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Why aren't G&L basses more popular?

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#141
Well lets all hope they start aggressively marketing their basses so they get really popular, pick up some big name endorsers, and double prices. Then we can start threads and complain about how they used to be a great bang for the buck. x-(
 
#142
lmfreeman9 said:
7. Unorthodox Colors – If G&L offered more traditional colors (Candy Apple Red, Lake Placid Blue), I have no doubt they'd sell more instruments. People like tradition.
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This criticism is odd, because G&L offers more traditional colors than Fender itself, plus many others including the wild metal flake finishes. Indeed, the range of colors is one of G&L's selling points, and their finishes are the best in the biz IMO.

Problem is, most dealers are conservative with their orders. (There are exceptions, of course, like Atlanta Bass Gallery and Bass Specialties.) I usually see black, sunburst, and natural finish G&L's in shops, partly because I mostly see Tributes, but even the USA models in shops often don't stray far from these. I've never seen a G&L in Belair Green, Emerald Green, Candy Apple Red, or Lake Placid Blue in a shop, but colors like those show off G&L's finishing expertise more than the usual black, 'burst, and natural.

This, in turn, fuels the perception that G&L's are "ugly" or "boring," especially for the L-series basses without pickguards. Beautiful as they are IMO, natural finish L-2000's don't exactly "jump off the wall" aesthetically.

Why don't we have a look at some of the other finishes? Not that I was looking for a pretext to post my G&L's or anything. Certainly not on TB. ;)

Electric Blue:
DSC_0153.jpg


Vintage White:
DSC_0154.jpg


Midnight Blue (which is darker than indicated in pic):
DSC_0080.jpg
 
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#145
lots of good point made here, lack of good promotion, not many dealers

personally I like the fact that not every bass player and there brother has five. I love my ASAT(perfect blend of the P-bass and Sting ray) and I love even more that when I show up to a gig with mulitply bands I'm not going to sound like, look like every other guy with a jazz or p-bass.

Do I wish I could play more G&L at stores , sure but really do I need to GAS over more gear.. I just want to work what I have.

I am a big fan of Leo Fender as an inovator and love that George and Leo actully designed the bass I play, not a revamped version of one of ther desgins.

I also think that one of the big reasons they are not as popular is the fact the don't make a under 300.00 buck bass that guys can pretend is the real deal. Don't care what you say a squier is not a Fender no matter what you do to it, nor epi a gibby, even though there tribute series is a "cheaper line" the still wear the G&L logo and are not "cheap " basses.

personally if you shop for your instrument on the premise of his guy plays one or what a cool ad in a mag, instead of how it sounds , plays and is built than your not going to buy many of a great instrument out there, and will fall prey to the marketing machine that feeds big industry .

After tone chasing for way to long I can honestly say I am happy with my G&L and don't want any other basses to play. Now to add to the pile well that s a different story...


peace
jim
 
#146
I rarely see them in stores, and personally...they look "busy" to me. Too many switches...BUT this is all perception. I love the look of their P and J style basses, but because they aren't as available as Fenders...

Another opinion may be...why buy a G&L Jazz bass...when fender's been doing a fine job of doing so...and they're the originator...AND they're a little cheaper.
 
#150
I own several, and have owned many more, Leo Era G&L's. I find them the most comfortable and easiest playing basses. Picking up a 1980 L1k is like meeting an old friend. The sound from a 30 year old MFD in a mahogany body with an ebony board....butter. The simple controls and the fit and feel are like coming home again. That being said, even in those Leo years, there was one small shop in Frederick MD (Boe's strings) where I could buy them. This made trying different models a problem. Even today, I cannot find a dealer within 100 miles to try a new L-1505. Love my old one but after the repairs I had to make caused by the previous owner, I am a bit worried about her and would like to try out a newer one for feel. And yes, I still get the odd looks when I play out from those sizing up my gear and get the, 'What kind of bass IS that?' questions. I may be biased in my opinion (see below) but I play what feels and sounds good. 'Nuff said.
 
#153
Maybe this is an anomaly in my area, but there were several local dealers who carried G&Ls about 10 years ago and now there are none. I suspect they just weren't selling. I have owned two L-2000s, an American and a Tribby, and found it was difficult to dial in the sounds I wanted. (They had almost too many sounds.) I love the looks of G&L's new, more Fenderesque J bass, though. Beautiful basses, guys!
 
#154
RaginRog said:
Another opinion may be...why buy a G&L Jazz bass...when fender's been doing a fine job of doing so...and they're the originator...AND they're a little cheaper.
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I also have two MIA Fender Jazz basses, which are wonderful instruments, but the G&L offers a little more. With G&L, you can select from a huge variety of finishes, and order a painted headstock, which looks bitchin'. Then you get the heavy-duty G&L bridge, and, to top it off, better playability from Plek fret levelling. Also, my SB-2 and JB have nicer rosewood than I've ever seen on a Fender. The color selection and playability were the biggest factors for me.

The 2008-present American Standard Fenders do have one advantage: They seem lighter on average. I think my 2008 Jazz V is lighter than my 2010 G&L JB, and every recent American Standard I've tried has been similarly light.
 
#155
I am sure it's due to ignorance, most people ask about mine all the time. "What's GL.." I own a Fender Jazz too, and I can't seem to get back into it. The power of the G&L is so much more... I am currently look for a 4 string Sadowsky however! Look into them!

Hi , my name is Jacob
 
#156
I've had many Fenders & many G&L's. Fender has a custom shop, "G&L IS A CUSTOM SHOP" We have 3 stores that deal with G&L here in the Richmond, VA area. G&L make some of the most amazing looking & sounding basses around. They didn't want to go the Fender route so they just kept it custom order which is fine by me because I love the fact that I'm the only one around for miles & miles with this bass & tone. Theirs a Fender sunburst jazz on every corner in every city.
 
#157
I've never understood why anyone considers how a bass looks. I've never heard anyone ever say, "Wow, that band really sucked...they sounded fantastic, but MY GAWD, the bass players bass was hideously ugly. We'll never book them again."
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This might be true, but I still like to think that my bass is a thing of beauty, more for my own sake than for anybody else. There must be a reason that so many here on TB post pictures of their instruments on threads or as avatars. Now if the bass PLAYER had been offensively ugly...:D

Many might disagree here, but one of the things I love about G&L is that they are as heavy as they look. I used to own a tiny little Schecter, which was otherwise a decent instrument, but it was just too small and light to "fight back" when I played it. Had to let it go. This has a lot to do with my playing style but also relates to the whole look/image thing. I'm a pretty tall guy and felt a little silly with a bass (a 5 string no less) almost as small as a guitar.

Feel free to flame me for caring about appearances on stage, of course I choose my basses for sound and playability but I think feeling right with your instrument in all ways is part of what makes you confident and, in the end, play better.
 
#158
Dr. Cheese said:
I still think it's a lack of really great somgs performed on G&Ls. Where would Stingrays be without Louis Johnson, Flea, or Tony Levin for example? They all have used Music Man basses on monster hits that made other bassists want to get that tone. I can't think of any songs like that for G&L.
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#160
Faderoktopus said:
Feel free to flame me for caring about appearances on stage, of course I choose my basses for sound and playability but I think feeling right with your instrument in all ways is part of what makes you confident and, in the end, play better.
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Even though I've had some serious love affairs with my instruments, none of them ever had the power to change me. If they start getting too confident, I sell them. :)
 
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