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Way overdue NBD: G&L L2500 US

#21
InhumanResource said:
Thank you! I suppose it’s possible that I’m looking at the top’s grain, I just get the impression this veneer is super thin compared to other FMT instruments I have seen. Still looks great though!
Click to expand...

Congrats, that's a beautiful bass. In regards to the top, I really don't think that is the grain of the body wood that you are seeing through the veneer. That would just be the figuring of the maple. See how the grain runs perpendicular to the flame on my all maple neck:

310188164_5694157347316065_7975515631111831434_n.jpg
 
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#22
InhumanResource said:
The necks are chunky so that may not agree with everyone, and the one I ended up with is definitely heavy. I used it for like 2 years before I got the black USA one above. It definitely is noticeably better, but whether it’s a rough $1500 better is going to be up to the individual.
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The neck is often a dealbreaker for me, and it's made a little gun-shy on G & L in particular, because the one time I actually got my hands on one - it was either an M2000 or M2500, just not sure if it was USA or Tribute - the neck didn't work for me at all.

The G & L that tempts me the most these days is the Kiloton, but if it has a neck profile similar to that of the M series, it likely wouldn't work for me...:crying:
 
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#24
HubbardsFate said:
The neck is often a dealbreaker for me, and it's made a little gun-shy on G & L in particular, because the one time I actually got my hands on one - it was either an M2000 or M2500, just not sure if it was USA or Tribute - the neck didn't work for me at all.

The G & L that tempts me the most these days is the Kiloton, but if it has a neck profile similar to that of the M series, it likely wouldn't work for me...:crying:
Click to expand...

I can’t speak for the kiloton but I can say the neck is chunky front-to-back on my tribute L series and significantly slimmer on the US. The strings are spaced nice and tightly so it is pretty easy for me to play. All I can say is try your best to get your hands on one to feel it, maybe someone on TB is local and willing to help out.
 
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#26
InhumanResource said:
First of all, huge shoutout to Greg @RocketMusic for making the entire purchase process a breeze and tolerating my neuroses as this was an option order and I changed my mind probably a half dozen times. Also got a very reasonably price out the door, so if you are going to do this - give Greg a shout.

Recently took receipt of the below L2500 "option" order and decided to let it get some time in the woodshed and at gigs before writing up a real review. I have never gone and plunked down for a brand-new USA bass, and boy am I glad that I finally ponied up after 20+ years of playing and gigging.

Selected options:

Premium Flame Maple Top
Black Burst finish and Empress body
Ebony fretboard
Pearl dots
Quartersawn maple neck
Clear Gloss Neck Finish
Logo Delete
Gloss Black Headstock

The bass has a C neck shape and 12" radius, so it is flatter and slimmer (front to back) than whatever is on my L2500 tribute model. It is noticeably easier to play and comfortable (I love a slim neck), but what really stands out is the weight. The empress body option really paid off - I think this thing is maybe 8 lbs soaking wet. On stage it was effortless to hold for hours on end, which was a huge benefit over the ~10 lb tribute and Fender Jazz I have been using for ages. Super easy to play, super light, everything I wanted to accomplish with my upgrade.

Now, the tone. Very close to my Tribute, but better. Super clear and articulate with all the top-end bite and upper mids that got me into this model to begin with. It is hard to describe the difference between the Tribute and my new US model, but I attribute it to the higher quality materials being used. Don't get me wrong, the Tribute sounds great and I even questioned doing this at all for a while, but it was totally worth it to splurge on the US model. Lay that on top of the light weight and comfy neck, and it is pretty hard to argue with.

The whole thing looks spectacular (to me), the black-on-black look makes the hardware pop and the whole thing just looks cool. I love contrast but of course taste is subjective. If I had one thing to "ding" on the whole package, it is that the flame maple top is on the thin side. In person, I can see the grain of the body wood through the veneer. It still photographs very well and is a pretty minor thing IMO, but if I had seen one in person before ordering I might have made a different choice. My guess is the full-blown custom orders uses nicer/thicker veneer for the fancy tops based on photos I have seen. Not that I was stalking G&L's Instagram or anything.

Overall, I am super happy with this bass. It is 100% a keeper and my main gigging ax now.

View attachment 4884818

View attachment 4884819
Click to expand...

Wow, that Sir, is a perfect bass!
 
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#36
InhumanResource said:
First of all, huge shoutout to Greg @RocketMusic for making the entire purchase process a breeze and tolerating my neuroses as this was an option order and I changed my mind probably a half dozen times. Also got a very reasonably price out the door, so if you are going to do this - give Greg a shout.

Recently took receipt of the below L2500 "option" order and decided to let it get some time in the woodshed and at gigs before writing up a real review. I have never gone and plunked down for a brand-new USA bass, and boy am I glad that I finally ponied up after 20+ years of playing and gigging.

Selected options:

Premium Flame Maple Top
Black Burst finish and Empress body
Ebony fretboard
Pearl dots
Quartersawn maple neck
Clear Gloss Neck Finish
Logo Delete
Gloss Black Headstock

The bass has a C neck shape and 12" radius, so it is flatter and slimmer (front to back) than whatever is on my L2500 tribute model. It is noticeably easier to play and comfortable (I love a slim neck), but what really stands out is the weight. The empress body option really paid off - I think this thing is maybe 8 lbs soaking wet. On stage it was effortless to hold for hours on end, which was a huge benefit over the ~10 lb tribute and Fender Jazz I have been using for ages. Super easy to play, super light, everything I wanted to accomplish with my upgrade.

Now, the tone. Very close to my Tribute, but better. Super clear and articulate with all the top-end bite and upper mids that got me into this model to begin with. It is hard to describe the difference between the Tribute and my new US model, but I attribute it to the higher quality materials being used. Don't get me wrong, the Tribute sounds great and I even questioned doing this at all for a while, but it was totally worth it to splurge on the US model. Lay that on top of the light weight and comfy neck, and it is pretty hard to argue with.

The whole thing looks spectacular (to me), the black-on-black look makes the hardware pop and the whole thing just looks cool. I love contrast but of course taste is subjective. If I had one thing to "ding" on the whole package, it is that the flame maple top is on the thin side. In person, I can see the grain of the body wood through the veneer. It still photographs very well and is a pretty minor thing IMO, but if I had seen one in person before ordering I might have made a different choice. My guess is the full-blown custom orders uses nicer/thicker veneer for the fancy tops based on photos I have seen. Not that I was stalking G&L's Instagram or anything.

Overall, I am super happy with this bass. It is 100% a keeper and my main gigging ax now.

View attachment 4884818

View attachment 4884819
Click to expand...
That is very beautiful! I really like the choice of black headstock with the black burst flamed body. Really classy looking.
 
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#37
InhumanResource said:
First of all, huge shoutout to Greg @RocketMusic for making the entire purchase process a breeze and tolerating my neuroses as this was an option order and I changed my mind probably a half dozen times. Also got a very reasonably price out the door, so if you are going to do this - give Greg a shout.

Recently took receipt of the below L2500 "option" order and decided to let it get some time in the woodshed and at gigs before writing up a real review. I have never gone and plunked down for a brand-new USA bass, and boy am I glad that I finally ponied up after 20+ years of playing and gigging.

Selected options:

Premium Flame Maple Top
Black Burst finish and Empress body
Ebony fretboard
Pearl dots
Quartersawn maple neck
Clear Gloss Neck Finish
Logo Delete
Gloss Black Headstock

The bass has a C neck shape and 12" radius, so it is flatter and slimmer (front to back) than whatever is on my L2500 tribute model. It is noticeably easier to play and comfortable (I love a slim neck), but what really stands out is the weight. The empress body option really paid off - I think this thing is maybe 8 lbs soaking wet. On stage it was effortless to hold for hours on end, which was a huge benefit over the ~10 lb tribute and Fender Jazz I have been using for ages. Super easy to play, super light, everything I wanted to accomplish with my upgrade.

Now, the tone. Very close to my Tribute, but better. Super clear and articulate with all the top-end bite and upper mids that got me into this model to begin with. It is hard to describe the difference between the Tribute and my new US model, but I attribute it to the higher quality materials being used. Don't get me wrong, the Tribute sounds great and I even questioned doing this at all for a while, but it was totally worth it to splurge on the US model. Lay that on top of the light weight and comfy neck, and it is pretty hard to argue with.

The whole thing looks spectacular (to me), the black-on-black look makes the hardware pop and the whole thing just looks cool. I love contrast but of course taste is subjective. If I had one thing to "ding" on the whole package, it is that the flame maple top is on the thin side. In person, I can see the grain of the body wood through the veneer. It still photographs very well and is a pretty minor thing IMO, but if I had seen one in person before ordering I might have made a different choice. My guess is the full-blown custom orders uses nicer/thicker veneer for the fancy tops based on photos I have seen. Not that I was stalking G&L's Instagram or anything.

Overall, I am super happy with this bass. It is 100% a keeper and my main gigging ax now.

View attachment 4884818

View attachment 4884819
Click to expand...
Beautiful!
 
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#40
That's a beautiful bass and it has to sound great!

Really nice top you have, and generally the straight evenly spaced grain you're seeing intersecting the flame figuring in the maple is considered desirable by tone wood nerds. Even just a maple veneer wouldn't allow the back grain to show through in that manner. I don't believe G&L uses veneer, and I'd be shocked if G&L doesn't use a consistent thickness for their drop tops, surely the figuring grade is just a little higher on the custom shop models giving the illusion of more depth. Charcoal burst is also one of those colors that takes a really killer top to pop to begin with, yours looks great with no 'muddy' sections and appears to have nice chatoyance as well.
 
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