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Which new bass do you recommend?

Z

Zakulus

Sep 24, 2009
13
0
Skokie, IL
#1
I've got a price range up to $900 and I've found some used basses I can't decide between: a G&L L2000, a G&L JB-2, a 2008 Fender USA Jazz, and a Lakland Skyline 44-02. I'm a huge fan of the 1.6" nut-width necks on the Lakland bass, but I've been told my whole life that G&L L2000 was always the way to go. The G&L's got a 1 3/4" nut-width though, so that's my only gripe with it.

Does anyone know how difficult/expensive would it be to replace the L2000 neck with a 1 1/2" one? Considering all of these instruments, what do you guys think? They're all around the same price ($650-$800).
 
#2
I just got an l2000 and im absolutely blown away, Ive gone through several, several basses this year trying to find the one and Im quite sure this is it.

Im a p guy so the neck is ok to me, im not sure how many neck options are available really.

I can just vouch for build quality, tone etc .
 
#3
It would be very expensive to replace the neck. Some G&L dealers and players order L-2000's with the 1.5" nut width, so if you wait long enough, one like that should come up used. That would be better than buying the fatter neck and trying to replace it.

Except for the Jazz and JB-2, your choices are quite different from each other, but they're all great so you won't go wrong.
 
#4
Another vote for the L2000. And yes, you see used ones periodically with the 1.5" nut width on them, or, if you can find one from around the late 80s/early 90s, the nut was 1.625" (or 1 5/8").
 
#5
All of those are really great choices!

Replacement necks for G&L's are nearly impossible to get and cost nearly what a used bass does.

The newer american L series from the last few years tend to have fairly shallow profiles making the width less noticeable. Or wait for one with a 1.5" neck to come along. G&L's 1.5" necks feel fantastic and have a great profile. They tend to be a little deeper front to back than a Fender.

I absolutely love the shape of the 1.3/4 neck on my L2K.

The L series really do sound fantastic but then again so do Jazz basses and 44-02's. Try em all first. Just take a minute to learn all the settings on the L2000 first so you can give it a fair test.

You can cop a decent Jazz tone (not a dead ringer) with the L2K and you can also get a pretty good P bass tone as well so it is definitely versatile.

As far as the best choice? All of the basses you list are on my want list so you really cant go wrong.
 
#6
Zakulus said:
I've got a price range up to $900 and I've found some used basses I can't decide between: a G&L L2000, a G&L JB-2, a 2008 Fender USA Jazz, and a Lakland Skyline 44-02. I'm a huge fan of the 1.6" nut-width necks on the Lakland bass, but I've been told my whole life that G&L L2000 was always the way to go. The G&L's got a 1 3/4" nut-width though, so that's my only gripe with it.

Does anyone know how difficult/expensive would it be to replace the L2000 neck with a 1 1/2" one? Considering all of these instruments, what do you guys think? They're all around the same price ($650-$800).
Click to expand...

L-2000, for absolute certain. None of the others are as versatile or expressive out of the box.

As to a thin-neck L-2000, just look for a #6 or #8 neck. Both have a 1.5" nut. The #8 has a modern 12" radius.

Unless Lakland's pricing has increased a lot, you should be able to get a new 44-02 in roughly that price range.

Ken...
 
#8
1Kay has a sweet looking '84 L-2000 in the marketplace here.. it's in under your $900 threshold. My '84 L-2000 has a 1 5/8" neck. Maybe his does too. The necks from '83-'84 have been very nice on the examples I've owned.

edit to add: If'n I didn't already own the sweetest L-2000 I've ever played, I'd be all over this one in a heartbeat......
 
#10
Yeah, I have an Ibanez SR700 with the MK1's. E string sounds good, A and D you can hardly hear and the G could break windows! No amount of EQ'ing can get me a tone that I like. Definitely gonna order some nordy big singles soon.

I have really liked the sound of the couple of 44-02's that I have heard though.
 
#16
Hugh Jass said:
Yeah, I have an Ibanez SR700 with the MK1's. E string sounds good, A and D you can hardly hear and the G could break windows! No amount of EQ'ing can get me a tone that I like. Definitely gonna order some nordy big singles soon.
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I've got the Big Splits in my 55-01. Very nice. Currently active only through the OBP-3, but may get re-wired to add active/passive as I've got on the L-2500.

Ken...
 
#18
Grasshopper... be patient. For $900 or less, you can get an early 80's G&L that will likely blow you away. I recommend either a "vintage" L-2000e or an L-1000. You will have no regrets. Just hang around TB or Badassbassplayers and let your intentions be known. you will be rewarded.

carry on.
 
#20
earlgray said:
Grasshopper... be patient. For $900 or less, you can get an early 80's G&L that will likely blow you away. I recommend either a "vintage" L-2000e or an L-1000. You will have no regrets. Just hang around TB or Badassbassplayers and let your intentions be known. you will be rewarded.
Click to expand...


"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future."
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