G&L L-2500

I found a classified ad for a 2001 G&L L-2500 for $450 and thought that it had to be a tribute model. Turns out that some poor sap was getting divorced and needed to sell his 5 string that was designed by Leo and built right here in Fullerton, CA... Sweet deal for me! I probably could have talked him down lower, but felt sorry about the divorce thing...we settled for $400

If you haven't had the pleasure of playing a G&L bass before, do yourself a favor and at least test one. I have owned an L-2000 for about 3 years and it is my favorite bass. With 2 nice humbucker pickups and a myriad of settings to choose from (see below), just about any sound can be coaxed out of this guita. Punchy, slappy lows (not quite Musicman, but close) resonant mids and a nice clear, bright highs can all be had on this rig.
I really like the neck setup on this thing as well. It has a very substantial neck, yet it is as fast as any Warwick, musicman, Fender or Ric that I have played to date. It just seems right to me. I can pull just about any sound I want out of this bass and in my opinion, it is a "jack of all trades" bass. It slaps, picks and growls with anything else I have played.

Just a few things...this bass leans towards the heavy side. I knew this going in (from having owned an L-2000). spend enough time playing and your shoulder will start to let you know. I got a big fat strap and it pretty much eliminated any issues with weight and fatigue.
One other dislike on this bass is found in the active-treble boost mode. there is a background white-noise that I know most G&L owners are familiar with...it is there on my 4 string as well. The activeboost mode gives unbelievable bright sound, but the hiss is clear to my ear. I love to play in the straight active mode, which eliminates the slight hiss found in the activeboost mode, and the passive mode gives some really nice rich, dark, woody tones, so to be honest I wouldn't think of too many occasions to play in the treble boost setting. Anyhow if it didn't hiss, I might find a reason to use it more often.
Lastly, the electronics in the back aren't shielded...how can you make a $1200 bass and not shield the electronics? I haven't picked up any wierd noises thus far, but when I get a chance, I will take some time and shield it myself.

2 G&L Magnetic Field humbucking pickups, Swamp Ash top on American Tilia back, Maple neck, G&L "Ultra-Lite" aluminum tapered string posts, G&L Saddle Lock with string through body, G&L Tri-Tone active/passive electronics, 3-way mini-toggle pickup selector, series/parallel mini-toggle, preamp control mini-toggle (off/on/on with high end EQ boost).
This rig has a beautiful blueburst finish, very solid neck. Overall a very solid bass.

sweet bass. The nicest overall sound I have found in a 5 string. It is a jack of all trades, and a master of many.... I would love to give this a 5, but unless it is a custom Alembic or some other custom rig, I can't see giving anything a 5!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this bass from Rutland Music in Valdosta, GA for about $1200. This is my second 2500; I use my older one (swamp ash figured top, birdseye maple neck) for gigging. This one (cherry burst with a quilt maple top and gun oil maple neck) stays at home!

This bass is extremely easy to play, and you can get nearly any sound you want out of the dual humbuckers with active electronics. I also have a Fender Precision Bass (with Jazz Bass neck) and a new Rickenbacker 4003, but I always go back to the G&L. You can't beat the 2500 for a 5 string bass.

I can't think of a thing I dislike.

G&L offers many configurations and options. This one has a gun oil maple neck which is a little darker than the standard maple and gives it somewhat of a vintage look. It has a quilt maple top with a cherryburst finish. The scale length is 34", the neck width at nut is 1 3/4". It has 21 jumbo frets and G&L Ultra Lite tuners.

G&L makes great basses!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

(Originally written by Ben_137/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- Hand-made in the USA.

- 21 frets.

- G&L bridge that allows you to lead the strings through the body or not. The saddles have a locking system that increases tuning stability.

- Two humbuckers hand-wound by Miss Fender herself, with certificate :P

- Settings: one passive/active/active + high boost switch, one bass boost switch, one pickup selector. One master volume control, two tone controls.

- Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard.

- Swamp ash body

UTILIZATION

Very wide neck. I find it comfortable and I like the string spacing. Very good access to the upper frets. Very well balanced instrument. Perhaps a bit too heavy but you'll get used to it. Lighter instrument feel like toys afterwards! :P

The sound is the main asset of this instrument...

SOUNDS

This bass guitar is great for all music styles! Its settings are very effective. I used it with a tube amp and it was a delight. With a solid-state amp it was much more difficult to get a good sound. Maybe I became more demanding after testing it with an all-tube amp? One thing is for sure, it was a problem of the amp, not the bass.

You can get every sound with it, from picky funk sounds with biting highs to round ballad sounds and dark jazzy sounds.

I'm a disco/funk fan so I love the funky sound resulting from the bass boost and the bridge pickup combination. What a treat!!!

A small disadvantage is that when you switch between passive and active operation, the volume difference is considerable so you have to adjust the volume manually...

The low B sounds impressive but it also depends on the strings (the instrument was provided with low-quality strings...).

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it for six months and I like it more and more every day. It really make you want to play! I love its looks and the settings.

I can't think of any defect, except for the price, which is very high for a student like me. I wonder if the Tribute model offers the same value. Consider it as an investment!

I didn't try out many instrument before buying it, some Yamaha and Ibanez but this one had many of the features I was looking for!

Very good value for money, which is normal considering the price. I would buy it again with my eyes closed because I'm sure I'll use it a long time. It might be too big an investment for a hobby musician. It depends on your budget! :P

solid body 5 string pickups Korean 6vis screwed us handle (or 5?) 22 frets

super bridge tailpiece as on all g & l

active electronics "disengaged" flight, bass tone trteb + / - 3 pos mini swith 1.2 micro switch or both ser / parallel switch tone passive or active or active mid boost

UTILIZATION

all bon.un bit heavy (5 strings, wood shaft, good fat and scrap metal everywhere basse.le humbucker sound, see my g & l.suivez regard.je am not alone in worship.
this one is one that is closest to the music man saber, which unfortunately is more produced, alorzs that the stingray is still there ... things that escape me.

SOUNDS

she can do anything, and she did not deprive

OVERALL OPINION

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