Why so many more StingRays/Sterlings than G&Ls?

[lpdeluxe]

not that G&L is ugly or anything like that, but, a Stingray looks so much
better!

but also soundwise: G&L tends to sound like a little bit of everything but nothing in particular, in other words: there is no such thing as a particular G&L sound

with MM and Fender you get very classic sounds, although i do must say that the "real" MM's and Fender's sound fatter and more distinctive than those from the latest decades....

Well said. I could make my L2K sound kinda like a Jazz, kinda like a P, kinda like a StingRay, but in the end, the Precision has more personality and sass.

By the way, I had no problem figuring out the controls -- it was just that I could never get anything I really liked out of it.

 

[Infernal Affair]

Plus, they have several big name endorsers whereas I can't name one pro player off the top of my head that plays a G&L.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

A lot of people play them. It's just a lot of people don't notice them playing them. I think it's a matter of the bass standing out. It's really easy to recognize someone playing a Stingray, even though I don't remember a lot of the Stingray players except Flea, but he's used a ton of different basses during his career despite being known for using a Stingray. (And don't feel too bad, since I don't remember a lot of what famous people play, not just Stingray players.)

I think a L2000 can get close to a Stingray sound with just the bridge pickup on. Humbucker close to the bridge - why can't it?

Different placement so it won't get it exactly. It's not in the "sweet spot."

And as others have said, the signature L-2000 sound is both pickups on, parallel, passive. And if you really want to go balls out, put it in series.

 

[jaywa]

<b>And if you really want to go balls out, put it in series.</b>

Is that what I've seen referred to as the "OMG" setting?

 

[mike_v_s]

<b>And if you really want to go balls out, put it in series.</b>

Is that what I've seen referred to as the "OMG" setting?

No, that setting is a sc/bass boost setting on the L-1000.

Mike

 

[silky smoove]

Lets see...
The L2000 has volume, treble, bass-all passive
The SR5 has volume, treb, mid, bass-all active with boost and cut
The L2000 has a pickup selector
So does an HH or HS Ray.
The G&L has coil taps
As do most Rays.
The G&L has preamp off/on/on with treble boost.
The Rays have...preamp on.

Ahhh....that must be what's confusing y'all then. The preamp selector. Hmmmm....

+1

 

[Chef]

FWIW; I don't seem to get along with either L2X00's, or 'ray anything.
I had a 1981 L2000e as my main bass for many years, and then got into a J bass thing and just quit playing it. Tried a 2500, and a brand new 2000, had an El Toro for some years; then flipped all my preamp'd G&Ls.
Tried several 'ray variants: 2 band, three band, HH, H, 5ers, 4's...flipped 'em all.

I still have three G&L L1000's and one early SB2-JJ; all passive.

I do still have three basses with preamps;
Lakland 5501 with Nord DC5's and LH3 preamp
Valenti JJ with Nord Big Singles and Nord preamp
Valenti PJ with Nord NP5.Fat Stack and Nord preamp

I'll likely keep the first two of those.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I have one of each....they get equal amounts of exposure, they're both loud, sexy, heavy sound great and look great.

IMO, when Leo started MM, he created something new, different and wild. When he started G&L, he kind of went back to the Fender Guitar Co. roots and expanded technologically (with pickups and wiring & things) but not so much with the look of the instruments; as was pointed out on page one about a G&L casting a shadow right next to a Fender. The G&L bass has a particular sound that has to grow on most people (like it did for me). I think for most people, they'd go with a traditional Fender over a more technologically advanced G&L, even though they may look similar in outline.

I do have to say that my L2500 is absolutely insane. It sounds great Always! But the other G&L's don't really float my boat. I do want to get a Sterling 5 HH, though...

 

[Yango]

G&L seems to be pretty hit and miss in terms of their necks. I've read a lot about people being ignored by G&L customer support. I had a bad experience with them myself.

I had a G&L SB-1 that had a warping problem... and that was their response to me, "ship it and we'll fix it at your expense". It was going to cost me more to get the bass fixed than I'd paid for it in the first place. So I put it up on Craigslist and sold it 'as is' (I told the guy that I had issues with the neck, and he was cool with it). I've never looked back... and I'd never buy another one of their basses.

Musicman on the other hand... I have two, a Stertling and a Stingray and I love them both! Quality is second to none, playability is unbelieveably easy, and the tone is AWESOME! I can't see myself playing anything else. Try one out, you won't regret it.

 

[Handyman]

Little known fact: Many of the later pre-EBMM instruments were actually built by G&L. By the time of the buy out, MM no longer had a facility for producing instruments, and were using the G&L factory for that purpose.

 

[Marcus]

I think EBMM instruments are more ubiquitous because they have been around for quite a while and have had many high-profile players that made the Stingray tone highly desirable. Coupled with very consistent build quality and the choice to remain a more premium American instrument for so long, EBMM did not damage their reputation with less-than-stellar imports like many other brands have done. I'm not saying that about G&L, but in general.

edit - I should mention that I am nearing the 10-year mark of owning and playing an EBMM Sterling. Lots of basses have come and gone, but that bass has never let me down.

 

[swrbass5]

I use G&L L2000's and a Stingray 5. I love em all. The G&L definitely has more variations on tone than my Stingray, but that's really not an issue, cause I only use one particular sound on my G&L. I've always wondered what the big problem was with the controls too. I actually got into an argument with an employee at the Guitar Center, when he tried to explain the control layout == I had to correct him. He was back-assward on the controls. After I told him that I had owned 6 of em, he finally just walked off ! I don't own any of the L2500's , probably cause I love my 91 Stingray5 so much, that the 2500 would stay in it's case anyway. By the way....... Anyone else have a G&L that weighs in at 13 lbs ?

 

[swrbass5]

Handyman -- that's the first time I'd ever heard that. I had no idea.

 

[Burlington]

G&L seems to be pretty hit and miss in terms of their necks. I've read a lot about people being ignored by G&L customer support. I had a bad experience with them myself.

I had a G&L SB-1 that had a warping problem... and that was their response to me, "ship it and we'll fix it at your expense". It was going to cost me more to get the bass fixed than I'd paid for it in the first place. So I put it up on Craigslist and sold it 'as is' (I told the guy that I had issues with the neck, and he was cool with it). I've never looked back... and I'd never buy another one of their basses.

Musicman on the other hand... I have two, a Stertling and a Stingray and I love them both! Quality is second to none, playability is unbelieveably easy, and the tone is AWESOME! I can't see myself playing anything else. Try one out, you won't regret it.

Did you buy that G&L with the warping issue brand new? If you did not, well ya, that's obvious, it's not gonna be covered under a warranty.
I've loved G&L since my dad got his L-1500. A few months ago I got a L-2000 for a great deal and I am in love with it.
A Stingray would really round-out my collection, but I despise the feel of the necks. I don't know if it's just the finish or what, but they jsut do not feel right to me.

 

[mike_v_s]

G&L seems to be pretty hit and miss in terms of their necks. I've read a lot about people being ignored by G&L customer support. I had a bad experience with them myself.

I had a G&L SB-1 that had a warping problem... and that was their response to me, "ship it and we'll fix it at your expense". It was going to cost me more to get the bass fixed than I'd paid for it in the first place.

If it was going to cost you more to get it fixed that the price you paid, can I assume you bought it used? If this is the case, I see no reason why you would expect any different from them or any other manufacturer. They offer to fix it with you paying for the repair. Where's the problem?

Mike

 

[totallybacan]

one thing is that G&L confuse the heck outta me....i mean every knob has a switch lmao. i looked at one that looked like a lakland 55-01 & just totally went like how do you use these things lol

In this thread there is an explanation of the knobs and switches.

Knobs: Vol, Treble, Bass

Switches: Pickup Selector, Series/Parallel, Pre-amp off/on/on with treble boost

 

[Clank]

People tend to keep their G&Ls because they're great instruments.

True. I finally retired my original SB1 after I snapped the body for the third time. My SB2 got stolen in FLA (f u Handlebar in Pensacola!) I had to sell one L2000 and regretted it. I went in the next week to buy it back and it was already sold. But, I'll never sell my other L2000 or the SB1 I replaced the first one with. Never!

 

[Chef]

"snapped the body for the third time"

whawhawhat?

 

[EagleMoon]

I figured it was because of the lack of advertising with G&L.

 

[Craig_S]

"snapped the body for the third time"

whawhawhat?

What he said... How the heck do you snap a body???

 

[syciprider]

I figured it was because of the lack of advertising with G&L.

Neither company takes out print ads.