're more of a player, I'd stop thinking about what to buy next. Pick out two basses that compliment each other, sell or stash the others, and see how you feel about it after a month or so of only having a few basses to play. If you're more of a builder/tinkerer/collector, sell everything except your #1 and see where your interests take you!
 
Do you not like the fretless J?

If it were me, There’s a good chance I would just sell the Fretted J and be done with it.

If I didn’t like that fretted J, I’d sell it off, and start a fund with that cash. Then go browsing, and only replace the fretless J when I found something I liked better (whatever that may be.) The sell the fretless J and recoup expenses.
 
One of my first "good" basses was a 90's G&L L2500. Keep it.
I like the idea of "twins" as well. I had a fretless to go with my main fretted for a long time. I wish I still had it.
I would sell everything and get a G&L L2500 fretless to go with your fretted. I think that is an ideal pairing. Your G&L can get the MM thing with the bridge pickup solo'd.
The extreme would be sell it all but keep your G&L L2500.
 
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I have been trying to downsize for last year or so,down from 6 to 2 now. I had the twin to your L2500 blue burst L2000, had rosewood fretboard with the ghost fret lines, with the maple body binding. Really regret letting that one go! I am down to 1998 Music Man Stingray,and 2004 Lakland Skyline 44-02. I only play at Church three times a week. I am trying to decide to let one of them go,and be down to one.
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You've already decided that you're going to keep your #1 no matter what - - and that puts you ahead of many of the people here who keep looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!

I think that's great - and let's face it, an L-2500 is a helluva good bass.

My vote is to sell the parts basses off - no matter what else you do. If you think you'd like to have a fretless and will use it enough to support having it, then by all means get another fretless G&L. The only downside to doing that is that having radically different basses could theoretically produce different sounds; however, you already know that the L-2500 has a very wide sound palette thanks to the controls and those beefy MFD pickups.
 
Do you not like the fretless J?

If it were me, There’s a good chance I would just sell the Fretted J and be done with it.

If I didn’t like that fretted J, I’d sell it off, and start a fund with that cash. Then go browsing, and only replace the fretless J when I found something I liked better (whatever that may be.) The sell the fretless J and recoup expenses.
It is possible I would keep the Fretless J, since I don’t use Fretless all that much…it might be more of a novelty at this point. I may not want to spend big money on another one…
I may just sell the fretted J (even though that neck is so sweet), and either go for a Kilo 5 or build the Warmoth SR5-thing I’ve been thinking of…
 
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Maybe keep the G&L and the fretless parts bass. A fretless JJ is a good bass. Then you spend no money and have a fretted and fretless 5. Not "twins" but still a great set of basses that would cover any gig.
 
+1. He's already there. :laugh:

For the parts basses: sell one of the bodies. You can swap necks on the remaining body as desired.
You know…I was thinking the exact same thing…
I have the Squier neck that originally came on the body that is now the Fretless.
I will put that one on the CV Body (fretted) and sell it as a Squier with upgraded pickups and preamp.
Keep the Warmoth fretted neck to swap between fretted/Fretless if I desire…and ai get to keep that sweet-@$$ed neck…
 
my question is this…since I like the idea of having Fraternal Twin basses, fretted and fretless (back in 1994-1997 before I got the L2500, I had Twin Stingray 4’s, fretted and fretless), would you advise on getting a Blueburst/natural edge-bound Fretless L2500?
Keep all your basses and place them in strategic places so you will pick them up faster when you can and if you want to buy a 2nd G&L fretless then do so anyway.... you say you can't justify it.... but think about who you have to justify this to, at least not me.
As long as you don't get into financial trouble and have to eat one less slice of bread.
 
Since you like the idea of fraternal twins and having a fretless as the twin, it sounds like an easy decision to me - get a similar fretless blueburst and bound L-2500.

FWIW, I recently bought a fraternal twin (2019 Stingray Special 5 HH) to my long time #1 bass (2007 ceramic Stingray 5 HH). They feel nearly identical to me but they differ enough in sound to be worth it to me to have both. I'm SO happy with these two that I have to make a conscious decision to play one of my other basses, including my old #2, a G&L L-2500. Everytime I play the L-2500 at a gig or in my basement jam, I'm reminded of just how good a bass it is. I honestly love it, but my twins work that much better for me. So, based on that, I suggested going with the twins.

Good luck no matter which way you go. Doesn't sound like you can make a wrong decision out of those options. :bassist:
 
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